PSO held, charged with murder
Two transporters shot dead in JDA office
vNC worker, Balwan also arrested

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 24: Two transporters including a vice president of Banihal Group were gunned down by a Personal Security Officer (PSO) of a National Conference worker Gandharab Singh after a clash between the two groups inside Vikas Bhawan, the JDA office complex at Trikuta Nagar this morning.

Gandharab Singh, his PSO and Balwan Singh have been arrested by the police. While PSO identified as Dev Raj (No 363), hailing from third battalion of Security, was charged under Section 302 RPC (murder), the Sections against Gandharab Singh and Balwan Singh were being worked out.

Balwan Singh and a JDA driver Balbir Singh were also injured in the attack.

The shoot-out, which took place right outside the JDA Vice Chairman chamber, created panic in the multi-storeyed office complex with employees suspecting a militant attack. Employees locked themselves inside their office and came out only after the arrival of police.

Deceased have been identified as Pardeep Kumar Gupta alias Deepa, 37, a resident of Talab Tillo and Kamal Raj alias Pappu, 27, a resident of Narwal Pain. Both of them were affiliated with Karan Travels.

DIG Jammu-Kathua range Dr S P Vaid told EXCELSIOR that Deepa and Pappu accompanied by their associate Sanjeev Sharma alias Sanju had gone to JDA office to inquire about the allotment of a counter at Bus Stand, for which a case had been pending before the JDA Vice Chancellor Mr Shant Manu for disposal.

Balwan Singh, who was also a claimant to the counter, too reached there alongwith National Conference leader Gandharab Singh and his PSO to meet the JDA VC, the DIG said, adding that Deepa allegedly assaulted Balwan Singh when latter was waiting outside the JDA office. Balwan was hit on his forehead.

The PSO of Gandharab Singh then opened firing with his official AK-56 rifles killing Deepa on the spot while Pappu died enroute Medical College hospital. Their third associate Sanjeev Sharma alias Sanju jumped down the JDA building and survived. A JDA driver Balbir Singh was also trapped in the firing and injured seriously.

Deepa and Pappu were rushed to Medical College hospital, where they were declared as brought dead. Balwan Singh was also admitted in Medical College hospital from where he was arrested after the treatment. Gandharab Singh and his PSO were arrested from Batra hospital, where they too had admitted themselves.

An AK-56 rifle alongwith 12 live rounds were seized from the possession of PSO Dev Raj. He had been allotted 30 rounds. Of which, he used 18 in the firing. A 12 bore licensed gun was also recovered from the possession of Balwan Singh.

While the PSO Dev Raj, who was working with Gandharab Singh since May 4, 2000, was straightway charged with a murder case, the Sections under which Balwan and Gandharab would be charged are being worked out by police. The FIR against them has been registered at Trikuta Nagar police station for further investigations.

Gandharab Singh had been allotted two PSOs—Sohan Singh and Dev Raj. Sohan Singh, who had been allotted from Katra police station, was withdrawn from Singh after his involvement in an alleged rape case at Dayalachak cafeteria near Hiranagar last year.

Gandharab Singh had unsuccessfully contested the last Assembly election from Reasi constituency as an independent candidate. He had joined National Conference after losing the seat with a narrow margin. Presently, he was functioning as vice president of district Udhampur unit of the National Conference.

Dr Vaid said Deepa and Balwan Singh had an old rivalry over the allotment of a counter in Bus Stand. Initially, the counter had been allotted to Balwan Singh but the man, who was running it, had shifted his loyalty to Deepa Group.

The allotment of counter was taken to the Court, which had directed the JDA Vice Chairman Mr Shant Manu to decide the case within a week. Both the groups had gone to the VC to know the fate of counter. About six months back, Deepa had allegedly made an unsuccessful attempt on the life of Balwan Singh at Kot Bhalwal.

DIG Jammu Dr S P Vaid, SSP Jammu (acting) Manish Kishore Sinha, DySP East Sanjay Sharma and SHO Trikuta Nagar Shamsher Singh Parihar visited the site of firing immediately after getting a report of the shoot-out and shifted the victims to Medical College hospital, where they were declared as brought dead.

Their dead bodies were handed over to their family members after post-mortem. While Deepa was cremated in the evening, cremation of Pappu will take place tomorrow.

According to Banihal Group, Pardeep Gupta alias Deepa was a leading transporter and vice president of Banihal Group and Director of Karan Motor Services. Pappu was also a transporter.

The Banihal Group alleged that both Deepa and Pappu were murdered in a pre-planned manner. It said Balwan Singh and Gandharab Singh were sitting in Shop No. 14 of Karan Market, where they received a telephone call of Deepa’s presence in JDA office.

Balwan and Gandharab straightway rushed to JDA office alongwith their PSO and gunned down Deepa and Pappu, the Banihal Group said.

On the other side, Balwan Singh was heading Kashmir Motor Drivers (KMD) Association.

The day-light shoot-out in JDA office created panic in the office. JDA Vice Chairman Shant Manu was not present in the office when the firing occurred. Panic-stricken staff of the JDA locked themselves inside the room and came out only after police officers reached the scene.

Staff told a visiting EXCELSIOR correspondent that they feared militants’ attack on the office. Blood had splashed all over the office complex after the shoot-out.

Meanwhile, J&K Motor Transport Companies Association president Mr Tarlochan Singh Wazir has strongly condemned the killings of Deepa and Pappu and expressed full sympathies with the bereaved families.

A bandh was observed in Bus Stand against the killings.

BSF jawan dies in blast
SHO Chatru hurt in ambush; PSO killed

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Apr 24: SHO of Chatru police station was injured alongwith two PSOs in a militants’ ambush at Gujjar Pul this evening while PSO of a political leader was shot dead by the ultras in Gandoh in two separate incidents across Doda district today.

In another incident, a BSF head constable was killed and three others were injured in an IED blast at Kali Masta in Gool early today.

Official sources said SHO Chatru police station Sub Inspector Vijay Dhar was returning to police station when his vehicle was ambushed by the militants at Gujjar Pul this evening. The militants opened firing which was retaliated by SHO and his PSOs.

In the ambush, Vijay Dhar and his two PSOs were injured. Militants managed to escape after the firing. Police parties reached the spot and shifted the injured to hospital. Their condition was stated to be stable.

Police parties have launched a search operation in the area to trace the militants.

Meanwhile one SPO Nazir Ahmed, who was working as PSO with a political leader Mohd Muzaffar Bhat, was shot dead by the militants at village Sinoo in Gandoh tehsil of Doda last night.

A powerful landmine blast occurred when a BSF patrol party walked over the mine in Kali Masta area of Gool at 0600 hours today. A BSF head constable identified as Khem Anand was killed instantly in the blast while three other soldiers sustained minor injuries.

BSF jawans later sealed the area and launched searches.

Naib Subedar of Rashtriya Rifles identified as Raj Kumar was injured in an encounter with the militants at village Nawapachi in Doda this evening.

Two families of Moosa and Sadiqi, comprising eight members, today migrated from Lodra, Basantgarh to Ramnagar alleging excesses by police. They have taken shelter in Tehsildar, Ramnagar’s office.

Illegal appointments
4 ex-CEOs penalised

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 24: State Government has penalised four top officers of Education Department for their making clandestine appointments of Class-IV employees during their tenure as Chief Education Officers (CEOs).

The officers who have been penalised included Lalit Kumar, the then CEO Jammu R R Dubey, former CEO Kathua, Baldev Singh Puri, the then CEO Rajouri and P L Sharma, former CEO Poonch.

While Lalit Kumar, Baldev Singh Puri and P L Sharma are presently working as Field Advisors at SIE Jammu, R R Dubey is holding the post of Joint Director School Education Jammu.

According to the Government order number 485-Edu of 2001, issued by Mr Vijay Bakaya ,Principal Secretary to Government, Education Department, these erring officials were charge -sheeted for making illegal and irregular appointments against Class-IV posts during the year 1998-99 in their capacity as CEOs at different places in Jammu region. It was found after the replies received from the charged officers that these former CEOs had violated the well-advised procedure of selection of the candidates. " The manner in which the appointments were made was not only clandestine, but it undermined and decried the trust of the people in general in the process of selection", the order said, adding that the charged officers did not even even show a scintilla of resistance in carrying out the biddings for issuance of illegal orders. Further, they failed to maintain the decorum of office and follow rules and procedure in carrying out their responsibility. The charged officers cannot, therefore, be absolved of heir responsibilities, the order said.

The order was, however, lenient towards the charged officers considering their involvement in these illegal appointments. They have been awarded the penalty of forfeiture of one increment.

A S Salaria, who was also involved in making illegal appointments during his capacity as CEO UDhampur, has already retired as Principal DIET Jammu and as such the penalty of forfeiture of increment doesn’t hold good for him.

Omar opposes Hurriyat visit to Pak

Excelsior Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, April 24: The Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Mr Omar Abdullah, finds fault with the Government’s handling of the situation arising from the demand of Kashmir’s All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) for permission to its delegation to visit Pakistan for talks with militants and officials there on the Kashmir crises.

In a media interview, Mr Omar Abdullah has been quoted as having observed: "By not giving a passport to one of the members (of the Hurriyat Conference), the Government has succeeded in making more out of him than he has ever been able to make of himself in his entire life. The Government not granting them passports has only served to confuse the issue".

Mr Abdullah’s obvious reference was to the right-wing secessionist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani. The Hurriyat leaders, Mr Abdullah pointed out, can make an issue over the non-availability of a passport "but they cannot go beyond that".

Why should the Government of India send anyone to Pakistan, Mr Omar Abdullah asked. His comment: "Those who have passports are free to go. Their benefactors in the Pakistan High Commission will grant them a visa immediately.

Mr Omar Abdullah’s assertion : "The Government of India reserves the right to determine who they want to grant visa to— there is no automatic allocation. A certain procedure has to be followed. There is a procedure of verification, you have to sign a certain oath of allegiance—getting a passport is not one’s legitimate birthright".

Mr Abdullah was reported to have also stressed : "The Hurriyat has to be clear about whether they are willing to sign such an oath of allegiance which clearly states that they are citizens of India. I would say, what better opportunity does the Government of India have than in getting the biggest separatist organisation carrying clearly stamped documentation that declared that they are citizens of India".

In his reply to a question, Mr Abdullah said: "What we do expect is that suitable conditions be created, in order for a dialogue to take place between the Government of India and other players who are operating in the Valley ".

When asked if he thought Pakistan should also be included in this round of talks, Mr Abdullah placed himself on record by explaining: "I hope these talks will lead to talks between India and Pakistan. I donot think they (Hurriyat) can link their talking to the Government of India to tripartite talks. The Government of India has already ruled this out. They (Hurriyat) have to decide, none of us can decided for them but believe that they should talk to KC Pant and put their point of view across".

Asked as to why was he opposed to the holding of tripartite talks, Mr Omar Abdullah explained "These talks are for organisations within India. At the appropriate time, that will be determined. When Pakistan is committed to reducing violence, talks will be held with them ".

When asked if he was happy about the cease-fire in J&K, Mr Abdullah said: "There is a fresh air of expectancy. Where all this will lead to, only time will tell. There is no denying the fact that there has been a negative fallout. In some areas, civilian casualties have increased and there have been some high profile attacks on the security forces ".

Responding to another question, Mr Abdullah insisted: "Globally, the message has gone out that India is committed to peace. It has undertaken an unlimited cease-fire and has then extended it. These moves have put paid to Pakistan’s tall claims. Look at the area of trade where India has been trying hard to normalise relations with Pakistan, yet they have gone ahead and hold back container after container of sugar ".

Stating that India has accorded Pakistan the most favoured nation status, Mr Abdullah has regretted that Islamabad has restricted trade just 52 products. And he posed: Are these the signs of a country that wants to normalise relations with India ?

When asked if his father, Dr Farooq Abdullah , is trying to appoint him as the next Chief Minister of Kashmir, Mr Omar Abdullah placed on record as saying: "What my father wants to have done and what he succeeds in getting done will depend on his party members. My father may decide to make me King of England but that does not mean that he will succeed. I will have to contest elections like any one else and the will of the people will prevail".

Asked if his National Conference party’s differences with the BJP have been sorted out, Mr Abdullah said: "we didn’t like the way our autonomy proposal was handled. It was unilaterally thrown out by them ".

Agrarian Reforms Act openly violated
Land mafia-Revenue nexus surfaces

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Apr 24: With the officials openly violating its every clause , the much talked about J&K Agrarian Reforms Act seems to have lost its utility now. Enacted in 1976 to grant the ownership rights of land to tillers, the Revenue officials have been making a complete mockery of this Act for years together with authorities at helm of affairs taking no cognisance of the same.

According to reports hundreds kanals of the land governed by this Act has been disposed off by the land mafia groups alone at Zainakote in outskirts of Srinagar district in connivance with the Revenue officials for commercial purposes.

In a bizarre example of this kind, 14 kanals of the land have been disposed off in Zainakote by the land mafia groups for commercial purposes after seeking the fraud Jamabandis (Revenue extracts) from the concerned Pathwaris and authenticating the same by the tehsildar of the area in year 1999.

The sources informed at various places the structures have been raised on this land while at other places the plinths have been laid.

Zainakote according to informed sources is not only the exception where the mafia groups involved in disposing off this land have surfaced but the practice is in vogue in other parts of the State also.

The sources said there is a brewing resentment among the local people of Zainakote against the revenue officials involved in this scandal and in order to seek action against the guilty under the law they approached every quarter from Revenue Minister to Deputy Commissioner Srinagar.

In their plea to higher authorities the people have demanded that the structures raised on this land be got dismantled and its status quo be maintained so that the basic purpose of the Act is not defeated.

Taking the serious notice of the matter the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Mr Khursheed Ahmed Ganai issued directives to Deputy Commissioner Srinagar to get the matter probed and an officer of the Department be deputed in the area to ascertain the position.

Besides the Divisional Commissioner also ordered the attachment of the concerned Patwari. But surprisingly this order was not honoured by the authorities at district level and instead of attaching the patwari of Zainakote an order has been issued where under he has been transferred to Mujgund vice Mr M Yousf.

In the meantime , the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has posted Mushtaq Ahmed as Patwari Zainakote. However, this order was not also implemented and the Patwari was attached with Collector Land Acquisition.

The Deputy Commissioner deputed the ADC Srinagar asking him to personally look into the matter without passing it to Tehsil and furnish the report to him.

But in contravention to the directives issued from the DC, the ADC passed on the documents to Tehsil and manipulated the report to hoodwink his superiors. He refuted the allegations to cover the persons involved.

But simultaneously the matter was got inquired by Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Srinagar after the aggrieved people of the area approached the authorities again.

In his report the AC Revenue maintained that the complaint was genuine and accordingly the Naib Tehsildar issued a letter vide his Order No 706-07/NTC/200 dt 28-11-2000 to the Executive Officer Srinagar Municipality asking him to remove the plinths on this land . A letter in this regard was also written from tehsildar to Naib tehsildar but till date not a single plinth has been dismantled.

In their complaint the people alleged one Patwari namely Ghulam Qadir has issued the extracts of Shajra Khasra and Jamabandis duly attested by the Tehsildar Settlement Srinagar for the Agrarian land for commercial sale in the year 1999. They further said the revenue officials involved in this scandal who issued extracts under Khasra Number 390 were so emboldened after Government failed to initiate action against them that they later made further violations of the Act by issuing the extracts of Land under Khasra No 387 and 389 also.

All these khasra numbers come under the purview of Agrarian Reforms Act.

Expressing their resentment against the revenue officials role in violating the Act the people are apprehensive that this way a strong lobby in the State is working to defeat the basic purpose of the Act which has been the greatest contribution of the former Chief Minister, Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah to the people of the State.

The sources said in order to save the skin of the patwari to conceal the bunglings in the Department though Mr Ghulam Qadir was transferred from Zainakote but the records of the area continue to remain with him and that of Mujgund with M Yousf.

The aggrieved people also approached the Revenue Minister, Mr Abdul Qayoom seeking his immediate intervention in the matter who after going through the case has ordered a Departmental probe in it.

The matter was also raised in the State Assembly recently and Mr Qayoom told the House that the Government has ordered the probe and action against the guilty will be taken after the inquiry is finished.

However, the sources while expressing surprise over the dilly-dallying tactics adopted by the Revenue authorities in maintaining the status quo of the land and punish the guilty said that when everything has been proved by documentary evidence what is fun of ordering a fresh probe.

This was the Government providing ample opportunity to the defaulters to manipulate the things, the sources further said.

CM for countering Pak’s defamatory campaign

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 24: Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today accused Pakistan and its lackeys for launching a disinformation campaign against the country and called for effective measures to counter it so that people are provided with correct and truthful information.

Delivering valedictory address at the one-day orientation-cum workshop for Information Officers organized by the Department of Information at Press Club here, the Chief Minister said that disinformation campaign hurts us the most and we have to beat them in this game.

He referred to the blast at Hurriyat headquarters in Srinagar yesterday and Pakistan propaganda machinery blaming India for it and said that we lack in effectively countering this propaganda. The fact is, he said that some elements are targeting Hurriyat to force it to follow their stance while taking final decision on the peace initiative.

The Chief Minister said that some time even the media blows certain incidents out of proportion painting a misleading picture about the State allover the country and abroad. He said media reporting of an incident that occur in Kupwara, hundreds miles away from Srinagar creates, an erroneous impression among the people in the country that the Kashmir is burning. He referred to his interaction with three couples at Dal Lake Srinagar this morning who came to Srinagar after seeking blessings of the Goddess at Vaishno Devi Shrine and said that when he asked them how do they feel, they said they found Kashmir quite peaceful contrary to the impression generated by the media

Dr Abdullah pointed out the important but delicate role of Information Department in the present situation and said that it has not only to highlight the Ministers activities but also see that correct picture of the incidents and the State is put across all over the country. Fixing agenda for the department, he said he would expect Information Department to be truthful and if any mistake has been committed there is no need to hide it. "We should accept the mistakes gracefully.’’ He said if we miss the opportunity, our neighbour would use it to its full capacity against us.

Underlining the urgent need to counter disinformation campaign effectively, the Chief Minister said that the Government has decided to set up a Special Information Cell dedicated to the task of countering disinformation and projecting the correct and truthful picture. He said this Cell would be made functional soon. He advised Information Department to project the situation as it happens so that our opponents do not get an opportunity to misrepresent the fact and mislead the people.

Lauding the role of Information Department, the Chief Minister said that the department has to be in the forefront. It needs to be modernized and its staff fully trained to meet the challenge of the situation as also of the new Information Technology and changing media scenario. Assuring the Director Information of his full support to any such proposal, he said, though we have financial constraints but money would not be allowed to come in the way of department’s up-gradation and modernization .

He said the Information Technology being used by electronic media today has proved its effectiveness in quick and authentic dissemination of news allover the globe. In this connection he referred to the media blitz in Kargil war and said that it was because of the electronic media that people in the country and abroad came to know the truth of Pakistan’s aggression The Information Department, he said should plan for introducing such technology in the organisation which could give logistic support to the news.

The District Information Centres which are now devoid of any facility, need to be fully equipped with latest gadgets, computers, mobility and faster mode of communications for rapid dissemination of news. He said that these Centres must be given dish/cable connections to monitor all TV channels and see what they are putting out about the State. We should even think of providing satellite phones to Information department saying that unless the department has these gadgets not much can be expected from it in the fast changing hi-tech media scenario.

Saying that stagnation of Information personnel is dangerous for the department, Chief Minister said that while the department has to be provided with latest equipment, there is equal urgent need to remove employees’ stagnation at different levels. Coupled with it a massive training programme should also be taken up. He advised Information department personnel never to close their mind as that would amount to end of the road. They should also focus the attention to improve the quality of their work.

Dr Abdullah appreciated the initiative of holding workshops for the PR personnel of the department. He said such workshops should be made regular feature in Jammu and Srinagar. Even media experts from the country should be invited to train our staff for better results.

Bangla soldiers erecting bunkers
India steps-up vigil

From B L Kak in Assam

Indian security forces have been directed to intensify vigil along the country’s International Border with Bangladesh and knock out rackets involved in the smuggling of arms into the Indian territory from across the border.

Huge arms consignment have arrived at Cox Bazar port in Bangladesh for militants and subversives based in different areas in India’s north-eastern region, a top security officer told this correspondent in a forward location close to Assam’s border with Bangladesh.

The Assam Government as well as the security agencies in Tripura, according to the officer, have reasons to be somewhat perturbed as even a section of the print media in Bangladesh has, on more than one occassions in recent days, provided clear hints about Coz Bazar port having become "very active" following the arrival there of huge arms consignments for anti-India elements and organisations.

In fact, the Bangladesh-based Bengali daily, Dainik Janakantha, recently highlighted news about unloading of a consignment of arms from a ship anchored at Cox Bazar. After a series of high-level consultations at different places, including Guwahati, Agartala, Shillong and New Delhi, instructions were issued to the Indian frontier guards to beef up security measures to prevent any bid to push the arms consignment through.

These instructions were also prompted by the receipt of intelligence inputs, making it clear that India-bound arms consignment at Cox Bazar included AK assault rifles, sub-machineguns, revolvers, pistols and high explosive material.

This correspondent learnt both from official quarters and some villagers during whirlwind tour of some areas close to the Indo-Bangladesh border in the two states of Meghalaya and Assam that smugglers are known to act as informers for both the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR).

And official quarters have confirmed that the capability of Bangladesh Rifles in mobilising civilian populations in border areas, whose willingness to help their frontier guards, stood Bangladesh in good stead in recent flare-up along the border with India in Meghalaya and Assam.

This correspondent, while watching the movement of people just across from an Indian picket, saw dozens of Bangladeshi civilians engaged in the task of assisting the BDR men in erecting bunkers and digging trenches. There were others who were found cooking meals in huge utensils to feed their jawans.

"See, just see what they are doing", a small group of border villagers pleaded when two security officers were explaining the situation as it obtained before and during the border skirmishes last week. Clearly, the other side, namely, Bangladesh Rifles troops were carrying loads of additional arms and ammunition for their outposts.

Additional BDR personnel have been, in the past three days, sent in Belonia, Laldila and Pyrdiwah sectors. Such a move, Indian defence analysts in Guwahati and Shillong argued, could escalate tension along the border.

The skirmishes between the frontier forces of India and Bangladesh have given a handle to political rivals of the Bangladesh Premier, Ms Hasina Wajid, who thrive on anti-India rhetoric and her alleged India tilt. The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of Ms Khaleda Zia, to quote Bangladeshi newspaper reports on Monday and Tuesday, described the Pyrdiwah incident as an "aggression by India".

Significantly, Bangladesh’s right-wing Jammat-e-Islamia saluted the Bangladesh Rifles for their ‘heroic’ action in recapturing Pyrdiwah. At the same time, however, Bangladesh’s retired Army officer, Major General Moinul Hossain Chowdhury, was reported to have criticised the BDR leadership for its non-professional attitude and foolhardly utterances.

At present, one person who has triggered animated discussions in almost all political and official circles in Assam and Meghalaya is none other than the Director-General of the Bangladesh Rifles, Major General AIM Fazlur Rehman. In fact, he has promoted many on this side of the border to ask: Could he have acted alone and indulged in such brinkmanship ?

A set of media reports from Dhaka informed that Major General Fazlur Rehman is incapable of orchestrating a grand plan and, more important, unlikely to have been part of any plot to destabilise the Sheikh Hasina Government.

Jaya’s nomination rejeced

CHENNAI, Apr 24 : In a severe blow to AIADMK supremo J Jayalalitha’s political fortunes, her nomination papers in all the four constituencies, including Andipatti and Krishnagiri, in the coming Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu were today rejected in view of her conviction in a corruption case.

Ending months of suspense ever since she was convicted for corrupt practices in the Tansi land deal case last year, the returning officers of Andipatti and Krishnagiri did not find her nomination papers in order as did the ROs in Bhuvanagiri and Pudukottai where her supporters had filed papers on her behalf yesterday.

The Krishnagiri decision sparked off an intitial bout of violence outside the RO’s office but reports from elsewhere in the North Western district and other parts of the State spoke of no untoward incident.

While Krishnagiri RO M Mathivanan did not give any reason for rejecting her papers, Andipatti RO S Jaya said the main ground for rejecting Jayalalitha’s nomination was that she has been convicted by a trial court for offences for more than two years’ imprisonment.

"This attracts Section 8 (3) of the Representation of the People Act and which, in effect, implies disqualification from contesting elections," Jaya said.

Besides, she said, the Election Commission had also in its Order 28.8.1997 directed strict compliance by ROs of its guidelines under which convicted person is disqualified from contesting from the date of conviction irrespective of whether the person is released or is on bail.

RO Jaya said Jayalalitha’s papers were rejected also because she has filed nominations from more than two constituencies which violated election laws, a ground cited the RO of Bhuvanagiri.

In a related development, the nomination papers of former Assembly Speaker and a Union Minister Sedapatti R Muthiah were also rejected from Sedapatti constituency on a similar ground that he was convicted in a corruption case and sentenced to more than two years imprisonment.

Muthiah had filed his papers as an independent candidate following his expulsion from AIADMK.

In Krishnagiri, the nomination papers of AIADMK cover candidate govindarajan were found in order.

Chief Minister M Karunanidhi told reporters here that there would be no sympathy wave for AIADMK following rejection of Jayalalitha’s nominations.

The decision of the returning officers came after arguments by lawyers of Jayalalitha, including former Chief Minister Siddhartha Shankar Ray, that the conviction stood stayed because of the suspension of the sentence by the Madras High Court last year. (PTI)

Militant killed, arms seized in Surankote

Excelsior Correspondent

POONCH, Apr 24: A foreign mercenary was killed in Lassana while police recovered a consignment of army from Dundak forests in Phagla area of Surankote tehsil today.

Defence sources said the foreign mercenary was killed in a joint operation by army and police in Lassana this morning. Slain ultra was identified as Abu Abdul Rahim of Lashkar-e-Toiba. One AK-56 rifle, four magazines, 144 rounds and three hand grenades were recovered from the scene of encounter.

A police party also engaged a group of militants in an encounter in Dundak forests of Phagla in Surankote. The encounter continued for four hours in the morning.

SSP Poonch Dr Kamal Saini said the militants managed to escape taking advantage of thick forests. Police recovered one AK-56 rifle, one magazine, five rounds, one hand grenade and one pouch from the spot.

Searches continued in the village to nab the absconding militants.

CBI gets vital clues

NEW DELHI, Apr 24: CBI has gained some vital clues about a smuggling racket from the questioning of as many as 20 Customs officials, whose premises were raided in a nation wide swoop on March 31.

Highly-placed agency sources said the questioning of Customs officials which began last week would take some more time as the sleuths of the economic offence wing had to examine 28 more officials.

The CBI had raided offices and residential premises of several serving, retired and suspended customs officials for their alleged role in helping an Uzbekistan-based smuggling racket also involving two Afghan nationals in their operations here.

The sources said a disproportionate assets case would be filed against some of the Customs officials whose residences were raided on March 31.

The searches were made on reports of a big smuggling racket involving an Uzbek woman Olga Kozireva (already arrested) and two Afghan nationals — Del Agha and Mamoor Khan — in connivance with senior Customs officials.

They said Kozireva, a Cofeposa detenue, who was lodged in Tihar jail, was also to be questioned by the agency after obtaining the requisite court order.

During her remand she had been maintaining silence.

The CBI questioned these Customs officials as to why Kozireva was not questioned over her frequent travels to the country.

Kozireva was arrested in August last year when she tried to smuggle in Chinese silk measuring 81,000 yards.

The CBI alleged that customs officials were paid 700 to 800 US dollars per big baggage and 400 US dollars per small baggage to clear the smuggled goods.

The officers questioned in the racket were of the rank of Deputy Commissioner, Joint Commissioner and Additional Commissioner in the Customs, they said.

The FIR has charged the accused persons who also included another Uzbek woman Nazira Ibragimove, who is absconding, under section 420 (cheating) of Indian Penal Code and 13(2) read with 13(i)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

CBI will also be approaching Uzbekistan Government for its help in identifying the network under which Kozireva had been smuggling goods into the country.

The sources said that help from Uzbek Government would be sought in order to trace the brain behind the entire smuggling racket and what all goods had been brought into the country during the period 1997 to 2000.

The sources said the entire ramifications of the case were being looked into and any possible link with the case of suspended chairman of the Central Board of Customs and Excise B P Verma would be known. (PTI)

Blow to Musharraf

ISLAMABAD, Apr 24: Pakistan’s Supreme Court has dealt its second blow to military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf in as many weeks, describing parts of his draconian anti-corruption ordinance as "repugnant to law."

In a judgement on petitions challenging aspects of the military regime’s National Accountability Ordinance, the five-member bench ruled that some its harshest provisions were illegal.

The ordinance was introduced in the days following Musharraf’s bloodless coup in October 1999, when the military swept aside the Nawaz Sharif Government and vowed to stampout rampant corruption.

Dozens of politicians and senior bureaucrats have been imprisoned under the ordinance, which has been criticised by human rights groups and political parties here as little more than a blunt tool to silence the opposition.

Among other things, it allows the special National Accountability Bureau (NAB) police force to detain suspects for 90 days without charge, puts the onus of proof on the accused and carries punishments including a 21-year ban on holding public office.

But today’s judgement in the Supreme Court said people should not be held in remand for more than 15 days or disqualified from public office for more than 10 years.

The court was answering 15 petitions, including one from deposed Prime Minister Sharif who was convicted of hijacking and tax evasion and exiled to Saudi Arabia last year.

Last week the Supreme Court accused Sharif and his cronies of riggng the corruption trial and 1999 conviction of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Musharraf’s most vocal critic.

Bhutto, who has lived in exile since before the conviction, will be retired and faces other corruption allegations, but she has said the court has vindicated her and opened the way for her return to lead the democracy movement. (AFP)

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Red, Saffron join hands

MUMBAI, Apr 24: Reflecting its uneasy relationship with BJP, NDA constituent Shiv Sena today extended full support to Maharashtra bandh tomorrow called by 50 Left unions and nine political parties to protest against the Centre’s anti-labour policies.

"The anti-worker black laws must be crushed and we must take a pledge not to sit back till the Government is humbled,’’ Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray said in an appeal in the party mouthpiece "Saamna".

The State is all set to witness the blending of the saffron and red brigade with Thackeray’s call to support the State-wide bandh called by four major trade unions - INTUC, TUJAC, BMS and BKS.

The unions are demanding scrapping of the "anti labour, anti-farmer and anti-people" economic policies of the Centre as well as the Maharashtra Government and winding up of the controversial Enron Power Project in the State.

According to trade union leaders, around 1.5 crore workers from textile, banking, insurance, transport, petroleum, ports, civic, power and aviation sectors would be participating in the bandh.

Shiv Sena’s backing to the bandh, originally organised by the Left parties and their affiliated trade unions is considered a political move by Thackeray to keep the NDA Government under constant pressure.

The Left parties, however, have made it clear that they had not sought the support of the Sena and it was a unilateral decision of that party to join the protest against the Vajpayee-led NDA Government. (PTI)

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