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Army Capt,
jawan injured Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 18: Army, police and CRPF today met with a major success when they gunned down an entire group of seven hardcore Pakistani militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit (LeT) in a fierce day long gun-battle in village Khabal, about four kms from Dinga Amb, falling on Dayalachak-Ramkote road under the jurisdiction of Rajbagh police station in Kathua district. DIG Jammu-Kathua range Dr S P Vaid, who supervised the operation, told EXCELSIOR that army, Kathua police, CRPF and SOG besides village ex-servicemen fought bravely and meticulously with the militants for about 12 hours and succeeded in killing all seven ultras. An Army Captain and a jawan sustained minor injuries in the gun-fight. This was for the first time that seven militants were killed in a single encounter in Kathua district, Dr Vaid said, adding a huge quantity of weaponry including one Pika gun, eight AK-47 rifles, one pistol and four wireless sets have been recovered from the scene of encounter. Our Kathua correspondent adds: The group of seven Pakistani militants entered into the houses of two Gujjars Shah Din alias Shatti and Roshan Din, whose brothers were in the army, and asked them to vacate a room for them at about 0230 hours today. The militants forced the Gujjar family to prepare food and tea for them at gun point. Official sources said the militants were irked after seeing two army uniforms in the Gujjars’ houses and started abusing the house inmates. However, the Gujjars handled the situation very tactfully and holed-up the ultras in their house. In the meantime, two Gujjar youths came out of the house and rang up Police Control Room (PCR). A message was immediately flashed and teams of army, CRPF and Kathua police rushed to the spot and cordoned off the village. SSP Kathua Manohar Singh, Army Brigadier, CRPF Commandant RPS Rana, DySP Border Shivdev Singh and SOG official Munish Anand led their teams. By that time, the militants had taken positions. Security forces evicted the civilians from adjoining houses and challenged the militants. A fierce exchange of gun-fight started around 0500 hours and continued through-out the day. Bravery of security agencies, with which they fought with hardcore foreign mercenaries, was watched live by a large number of people from a distance. Kathua police jawans led by Manohar Singh were in fore-front of the operation. Initially, security personnel gunned down five militants by 12 noon. However, three other ultras, who had been loudly abusing the local people and army in Punjabi, gave a tough fight to troops before they were finally eliminated by 1700 hours, bringing an end to 12 hour long successful operation, executed in highly professional manner jointly by different security agencies. Army Captain Maan and a jawan Kamal Singh sustained minor injuries in the operation. They were evacuated from the firing site and admitted to a Military Hospital. Their condition was stated to be stable. All seven bodies of slain militants have been recovered from the scene of encounter. Their identification couldn’t be carried out in the absence of any identity card or any other documents recovered from their possession. Sources said four of the militants appeared to be hailing from Punjab province of Pakistan and three from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Their rifle stings revealed that all of them were affiliated with notorious Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit. Recovery made from the site of encounter included one Pika gun with one magazine and 308 rounds, eight AK-47 rifles with 33 magazines and 1020 rounds, four wireless sets, 15 hand grenades, 36 rifle grenades, one pistol with 200 rounds and a large quantity of other ammunition, accessories and binoculars. For about two hours during the operation, the militants had succeeded in jamming the wireless network of police. However, the system was restored after killing of the militants. According to sources, the slain militants had crossed over to Indian territory reportedly through Regal area between Samba and Hiranagar sub sectors on Monday night. Last night, they trek along Tarnah bridge and reached Khabal village, about four kms from Dinga Amb where they spotted Gujjars houses and tried to take shelter there. Sources said there was a possibility that guide of the militants, who had to take them to the upper reaches of Udhampur or Doda through forests of Dhar road, might have missed the group. As such, the Pakistani militants lost their route and were trapped by the brave Gujjars. Sources said about Rs 75,000 Indian currency was also recovered from Gujjars house, where the ultras had taken shelter, but the Gujjar families insisted that it was their own money and they had kept it in their house for purchase of land. Police was investigating the issue of currency, which has temporarily been seized. Police said a handsome reward was likely to be sanctioned in favour of Gujjars, whose alertness led to the killing of seven militants, and a couple of ex-servicemen, who assisted security forces in the operation. It was for the first time that seven ultras were shot dead in a single operation by security forces in Kathua. The success came close on the heels of busting of a hawala racket with the recovery of Rs 18 lakh cash, meant for Kashmiri militants, and working out of an attempt to loot Rs one crore in Basohli for which four militants have been arrested. |
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GSLV-D1 blasted off
successfully SRIHARIKOTA, Apr 18: Three weeks after the aborted mission, India’s first developmental flight of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D1) blasted off successfully, carrying the country into an elite club of nations and into a multibillion-dollar commercial satellite launch business. Exactly 1040 seconds after take off from the Sriharikota high altitude range, the spacecraft hurled the experimental communication satellite GSAT-1 successfully into orbit. The 401-tonne, 49.1 metres tall spacecraft carrying the 1540-kg experimental satellite lifted off from the launch pad at 3.43 p.m. as planned unlike the March 28 when the launch was automatically aborted due to failure of one of the four liquid strap-on engines. The vehicle soared into the clear sky in a "perfect blast off" much to the relief and excitement of the entire ISRO team who were waiting with their fingers crossed till the last second before the lift off. Shortly after the successful flight mission, the ISRO Chairman, Dr K Kasturirangan, said "it was the longest 17 minutes in our life. It was also the most exciting and wonderful 17 minutes in our life". The velocity and the trajectory of the vehicle were exactly as planned, he said. The satellite payload was successfully injected into a Geosynchronus Transfer Orbit (GTO) with a perigee (closest to earth) of 180 km and an apogee (farthest to earth) of 35975 km, 1040 seconds after the lift off. A visibly relieved and elated Dr Kasturirangan said "it is a quantum jump in the country’s satellite launching capabilities". The vital part of today’s mission was the testing of the most important cryogenic stage (third and final) which successfully helped in hurling the payload into GTO as programmed. The success of the mission also marked India’s entry into the elite club of five nations - US, Russia, European Union, China and Japan - which have already crossed the geostationary milestone. The success opens up immense commercial possibilities for India in the highly lucrative multi-billion dollar global satellite launch business. Besides geostationary transfer orbit missions, GSLV can also undertake polar and leo missions. The March 28 setback was caused by a defective plumbing in the oxydiser flowline of one of the four liquid strap-on engines in the first stage of the three-stage vehicle. The mission got automatically aborted just a second before lift off when the defective engine did not generate the required thrust upon ignition. The re-launch was carried out today after replacing the defective strap on engine. GSLV, which is designed to carry a payload of 2000 kg and above, will be formally inducted into the country’s satellite launch system after two successful test flights. Meanwhile, ISRO is making intensive efforts to develop India’s own cryogenic engine which is expected to be ready by 2003. The GSLV-D1 uses an imported Russian cryogenic engine in the most critical third and final stage. Today’s mission was mainly intended to validate the various systems of the newly developed vehicle in an actual flight. These include several propulsion systems, avionics, control and guidance system, and stage and spacecraft separation system. The first two stages of GSLV-D1 are derived from the PSLV and are purely indigenous. The greatest challenge was integrating these two PSLV stages with the imported cryogenic stage for a successful launch, according to ISRO scientists. Nearly 150 Indian industries were associated with the 10-year-long Rs 1400-crore GSLV project by way of supplying numerous components. The project dates back to 1991 when India was assured by Russia for supply of cryogenic technology. The project ran into rough weather later due to imposition of sanctions by the US against India. Today’s launch was the country’s 15th satellite launch vehicle mission and the 10th successful one. Of the earlier missions, one was partially successful and four, including the orginal launch attempt of GSLV-D1 on March 28, were failures. Incidentlly, the first launch attempts of all the launch vehicles developed by ISRO - SLV, ASLV, PSLV and GSLV- were not success stories. (PTI) |
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Pak Generals have vested interest in Kashmir : Farooq Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU Apr 18: Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today accused Pak generals of inflaming violence in Jammu and Kashmir to strengthen their grip on Pakistan and said peace means army junta loosing hold on the country. Paying tributes to the former minister, Ghulam Ahmad Ganaie on his 7th death anniversary at Poonch, the Chief Minister said that some elements within and across the border too want pot boiling in the State for their bread and butter. ‘They are least bothered about sufferings of people’ he said while expressing anguish over killing of innocents and dishonouring women by mercenaries in the State everyday. Militancy has wrecked the state’s economy and destroyed infrastructure during the past decade, he said, adding that while other states of the country are progressing leaps and bounds, Jammu and Kashmir is striving to come out of the hell woven by militants and Pakistan. In such a situation, the State, fighting a proxy war, cannot be left wanting for funds. He said the state’s wrecked economy and infrastructure has to be revived and rebuilt for which liberal funds are needed. Referring to the static plan outlay of Rs 1750 crore for the past several years, Dr Abdullah said that despite commitment, only Rs 1050 crore were released by the Centre last year. The Chief Minister expressed happiness over the conduct of Panchayat elections after 23 years and said that some people dubbed these as a ploy by the National Conference Government to sabotage the ceasefire and peace process initiated by the Prime Minister. When the elections were announced, there was no such move that came some time later when the Prime Minister took him into confidence about the peace initiative, he said. Describing Panchayat elections as a big stride in transferring power to the people at grass roots level, Dr Abdullah said that these would be strengthened and empowered to take important decisions about the rural upliftment as envisioned by late Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. The Panchayats would monitor functioning of schools, dispensaries, developmental works and various welfare schemes, he said adding that the Panches and Sarpanches have to be dedicated, honest and selfless as otherwise they would be voted out by the people. The Chief Minister allayed the fears of legislators that formation of Panchayats would undermine their role and said the political workers have to jointly mitigate the miseries of the people. The legislators have direct contact with the Government and they can play role of a bridge between people and the administration. However, the Panchayats with adequate financial powers have to ensure local development without any discrimination. Referring to women representation in Panchayats, the Chief Minister said that since they did not get adequately elected, their nomination would be made after taking into confidence the local women. "Once enjoying the power in decision-making, the women will participate in fray in large numbers in future elections," he added. Dr Abdullah reiterated people’s resolve to fight Pak sponsored militancy with determination and said Islamabad will never succeed in annexing even an inch of our soil. He ridiculed the demand for trifurcation, saying that division of the State on communal lines will jeopardize nation’s unity and integrity. Such plans were conceived half a century earlier also, he said and referred to the infamous Dixon Plan. Concerned about the attempts being made by some elements in creating a wedge between people on caste and creed, pahari and urbanite, the Chief Minister cautioned against such divisive forces. He sought people’s cooperation in steering the State and the country to peace, prosperity and development. The Chief Minister responded positively to the demand for naming Mandi Hospital after Mr Ghulam Ahmad Ganaie and said this will be examined at appropriate level in the Health Ministry. Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated Muqadas Degree College at Mendhar and announced Rs 5 lakhs for starting science stream in the college. He said spread of higher education among the rural youth is imperative for enabling them to face the challenges of the modern times. He urged the people to come forward to help the efforts of spreading literacy in the length and breadth of the State. During the tour of the Chief Minister to Poonch district, Mr G M Jan, Mr Mushtaq Ahmad Bukhari, both MLAs and Mr M D Banday were present. |
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Govt gears for quick
budget passage NEW DELHI, Apr 18: With the stand-off in Parliament worsening following the rejection of Congress demand for Joint Parliamentary Committee probe on Tehelka expose, the Government today appeared to be gearing itself for quick passage of the budget and finance bill for an early adjournment of the session. As both the Houses of Parliament lay disrupted with the Congress raising its new demand for a JPC probe into the corruption in defence deals, non-Congress opposition parties appeared to be veering round to the view that a smooth budget session was not possible and that it would be advisable to have a break. The main opposition Congress, which is not enthusiastic about early adjournment of the session, again stalled business in Parliament with its members occupying the well of the House shouting slogans pressing for JPC. The treasury benches vociferously opposed the demand and in the prevailing din, both the Houses were adjourned for the day. Even a meeting of leaders of political parties, convened by Lok Sabha Speaker GMC Balayogi, failed to break the impasse with the Government outrightly rejecting the Congress demand for a JPC probe into the Tehelka expose saying it was not possible to wind up the judicial inquiry or have another parallel investigation. All opposition parties, except Congress, agreed with Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav’s suggestion for a break in the session because of the assembly polls in the five States after discussing the Tehelka issue and passage of the Railway and general budgets. Indicating that the Government was keen on hustling through with the financial business, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan said for the Government the only important business was passage of railway and general budgets and the finance bill well before the constitutional deadline. However, Congress strongly opposed Government’s plans saying it would use all its parliamentary skills to block passage of budget without discussion and curtailment of the session. Sources said Government was contemplating adjourning the House by next Friday after passage of the railway and general budgets and the finance bill. Though the non-Congress opposition was suggesting a break in the session, Government was of the view that if the session was to be adjourned it would be to meet again only in the monsoon session. Meanwhile, Mahajan issued a two-line whip to all BJP members to be present in the House on April 19, 20 and 23 saying important items of business like discussion and voting on demands for grants (general and railways) and the finance bill, 2001 will be taken up in the Lok Sabha on these days. (PTI) |
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3 Jaish ultras killed
in UP LUCKNOW, Apr 18: The Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh Police today gunned down three hardcore militants belonging to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit who had planned to blow up the Ram temple at the disputed site at Ayodhya and kill top politicians of the State. The militants, identified as Salim alias Babbar alias Ujaifa and Sajid alias Talha, both belonging to Pakistan’s Sindh province, and Rashid alias Raizan of Lahore, were killed when they were on their way to Faizabad, DGP M C Dwivedi told reporters here. The militants were planning to destroy the make-shift Ram temple at Ayodhya and eliminate some very important political leaders in the State and free militants lodged in Tihar, Mumbai and Jammu jails, he said. Dwivedi said intelligence reports had hinted that a militant group had entered Uttar Pradesh and was planning to target the make-shift Ram temple at Ayodhya and eliminate some very important political leaders. Attempts were on to zero-in on the group and track the movement of the militants, he said adding STF sleuths challenged them while they were trying to sneak into Faizabad in the wee hours today. The militants had entered the country via Dhaka a few months back and contacted a group of students in Mumbai, Kolkata, Cuttack, Deoband, Muzaffarnagar, Allahabad and Delhi to elicit their support in fomenting trouble. Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit of Pakistan/Afganistan is headed by Maulana Masood Azhar, one of the three hardcore militants freed by India to secure the release of passengers of the Indian Airlines plane hijacked from Kathmandu to Kandhar in December 1999. One of the slain militants Rashid was a bodyguard of Masood Azhar and was involved in four encounters in the Kashmir valley, Dwivedi said. The three militants had received extensive training for over 10 months at the Yawar (Khost) base camp in Afganistan. The deceased were fully trained in operating high-tech weapons and explosive materials, he said. A huge cache of arms and ammunition including one AK-47 and one AK 57 rifle, a grenade launcher, a nine mm pistol, four electronic detonators, two mobile phones, a walkie-talkie set and Rs 10,000 in cash were recovered from them, Dwivedi said. Meanwhile, Faizabad district police was interrogating nine Muslim youths detained yesterday while they were moving near the Rang Mahal temple at Ayodhya. "So far we have not been able to establish their links with the militants killed today," Faizabad district police chief P P Srivastava said. Of the nine, one belongs to Karnataka, two to Kerala and the remaining to Uttar Pradesh. Security in and around the disputed Ramjanam Bhoomi-Babri mosque complex at Ayodhya has been beefed up in the wake of killing of the three militants. (PTI) |
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Salahuddin drops the brick From B L Kak JAMMU, Apr 18: The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee is said to have agreed, in principle, to afford an opportunity to a team of Kashmir’s All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) to visit Pakistan. "But what the Prime Minister would like to ensure was that a preliminary round of talks between the Hurriyat leaders and the Centre’s chief negotiator, Mr K C Pant, should, as a matter of reciprocity, take place before the Hurriyat team is permitted to go to Pakistan" a top Central Government source told EXCELSIOR. The source divulged that following Syed Mir Qasim’s meeting with the chief negotiator, Mr Pant, the Prime Minister had consultations with his External Affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh, and the Home Minister, Mr L K Advani, on the Hurriyat’s demand for permission to its delegation to visit Pakistan. These consultations took place after Mr Pant had a quiet session with Mr Vajpayee on certain aspects of the dialogue process initiated by the former. According to the source, Mr Vajpayee has no objection to the Hurriyat team’s visit to Pakistan. But the Government, the source said, would not hesitate to facilitate this only after at least a preliminary round of talks with New Delhi. The source also divulged that two Hurriyat leaders, who did not want to be identified "at this stage" had conveyed to Mr Pant their "readiness" to participate in the peace process initiated by New Delhi in Jammu and Kashmir. This, if any, served as a clear indication of the Hurriyat Conference also being under pressure from the vast Kashmiri weariness with the insurgency and the people’s deep yearning for peace. These Hurriyat leaders established contact with New Delhi at a time when Pakistan-based supremo of the Hizul Mujahideen Syed Salahuddin, had reiterated his message to Srinagar, urging all constituents of the Hurriyat Conference not to cooperate with the Government of India till the demand for the inclusion of Pakistan in the Indo-Kashmir dialogue was accepted. Following Syed Mir Qasim’s meeting with Mr Pant, Mr Vajpayee was given an account of the events necessitating the Hurriyat to insist on the relevance of their demand in support of a visit to Pakistan. Precisely, the Hurriyat Conference, Mr Vajpayee was told, had made permission to visit Pakistan a precondition to entering into a dialogue not as part of some devious conspiracy with Islamabad but in order to restore its credibility in the eyes of the people of the Valley. More important, there is a feeling that since the All Party Hurriyat Conference is no longer in any position to deliver peace in Kashmir and since the Jammat-e-Islamia hardliner, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, is aged politician in Kashmir, the Government of India would not be confronted with any challenge or threat in the event of the Hurriyat team being permitted to undertake "Mission Pakistan". The Central Government source told EXCELSIOR in reply to another question that while the Centre had made it plain that the talks would be without preconditions, one expected that the Hurriyat would not set preconditions for dialogue. In an obvious reference to anti-dialogue talk by various anti-India outfits based in Pakistan, the source pointed out that bilateral talks with Pakistan was a separate matter that would be taken forward once it curbs cross-border violence and its anti-India propaganda. Why Syed Mir Qasim first and not the Hurriyat leaders ? Obviously, by casting the political net wider that the Hurriyat, the Government’s move aimed at reassuring all other political entities in Kashmir that felt neglected all these months while the PMO’s emissary, R K Mishra, covertly wooed the Hurriyat for the Prime Minister. A new message has now gone to the Hurriyat camp and others, with the Prime Minister bringing Mr Pant into the picture. Mr Pant has his task cut out-to bring in other parties without antagonising the Hurriyat. |
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Kashmiri groups hail latest peace initiatives NEW DELHI, Apr 18: Various Kashmiri organisations in the United Kingdom have welcomed India’s latest peace initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir. The organisations have asked the Kashmiri leadership and the militant outfits to react positively to the peace initiatives taken by the Indian Government. They have also welcomed the appointment of Planning Commission Chairman K C Pant as New Delhi’s interlocutor. The Jammu and Kashmir National Liberation Front (JKNLF) Europe zone, looks at it as a positive move from New Delhi and calls upon Kashmiri leadership and militants to reciprocate in a positive manner. "Any reluctance to do so will only strengthen India’s case as the Hurriyat Conference itself had asked for an unconditional dialogue," the JKNLF statement said. The JKNLF, referring to Pakistan based militant groups said that the people of Kashmir must not allow foreign Jehadi groups and extremist communalists to dictate them and hinder the peace process. The Jammu and Kashmir National Awareness Campaign in its press statement said the latest Indian move is an expression of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s desire to promote peace in the subcontinent and resolve the Kashmir problem peacefully. The Jammu and Kashmir Council for Human Rights’ Secretary General Syed Nazir Gilani appealed to the Hurriyat Conference, the Kashmir Government and militant groups to make a positive response to the appointment of Mr Pant and the initiative for dialogue. Organiser of People’s National Party Mumtaz Khan reminded the Hurriyat, militants and the Government of Pakistan that it was their own demand that after the unilateral ceasefire India should take some other steps to make it meaningful. India has now offered unconditional talks and they must seize this opportunity. Dr Mumtaz Khan said in his statement that the current violence in Kashmir only suited the military regime in Pakistan to deflect public attention from the grim economic and political situation. "It does not suit the people of Kashmir: They are victims of this situation," he said. Chairman of the PNP Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmir asked the Kashmiri parties and militants to accept India’s initiative if they are interested in peace. (UNI) |
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CEO, ZEO’s stamps
seized Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 18: Border Police today unearthed a racket involved in selling fake educational certificates by apprehending two accused including a kingpin and effecting recovery of a number of fake certificates from their possession. Racketeers have been identified as Arjun Kumar alias Bittu son of Milkhi Ram, a resident of village Kairanwali in Ramgarh, a kingpin of the gang and Harbans Lal son of Major Ram R/o Ramgarh. Arrests were made by a Vijaypur police station party led by SHO Kamaljit Singh under the supervision of SP Border Manish Kishore Sinha. Police sources said a tip off was received that a gang was engaged in the selling of fake middle class certificates, charging between Rs 2500 to Rs 3000, among the gullible youths. A number of such certificates had been sold by the gangsters during the past sometime. Police carried out secret investigations in the racket and prima-facie found the involvement of two persons. Subsequent raids by police led to the arrest of both accused. Six fake certificates, which the accused had filled up and 30 blank certificates alongwith fake stamps of Chief Education Officer (CEO) Jammu and Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) Ramgarh were recovered from the house of Arjun Kumar during a raid carried out by police. Besides, some other incriminating documents were also seized. Police investigations revealed that Bittu had earlier been running a private school under the name and style of Modern School at village Bandral in Ramgarh. However, he sold the school sometime back and started the illegal business of selling fake certificates, thus cheating the innocent youths. A case against the cheat has been registered at Vijaypur police station for further investigations. |
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HM militant surrenders at Thathri Excelsior Correspondent DODA, Apr 18: A militant belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen outfit surrendered alongwith arms and ammunition at Thathri in Doda late last evening. A police spokesman said that with the mediation of a local leader, militant—Rehmat Ali of Haryana village near Thathri surrendered before the Additional SP Doda— Pankaj Maggu alongwith one self loading rifle, two grenades and three magazines at Thathri. Ali was associated with HM outfit and was active in the area for the last few years. |
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2 cattle killed in Pargwal blast Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 18: Two cattle were killed in yet another powerful blast in Pargwal island area of Akhnoor today. Reports reaching here said that this blast occurred in a hut where some cattle were tied to the tethers. Two buffaloes were killed while several other cattle were injured in the explosion which rocked the hut around 12.55 hours today. This hut is hardly 100 metres away from the school building where two powerful explosions occurred yesterday. It was believed that IEDs had been planted by Pakistani saboteurs at this border village. In yesterday’s explosion, the school building was extensibly damaged. |
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SPO killed, cop relieved of SLR Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Apr 18: Militants have shot dead yet another Special Police Official (SPO) in Bandipore area, fired upon a Public Health Engineering (PHE) employee in Tral and snatched away the gun of a police guard at a bridge near Shopian. Official sources said that late last night, militants kidnapped a surrendered militant and SPO, namely Abdur Rasheed Bhat S/o Ghulam Mohammad Bhat from his house at Turkapora, in Bandipore, and later shot him dead. Reports from Tral said that militants fired upon a PHE daily-wager, Bashir Ahmed Wani S/o Abdul Gani Wani of Nowpora. He sustained injuries and was rushed to hospital. Reports from Shopian said that militants fired upon an ex-serviceman, namely Mohammad Ramzan of Arihal, who was posted as a guard on a bridge over Ranbiara. He was left wounded as the militants decamped with his SLR. Later, he was rushed to a hospital. |
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CRPF under strain due to over-deployment NEW DELHI, Apr 18: CRPF Director General Trinath Mishra today said over-deployment of the force had caused a "lot of stress and strain" on it and asked the commanders and other personnel of his force to improve the operational efficiency in view of the threat to internal security of the country. "There should be no compromise as far as the training of the force is concerned except under extreme circumstances, that too when the threat to internal security of the State manifested itself," Mishra told a conference of CRPF officers here. He said "despite lot of stress and strain" on the force due to over-deployment, the senior officers should find ways and means to improve the operational efficiency of the force personnel. He asked the senior field commanders to review their humanitarian and psychological role in keeping the morale of the force personnel high, a press release issued by the CRPF said. Inspectors General of Police from various CRPF sectors participated in the conference to take stock of the security scenario and review the operational and administrative matters. (PTI) |
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Bangla troops kill 16 BSF
men, continue NEW DELHI, Apr 18: At least 16 BSF personnel were today killed by Bangladeshi troops in a forward village in Assam even as in neighbouring Meghalaya Bangladesh Rifles (BSR) continued to occupy Pyrduwah village for the third day, escalating tension on the border. Union Home Secretary Kamal Pande, quoting reports reaching here from BSF border camp, told reporters here that 16 BSF personnel were killed when Bangladesh army and BDR personnel resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling in Boraibari in Assam, targeting the BSF post and civilian areas. A report from Dhaka quoting BDR chief Maj Gen Fazlur Rahman said one Bangladeshi soldier was also killed and several others injured during the border clashes. "One of our soldiers and 16 Indian soldiers were killed, while two of their injured have surrendered," he told AFP. As the stand off in Pyrduwah continued with 3,000 BDR personnel entering the East Khasi hill district area, BSF reinforcements were rushed to the troubled spots. Taking serious exception to the development, India today summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner Mostafa Farooque Mohammad to the External Affairs Ministry and lodged a strong protest over the capture of Pyrduwah, terming it as an "unwarranted" and "unprovoked" action. "Government of India has learnt with regret of the unprovoked action of the BDR at Pyrduwah ....Leading to an exchange of fire, the vacation of the village and escalation of tension in the region," an External Affairs Ministry spokesman told reporters. He said India’s approach has been to work together with Bangladesh in defusing the situation in a spirit of mutual cooperation to ensure a peaceful atmosphere on the border. Meanwhile, peace talks between BSF and BDR to end the stand-off in Pyrduwah remained inconclusive, BSF Director General Gurbachan Jagat told reporters. Home Minister L K Advani and Defence Minister Jaswant Singh were closely monitoring the situation and were in constant touch with Meghalaya Chief Minister A K Mawlong, official sources said. The sources said that 3000 BDR personnel entered Pyrduwah on April 16 and surrounded BSF outposts and also drove away villagers while indulging in shelling and firing. Jagat said "they attacked our border posts" following which BSF reinforcements were rushed to the area. The exchange of firing was still continuing, the sources said tonight. (PTI) |
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