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NEW DELHI, Jan 1: Carrying forward the peace initiative in Kashmir, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today said India was prepared to resume talks with Pakistan at the highest level provided Islamabad was sincere in creating a conducive atmosphere even as he announced that Government will soon initiate talks with various representative groups of Jammu and Kashmir. "India is willing and ready to seek a lasting solution to the Kashmir problem. Towards this end, we are prepared to re-commence talks with Pakistan at any level, including the highest level, provided Islamabad gives sufficient proof of its preparedness to create a conducive atmosphere for a meaningful dialogue," he said. The Prime Minister said he was sad to note, however, that the Pakistan Government "is not doing enough to reign in terrorist organisations based on its soil that are continuing their killing spree, targeting both innocent civilians and our security personnel in Kashmir and other parts of India." Vajpayee’s significant remarks on the issue of resumption of the Indo-Pak dialogue, stalled since the Kargil conflict, were made in an article to newspapers written by him during his week-long holiday in Kumarakom, Kerala. "Government will soon initiate talks with various representative groups in the State. We are prepared to take steps to respond to Jammu and Kashmir’s deep longing for peace, normalcy and accelerated development," he said. Stating that Government was taking well-conceived steps to normalise the situation in J and K, he said as part of this the unilateral ceasefire observed there during the holy month of Ramzan had been extended by a month. "My heart shares the agony of the grieving mothers, sisters and widows who have lost their near and dear ones in the violence that has bloodied the beautiful Kashmir valley. I also feel the pain and anguish of those Kashmiris who have become refugees in their own motherland. The new year is the time to heal their wounds," he observed. Outlining the contours of a new Government approach to the issue, he said "in our search for a lasting solution to the Kashmir problem, both in its external and internal dimensions, we shall not traverse solely on the beaten track of the past. "Rather, we shall be bold and innovative designers of a future architecture of peace and prosperity for the entire South Asian region. In this search, the sole light that will guide us is our commitment to peace, justice and the vital interests of the nation," he said. Observing that the country was facing many problems that were a legacy of history, he said two of them included the long-standing problem with Pakistan over J and K and the other was the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute at Ayodhya. Reflecting Government’s determination to resolve these issues, he stressed that a self-confident and resilient nation did not postpone the inconvenient issues of yesterday, to a distant tomorrow. "Rather, it strives to decisively overcome the problems of the past so that it can pursue its developmental agenda for the future with single-minded determination," Vajpayee said. The Prime Minister said several people had told him that it was time lasting solutions were found to these two problems, one which was a legacy of the last century and the other a legacy of the last millennium. "I agree with them". Describing the Kashmir problem as an "unfortunate inheritance" from the tragic partition of India in 1947, he said India never accepted the "pernicious" two-nation theory that brought about the partition. "However, the mindset that created Pakistan continues to operate in that country. That is why it is continuing with its untenable policy on Kashmir, disregarding the considerations of both good-neighbourly relations with India and the well being of the people of J and K," he said. (PTI) |
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Withdrawal not enough: Fernandes NEW DELHI, Jan 1: The withdrawal of troops from the Line of Control (LoC) by Pakistan was not enough, Defence Minister George Fernandes has said. "One brigade was withdrawn about four-five days back and that was certified by the United Nations. But withdrawal of a brigade when there is corps-level strength up and down (the LoC) is no great withdrawal," Fernandes told mediapersons after touring far-flung snowy outposts along the LoC yesterday. "Taking in view the long borders, re-deployment of one brigade cannot be termed adequate", he said. He contended that the step was not enough and Islamabad should reciprocate by reining in ISI activities, controlling mercernary militant groups and eliminating cross border terrorism. (PTI) |
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Lone not to visit
Pakistan SRINAGAR, Jan 1: In fresh rumblings in Hurriyat Conference a day ahead of its crucial executive council meeting, its senior leader Abdul Gani Lone, considered a moderate, today said he would not be a member of the Hurriyat team proposed to visit Pakistan on January 15 and mounted a scathing attack on hardliners in the conglomerate of separatist outfits for a "campaign" against him. "I will not visit Pakistan as a member of Hurriyat delegation proposed to hold negotiations with militant leadership in Islamabad," Lone, who heads J and K Peoples’ Conference, told the working committee meeting of the party. He said his step was a voluntarily one and had not been taken under any compulsion or pressure. Referring to the offer of talks to the Hurriyat by the Centre, Lone said there had been no talks between the two as yet "nor does the Centre appears serious about talks." He said certain elements had launched a campaign that "we have been sold out," an apparent reference to the supporters of pro-Pakistan constituents of Hurriyat who had raised slogans "Sauda Bazi Nahi Chalegi" (no sell out will be allowed) outside its headquarters on December 17. Terming these elements as "contractors of religion," Lone said they, whether in Jammu and Kashmir or across the Line of Control, "are bent upon burying the political approach of Peoples Conference on the pretext of threat to Islam." He said peace "will be a bigger Jehad" (holy war) at this crucial moment. Lone said "it is a big tragedy that the so-called pro-movement elements are after me. They were after me even during the election campaign (Lone had contested elections and was a minister in the Congress Ministry in the State) and were levelling baseless allegations about my religious belief." Referring to his recent Pakistan visit, Lone said prior to and during the course of his visit, he has not reacted to the criticism against him. "I have not only controlled my sentiments and prestige but have at times buried it in the interest of the movement." However, he said "I will keep the facts before the fellow countrymen, if necessary, at an appropriate time." The working committee of the party passed a resolution unanimously calling for strengthening of Hurriyat Conference and maintaining unity at all costs, a party release said. (PTI) |
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3 more grenades seized on instance of nabbed LeT ultras NEW DELHI, Jan 1: The Delhi Police today seized ‘ready to strike’ hand grenades smuggled into the capital by the Lashkar-e-Toiba, and established that the Pakistani terrorist outfit had taken the help of some local contacts for attack on the Red Fort. The hand grenades were recovered by a police party during the search around the computer point ‘Knowledge Plus’ run by the arrested Lashkar operative Ashfaq Ahmed. "The hand grenades wrapped in a vest were concealed inside a rat hole in the bushes of a wasteland behind the computer junction," police said, adding that two of the ready-to-go grenades had a note in Urdu attached to them. The note carried instructions of use. While one instruction said the grenade was ‘Ready for use’, the other mentioned "Remove the pin and throw it". It was after hours of combing operation, that the police force laid its hand on the explosives around 1500 hrs this afternoon. Information about the dumping of the hand grenades was provided by Ashfaq during his interrogation by the police. The militant who was arrested on December 26 night is on 14-day police remand. With this police have so far seized three AK-56 rifles, nine hand grenades, eight magazines and cartridges and one pistol with six rounds in connection with the Friday attack. Ashfaq during the interrogation had identified certain local contacts whose assistance the militant group had sought for the attack on the Red Fort. "We are trying to verify the correctness of the disclosure," police said Six Lashkar militants, including Ashfaq, had sneaked into the Red Fort on December 22 and after watching the light and sound show, two of them attacked the 7 Rajputana Rifles camp killing two personnel and another civilian. Police have killed Abu Shamal in an encounter on December 27, while the remaining four are suspected to have fled Delhi for Srinagar. (UNI) |
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Couple among 4 of family killed in highway mishap Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Jan 1: Four members of a family including a couple and their child were killed and a minor girl was injured when their Maruti car was over-run by a State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) bus at Mela Morh near Hiranagar on Jammu-Pathankote national highway this morning. The fatalities include Rajinder Gupta, his wife Neena Gupta and child Satyam Gupta, all residents of Talab Tillo, Jammu and their relative Kasturi Lal Gupta of Amritsar. The couple and their relative died on the spot while Satyam succumbed to his injuries while being shifted to Medical College hospital from the accident site, police sources said. A minor girl was injured and has been admitted to Medical College. They said the Maruti car No. 9211 JK02H on way from Amritsar to Jammu was over-ran by a speeding SRTC bus No. 106 JK02Y which was coming from opposite direction. The bus was trying to over-take another vehicle at sharp Mela Morh and in the process knocked down the Maruti car. Local people and bus passengers brought the victims out of the ill-fated car and rushed them to sub district hospital in Hiranagar where Rajinder Gupta, Neena Gupta and Kasturi Lal Gupta were declared dead while the child was referred to Medical College, Jammu after first-aid. He succumbed to his wounds enroute. A police party from Hiranagar police station led by SHO Diwakar Singh and Ashwani Sharma visited the scene of accident and took SRTC bus driver into custody. He has been identified as Harbhajan Singh. The bus has also been seized by Hiranagar police, which have registered a case in the accident for further investigations. Quoting preliminary investigations, police said, it appeared that accident took place due to negligent driving by the Government bus driver. The RTC driver was trying to over-take another bus at a blind curve and knocked down the car coming from other side. Bodies of three deceased including a couple and their child were handed over to their family members after post-mortem in Hiranagar hospital this afternoon and were cremated later. Body of Kasturi Lal is being sent to his home town in Amritsar. In another accident, a youth Parshotam Lal son of Charan Dass, a resident of Bishnah was killed and his pillion rider was seriously injured when their motor-cycle was hit by an unidentified vehicle at Nagrota on Jammu-Srinagar national highway late last night. The injured was admitted to Medical College. Another accident occurred at Mahore in Udhampur district when official vehicle No. 0013 JK02 of Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Mahore on way from Mahore to Chasana rolled down about 350 feet deep into a ditch at Sungri. Those injured in the accident were identified as Shiv Raj Singh, SDM Mahore, Basant Ram, Tehsildar Mahore, Mohd Abdullah-ud-Din, Naib Tehsildar Chasana, Mohd Shaffi Malik, Patwari, Qamar-ud-Din, peon of SDM Mahore and Surinder Kumar, driver. Shiv Raj, Basant Ram, Qamar-ud-Din and Surinder were shifted to Medical College, Jammu from Mahore in view of their serious condition while two other injured were treated locally. Eight persons were injured when a Santro car bearing No 9027 JK02K collided with an army vehicle at Dokhanda Raha in Siot area of Akhnoor tehsil last night. The injured have been hospitalised. |
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Gupta exhorts masses to intensify fight against militancy Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 1: Exhorting people to intensify fight against militancy, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta said it was high time that people should come out openly and help security forces in their fight against militancy. Prof Gupta said that unless people extend their full support and cooperation to security forces, militancy can not be wiped out completely from the State. The Minister was speaking at a relief distribution function organised jointly by Hind Samachar Group of Publications and Nishkam Sewa Ashram, Ludhiana at village Thanpal in Arnas block of Reasi tehsil, about 80 kms from here. Prof Gupta while expressing serious concern over presence of militants in the upper reaches of Gool, Mahore, Arnas and other areas said that steps will be taken to ensure that these militants are flushed out from there. He said that Village Defence Committees need to be formed in the said areas on the pattern of those formed in Doda district. The Minister added that over 500 Village Defence Committees (VDCs) have already been formed in Doda district which are rendering valuable service to the people by fighting the challenge of militants. He said that it was heartening to see that the situation in Doda district has improved considerably since the formation of these Committees there. Prof Gupta said that steps are being taken to strengthen these VDCs and to equip them with modern sophisticated weapons so that they can meet the challenge of militants effectively. He urged the people to remain united and give a befitting reply to the nefarious designs of militants. Union Minister expressed dismay over the gross neglect of the area by the State Government and assured villagers that the Vajpayee Government at Centre will try to solve all their problems. He said that the present Central Government is keen to solve all the basic problems of the people. He expressed hope that the schemes recently launched by the Prime Minister on his birthday will help in the development of the rural areas of the country and the J&K State as well. Later, Prof Gupta distributed a truck load of relief material viz Atta, Dal, Rice, blankets, shawls, soap and ghee etc among the villagers of Thanpal and other adjoining areas who have abandoned their houses and shifted to safer places due to the fear of militants in their areas. This was 23rd truck load of material sent by the Hind Samachar Group of Publication in coordination with Nishkam Sewa Ashram to J&K State for the militancy affected persons. The Minister has lauded the efforts of Hind Samachar Group and Nishkam Sewa Ashram in their endeavour to help militancy effected people of the State. Earlier, Mr Sarwan Kumar of Nishkam Sewa Ashram stressed on the need of developing fighting spirit among the people. He said that his organisation will continue to provide all possible help and assistance to the militancy affected people of the J&K State. |
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PM warns against disturbing status quo in Ayodhya dispute NEW DELHI, Jan 1: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has warned that if any organisation attempts to disturb the status quo in the Ayodhya dispute it would face the consequences of law. "I wish to make it absolutely clear that the law will take its course, should any organisation attempt to disturb the status quo. The Government will not remain a silent spectator and adopt delaying tactics, as unfortunately happened eight years ago," Vajpayee said in an article for newspapers. Asserting that wrongs of medieval past could not be righted by a similar wrong in modern times, the Prime Minister said "the status quo at Kashi, Mathura and other disputed places of worship must remain undisturbed." "Far from indicating the Hindu society’s weakness, this will show the strength of our national ethos of tolerance and religious harmony," Vajpayee said in the article ‘My musings from Kumarakom-I’ written during his week-long holiday in Kerala’s famous backwaters near Kottayam. Vajpayee said the demolition of the structure in Ayodhya in 1992 was a flagrant violation of the law and totally at variance with the Hindu ethos. "The wrongs of a medieval past cannot be righted by a similar wrong in modern times." Referring to the controversy over his recent remarks on the temple issue, he said his statement that the movement for construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya was an expression of the national sentiment has been misrepresented in many ways. "What is overlooked is the past tense that I had consciously used in my statement. In my reply to the debate in the Rajya Sabha, I had clearly stated that although the movement for the construction of a Ram Temple at Ayodhya was an expression of our national sentiment, this sentiment became narrow, and its inclusive character became restrictive, because of the unfortunate demolition of the disputed mosque structure on December 6, 1992," he said. The Prime Minister said he had consciously not commented on this issue for the past three years. "However, I am sad to note that, when I was constrained to speak on the subject after the opposition stalled the proceedings of Parliament for three days in a row, my comments were twisted and turned for no other reason but to gain political advantage." He said he hoped that his comprehensive replies in both Houses of Parliament to the debate on the issue would put an end to the controversy. But it was not to be the case. "I must confess that I am pained by some of the comments, observations and speculations in the aftermath of the recent developments in Parliament. My political adversaries are entitled to disagree with me, but they will not be able to see any inconsistency in my views on the Ayodhya issue, all of which are well recorded," the Prime Minister said. "Overnight I was transformed by a section of the media and the political class from a `moderate’ to a `hardliner’. `Vajpayee unmasked’ they said, conveniently masking the fact that my long stint in public life is an open book. Worst still, a campaign was launched to create misgivings about me in the minds of our minority brethren", Vajpayee said. |
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IED
defused on highway Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 1: A militant was killed in an inter-group clash at village Mujgi in Gool area of Udhampur district while army averted a major tragedy on Jammu-Srinagar national highway by detecting and defusing a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by the ultras at Digdol. According to official sources, police recovered bullet-riddled dead body of a Pakistan-trained militant Mohd Arshad from village Mujgi, about three kms from Gool last night. Mohd Arshad, a local of Gool, was a dreaded militant of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit involved in a series of militant activities. Sources said there was no report of any encounter taking place between security forces or police with militants in the area during last three-four days. It was, therefore, presumed by police that the militant was killed in a group rivalry either by his own outfit or by the activists of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit. Police shifted body of the slain ultra to a hospital and later it was handed over to his family after post-mortem. Investigations were being carried out. Meanwhile, a road opening party of army detected a powerful IED, filled with RDX and sealed in a plastic container, lying at Digdol on Jammu-Srinagar highway at 0825 hours today. Troops ordered suspension of traffic and people’s movement on the highway and summoned a Bomb Disposal Squad to the spot. The IED was safely defused. Troops and police carried out searches in adjoining areas of the highway for half an hour but couldn’t make any arrest. Traffic was later restored on the highway. Cops of Indian Reserve Police (IRP) recovered a powerful solar bomb and an engineering compass during searches in Narkot area of Prankote this morning. The bomb had been planted by the militants to cause casualties among civilians, the sources said, adding a major tragedy was averted with the detection of bomb. |
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Hurriyat’s
moderates warn Geelani & Co. From B L Kak NEW DELHI, Jan 1: In a major development, America’s outgoing President, Mr Bill Clinton, has felicitated Indian Premier, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee for his Government’s "bold" peace initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir "despite grave provocation from certain elements". Mr Clinton’s message has come at a time when Washington appreciated New Delhi’s move not to insist, in the altering scenario, on a complete end to cross-border terrorism before it can talk to Pakistan. The Clinton administration has, at the same time, upheld the standpoint of India’s Home Minister, Mr LK Advani, that much progress cannot be expected if effective measures were not taken by Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism and completely abandon its proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Advani, while reiterating the Government of India’s willingness to resume the stalled dialogue process with Pakistan, has made it clear that things cannot improve if the terrorist violence and subversive and disruptive activities continued. Pakistan, Mr Advani stressed, must take bold initiatives to rein in foreign militant outfits. Mr Advani’s pointed reference was to the Lashkar-e-Toiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed operating out of Pakistani soil. Mr Advani stated that nobody can trust Pakistan’s oft-repeated statement that they (Pakistan) cannot do anything about these foreign militant outfits. He asserted that these groups continued to enjoy financial, logistical and other support from the Pakistani ISI. Talking to some reporters, the Home Minister reiterated: "If Pakistan wants, killings by these militant outfits can end". And as he made a linkage between terrorism and resumption of the dialogue with Pakistan, Mr Advani said that while New Delhi was ready to talk with Islamabad, it must see to it that terrorism ended. "It can be said safely that terrorist activities will end only if Islamabad wanted it to happen", he said. Even as the Home Minister acknowledged that the incidents of cross-border infiltration as well as firing along the Line of Control and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir had come down "quite noticeably", he sought to convey that the ISI support to foreign militant outfits was responsible for the killing of innocent people by the terrorists. Stating that the international community no longer believed that the militants were a home-grown phenomenon, Mr Advani pointed out that the world recognised that the violence in Jammu and Kashmir was being aided and abetted by Pakistan. He warned Pakistan that the responsible Governments around the world were convinced of the correctness of the Government of India’s argument that the talks would not lead to any resolution unless Islamabad stopped sponsoring terrorism as an instrument of state policy in Jammu and Kashmir. Reports that the Centre wanted to provoke differences of opinion within Kashmir’s All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) "are not based on facts", it was officially stated. If a scribe or two from J&K sought to highlight "these baseless reports", the Government of India would like to make it clear that it had nothing to do with the author or authors of the reports, a top official in the Home Ministry said. Be that as it may, an interesting development has taken place with a "secret" message received in Delhi from two senior leaders of the Hurriyat Conference. The message, received by a Central Minister, has made a pointed reference to the "unwillingness" of majority of moderates within the Hurriyat Conference to include the Jamaat-e-Islami leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, in the team of representatives for the proposed visit to Pakistan for talks on Kashmir crisis. In the message, Mr Geelani has been termed as the "main source of irritation" and "trouble-maker". Significantly, the message has not called for clearance of travel documents in the case of Syed Ali Shah Geelani. The message, on the other hand, has divulged two names of the Jamaat-e-Islami leaders who "are reasonable and are for the restoration of peace in the troubled Valley". Syed Ali Shah Geelani, on his part, has secretly cultivated his contact-men in New Delhi for the Government’s permission to him to visit Pakistan. The secret contact was established by him a day before the year 2000 ran out. In the process, one thing has become clear-that is, Mr Geelani is outwardly anti-Delhi; behind-the-scenes, he wants New Delhi’s to enable him to visit the country he loves the most, namely, Pakistan. |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 1: The Government have ordered that January 2, which is a holiday for Government offices shall also be observed as public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act. |
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From B L Kak The think-tank of Kashmir’s All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has decided against lionising what it has termed as the "double agent of yester-years" after his return to his home town, Srinagar. He is none other than Mr Hashim Qureshi, the 1971 hijacker. Mr Hashim Qureshi played the lead role in hijacking an Indian Airlines plane from Srinagar to Lahore in the undivided Pakistan of early 1971. And he jumped up in ecstasy when he blew up the aircraft in mysterious circumstances several days after having allowed the passengers and crew to disembark. Now in the latest ‘drama’ enacted with the help of some invisible Indian hand, leading to his undisturbed return to India after 30 years, Mr Qureshi has again jumped up in ecstasy. The former desperado, soon after he surrendered himself to the Delhi police after a voluntary exile in Europe, has, under the guidance of invisible Indian supporters, punctuated his home-coming with a self-proclaimed support for the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee’s peace initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir. There is no denying that after he hijacked the Indian plane to Lahore, Mr Hashim Qureshi became a "hero" in Kashmir. Being the first demonstrative challenger to the Indian State, he got a name recognition . "Gone are those days", is the refrain from the average Kashmiri politician. A top leader of the Hurriyat Conference told this correspondent on telephone: "Yes, many people here have developed a measure of curiosity to see for themselves how this former agent of the BSF looks like. He has no locus standi in the ranks of various political groups and organisations in Kashmir". A Ministerial colleague of the J&K Chief Minister sarcastically remarked: "This old informer (Mr Hashim Qureshi) of the BSF seems to have put on a lot of fat. He possibly would have received a gold medal had Mrs Indira Gandhi been alive this time". The reference to Mrs Gandhi was not without meaning and historical background. History bears testimony to the fact that the hijacking of the Indian Airlines plane was promptly used by the then Prime Minister (Mrs Gandhi) to ban Pakistan’s flights over India. And the ban complicated Pakistani efforts to curb insurgency in the eastern wing, then known as ‘East Pakistan’. The development necessitated the Pakistani security establishment to question Mr Hashim Qureshi’s credentials as an "asset". He had to be arrested in Pakistan under pressure and tried as an "Indian plant". Now that he is back in India, the authorities have focused their attention on him. He has not been granted legal immunity for his 1971 crime. But he already has legal advice available. According to it, he cannot be punished for the same crime twice. He had already served a sentence in a Pakistani jail for the hijacking. He may sooner or later find himself a free man in his homeland, Kashmir. However, as far as his presumed usefulness in the Kashmir drama is concerned, he has no locus standi in the ‘resistance’ ranks. He has to start afresh, considering the fact that he does not have cordial relations with the Hurriyat Conference leaders. Mr Qureshi’s critics within the Hurriyat will not hesitate to create hurdles for him, as he has already questioned the representative character of the Hurriyat leaders and berated them for loyally articulating the Pakistani viewpoint. This apart, Mr Hashim Qureshi has also charged some of them of pocketing the cash they had received from Pakistan for rehabilitating those who suffered during the Chrar-e-Sharif episode. Be that as it may, since his return to New Delhi on December 29, he is both pleased and surprised at the kind of media attention he has got. He has also been set thinking anew by the speculations about a possible role for him in the unfolding Kashmir drama. As one Indian commentator explained that for the hawks in New Delhi’s establishment with an implacable suspicion of Islamabad, it can be a matter of some propaganda that Mr Qureshi has appealed to the people in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) to launch a struggle to liberate themselves from their present masters there. |
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12 LDOs promoted as AHD Dy Directors Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 1: The Government has ordered promotion of twelve Livestock Development Officers and its equivalent as Deputy Director and 15 Veterinary Assistant Surgeons as Livestock Development Officers in their own pay and grade. According to Mr R L Bharti, Commissioner-cum-Secretary to Government, Animal Sheep Husbandry Department these promotions are subject to clearance by DPC/PSC and without prejudice to the outcome of the writ petition pending, if any and other superior claim of others. The Livestock Development Officers who have been promoted as Deputy Directors are Dr T R Loach (SC), Dr Hamza Sheikh, Dr A K Misri (Migrant), Dr S C Gupta, Dr P P Sharma, Dr V K Negi, Dr J L Mattoo, Dr Sant Singh Azad, Dr V K Gupta, Dr A K Bhat, Dr P L Dhar and Dr S S Isher. The Veterinary Assistant Surgeons promoted to the post of Livestock Development Officers or its equivalent are Dr S L Bhagat (SC), Dr Ram Dass (SC), Dr Javaid Ahmad Khan, Dr A K Bakshi, Dr Bushan Kumar Sharma, Mr Mohd Anayatullah Jeelani, Dr Satinder Singh, Dr Ishay Namgayal (ST), Dr Vipan Waderah, Dr Girdhari Lal Bhagat, Ishtiaq Ahmad Ghani, Dr M K Koul, Dr Khurshid Ahmed Buch, Dr Sham Lal Gupta and Dr Ghulam Rasool Malik. The order said further that the placement in respect of Dr S S Isher, Livestock Development Officer for the post of Deputy Director and Dr Ghulam Rasool Malik Veterinary Assistant Surgeon for the post of LDO shall have the effect from February 1, 2001. The posting orders of the promotees will be issued separately. |
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Usman Majid’s house
attacked SRINAGAR, Jan 1: Militants intensified attacks on soft targets in Kashmir valley on the new year day today killing six people, including a block president of ruling National Conference and two Ikhwan commanders. Police repulsed a militant attack on the house of a senior counter insurgent-turned-politician and recovered a large quantity of AK ammunition in the Valley, which also witnessed several attacks on security forces since last evening, an official spokesman said. He said NC block president Mohammad Ayub Dar was shot dead by militants near Shopian bus stand in Pulwama district this afternoon. Ikhwani commander Hamza Wani was killed when militants attacked a group of counter insurgents at Sumbal Bazar in Baramulla district today, the spokesman said adding the Ikhwani’s fired back. A woman who was caught in the cross fire was killed and a shopkeeper seriously injured. Ultras gunned down another Ikhwani commander Ghulam Qadir Bhat inside his house at Narbal on the outskirts of Srinagar today. One person was injured in the incident. Militants shot down a Numberdar (headman) of village Puthukhah inside his house in Sopore area of Baramulla district in the wee hours today, he said. A civilian was killed and another seriously injured in a land-mine blast at Dilanja of Uri near the Line of Control in Baramulla sector last night. Two persons, including a BSF jawan, were injured when ultras launched a grenade attack on a patrol party at Chankhan in Baramulla today. Militants hurled grenades and opened heavy fire on the house of Usman Majid Ganai, one of the pioneers of the Ikwan outfit formed by surrendered militants to help security forces fight militants, at Garoora in Baramulla district today, the spokesman said. Ganai was not in the house at the time of the attack. Police guards posted at the house retaliated and repulsed the militant attack. No one was injured in the shootout, he said. Meanwhile, one person, who was injured in a grenade blast at Magam on Srinagar-Gulmarg road yesterday, succumbed to injuries in hospital today. Militants detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Nathipora on Srinagar-Kupwara road early today, but no one was injured, he said. Ultras lobbed a grenade towards a police vehicle at Hanfia college in Anantnag this afternoon, but the explosive did not explode and was defused by experts. A security camp at Viloo-Kokernag in Anantnag and a police patrol at Soura were also targeted by militants, he said, adding that no one was injured in the attacks. Meanwhile, a police party led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Imtiyaz Ahmad detected a box at village Sadav in Pulwama district early today which led to the recovery of 1000 rounds of AK assault rifle, the spokesman added. (PTI) |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 1: A Special Police Officer (SPO) was killed and another injured in a blast at village Goha near Beota in Marmat area of Doda district this evening. Official sources said an IED had been planted by the militants at Goha to target a patrol party of police and SPOs. The IED exploded as soon as a cops walked over it. An SPO identified as Hazoor Din was killed and another one named Farooq Ahmed was seriously injured. Re-enforcement of police rushed to the spot and shifted the injured to hospital. Police have launched searches in the area to track down the militants involved in blast. |
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