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population of about 22,000 deserts island From Sanjeev Pargal MALA BELA POST ON INDO-PAK BORDER (PARGWAL ISLAND), Dec 29: Ongoing Indo-Pak border skirmishes today spread to Pargwal, the third front opened by the Pakistani troops in Jammu sector in last one week, with massive exchange of heavy arms firing and rocket attacks forcing the population of entire island to migrate. With army in the process of taking over the forward posts from BSF’s 66 battalions at Pargwal, Parwal, Nikowal, Chibe Chak, Naka and Channi areas and mining the border villages, the people were deserting their houses leaving behind their most of luggage and cattle and taking shelter in Akhnoor, Mishriwalla and Domana schools. Pargwal's civil hospital was taken over by army this evening. The migration that started yesterday was going on till this afternoon and was expected to be completed by the evening, a fleeing villager Ram Parsad of village Nakka told a visiting team of EXCELSIOR at Mala Bela village, where he had taken shelter behind a bund after being trapped in the exchange of heavy firing at 12 noon today. Albeit the entire Pargwal sector had been activated by the Pakistan army, which had taken over from the Rangers a day before, the firing was intense in Mala Bela, whose entire population had fled the village yesterday. A kucha road of the village, about 75 meters from Pakistan’s Garna Peer post, which was being used by the fleeing people to reach Jammu-Akhnoor road, was being deliberately targeted by the Pakistan army. Four rockets were fired by Pak army on Mala Bela road today but they exploded harmlessly in the fields. Meanwhile, army and BSF gave a joint reply to Pakistan’s heavy firing late this afternoon from Mala Bela, Maljodha and Mulo posts destroying atleast six posts of Pakistan and inflicting a number of casualties on the enemy. Destroyed posts of Pakistan included Buru and Jung opposite Maljodha, Garna Peer, Alfa, Bunker Morcha and Khanpora opposite Mala Bela. Pakistan army, according to army and BSF officers camping in the forward villages, was resorting to firing from their three-storeyed Dera and adjoining post targeting the civilian as well as Defence locations. "The bullet did hit a number of houses, posts and moving vehicles yesterday and today but hitherto there had been no report of any casualty on the Indian side", one of the officers said, adding the Pakistan army was not sparing even the passenger buses and trolleys, which were shifting the migrants from Pargwal island to the safer areas. At about 12 noon today, a passenger bus shifting the migrants and some Government employees back from Pargwal to Akhnoor, two trolleys (carrying women and children of Nakka village) and a Maruti Van in which the EXCELSIOR team was travelling were trapped in heavy firing at Mala Bela. Three bullets landed in one of the trolley but by then the civilians had managed to jump out of it and taken shelter behind a bund. Another bullet hit the rear of EXCELSIOR’s Maruti Van bursting its tyre. About 52 bus passengers, 28 women and children travelling in trolleys and EXCELSIOR reporters and lensman had to take shelter behind the bund for atleast 20 minutes. 6 officials trapped in firing Six civil and police officials including Deputy Commissioner, Jammu Rohit Kansal and DIG Jammu Dilbagh Singh had a narrow escape when their convoy was attacked by Pakistan army with a rocket and volley of bullets at Mala Bela when they were heading towards Pargwal island this afternoon. A rocket fell and exploded close to the vehicle of SHO Akhnoor Inspector Arun Jamwal, who was moving ahead of the convoy. Army and BSF officials retaliated the firing and simultaneously diverted the route of the officials convoy for sometime. Despite being trapped in the firing, the officials reached Pargwal and addressed the elderly people at Pargwal and Molu. Very few people (only males) were left in the villages as all others have fled. Besides Kansal and Dilbagh Singh, other officers in the convoy included SP Operations Manohar Singh, Tehsildar Jammu R K Mishri, SDPO Akhnoor Jagjit Singh Jagga and SHO Akhnoor Arun Jamwal. Rohit Kansal was trapped in Pak firing for third time today. Earlier, he was trapped twice in Galar area of Samba—once with Power Minister Surjit Singh Slathia and then with MLA Samba Som Nath. Immediately thereafter, a BSF team, which had heard the cries of trapped women and children, came to their rescue. The team led by a BSF jawan (who later disclosed his identity as Uma Shankar of Bihar, posted with BSF’s 66 battalion) tactfully shifted the trapped persons behind a cluster of trees. In the meantime, effective retaliatory firing was brought down by the BSF jawans from their post which silenced Pakistani guns, albeit briefly, giving trapped persons a chance to move ahead. "You experience such kind of situation occasionally but we have to face the hostile enemy almost daily. Jumping out of the moving buses or trolleys and take shelter behind the bunds or trees is a routine for us. We are used to such situations", one of the civilian, Ram Nath Singh, who was travelling in the trapped bus alongwith his 32-year old son Romesh Lal, told EXCELSIOR chief photographer Ashok Sodhi. However, Ram Singh said he had never seen the exchange of firing at such a large scale, which he was witnessing since yesterday afternoon. "Ini tezh faring (firing) te 1971 ch-bhi naheen aoyi" (such a massive firing was not witnessed even in 1971), Ram Singh, a witness of 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak hostilities, recalled while speaking in Dogri. Ram Singh and other fleeing civilians were cursing Pakistan army for targeting civilian areas making their lives miserable. "While our troops target enemy’s strategic locations, Pakistan army (unable to hit the Defence locations) open firing on the civilian areas targeting houses and vehicles, he said. There was not even a single house in Pargwal island, which didn’t have the marks of Pakistani bullets. The island comprising about 14 villages and having a population of about 22,000 was today left with about 500-odd elderly people (all male). Most of the houses were locked and cattle chained by the fleeing people. "All of them are gone. I don’t know where", an 80-year old villager Dhani Ram said of his family members while sitting alone in a small kucha room of his house in Pargwal. Only people like Dhani Ram were visible in Pargwal while rest all others had fled. Even some elderly people were also seen boarding the trolleys and leaving for Akhnoor. "This village (Pargwal) is like a death trap now. I can’t hear the big bangs of firing and explosions any more. I’m leaving", Ram Saran, carrying only a towel on his shoulder on the name of luggage, told his neighbour Pretto Ram while boarding a trolley. A civil hospital in Pargwal had also been taken over by the army to meet with the eventualities that may arise due to intensified firing. Pargwal island, falling in the midst of Chenab river in Akhnoor tehsil, has become the third front of confrontation between Indo-Pak troops that started Sunday in Galar area of Samba sector and spread to Hiranagar in the next two days. Though the Border Security Force (BSF) was maintaining most of the forward posts in Pargwal, the army have also started taking some of the posts following replacement of Rangers by Pakistani troops. A BSF officer described the shift as a part of strategy due to the intensified skirmishes. |
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13 injured in grenade attack at Hari Market Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 29: Thirteen persons were injured, one of them seriously, in a grenade attack by a terrorist on a crowded area of Hari Market, a hub of tourists, under City police station jurisdiction late this evening. Target of the grenade attack was a police patrol party, police sources said. The grenade was thrown by a suspected local terrorist, wearing a green jacket, from a lane at 1935 hours. The Chinese grenade, aimed at a police party, missed the target as it was thrown by the terrorist hurriedly, and fell on a parked Maruti car. The grenade exploded with a bang causing injuries to 13 civilians including some employees of the shopkeepers and other passers-by. However, no tourist was injured, the sources said. A couple of local youths, who had spotted the green jacket and black boot wearing terrorist throwing the grenade and then fleeing towards the same lane (from where he had emerged in the market) tried to chase him but to no avail. Soon after the blast, senior police officers including DIG Jammu Dilbagh Singh, SSP Jammu Farooq Khan, SP City (North) Parbhat Singh and SP Operations Manohar Singh rushed to the spot and shifted the victims to Medical College hospital. City police parties also fanned out in different directions to capture the terrorist involved in the grenade attack. Police tonight said they have detained eight suspects in connection with the blast and for questioning. Efforts were on to reach to the accused, they added. Thirteen injured admitted in the hospital have been identified as Om Parkash son of Indru Dass, a resident of Gigot, Ramnagar (Udhampur), whose condition was critical, Mohan Kumar son of N K Sharma R/o New Plots, Dinesh Jyotshi S/o K K Jyotshi R/o Pir Mitha, Kishori Lal son of Pishori Lal R/o Resham Ghar, Sham Lal son of Angrezu Ram R/o Bagh-e-Bahu, Ashok Kumar son of D D Gupta R/o Janipura Colony, Mohd Ashraf son of Nizam Din R/o Thanna Mandi, Rajinder Bhatti son of Krishan Lal R/o Kaleeth Mohalla, Charanjit Lal son of Dharam Chand R/o Kanji House, Romesh Chander son of Milkha Ram R/o Kanji House, Pritam Jyotshi son of Bansi Lal R/o Gandhi Nagar, Jagdish Kumar son of Lal Mani R/o Patoli Morh and Omar Farooq son of Wahid Farooq R/o Janipura. Om Parkash had sustained splinter injuries on his head and his condition remained critical. Other injured were responding to the treatment. Splinters of the explosive device were collected by the bomb experts. Splinter indicated that the device was a Chinese grenade. Grenade attack created panic among the local shopkeepers and their employees. Still, most of them joined the rescue operation and started shifting the victims to hospital. |
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India would do utmost to avoid war, says Vajpayee NEW DELHI, Dec 29: Outlining a multi-pronged strategy on fighting cross-border terrorism, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said the country would do its "utmost to avoid a war" with Pakistan but asked the people to be "prepared to face any eventuality". He also asked the international community to bring pressure on Pakistan to take effective steps to stop its policy of cross-border terrorism. "Our objective is to put an end to Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and rest of the country. We shall use all the means and resources at India’s command to achieve this objective. "No means will be spared, although we shall do our utmost to avoid war with Pakistan", he said in his speech at the day-long emergency meeting of BJP national executive here. The Prime Minister said "I have said before and I say it again: we do not want war, but a war in the form of cross-border terrorism has already been thrust on India. "We would like the world community, which had earlier remained indifferent to this proxy war against India for close to two decades, to bring pressure on Pakistan to take effective steps to stop its policy of cross-border terrorism", he said. Vajpayee said the September 11 terrorist attacks on the US have changed the world’s outlook towards the issue of terrorism. Maintaining that the success in Afghanistan was principally due to the unprecedented global unity against terrorism, he said India urged the international community to show similar resolve in the struggle against terrorism aimed at India since its genesis, fuelled by religious extremism, in Afghanistan and in India "is one and the same". Welcoming the understanding and support extended to India by the international community in its struggle against terrorism, Vajpayee said "we shall intensify our diplomatic efforts in the days to come to secure a concrete dimension to this understanding and support. "At the same time, I would like one and all to know that, if necessary, India shall fight this battle on its own to achieve our objective", he said. The Prime Minister said India had won the battle against terrorism in Punjab on its own strength. "We shall similarly triumph against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and defend our national unity at all costs". He made it clear that India would not come under any external pressure to dilute its struggle against terrorism. "This is our firm resolve". At this juncture, he said he would appeal to all the countrymen to be prepared to face any eventuality with unity, courage and supreme confidence in the justness of the struggle. He said in Afghanistan while outward signs of terrorism had disappeared and Taliban had lost power, which was a welcome development, the basic ideology of terrorism was yet to be defeated. Vajpayee said India is happy that its policy on Afghanistan had worked and the support to Northern Alliance even at a time when the end of Taliban was not in sight had demonstrated its principled stand. In contrast, Vajpayee said Pakistan’s stand on terrorism has been exposed to be opportunistic. "General Musharraf has hinted that he chose to join the international coalition against Taliban with the sole purpose of getting Kashmir. We accept this challenge". He asked BJP and all other parties to launch a mass awareness campaign to educate people about the developing situation. "Our endeavour should be to take every section of our diverse society with us on this issue. As a matter of fact, the nation is already united. We need to strengthen this unity." The Prime Minister thanked the opposition parties for their support to the Government at this hour of crisis which he said was in keeping with the proud national tradition. "We should take care to ensure that no divisive issues are raised by anybody at this juncture. It is our prime duty to see to it that communal peace and harmony remains undisturbed throughout the country." In his appeal to his party workers, he said "prepare the nation, in close cooperation with all other parties - ruling or opposition - to face any eventuality and march as one. Our victory is certain. I am confident that our party will rise to the occasion." (PTI) |
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Al-Qaeda members among 100 shifted outside J&K By Mohinder Verma JAMMU, Dec 29: Members of international terrorist Osama bin Laden’s outfit Al-Qaeda who were arrested in Jammu and Kashmir, alongwith 100 other terrorists have been shifted to prisons outside the State under a tight security. Highly placed sources in the Prison Department told this correspondent that a total of 100 terrorists including members of Laden’s Al-Qaeda outfit apprehended by the State police were shifted to different prisons outside the Jammu and Kashmir State and added that another batch of the detenus is scheduled to be shifted within next one or two months. "Around 25 of the shifted terrorists belonged to Afghanistan, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan and all were hard-core", the sources disclosed and said that these terrorists had caused much destruction in the highly fortified Kot Bhalwal Jail. The sources informed that about 15 Pakistan backed terrorists, including members of Al-Qaeda, arrested in Jammu and Kashmir were shifted to Central Jail, Jodhpur by a special plane. A large number of Jammu and Kashmir security officials accompanied the terrorists. "Out of the 25 terrorists from Kot Bhalwal Jail, one of the terrorist was shifted to Naini jail in Uttar Pradesh, 2 in Banaras jail, 8 in Hazuribagh jail and 15 in Jodhpur jail", the sources further informed and said that all those shifted to outside prisons have record of causing destruction in the State prisons and it had become very difficult for the Prison officials to keep check on their activities. These 25 detained terrorists, the sources said, have been taken away from the high security Kot Bhalwal Jail on December 25 and others from different prisons particularly from Srinagar jails keeping in view the threat perception. When asked, the sources informed that, different prisons outside the State have been chosen for different types of detained terrorists. "For hard-core one the Prison Department has chosen highly fortified prisons and for those belonging to lesser known outfits, other prisons have been selected", the sources disclosed. The sources further disclosed that Prison Department has planned to shift another batch of around 30 hard-core terrorists to the prisons outside the State but so far the prisons have not been selected. "Around 25 hard-core terrorists are still in the Kot Bhalwal Jail and these detenus will be included in the next batch to be shifted to prisons outside the State", the sources further said, adding what provoked the Prison Department to shift these detenus is difficult to understand. When asked, the sources informed, the detenus are being shifted only because of the reason that during their long stay in a particular jail they become more familiar with topography of prison and surrounding area and said that Prison Department didn’t want to take any risk. When contacted the Director General of Prisons and Fire Services Mr S S Ali said that shifting of detained terrorists to the prisons outside the State is a ‘routine affair’ and added that after regular intervals of time they have been shifting the detenus to outside prisons. The DG, when asked, said the shifting of detenus has nothing to do with the border tension and confessed that security concern is also one of the reasons behind the decision to shift hard-core terrorists. |
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India rejects Musharraf's offer to meet Vajpayee in Nepal NEW DELHI, Dec 29: India today rejected Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s offer to meet Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Kathmandu early next month on the sidelines of the SAARC summit, saying the outlook for a dialogue was not promising. "India has always advocated dialogue with Pakistan. But under the circumstances until Pakistan creates a conducive climate by acting resolutely and meaningfully against terrorism, the outlook for such dialogue cannot be promising," official sources said. Close on the heels of the tit-for-tat diplomatic sanctions by the two countries, Musharraf had told reporters yesterday "I don’t mind meeting him (Vajpayee). But as I said once before, you can’t clap with one hand. And if there is a willingness from the other side, then there is a willingness from my side," Musharraf had said. Asked about the prospects of a meeting between External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Abdul Sattar in Kathmandu, the sources said "nothing is planned as of now". The possibility of such a meeting did not figure during the telephonic conversation between US Secretary of State Colin Powell and Singh last evening, the sources said. However, it was stated that there won’t be "absence of civilities". Singh and Sattar had greeted each other in Kabul on December 22 where they were present for the installation of new Afghan interim administration led by Hamid Karzai. New Delhi has stated that lack of response by Pakistan in taking firm action against terrorist outfits behind the Parliament attack ruled out the possibility of substantive talks between leaders of the two sides. Despite the chill in bilateral ties, Pakistan has requested India to give air passage to Musharraf and his delegation to attend the SAARC summit. The request received last evening from Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Jaleel Abbas Jilani has been "agreed in principle", the sources said adding details of the flight plan were awaited. (PTI) |
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US, Pak Presidents discuss
tensions NEW DELHI, Dec 29: Amid growing Indo-Pak tensions, US President George W Bush and French President Jacques Chirac tonight spoke to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and discussed the latest situation in the wake of mutual diplomatic sanctions by New Delhi and Islamabad. Bush, who spoke over telephone discussed various aspects of the current situation. The US President had yesterday asked India to take note of Pakistan’s action of arresting 50 terrorists in that country but New Delhi had stressed that it will make its own assessment of Islamabad’s claims. The French President was also briefed by Vajpayee on measures taken by India which included reduction of diplomatic missions and stopping over flight facilities to Pakistani aircraft. Both leaders are understood to have urged restraint on the part of India and Pakistan so that there was no heightening of tensions in the region. Bush also held a 20-minute telephone conversation with his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf this evening to discuss the situation leading to the build up of troops by India and Pakistan at their borders. During the telephone conversation, Bush is reported to have expressed concern over the situation at the borders and he also appreciated efforts of Musharraf to defuse the tensions, the State TV said. The two leaders discussed the overall situation that led to the tension between the two countries, it added. Bush, who yesterday said that the Indo-Pak tensions figured high on his agenda, has expressed concern to Musharraf over the volatile situation prevailing at the border as a result of massing of troops by both the countries. During his chat with the media at his Crawford Ranch in Texas, Bush said Musharraf has acted against certain terrorist groups and hoped that India would take note of it. Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar said today that so far 50 activists of Jaish-e-Muhammad, which was blamed by India for the attack on Parliament have been arrested. Sattar however clarified at a media briefing here that leader of Lashkar-e-Toiba Hafeez Muhammad Saeed, who recently quit the post, has not been arrested. India jointly blamed Jaish and Lashkar for the attack. Bush’s phone call to Musharraf followed reports that US also passed off evidence relating to the terrorist attack on Parliament. The official APP news agency later said that Bush appreciated the prudence and statesmanship being shown by Pakistan. "That is what, in fact is required," it quoted the US President as saying. He is reported to have assured Musharraf his continued support. For his part Musharraf told Bush that Pakistan was showing "utmost restraint and patience", while it believed that all issues could be resolved through a dialogue and discussion, the agency said. (PTI) |
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Cong leaders visit border
areas, migrant camps Excelsior Correspondent KAILI MANDI (SAMBA), Dec 29: Criticising State Government for not taking any effort to provide relief to the border migrants, secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), Mr Satyajit Gaekwad assured the displaced people that Congress will take every possible step to mitigate their miseries. Addressing displaced people at various camps in the Samba town, Mr Gaekwad lambasted Chief Minister of the Jammu and Kashmir Dr Farooq Abdullah for adopting casual attitude towards prevailing situation. "It is very unfortunate that thousands of inhabitants of border hamlets have been leaving their homes and hearths but Government of this State seems to be virtually non-serious", he regretted and pointed towards conditions of border migrants camping at various places. Taking a dig at Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah for staying out-side the country while the nation was facing war-like situation, AICC secretary said "it indicates non-seriousness of the Chief Minister of this sensitive State". "When a Chief Minister is behaving in such a way then what can one expect from administration of the State", he said and asked the administration to take emergent steps to provide relief to the displaced people. Mr Gaekwad, who came all the way from New Delhi on the instruction of the AICC chief Mrs Sonia Gandhi to inquire about the conditions of the displaced border people, disclosed that AICC has taken serious note of the conditions of the displaced people. "We will take every possible step to mitigate your miseries", he told displaced people and assured that Congress will provide every necessary items to the displaced people. Urging all political out-fits to shun their differences and unitedly face the challenges imposed on the country, Mr Gaekwad assured full support from Congress at this crucial juncture. He, however, said that Central Government itself was not clear about its stand. "They are in a dilemma. Instead of taking effective steps, BJP Government is virtually confused", he said. Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief, Mohammed Shafi Qureshi, in his address condemned State Government for maintaining a criminal silence over ever increasing miseries of the border people. "Those living near International Border are protecting our borders. Instead of giving some incentives State Government has even failed to provide basic amenities to these people", he regretted and termed Farooq Government as ‘functional anarchy.’ Responding to the demands of the displaced people, Mr Qureshi regretted that number of migrants have been swelling with every passing day but State Government has maintained a deaf ear towards their problems. "It is very unfortunate that a non-serious person like Dr Farooq Abdullah is at the helm of the affairs of this sensitive border State", he said, adding, "I am of the opinion that inhabitants of this State have committed some sin in the past that is why a person like Farooq Abdullah has been ruling them". Taking strong exception to the decision of the Chief Minister to stay at London while the nation was facing war-like situation, Mr Qureshi said that it was not first time that Dr Farooq Abdullah has left people in the time of crises. "In 1989 when militancy was at the peak in the State, Dr Farooq Abdullah had left the State ", he recalled and added that Farooq has always ditched the people in the time of crises. "Farooq is not a serious man. If one goes to the pages of history it becomes very much clear that Farooq has always played truant", he said. Mr Qureshi assured the displaced people that Congress will not remain a mute spectator of their problems. "Beside forcing both State and Central Government to take step to mitigate your miseries, Congress on its own will collect relief material from all over the country to distribute it ", he told the displaced people. Earlier, Congress leaders visited various migrants camp. Amidst severe cold and fog, Mr Satyajit Gaekwad along with PCC chief visited various places where displaced people have been put up. They listed the problems being faced by migrants. Local Congress leader including general secretary of the PCC, Mr Hari Singh also accompanied them. Later talking to reporters, Mr Gaekwad said that he will give report to AICC chief Mrs Sonia Gandhi and immediate steps will be taken by the Congress to provide relief to these families. |
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STD/ISD facilities cut off Excelsior Correspondent POONCH/RAJOURI, Dec 29: About 5,000 people today left their houses in nine forward villages of Poonch sector and took shelter in the town amidst continued exchange of heavy shelling and firing while the terrorists gunned down a Village Defence Committee (VDC) member in Saj area of Thanna Mandi. The people deserted the forward villages of Salotri, Jhalas, Dara Dullian, Khari, Karmara, Gulpur, Digwar, Sokar and Mill Dallan this morning and reached the town here in trolleys and buses. They were accommodated in Geeta Bhawan, ITI building, Boys higher secondary school and Girls middle school. The number of migrants was believed to be around 5000. Some of the migrant families were putting up in the houses of their relatives while some others have hired rented accommodation. Authorities have decided to pay the rent of accommodation to the migrant families. All the villages, deserted by the people early this morning, were being shelled by Pakistan army. Shelling was being effectively replied by the Indian side. In today’s shelling, a Pakistani bunker was destroyed by the Indian army opposite Khari Karmara sector. Three to four Pakistani soldiers were either killed or seriously injured in the bunker. Exchange of shelling and firing was reported from about a dozen places in Poonch sector. However, no casualties occurred on the Indian side today. Authorities in Rajouri have also asked the people of four forward villages on the Line of Control (LoC) in Gambhir sector to shift to the safer areas immediately. The villages were being evacuated due to intensified firing and shelling from Pakistan side. Authorities also cut off the STD and ISD facilities of local people and even STD booths in Poonch town adding to the panic among local people. Meanwhile, four terrorists entered in the house of a VDC member Gulshan Kumar son of Jai Lal at village Neero Jal in Saj area of Thanna Mandi police station in Rajouri district last night. They opened firing killing Gulshan Kumar on spot. The VDC member couldn’t get a chance to retaliate. The terrorists fled away after the killing. In another incident, the security forces today defused two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), planted by the terrorists under a culvert and fitted with a time device, in Palma area of Rajouri today. The IEDs, weighing three kgs each, were taken to a nullah and neutralised by a Bomb Disposal Squad, averting a major tragedy, the sources said. The terrorists had planned to blow up the culvert and disrupt traffic as well as general movement of the people. However, the attempt of the terrorists was foiled by the troops. |
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Wazir re-elected MTCA president Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 29: Mr Tarlochan Singh Wazir, MD Karan Motor Service was re-elected president of J&K Motor Transport Companies Association for the second consecutive term here today. He defeated S Dalip Singh, MD Kee Pee Transport Service in a straight contest by a margin of 46 votes. Out of total 54 votes polled, Mr Wazir got 50 while Mr Dalip Singh secured only four votes. The announcement of Mr Wazir’s victory was made by Returning Officer S Amarjit Singh of Hind Kashmir Transport Services. He will again head the Association for two years term. The Election Board to conduct the poll was headed by S Ajab Singh Wazir, MD Delhi Kashmir Transport Service. Mr Tarlochan Singh Wazir was sponsored by S Nanak Singh, MD Public Motor Services and S Gian Singh, MD Ashoka Transport Services. Mr Dalip Singh was sponsored by S Joginder Singh Raina , MD Shalimar Goods Transport Services. |
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Pak urges passage for Musharraf NEW DELHI, Dec 29: Despite the chill in bilateral ties, the Indo-Pak channels of communication appear to have not broken completely with Pakistan requesting passage over Indian skies to President Pervez Musharraf to attend the SAARC summit next week in Kathmandu. "We have sent in our request and India has agreed in principle", Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Jaleel Abbas Jilani told PTI. Islamabad’s request follows India’s decision to stop overflight facilities to Pakistani aircraft from January one, 2002, as part of its diplomatic offensive launched against Pakistan for not taking meaningful action against terrorist outfits responsible for the December 13 attack on Parliament. New Delhi yesterday said it would allow Pakistan President to overfly India to reach Kathmandu for the SAARC summit. "If any request is made for overflying by Pakistan President and his delegation for the SAARC summit, it will be met," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Nirupama Rao had said. New Delhi yesterday said it has drawn up a list of nearly 30 terrorists and criminals, including Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar and Dawood Ibrahim, who have taken refuge in Pakistan and are wanted for crimes committed on Indian territory. The list has been prepared with the intent of asking Islamabad to hand them over to India so that they are brought to book for crimes they had committed here, official sources said. (PTI) |
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3 jawans injured in Arnia blast Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 29: Three security personnel were injured in a mine explosion in Arnia village this morning. Of the injured, condition of one of them was critical. Police said the security jawans walked over a mine resulting into the explosion. Three injured jawans have been evacuated to hospital. Identity of the injured couldn’t be ascertained immediately. |
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Musharraf willing to meet Vajpayee ISLAMABAD, Dec 28: Pakistan’s General Pervez Musharraf today said he would be willing to meet Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during a South Asian summit in Nepal next week. "I don’t mind meeting him (Vajpayee). But as I said once before, you can’t clap with one hand. And if there is a willingness from the other side, then there is a willingness from my side," Musharraf told reporters. (AFP) |
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Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Dec 29: Army today gunned down a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist in Gandoh area of Doda district. Slain terrorist has been identified as Mohd Iliyas son of Mohd Hanissar, a resident of Kansar, Gandoh. One 7.62 mm SLR, two magazines, 19 ammunition rounds and one binocular were recovered from the slain militant. Police said the recovered SLR had been snatched by the terrorists from a police post on 1999. Killed ultra was a ‘commander’ of the outfit. Meanwhile, an ITBP jawan Bipan Dass was reported missing from his post in Gandoh since last evening. Police couldn’t say as to whether the cop had been kidnapped. |
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