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Two BSF
jawans civilian also killed Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Apr 29: Thirteen hardcore militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen were gunned down by army and police in three encounters across Poonch district today. Two BSF jawans and a civilian were also killed in other incidents. Of 13 militants, 11 were killed in a single operation in Hari Mehrot area of Surankote. They included a ‘divisional commander’ Abu Rezwan of Lashkar outfit and two unidentified ‘area commanders’ of Hizbul Mujahideen. Defence sources said a major operation was planned jointly by army and police in Hari Mehrot area at 1030 hours today after an information was developed by police that a big group of militants was moving in the area. The police party was physically led by SSP Poonch Dr Kamal Saini under the supervision of DIG Rajouri S S Bijral. Having taken shelter in a hideout, the militants opened firing on approaching columns of army and police, who fired back. The militants, most of whom were foreign mercenaries, fanned out in the area in small groups and gave a tough fight to security personnel. A fierce exchange of gun-fight started at about 1100 hours with both the sides using heavy fire arms. Militants also lobbed several grenades towards the security team. Exchange of firing continued till 1600 hours. By this afternoon, troops had eliminated five militants while six others continued to play a hide and seek battle with army. The six ultras were also liquidated by army and police jawans this evening, the sources said and added that all 11 militants, involved in the operation, were killed. Army and police displayed tremendous professionalism in the operation and didn’t suffer any casualty. Bodies of all 11 slain militants have been recovered from the encounter site by tonight but only one of them was identified as Abu Rezwan, a ‘divisional commander’ of Lashkar-e-Toiba, who was leading the militant group. Two other slain ultras were ‘area commander’ of Hizbul Mujahideen. Their rank had been written on the rifles recovered from them. All 11 ultras belonged to LeT and HM outfits and were holding a joint meeting in Hari Mehrot forests to work out a strategy to intensify attacks on security forces and civilians. Recovery made from the scene of encounter included 11 AK-56 rifles with 14 magazines and 525 rounds, one Pika gun with 325 rounds, 54 hand grenades, three wireless sets, 10 pouches and a large quantity of incriminating documents. Killing of 11 militants in a single operation by army had dealt a crippling blow to Lashkar and Hizb outfits, the sources said. Meanwhile, militants of Lashkar and Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen outfits clashed in a case of inter-group rivalry in Khet area near Sabjian in Mandi belt of Poonch early this morning. The militants’ fighting resulted into the killing of a hardcore Lashkar militant Lukman Bhai, a resident of Muzafarrabad in Pakistan. Troops rushed to the spot after receiving a report of militants’ clash. However, the militants had managed to escape before the arrival of army leaving behind the dead body of slain ultra. One pistol and one wireless set was ground in possession of Lukman Bhai, who was leading Lashkar cadre in Mandi belt. Another militant was killed in an hour long operation with army at village Solian in Marot area of Surankote this afternoon. Two associates of the militant escaped during the cross-firing. One AK-56 rifle with three magazines and 135 rounds were recovered from the possession of unidentified militant. Security forces continued searches to apprehend two absconding militants. Meanwhile, a group of eight militants ambushed a patrol party of 132 battalion of the Border Security Force (BSF) in Zohar village near Tatta Pani in Kalakote tehsil of Rajouri district this morning killing two BSF jawans on the spot. Other BSF personnel retaliated leading to cross-firing for about one and a half hour. But, the militants, who had the advantage of firing from atop a hill, managed to escape without sustaining any casualty. Deceased BSF jawans have been identified as Lance Naik Sita Ram and constable Raju Krishanan. Their bodies have been shifted to a camp for further transportation to their native towns. Later, army also reached the spot and combed the area to track down the militants. Unidentified ultras kidnapped and killed a civilian Abdul Gafoor, 48, son of Abdul Haleel in Silwa area of Mendhar tehsil. Bullet-riddled body of Gafoor, which also bore the marks of torture, was recovered from a distance of about one km from his house. Another civilian Mohd Sharief son of Lal Din R/o Kothian, Kalakote has been kidnapped by the militants. Hiz whereabouts remained uncertain till this evening. Militants also torched the house of Afzal Hussain son of Ghulam Hussain in Mayari Gali of Kalakote. |
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Game of wits between
militants and security forces From Ahmed Ali Fayaz BUDGAM, Apr 29: Having re-established a strong base in the central Budgam district after a calmness of six years, militants of Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammad today killed nine paramilitary soldiers and a counter-insurgent civilian in two major strikes in Beerwah and Chrar-e-Sharif segments. In retaliation, Police and security forces eliminated two Kashmiri militants of Hizbul Mujahideen at Soibug — the residential village of the outfit’s "supreme commander" Syed Salah-ud-din — while as three more militants died in the encounter near Chrar-e-Sharif. In follow up to Saturday’s dramatic capture of a hitman by Budgam Police at Rajbagh, in Srinagar, Police eliminated two important functionaries of Hizbul Mujahideen in wee hours today at Soibug. Independent sources insist that Budgam Police trapped the Hizb militants with the help of the captured militant, Zahid Ahmed Bhat alias Boya of Saraiballa (Gonikhan) who is now a resident of Nowgam. As exclusively reported in this newspaper, Zahid had been chased and captured by two constables of Budgam Police after he fired upon their vehicle, seconds after killing a surrendered militant at Gogjibagh, in Srinagar yesterday. Independent sources maintained that Zahid was made to trap his commanders who told them on telephone that he was waiting for them in injured condition at a particular spot. As the two top-wanted militants reached the spot, they found themselves trapped by a thick contingent of Budgam and Srinagar district police. According to these unofficial sources, the duo were captured, disarmed, interrogated and shot dead. Their dead bodies were thrown at a deserted place at Chak Hanjipora in Soibug village. Sources said that a large quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered from them at several hide-outs. They were identified as Abdul Hameed Mir S/o Mohammad Shaban Mir of Haran (Soibug) and Niyaz Ahmed Bhat alias Riyaz S/o Mohammad Khalil Bhat R/o Abban Shah, Sharif-abad. On the other hand, official sources told EXCELSIOR that Police conducted a series of raids on Zahid’s disclosures. When a raid was being conducted at Soibug, militants fired upon the Police party. Police retaliated and both the militants got killed. Some officials claimed that SOG Budgam, SOG Srinagar and troops of Rashtriya Rifles also participated in the operation. They said that one AK-47 rifle, three pistols, a wireless set and a large quantity of grenades and ammunition was recovered from the spot. Sources said that the former SPO, who worked with RR 2nd Bn for some time, had gone underground in October last year and returned to Hizbul Mujahideen. He was responsible for killing of two constables and an SPO besides kidnapping a girl, in a shootout, at Gogoland, near Old Airport two months ago. Niyaz was described by officials as a hardcore militant and close associate of the Hizb terror Mustafa who has reorganised militancy in Budgam district in a big way during the last five months of the unilateral ceasefire. 6 CRPF men killed in IED Blast In a major setback to security forces, militants laid a trap and killed half-a-dozen paramilitary CRPF personnel in an IED explosion at Hardu-Malpora, in Soibug-Beerwah belt of Budgam district today. As part of their gameplan, militants first shot dead a counter-insurgent, namely Nazir Ahmed Dar S/O Ghulam Rasool Dar of Wuhangam and threw his dead body on road, near Malpora. In a trick to invite the newly-established camp of SOG Magam, an unidentified militant described himself as the village headman and informed SHO Magam that militants had killed a civilian and his dead body was on the road. Rather than sending the SOG men to the spot, SHO Magam called SHO Beerwah and asked him to visit the spot. When the Police Gypsy followed by a CRPF Gypsy and a Tata-404 reached a spot, 2 Km short of Malpora, militants caused a powerful IED blast and the CRPF Jonga blew up. Six CRPF constables got killed and four others sustained injuries. Only four men in the targetted Tata-407, bearing registration No: BLIL-1764, escaped unhurt. One of the critically injured personnel is likely to be shifted to New Delhi or Chandigarh on Monday. Officials aadmitted it as a major jolt to the security forces and held the Mustafa Group of Hizbul Mujahideen responsible for the same. However, none of the militant organisations claimed responsibility till late this evening. This is after six years of tranquility that militants have been able to strike in a big way against the security forces in this part of Budgam district which, for years, enjoyed the distinction of being a militancy-free area. 3 BSF men, 3 ultras killed at Chrar In third major incident of violence in Budgam district, three BSF personnel — including an Assistant Commandant — as also equal number of militants died in a fierce gunbattle near Chrar-e-Sharif today. Official sources told EXCELSIOR that on a specific information, troops of BSF 10th Bn and SOG Budgam conducted a search operation at Zenpanchal Kokerkhal, in Chrar-e-Sharif area of Budgam district today. During the operation, militants opened fire, killing three BSF personnel in the initial round of the encounter. Troops retaliated and eliminated all the three holed up militants in 7-hour-long gunbattle. Six residential houses were destroyed in the encounter. The BSF personnel killed in the encounter were identified as Assistant Commandant Jay Singh, constable Sushil Kumar (who is a resident of Vesu village of Anantnag district, now living in Kishtwar) and constable Shabir Ahmed who is a resident of Iskandarpora village of Budgam district. Official sources said that the three militants killed in the encounter could not be identified immediately. However, they were described as cadres of Jaish-e-Mohammad. Unconfirmed reports said that one of the militants had been identified as Farooq of Letapora (Awantipora) while as two more were believed to be Pakistani nationals). Two AK-56 rifles and a wireless set had been recovered from the devastated site of the encounter by this evening. |
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Pak has no role to play in J&K: Gill CHANDIGARH, Apr 29: Pakistan has no role to play in the Kashmir issue, former Punjab Police chief K P S Gill said today and emphasised that India should not talk to the present military Government there or the civilian Government whenever it comes to power. "As long as that country continues to actively support insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere in the country we should have no business talking to them," he said on the concluding day of a two-day seminar, "Threats to India’s Internal Security," organised by Panch Nad Research Institute here. Commenting on the cease-fire currently in force in the State, Mr Gill, who has a track record of dealing with insurgency in the Northeast and Punjab, said it had both good and bad aspects. "When you have a cease-fire which is reciprocated and showing positive results then it is good. But when you have a situation where the neighbouring country is encouraging local groups by training and providing them weapons of mass destruction and facilitating their movement into India and our men are getting killed...Then we have to rethink whether or not it is working." Expressing concern over 3000-5000 foreign mercenaries operating in Kashmir, he said: "They are a big force, equivalent to two army brigades even as they are spread all across the State. This is what makes it difficult to track them down." Mr Gill described as breach of national security the Kargil conflict, Indian Airlines-IC-814 hijack to Kandahar, and the recent killing of 16 BSF jawans along the Indo-Bangla border. His view regarding the killing of BSF personnel was that "the inhuman way our soldiers were treated deserved a tough response," he said referring to the killings of BSF jawans. "We need to take a holistic view while expressing our security concerns. When we talk of national security and India’s security concerns we should try to arrive at a consensus regarding how we are going to tackle the problem. Unfortunately, there is bankruptcy of ideas, lies are told by men in high positions. The security agencies these days are not being trained properly and they have the habit of passing the buck and not accepting responsibility. All this has to change if there is to be no compromise in our security," Mr Gill said. Delivering his presidential address, Air Marshal (Retd) R S Bedi said: there is a need to evolve a deterrent approach to stop the enemy from taking us for granted. The image of a soft state has to change and we need to bring more aggressiveness in our attitudes.’’ (UNI) |
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Tripartite talks
favoured ISLAMABAD, Apr 29: Pakistan has said the possible meeting between Foreign Secretaries from New Delhi and Islamabad on the sidelines of SAARC standing committee meet in Colombo next month could make progress if the two countries displayed sincerity. "Pakistan Government has repeatedly stated that as a first step dialogue should get underway and if these talks are initiated with sincerity then there would certainly be some progress," Director General of country’s Inter Services Public Relations Maj Gen Rashid Qureshi told Radio Tehran. Answering a question on Hurriyat’s insistence on tripartite talks on Kashmir issue, he said Islamabad has always held that talks should be conducted involving Pakistan, India and the 23-member separatist group. He said, for the past one year military ruler Gen Parvez Musharraf has persistently urged India that tripartite talks should be held if India was sincere and serious about resolution of Kashmir issue. However, he charged that India has been trying to avoid negotiations on the issue so far. Gen Qureshi also said that Pakistan would resist attempts by India to fence the border along the Line of Control (LoC). "Indians have no permission to fence this part of the border areas and it is absolutely out of question to give them permission to do so", he said. "The LoC boundary is a disputed area. It is also recognised in the relevant UN and Security Council resolutions. It is not a demarcated border, and is known as Line of Control or working boundary and this issue is yet to be sorted out," Qureshi said. He said the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan during his recent visit to Islamabad had declared that UN resolution on Kashmir was irrelevent and the matter should be resolved in the spirit of Lahore Declaration and Simla Agreement. Asked whether the countries could talk on fencing issue, Gen Qureshi replied in the negative and said, "there is no need for talks on this topic because it is absolutely clear. However, there is a need for talks on Kashmir issue," he said. (PTI) |
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Two Gujjars used as human shield by militants, killed Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 29: Two Gujjars were used by the militants as human shield and later gunned down at village Kurar, about three kms north east of Patnazi in Kishtwar tehsil of Doda district early this morning. Militants escaped. Deceased Gujjars have been identified as Kali Gujjar, 28, son of Fakir Gujjar and Khema Gujjar, 65, son of Mohd Ismail, both residents of Kurar. A Defence spokesman said troops were carrying out a routine patrolling in the areas adjoining village Kurar when they noticed movement of four militants. On being challenged and asked to surrender, the militants ran into the village and took shelter in four different houses. A security forces column, which tried to approach the houses, was fired upon by the militants, who came out using civilians as human shields. Militants opened indiscriminate firing on army columns but latter exercised utmost restraint to avoid civilian casualties. Indiscriminate firing by the militants resulted into killings of two Gujjars. Militants later managed to escape in the dense forest area. Security forces have launched a massive search operation in the forests to eliminate the killers of Gujjars. But, they remained untraced. Local people of Kurar and surrounding villages gathered in the house of deceased Gujjars this evening and protested against using innocent persons as human shield by Pakistan-sponsored militants. They also shouted slogans against the militants and requested to army officers to launch an operation to kill the killers of Gujjars. "It is a pity that the militants have started using innocent locals as human shield to save their own lives", the Defence spokesman said, adding ‘the inhuman and barbaric act has caused a lost of resentment among the villages, who have condemned the outrageous and heinous crime of the militants’. Meanwhile, according to the spokesman, a 12-year old girl Nagina daughter of Gafoor, a resident of Budhal accidentally fell down from roof of her house this morning. She suffered multiple injuries on her person including a wound in her head. As the girl was in critical condition, security forces doctor and army came to her rescue. She was promptly shifted to Army medical post in Budhal and was put on life saving systems. After initial resuscitation, the injured girl was evacuated by army in their ambulance to civil hospital of Rajouri. An army doctor accompanied the child in ambulance, the spokesman said. Medical facilities in the remote areas of Budhal are scarce and when some civilians fall ill seriously or get injured, army always come to their help. People of Budhal in general and parents of the injured girl in particular have appreciated and admired this human compassion and gesture of army. |
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NEW DELHI, Apr 29: In a major seizure, Custom authorities today seized foreign currency worth more than Rs 30 lakh and arrested a Dubai-bound passenger in this connection. Deputy Commissioner of Customs P K Katiyar in a statement said the currency was "meticulously concealed" in the false cavity of a suit case by the passenger, whose suspicious movements attracted the attention of department’s officials. The arrested person was being interrogated and officials were on the lookout for some more persons who had assisted him in illegal transaction of the money, Katiyar said. "The illegal export of precious foreign currency at such a large scale is a clear indicator that there is significant margin in hawala transactions," he said. (PTI) |
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Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Apr 29: Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, who arrived here this morning on a day’s visit, presided over a high level meeting that took stock of the law and order situation and development works. Minister for Revenue, Abdul Qayoom, Minister for Works, Ali Mohd Sagar, Minister of State for Home Mushtaq Ahmad Lone, Advisor to Chief Minister Shafi Shaida and senior civil and police officers attended the meeting. Briefing about the meeting, Mr Shaida later said that the Chief Minister was informed about the law and order situation and arrangements made in connection with reopening of offices in summer capital on May 7. He was also briefed about the development works under execution in the Valley, Mr Shaida said. Dr Abdullah inquired about the public facilities like drinking water and power and gave instructions to the concerned officials to improve the facilities so that the people were not put to unnecessary inconvenience. |
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Fire in army's ammunition depot at Pathankot Cantt Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, April 29: A series of explosions rocked an army ammunition depot which caught fire in neighbouring Pathankot district of Punjab late tonight. The fire broke out at the depot, which stores ammunition of mechanised columns, at Cymbal Chawk near Pathankot at 2200 hours, army sources said. Fire caused loss worth several crores of rupees. Official sources said the fire broke out at around 2200 hours at the depot which stores ammunition of mechanised vehicles. The arms, ammunition and other equipments are supplied to army installations in Jammu and Kashmir besides Punjab from this camp. Fire fighters from nearby places rushed to the spot and were fighting with sky-rocketing flames to control them. Civil authorities in Pathankot also swung into action and evacuated civilians from adjoining villages of Seuti, Karoli and Mamoon. Students of KLM International School, close to the cantonment, were also shifted to safer areas. Sound of explosions due to blasting of explosives devices in the fire was heard in several far off areas. The incidents created panic in Pathankot and Lakhanpur towns. Fire was on when the reports last came in. Defence and police sources, when contacted, couldn’t say anything about reasons behind the blaze. Sabotage by the militants was also not ruled out. Report of any loss of life was not immediately known, they said. An investigation is on. Panic-stricken civilians not far away from the area of the depot moved out of their houses soon after the blasts, the sources said. They, however, returned following police assurance on public address system that there was no threat to them since the fire was quite a distance from the residential areas. Army authorities sealed the area of Mamoon Cantonment on the outskirts of Pathankot. Fire fighters from Pathankot and Kathua rushed to the site and joined fire tenders of army and local Air Force station to bring the leaping flames under control by 2330 hours. The cause of the fire was not immediately known, police sources said, adding senior civil and police officers had also reached the spot. A devastating fire had also rocked army's ammunition depot in Bharatpur, Rajasthan last year causing loss worth several crores of rupees. Excelsior team made all out efforts for more details till 0100 hours. However, further details were awaited by then. |
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ISI plans to recruit Indian forces workers From B L Kak NEW DELHI, Apr 29: Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has launched a scheme, aimed at recruiting as many workers as possible from the families of soldiers serving in the Indian Army. Two engineering companies, presently engaged in construction activities in Nepal, have already been assigned the task of recruiting for the ISI men from the families of soldiers serving in the Indian Army. One of the companies, namely, Sachal Engineering Works of Pakistan has already recruited more than 50 Gorkhas in Nepal who had earlier worked for Border Roads Organisation and General Reserve Engineering Force. According to intelligence inputs, the chief of Sachal, Ghulam Hussain Cheema, and project manager, Mohammed Siddique, personally took interest in these recruits and visited their villages frequently. Recruiting workers from the families of soldiers serving in the Indian Army has two motives-first, to win them over and get some insight into the Indian Army, and, second, to learn about the movement of the Gorkha regiment as well as their leave positions. The Indian Army has some 48,000 Gorkha soldiers. Another one lakh retired Gorkhas are living in Nepal. Nearly 80 per cent of these soldiers are from the areas where the Pakistani company was engaged to repair the Mungling-Pokhara highway connecting Kathmandu with Pokhara. Pakistan does not view Nepal as a small country of over 2 crore people but one with 1,700-km open border with India, giving the ISI enough scope for launching subversive activities against India. The ISI’s activities in the Himalayan kingdom range from RDX rerouting to drugs trafficking and running the counterfeit currency racket. It is even into TV channels and road construction. The Nepal police have already confirmed that explosives are brought to Kathmandu in Pakistan Airlines flights, often by persons carrying diplomatic passports. Since RDX is plastic-based, metal-detectors cannot detect its presence. Also known as Cylotine and Hexogen, it is widely used in bombs, shells, detonators and fuses. When RDX is mixed with TNT, a more powerful explosive called ‘Composition’ is formed. The explosive is not manufactured in Pakistan. It is imported from Poland and the Czech Republic. And much of it is meant for terror strikes in Indian cities. Intelligence inputs reveal that in spite of Kathmandu’s assurance to New Delhi about its plan to prevent anti-Indian activities on the Nepalese soil, Pakistan continues to use Nepal as a base to regroup Kashmiri militant outfits and give them arms and money to carry out activities in India. Some of the anti-India activity by the Pakistanis is done through the most innocuous sounding agencies. Space Time Network (STN), a satellite cable company in Kathmandu, is owned by Jamin Shah, a young Kashmiri entrepreneur. STN is viewed by Indian intelligence agencies as a dedicated channel for Islamabad, a good one too considering its estimated viewership of 13 million across Nepal, India, Bhutan, Hong Kong and the Gulf. Nepal’s porous border with India is exploited fully by the ISI for infiltration of militants besides sending in arms, ammunition and explosives. The Kathmandu base is also used for sheltering Indian militant outfits such as ULFA and NSCN (National Socialist Council of Nagaland) for whom training centres are run by the ISI. A document available with the Government says that Indian intelligence agencies are worried that dormant ISI modules in India, Bangladesh and Nepal have now become active. The recent arrest of ISI agents show that they have been ensconced in the country for years before suddenly receiving orders to get a move on. The ISI, a top intelligence official told EXCELSIOR, seemed to have a three-pronged strategy for India-reconnaisance of major installations including Army establishments, destabilisation of Indian economy by flooding the country with fake currency and increasing the inflow of narcotics. There are reports of agents who have noted the movements of military vehicles and installations at the Western Command headquarters in Chandi Mandir near Chandigarh and the Central Command in Lucknow. The Delhi Cantonment area has also reportedly been surveyed. The official said that the ISI cells "are active" in Jammu and Kashmir as well as Madhubani and Kathiar in Bihar, Dinajpur and Siliguri in West Bengal, the Terai belt in Uttar Pradesh, Hyderabad in the south, Mumbai and various parts of Punjab and the northeast. According to the official, the ISI has cut out tasks for different groups. The Jammu and Kashmir Islamic Front and the Hizbul Mujahideen are to operate and restrict themselves in J&K, while Lashkar-e-Toiba and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen operate throughout the country. |
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Ranjan Yadav splits RJD, vows to topple Rabri Govt NEW DELHI, Apr 29: Having split the RJD in Lok Sabha, the breakaway group led by Ranjan Yadav today said it was in touch with forces opposed to Laloo Prasad Yadav to topple the Rabri Devi Government in Bihar even as NDA constituents Samata Party and Lok Janshakti came out in support of the rebels’ efforts. Splinter group RJD (Democratic) spokesman Anwarul Haq, MP, told reporters here that his group was in touch with all "like-minded" parties to garner their support for putting together an alternative Government in the State. He said RJD-D leaders would visit Patna in the next three to four days and unite all anti-Laloo forces so that it became easier to topple the Rabri Ministry. Lok Janshakti president and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said his party was in touch with Ranjan Yadav and would support any bid to topple the Rabri Devi Government. Samata Party leader Nitish Kumar said all help would be given to the RJD-D if it sought assistance from NDA. Replying to questions, Haq said the 10 MPs in Rajya Sabha too would split soon and claimed seven of them were with Ranjan Yadav. "We will meet in a day or two and finalise the split in the Upper House," rebel MPs Kumkum Rai and Dhamma Viriyo, who were also present at the press conference, said. The rebels claimed 60 out of 115 RJD MLAs did not attend the RJD national executive meeting in Patna yesterday and described them as supporters of Ranjan Yadav. They said presidents of 11 State units of the party stayed away from the meeting to express solidarity with Yadav. In Patna, a combative Laloo Yadav ruled out split in RJD Legislature Party following the expulsion of Ranjan Yadav and some others even as the organisational elections were put off apparently in the face of dissidence in the party. Meanwhile Lok Janshakti, a constituent of NDA today extended support to expelled RJD leader Ranjan Yadav to topple the Rabri Devi Government in Bihar and form an alternative ministry. "Ranjan Yadav’s claim for Chief Ministership will be rightful and we will extend full support to him to form an alternative Government," Lok Shakti president and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan told reporters here. He said his party was in constant touch with Ranjan Yadav. The Lok Janshakti chief said the split in RJD "is the manifestation of its leaders’ discontent with Rabri Devi administration and high handedness of Laloo Yadav who has been surviving on the politics of caste." Asked whether the breakaway RJD faction and his party would merge, Paswan said he did not foresee any such chance in near future. Describing Rabri Government as a "liability" for the State, Paswan said the large scale violence in Panchayat elections had "exposed" its "failure" to maintain law and order. "Why should they join our party. They have their own agenda," he said. Paswan said his party was contesting assembly elections in all the five States but seat-sharing arrangement could not be arrived at with other NDA partner except in West Bengal, where it had been allotted 11 seats. "It was our desire to contest the election in all the States as NDA partner as we have a committed vote bank in all of them but for being a new party an understanding could not be arrived at with our allies," he said. Lok Janshakti is contesting 15 seats in Tamil Nadu, 11 seats in Assam, nine in Kerala and seven in Pondicherry, Paswan said adding this would not affect party’s relations with other NDA allies. During the polls his party would focus mainly on local issues including education, health, population problem and caste system, he said. (PTI) |
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MMTC
begins ex-parte arbitration against NEW DELHI, Apr 29: The Metal and Minerals Trading Corporation (MMTC) has begun the arbitration proceedings in two cases against a firm of Sajjad Lone, son of Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone, and his two associates in another company for recovery of about Rs two crore on account of alleged default in making ornaments for exports from gold given by the Corporation. On April 20, the Corporation sent a notice to junior Lone while he was in the capital to appear before the arbitrator but the addressee was not found, official sources said here. Sajjad Lone had allegedly taken gold from MMTC under its "gold for gold" scheme in 1993-94. Under the scheme, the parties, registered within the customs bound areas, took gold from the MMTC and converted it into ornaments for export. The loan availing parties were supposed to return the principal amount in gold to the Corporation while interest was payable in cash. MMTC has alleged that Sajjad Lone left the country immediately after availing the loan following which the Corporation registered a complaint with the Central Bureau of Investigations in 1994 and Enforcement Directorate in 1995. The sources said that MMTC has to recover over Rs 1.24 crores and some other dues from a firm of Sajjad Lone and another company in which there were two other partners. However, efforts to seek comments from Sajjad Lone, who is said to be in Srinagar, did not succeed as he was not available. The arbitration proceedings against Sajjad Lone had been initiated sometime ago and the Corporation wanted him to participate in these, the sources said. According to the sources, Sajjad Lone had opened two outlets — B S L Jewellery Exports and Spic-n-Span — within the customs bound area for availing the MMTC loan facility. While he was the sole proprietor of B S L Jewellery, Spic-n-Span had two others Abdul Majid Lone and A Shah as partners, they claimed. The sources claimed there was a total outstanding of Rs 66.83 lakh against the BSL jewellery with the principal amount being Rs 27.46 lakh and interest Rs 39.37 lakh till March 2000. In this case, the MMTC began arbitration proceedings ex-parte besides referring the matter to the CBI on August 26, 1994 which in turn referred the matter to Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 29, 1995 after making preliminary investigations. The MMTC also made a reference to the Enforcement Directorate separately on March 29, 1995. The Corporation claims that it has to recover three export invoices outstanding for 100206 US dollar besides packing credit which could be either recovered from export invoices or from the unit. In case of Spic-n-Span, registered as a private limited company, the MMTC has to recover Rs 58.04 lakh which include Rs 24.59 lakh as the principal amount and Rs 33.44 lakh as interest. In this case, the Customs Department registered an FIR after it broke open the locker of the company and allegedly found that 18 kgs of gold was missing. The matter was referred to CBI on August 26, 1994 which in turn passed it on to Enforcement Directorate as foreign exchange was involved. The sources said the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) vide its order dated December 23, 1996 imposed a penalty of Rs 70 lakh against the company. Sajjad Lone returned here on April 19 from Pakistan after getting married to Asma Khan, daughter of JKLF chief Ammanullah Khan. (PTI) |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 29:The Indian Airlines has decided to operate an additional flight between Jammu,Leh tomorrow. According to Station Manager, Indian Airlines, Mr Ashok Kaul the passengers having confirmed tickets for Leh for today but could not go due to cancellation of flight are advised to report Jammu Airport tomorrow at 9-30 am for onward journey to Leh. |
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Rain plays spoilsport to Advani’s campaign GUWAHATI, Apr 29: Torrential rain played spoilsport to the campaign trail of Union Home Minister L K Advani as two of his four meetings were washed out today, while in the other two, inclement weather hampered the organisers in their work. Mr Advani was to kick off the campaign of AGP president and Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta at Sonapur this afternoon, but the meeting was washed out by heavy downpour. Mr Advani could attend two meetings at Dhubri and Jalukbari, but he had to cancel both Morigaon and Sonapur. Mr Mahanta looked up to Mr Advani for kicking off his campaign in Dispur constituency, where he was locked in a grim battle with his bete noire and one time friend Atul Bora. (UNI) |
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Zaffarwal admits his links with ISI BATALA (PUNJAB), Apr 29: Top Punjab militant Wassan Singh Zaffarwal, arrested in Amritsar on April 11, today said he had relations with ISI and had spent a few years in Pakistan. Zaffarwal, brought here in connection with a criminal case, told reporters here "I have links with ISI" of Pakistan where he stayed there for some years. The militant said he did not have any links with Punjab PWD Minister Sucha Singh Langaha saying he came into contact with him when he himself was a trade union leader and Langaha an Akali Dal leader. Zaffarwal said all the cases registered against him were false and he had never killed any person nor had aided and abetted anyone in killing innocent people. The case registered against him in Batala relates to killing of four people and injury to three in Bara Bazar here. (PTI) |
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