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Shells
land in Londi, Chak Dulma for the first time since 1971 From Sanjeev Pargal LONDI / CHAK DULMA (HIRANAGAR SECTOR), Dec 26: After creating a war like situation and forcing migration from Galar in Samba sector, Pakistan army today opened up a new front in Hiranagar sector firing heavy mortar shells at two forward places for the first time since 1971 war sending the people packing their luggage and migrating to the safer areas. A Galar like situation was developing in two forward villages of Londi and Chak Dulma, located within 100 meters of Zero Line on the International Border with army taking positions at all strategic locations but keeping the Border Security Force (BSF) in front. People packing off their goods, loading them in trolleys and shifting to the Government school buildings was a common scene in all forward villages of this sector. Camouflaged bunkers of army have come up all along Chak Dulma, Sade Chak, Londi, Mangu Chak, Dolian and Kullian villages in Hiranagar sector. Troops have also moved in in all the forward pickets maintained by the BSF. Late last night and early today, Pakistan army fired a number of heavy mortar shells in Londi, rattling all houses and shops in the village, located about just 150 meters short of the IB. "It was for the first time after the 1971 war that such big shells were fired by Pakistan army in Londi, where exchange of small arms firing is a routine", says Capt (Retd) Anchal Singh, who had witnessed 1971 war as well. Entire Londi village of about 200-odd families was tense and panic could be seen looming large on the faces of villagers. "Almost all the villagers spent sleepless night following three powerful shell explosions between 2020 hours to 2040 hours. All of us were ready to leave the village even in the mid-night but were stopped by the elderly people", says a woman, Rattno Devi while loading her blankets and trunks in the trolley parked outside her house and preparing to leave for the house of her sister in Rajbagh. The shells, according to a CID Officer camping in Londi, were aimed to target a BSF tower. All three shells narrowly missed the tower, fell in a field and went off with huge bangs, shattering window panes and rattling boundary walls of the houses. An officer of BSF’s 35 battalion, stationed right on the IB, said the shells were fired from Pakistan’s Sukumar and Chak Sama posts but they failed to hit the target. Asked what could be the reasons for Pakistan army to fire shells in Londi for first time after 1971, the officer, who didn’t want to be named, said :"the enemy troops want to ease pressure, maintained on them by the Indian army in Samba sector, by opening a new front in Hiranagar". "However", he warned, "we won’t allow that to happen and would give an appropriate reply to Pakistan army". Till this afternoon, the security forces hadn’t retaliated the shelling in Londi sector but, according to the official, the reply would be given any time. "We are on the job and our reply would be more harsh than theirs". Londi village is well within the small arms firing range of Pakistani post of Sukumar. And, the shells could even hit Panjgrain Barahamana and three other villages in its vicinity. "This was the reason which had compelled the people of even Panjgrain Barahamana to shift female and children of their families to the safer areas while the elders stay put to watch the situation and take a decision accordingly", asserts a resident Banarsi Dass while sitting in the compound of his house and enjoying sunshine. He was a lone family member left in the house as all others had left in the early hours of this morning anticipating the intensified shelling. In a village of 83 families comprising approximated 450 souls, Panjgrain Barahamana was left with only few male members. Same was the position in Londi where male members could be seen enjoying gossips, sitting in a ‘chopaal’ in the absence of the female members. Meanwhile, the authorities have opened five Government schools so far for the families, fleeing from their houses in the forward areas of Hiranagar sector. Saloora higher secondary school has been thrown open for the migrant families of Mangu Chak, Dullian and Kullian while Rajpura higher secondary school has been opened for the villagers of Chak Dulma and Sade Chak. Sherpur and Kuta high schools and Ghagwal girls school have also been opened for the migrants. "So far, the migrants were staying in the houses of their relatives in the safer areas and very few families have reported in the schools but the authorities anticipated rush in the Government schools in the next few days", a police officer said. Twin border villages of Chak Dulma and Sade Chak were also bereft of the majority of population. "While some people left early today following shelling in the adjacent villages, some others were packing up their goods and were in the process of leaving", reveals a villager, Khraiti Lal. A BSF jawan of 153 battalion, manning a post in Sade Chak on the Zero Line, said an unusual activity was noticed by him in Pakistani post of Joshar this afternoon. Joshar post was clearly visible from the BSF post. It was located at a distance of just 75 meters from the Indian post. While the BSF have positioned MMG and LMG guns at their post, Pakistan army have deployed AD guns, all of which could hit the target at a long range, the BSF sources said. |
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18 killed, 32 injured as bus falls into gorge Excelsior Correspondent POONCH, Dec 26: In a major road accident, around 18 passengers were killed and 32 others injured, five of them critically when a bus skidded off the road and rolled down near village Sathra about 20 Kms from here. According to police, the ill-fated vehicle bearing registration number JK02E-3057 was on its way from Sawajian to Poonch when driver lost control over the speeding vehicle while negotiating a sharp curve resulting into vehicle rolling down into gorge. About 10 passengers were killed on the spot while others succumbed to their injuries either while being shifted to hospital or after admission in the hospital. Getting the report of accident, a police party from Poonch rushed to the spot and started rescue operation with the help of locals. All the passengers were brought out from the gorge and shifted to District Hospital Poonch and Primary Health Centre (PHC) Mandi. It took police and local people about one hour to shift all the passengers to hospitals. The District Development Commissioner, Poonch Mr Ejaz Iqbal, SSP Poonch Dr Kamal Saini and MLC Mr Ikhlaq Khan were supervising the rescue operation. The condition of five of the injured was critical when reports last came in and the death toll is likely to go up. The deceased have been identified Sunil Kumar Dutta, son of Bal Mukund, Puran Chand, son of Nanak Chand, Inder Singh, son of Bishan Singh, all the residents of Poonch, Shabir Ahmed, son of Ghalum Rasool, Mohd Latief, son of Noor Mohd, both the residents of Gagria, Shamim Akhter, wife of Zahoor Ahmed of Shahpur, Muneer Hussain, son of Sian of Bandi Kama Khan, Hamid of Batal Kot, Mali, wife of Mohd Hussain of Surankote, Sagina, wife of Tanveer Ahmed of Bandi Kama Khan, Raju, Mohd Akbar, son of Faquir Mohd, Said Akbar, son of Mohd Hussain of Ari, Manzorr Ahmed and son of Ab Suban of Sanjian. Identity of two children and one women was not established. Our Kathua Correspondent adds: Fifteen persons were injured, four of them critically, when a mini-bus skidded off the road and rolled down at Sherpur in Hiranagar tehsil this evening. The ill-fated vehicle bearing registration number JK02D-831 was on its way from Londi to Ghagwal when driver lost control over the vehicle resulting into vehicle rolling down. On the receipt of an information, a police party rushed to the spot and shifted the injured passengers to District Hospital Kathua and SDH Hiranagar with the assistance of locals. Four of the injured were later referred to Government Medical College Hospital Jammu in view of their deteriorating condition. The driver of the vehicle reportedly fled away from the spot soon after the accident leaving behind the victims bleeding profusely. The injured admitted in Kathua hospital have been identified as Bajo Ram and Sumitra Devi of Londi while those referred to GMC Jammu have been identified as Parshotam, son of Deen Dayal of Ghagwal, Seema Devi, daughter of Diwan Chand, Vaishno Devi, wife of Milki Singh, both the residents of Londi and Kuldeep Chand, son of Naseeb Chand. A case has been registred in this connection and hunt was on to nab the absconding driver. But no arrest was made till late this evening. |
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Assembly poll schedule for
4 States announced Excelsior Correspondent/Agencies NEW DELHI, Dec 26: The by-election for Jammu Lok Sabha constituency which fell vacant after the death of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member Parliament Vaid Vishnu Dutt, will be held on February 21 next year. The bye-elections to five more Lok Sabha constituencies from as many States will also be held on February 21. Announcing this here today, the Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh told reporters after the full meeting of the Election Commission that the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttaranchal and Manipur will be also held between February 13 and 21 next with a three-day poll slated for Uttar Pradesh on February 14, 18 and 21. Punjab and Uttaranchal will have a one-day poll on February 13 and 14 respectively, while in Manipur it will be a two-day poll on February 14 and 21, he said. Mr Lyngdoh told reporters that the counting of votes in all States will be done on February 24. Bye-elections to Lok Sabha constituencies and six Assembly seats in four States, including Andipatti in Tamil Nadu where Jayalalitha plans to contest, will be also held on February 21, Mr Lyngdoh said. The Lok Sabha bye-elections include Guna (Madhya Pradesh) and Mirzapur (Uttar Pradesh) which fell vacant following death of senior Congress leader Madhavrao Scindia and Samajwadi Party’s Phoolan Devi. The other four Lok Sabha constituencies are Kaliabor in Assam, Jammu (J and K), Kanakapura (Karnataka) and Tripura West (Tripura). He said Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used in all Assembly constituencies of Punjab, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh, while they will be used for the first time in six Assembly segments of Manipur. As per the schedule announced by the Commission, the notifications will be issued on January 16, last date of filing nominations is January 23, scrutiny will take place the next day and the last date for withdrawal of candidature was January 28. By-elections to six Assembly seats — three in Tamil Nadu and one each in Haryana, Maharashtra and Rajasthan — will be conducted on the same day along with Lok Sabha by-elections on February 21. The constituencies are Yamunanagar (Haryana), Arvi (Maharashtra), Saidapat, Vaniyambadi and Andipatti (Tamil Nadu) and Ajmer West (Rajasthan). Asked whether elections would be re-scheduled if there was confrontation on the International Border, he initially said "as an Indian citizen who reads newspapers, I think there is going to be no war. But when the time comes, we will see." To a specific question as to whether the polls would be postponed in the event of a war with Pakistan, he said "obviously, we cannot be insensitive to what is happening around us. Elections are not more important than the interests of the country. But we will see when the time comes." Lyngdoh said the model code of conduct has come into force from today in all the States going for Assembly polls and the districts in those States where Lok Sabha and Assembly by-elections are being held. He said 400 observers were being deputed by the Commission to oversee the process of elections. Election Commissioner T S Krishnamurthy said a "major departure" done by the Commission this time was bringing into the "public domain" the separate accounts maintained by political parties till the completion of elections. He also warned of strict action against dereliction of duty by official machinery in the States going to polls if it failed to be absolutely impartial in its approach. The model code of conduct, which came into with immediate effect from today, will apply to Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Manipur and the whole of the district in which whole or part of Assembly or Parliamentary constituencies going for by-elections were included. The code will be applicable to all political parties and the State and Union Governments, Lyngdoh said. The Commission, in consonance with the past practice, decided that compulsory identification of voters would be made in all States and the constituencies going in for by-elections. On the EVMs, he said the machines were used in 1999 Goa Assembly polls, in half of Haryana’s Assembly segments in 2000 and all segments of West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry earlier this year. The Election Commission had initiated massive preparations in all the States in their run up to the current round of elections a few months back, he said. |
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US brands Lashkar, Jaish as terrorist outfits WASHINGTON, Dec 26: Mounting fresh pressure on Islamabad, the United States today branded Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Muhammed, involved in the attack on Indian Parliament, as terrorist outfits accusing them of seeking to assault democracy and undermine peace in South Asia. Continuing its balancing act, US Secretary of State Colin Powell, who declared LeT and JeM as foreign terrorist organisations (FTO), said however in a statement that the two groups conducted numerous terrorist attacks in India as well as in Pakistan and "destroy" relations between the two countries. Powell declared the US would work with India and Pakistan to shut LeT and JeM down. He said "as the recent horrific attacks against the Indian Parliament and the Srinagar State Legislative Assembly so clearly show, the Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and their ilk seek to assault democracy, undermine peace and stability in South Asia and destroy relations between India and Pakistan. The two groups, "which claim to be supporting the people of Kashmir, have conducted numerous terrorist attacks in India and Pakistan," the Secretary of State added. Powell said "the vicious attacks that took place on September 11 made it clear that the United States must use every tool at its disposal to combat terrorism. "Today, I am taking another important step in our campaign to eliminate the scourge of terrorism. I am designating two groups, Lashkar e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish e-Mohammed (JeM) as foreign terrorist organizations under US law. "By designating these groups as foreign terrorist organisations and publishing the decision today in the federal register, we implement the provisions of the anti-terrorism and effective death penalty act. "This Act makes it illegal for persons in the United States or subject to US jurisdiction to provide material support to these terrorist groups; it requires US financial institutions to block assets held by them and it enables us to deny visas to representatives of these groups.’’ "I made this decision in consultation with the Attorney General and Secretary of the Treasury after an exhaustive review of these groups’ violent activities," Powell said. "The United States looks forward to working with the Governments of both India and Pakistan to shut these groups down," he said. (PTI) |
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Border villagers’
fervent appeal to Vajpayee From Sanjeev Pargal PANJGRAIN BARAHAMANA (HIRANAGAR), Dec 26: Sitting under a banyan tree along a well, a group of about a dozen elderly people of this village, about half a kilometers short of Pakistan, are engaged in a serious debate on their future, which has necessitated in the wake of heightened skirmishes between Indo-Pak troops on the International Border. And, the unanimous view among the elders, most of whom were witness to 1965 and 1971 hostilities between Indo-Pak troops, was that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee should make his statement of ‘Aar Ya Paar’ (made by him in the aftermath of December 13 Parliament attack) a reality. "The time has come to settle the issue of border firing once and for all. We must go for a full-fledged war with Pakistan and teach that country a lesson", asserts a 78-year old villager, Paras Ram while taking a smoke of ‘chilum’. Paras Ram’s view point is vociferously endorsed by all seven other old people sitting with him. "We are fed up with this daily firing, which was today converted into shelling. We had to shift our luggage and migrate to safer areas almost every alternate year. The Government should take a firm decision so that we could either live with dignity or die", adds another villager, Shankar Singh, who could easily recall the day of December 3, 1971 when he alongwith other villagers had visited about four kms inside Pakistani territory, captured by the Indian army during the war. "Our troops are very brave. We inter-act with them daily during the patrolling. They (the security personnel) keep on telling us that they will capture 10-kms of Pakistan area within two to three days provided they are given a go ahead signal", says a local youth Naresh Kumar. Naresh Kumar is interrupted by another youth Rakesh Sharma (whose angry face speaks many things, who observes: "Yeh Dhoti Posh Naan Hi Aar Karenge, Na Hi Paar. Yeh Masle Ko Beech Mein Hi Latkate Rahenge Taaki Inki Rajneeti Chalti Rahe". (These dhoti wearing leaders will never solve the issue and keep it lingering on for the petty political interests). Resentment was high among the border villagers of Samba and Hiranagar against the failure of Centre Government to take a firm decision against Pakistan. "Continued firing, which has now become a routine, has virtually forced us to starve. For last three years, we hadn’t been able to cultivate the crops, which is the only source of our livelihood", laments a villager Som Lal in Sade Chak village. Infact, the non-cultivation of crops (due to the firing) was a common problem voiced by the people in all the border areas. In some of the Samba villages, the people say that they hadn’t been able to cultivate the crops for last seven years. Help from the Government side was too little to meet the both ends. Due to this, a number of villagers have shifted to manual work to feed their families. "The life we are forced to live is full of miseries. We will like to die in the war than living this painful life", sobs a villager Rattan Lal, one of the very few male members left in Ben village of Samba. He too wants that India should go for a war with Pakistan to put to an end the frequent migrations and troublesome firing from across the border. The youngsters in the forward villages are also keen for a war and were fully ready to extend the helping hand to army and BSF. "Our forces are right on the border and we want them to move ahead instead of being called back by the Government. The Prime Minister should keep his words of ‘Aar Ya Paar’ or, otherwise, we will teach his party (the BJP) a lesson", shouted a group of youths in village Jaran, about two kms short of the IB in Dulma Chak sub sector. Asked about the problems that would crop up in the event of a war, one of the youths Vinay Sharma quipped :"we are fully geared to meet with any kind of problems. The only thing we want is to teach Pakistan a lesson so that it didn’t dare to fire even a single shot on our villages in future". |
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Terrorists fire on buses
in Surankot Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Dec 26: Four army jawans and a terrorist were killed and two jawans were injured in a fierce encounter at Khawaja Seri in Surankot this evening. Two escaped terrorists were also believed to be seriously injured. Meanwhile, the ultras opened firing on an army Gypsy, two civilian buses and a IRP bus at Madana near Dundak in Surankot in broad day-light this afternoon causing injuries to three army soldiers including an officer. According to official sources, an army patrol party was ambushed by a big group of terrorists in general area of Khawaja Seri in Surankot tehsil of Poonch district today evening. The ultras opened heavy firing on the troops and lobbed three grenades on them. Firing was replied by the army personnel. A heavy exchange of fighting continued for about one and a half hour in which four army soldiers and a terrorist were killed. Two army jawans and two ultras were injured, the sources said, adding the injured terrorists managed to escape from the encounter site alongwith their other fleeing associates. However, an army handout issued in Jammu, confirmed only two fatal casualties on army side. The injured army jawans were immediately evacuated from the firing site and shifted to hospital. Identity of the deceased jawans was not disclosed by army. Body of slain ultra has been recovered from the spot but not identified so far. He was suspected to be a foreign mercenary of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) outfit. One AK-47 rifle, six magazines and 48 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the scene of encounter, the sources said and added that re-enforcement of troops has been rushed to Seri Khawaja forests to track down the fleeing terrorists. Meanwhile, a group of eight to 10 terrorists, who had taken positions atop a hill, opened firing on an army Gypsy, a State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) bus, a video coach bus and a vehicle of Ist battalion of the Indian Reserve Police (IRP) at village Madana in Dundak area of Surankot tehsil this afternoon. An army officer and driver of the Gypsy, were injured in the firing. Two soldiers, sitting on back seat of the Gypsy, jumped out of the vehicle, took positions and retaliated. Subsequent firing resulted into injuries to another jawan as the terrorists had been firing from an advantageous position. IRP jawans from their vehicle also retaliated. However, the terrorists managed to escape. All three injured army soldiers including the officer have been hospitalised. Wind screens of the SRTC bus, which was standing next to army Gypsy, were damaged but the passengers escaped unhurt, the sources said. More troops have rushed to Madana to hunt the terrorists. Only a day before, the terrorists had shot at two Ayurvedic doctors and wounded them seriously while killing a truck conductor at Dundak. |
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NEW DELHI, Dec 26: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met here today and reviewed the security situation in the wake of Pakistani military build-up but deferred any major decision in the absence of Defence Minister George Fernandes. India has taken all measures required to protect its borders with Pakistan and would continue to be alert to the situation, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh told reporters after a 75-minute meeting of the CCS chaired by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He was replying to a question on reports of activation of missile systems aimed at India by Pakistan. "The situation in the border is under control," he said. Singh said Fernandes had got stuck at Siachen Glacier due to bad weather and the CCS would meet again tomorrow. There was speculation before today’s meeting that the Government could step up its diplomatic offensive against Pakistan by announcing a fresh set of measures. On Pakistan’s claim of freezing assets of terrorist outfits Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad responsible for the attack on Parliament, Singh said "I must make it clear that a kind of trickery, that is simply changing names, shifting headquarters from one part of Pakistan to another or to indulge in cosmetic seizure of assets is really to make a mockery of the gravity of the situation and the enormity of the issues that we confront." Asked whether India would use other options to pressurise Pakistan, including abrogation of accords to share waters of major rivers, the minister merely said "all issues were considered and will be re-examined in totality tomorrow" when the CCS meets again. To a question on Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Vijay Nambiar’s participation in the CCS meeting, Singh said while he has held separate meetings with him, Nambiar "will be called to the CCS and required to share whatever he discussed before departing from Ialamabad yesterday". Asked if the SAARC summit would take place next month at Kathmandu, he said the Prime Minister would attend it. This sets at rest speculations about Vajpayee’s participation in the summit in view of escalating Indo-Pak tension after the Dec 13 attack on Parliament by Pakistan-based terrorist outfits. (PTI) |
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Militant, SPO, Sarpanch killed Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Dec 26: Even as security forces have eliminated one Pakistani militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba in Kulgam area, militants have eliminated a Sarpanch and an SPO in Kashmir valley since last evening. Official sources told EXCELSIOR that, on the basis of a specific information, troops of Rashtriya Rifles 9th Bn and SOG Kulgam launched a serach operation at Buran Lamad, in Qazigund-Kulgam belt of south Kashmir today. During the operation, troops spotted a militant at the house of one Ghulam Rasool Malik. The house was destroyed during the gunbattle and a militant’s dead body was recovered from the debris. His identity was not available immediately but official sources claimed that he was a Pakistani national. Officials are expecting dead bodies of one or two militants as, according to the tip-off, there were three militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba in the village. Earlier late last night, in the same area at Url (Kond) militants shot dead a Sarpanch and National Conference activist, Ghulam Nabi Yatoo S/o Wali Mohmmad Yatoo. Sources said that unidentified gunmen fired upon Gul Mohammad Bhat S/o Gaffar Bhat R/o Madpora, Dooru, in Anantnag district. With critical injuries, he was rushed to SMHS Hospital, Srinagar. Reports from Kupwara said that militants kidnapped and later shot dead an SPO, Nazir Ahmed Magray of Chak Keegam, in Kandi area. Here in the capital city, militants lobbed a hand grenade on a BSF bunker at Mujahid Manzil, Fateh Kadal this evening. However, it missed the intended target and failed to cause any damage. |
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Police busts another spy racket NEW DELHI, Dec 26: Delhi Police has claimed to have busted yet another spy ring by arresting one person and recovering "some classified" documents about the Army. Official sources said one Samiuddin, who was acting as "Savaari" (carrier), was arrested by sleuths of Special Cell of Delhi Police assisted by intelligence agencies, from Daryagunj locality when he was making an ISD call to Lahore in Pakistan. The "Savaari" trend started in late 1999 when ISI began using people in anti-Indian activities including carrying of drugs and counterfeit currency. The accused was believed to be leaving by the last Samjhauta Train today for Pakistan following the Government decision to snap the rail link between the two countries from January one, the sources said, adding that the accused had travelled to Pakistan 11 times on earlier occasions. Samiuddin, a resident of Muzzafarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, has revealed that he was in touch with a person, Iqbal Malik in Lahore, who was a "Savaari" operator for ISI, the sources said, adding that the accused named another person, Showkat, who used to hand him the documents. Police claimed to have recovered several classified documents from Samiuddin’s possession which included some information about Indian troop movement. A mobile phone was also seized from him, who has been booked under Official Secrets Act, and its sim card was being analysed. They said that the accused was planning to board the train today and return via flight back to the country. The Government decided to snap the train and bus service between the two countries following failure of Pakistan Government to take action against Lashker-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, who have been held responsible for audacious attack on Parliament on December 13. This is the second spying racket busted by Delhi Police in last three days. Earlier, one employee of the Parliament house, Ajay Kumar, was arrested by police while handing over sensitive documents to a Pakistan High Commission staffer, Mohammed Sharief Khan. The Government on December 24 declared Khan as persona non grata and asked him to leave the country within seven days. (PTI) |
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Another HUM ultra killed in Doda Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Dec 26: Yet another terrorist of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) was eliminated by the security forces in Kuki Malak area of Gandoh tehsil in Doda district. Giving details of the incident, SSP Doda Vijay Singh told EXCELSIOR that security forces got an information about the presence of some terrorists in the Kuki Malak area of Gandoh tehsil. A joint operation of Special Task Force (STF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) was immediately launched in the area. On seeing the security personnel the terrorist opened indiscriminate firing which was effectively retaliated by the security personnel. The encounter lasted for half an hour with one terrorist having got killed. The slain terrorist was identified as Roshan Din code named Abu Tahir, son of Ismail Gujjar of Datyas Kilibala and one AK 56 rifle, two magazines, 24 rounds and other incriminated documents were recovered from his possession. |
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Excelsior Correspondent GALAR (SAMBA SECTOR), Dec 26: An uneasy calm prevailed in the forward village of Galar today after three days of successive firing and shelling. No heavy shelling took place in the village, located right on the International Border, during the day today, an army officer said. He couldn’t predict what would happen in the night. Only small arms firing, which is a routine, was exchanged in Galar today. Troops remained on a high alert in Galar, ready to meet with any eventuality. As reported, the entire population of Ben, Galar and surrounding villages had migrated to Samba town. About 200 more families reached the town today and were accommodated in Kaili Mandi boys middle school and SIDCO complex. |
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Excelsior Correspondent HIRANAGAR, Dec 26: All fields in the forward villages of Samba and Hiranagar have been mined by the security personnel in anticipation of a war. Security forces have instructed the villagers, still putting up in the border areas, not to move in the fields and use only the road link. People have also been advised to keep their cattle tied in their houses. However, a wild cat was injured in a mine blast at Muthi Charu village of Londi this evening. Though the people had to face problems due to mining of the fields, they said they wouldn’t mind it in the national interest. People were feeding their cattle from the wells. Water supply in Sade Chak has also failed due to a mechanical failure adding to the problems of people. |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 26: The State Cabinet is meeting here tomorrow. Acting Chief Minister Mohi-ud-Din Shah will preside over the meeting. According to authoritative sources, in addition to routine agenda, the Cabinet meeting will review the situation prevailing on the borders in the wake of intensified skirmishes between Indo-Pak troops. |
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NEW DELHI, Dec 26: India today said that Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), whose assets and bank accounts were frozen by the Pakistan Government following its blacklisting by the United States, was moving its cadre to Jammu and Kashmir for stepping up violence there. Moving of LeT cadre to Jammu and Kashmir amply indicates the intention of the terrorist group to continue with its anti-Indian activities, according to official sources. They said Pakistan’s move to freeze the accounts of the LeT were not adequate to rein in the terrorist organisation. "Somehow they are not doing enough to address our concerns." The LeT has announced that it would shift its militant wing to Kashmir from Pakistan. The move stems from the pressure on Islamabad by the international community to ban the militant outfit. The sources said Pakistan had not addressed India’s concerns. "The steps taken by Pakistan against terrorists groups were not enough a lot more needs to be done by Islamabad. It should immediately stop cross-border terrorism and act against LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed." "The international community has fully endorsed India’s stand that there is no justification of terrorism. It is the duty of all Governments to swiftly act against terrorist groups," the sources said. On Chinese stand that Jammu and Kashmir is a core issue, a spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry said "we reject any suggestion that puts Jammu and Kashmir in any such category. We believe that Jammu and Kashmir is at the core of our nationhood." (UNI) |
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BEHAWALPUR, PAKISTAN, Dec 26: Police have arrested 30 militants at the offices of Pakistan-based militant outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed, witnesses and police said today. Founder Maulana Masood Azhar, who was taken into custody on Monday in the eastern Punjab province, is being held at undisclosed location. "Azhar is in the custody of security agencies," said Government spokesman Gen Rashid Qureshi. Jaish-e-Mohammed commander Hassan Barki confirmed Azhar’s arrest but said he didn’t know where Azhar was being held. Police remain stationed outside the group’s offices. Police would not say what charges the men face. Jaish-e-Mohammed has been accused by New Delhi of staging the deadly December 13 attack on Indian Parliament. (AP) |
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Corps Commander’s transfer withheld Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Dec 26: Government of India has put in abeyance the transfer of the commander of Srinagar-based 15 Corps, Lt Gen J R Mukherjee, in view of the growing tension between India and Pakistan since Dec 13th last. His transfer order had been issued earlier and he was scheduled to be relieved by Lt Gen Bhatnagar next week. An officer of excellent track record, Mukherjee has been General Officer Commanding of 15 Corps for the last about three years. Before the creation of a separate Corps in Ladakh, it was Mukherjee who handled the Kargil conflict in May-Aug 1999 and registered the victory of pride for India. Building excellent rapport between the state Police and security forces in the battle of counter-insurgency is being counted as Mukherjee’s another achievement. Mukherjee also headed the investigation of Pahalgam firing, in August 1999 and reduced the frequency of the armed forces’ human rights violations. However, his failure to take action against the guilty in the infamous Pathribal incident and the soldiers responsible for firing on the civilians at Haigam in February 2001, are being counted as his negative points. |
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