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Army
begins probe Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 30: Five Armymen including a serving Brigadier were killed when an Army Aviation Chetak helicopter crashed near Sanji Chat in the ranges of the Trikuta hills at holy shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi this afternoon. All the five passengers including Brig Raman Sehgal, Maj S Lohchub, captain of the air craft, Captain R Garg, Co-Pilot, two jawans namely Pawan Carpenter and Sunil Kumar Shastri died in the mishap which occurred at about 1319 hours due to some mechanical snag. The accident took place when Chetak helicopter was taking turn over Sanji Chat helipad near Hemkote Post of the police. According to an official handout issued by the Defence Ministry, one Army aviation Chetak helicopter, on a "routine flight" crashed today near Sanji Chat at about 1319 hours due to "engine failure". Maj S Lohchub who was captaining the chopper and Capt R Garg , the Co-Pilot, could not foresee the fault before it turned out to be disastrous. The passengers, other than the crew members, on board were Brig Raman Sehgal and two jawans— Pawan Carpenter and Sunil Kumar Shastri. The sources, however, on the other hand said that the incident of crash took place when the copter was put on a duty to escort Lt Gen H M Khanna, who was returning after paying obeisance at holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi. Sources said that three helicopters including two Chetaks and one ME-18 were among the party of Lt Gen Khanna. While Lt Gen Khanna was occupying ME-18 chopper, the two Chetak copters were put on " escort duty" and to act as surveillance copters. The sources further said that Gen Khanna, who retires on superannauation tomorrow, had wished to visit Mata Vaishnodevi to pay his obeisance. It was escorted by two helicopters for the purpose. Soon after the darshan, the copters took off for Jammu from Sanji Chat. While the two copters took off neatly, the ill-fated Chetak developed some snag, resulting into a crash. The copter was soon found engulfed in thick smoke and some of its pieces scattered all over, the sources further said. Five persons boarding the helicopter died after the mishap. Bodies of all the five armymen, including that of Brigadier, were first taken to Hem Kote Post and then despatched to Katra, base camp of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. The bodies were later brought at Bikram Park Katra. Brigadier Raman Sehgal, originally belongs to Bihar but his family is presently residing here. Pawan Carpenter belongs to Madhya Pradesh while Sunil Kumar Shastri was from Bihar. Police sources said that they heard explosion at around 1.15 pm and within minutes fire engulfed the entire area. Katra Police immediately informed the SHO Bhawan and SP Bhawan about the incident. A police team from Bhawan immediately rushed to the spot. Yatra for the holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi was disrupted for some time due to mishap but it resumed this evening. While handout issued by Defence Ministry termed that the crash occurred during a " routine flight", however, sources said that Army has started an investigation to ascertain the real cause of incident. The entire area has been cordoned off by the security forces to accomplish the thorough investigations. |
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Ministerial bungalows
being brought under power cuts Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 30: Jammu city will have uninterrupted power supply from 10 pm to 1 am and from 4.30 am to 6 a.m to facilitate students pursue their studies for their impending examinations. Further improvement in power supply would be ensured if the consumers stop use of electric heating and cooking gadgets between 6 pm to 10 pm. Announcing these measures at a joint meeting of prominent citizens and students here this evening, Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah said that the practice of charging minimum power load from industry would be dispensed with on trial basis for three months from April this year. Instead, the tariff would be charged on the basis of actual power consumed as per meter reading. If it helps in improving revenue, Government may consider changing the existing system. Taking note of the power pilferage and power theft, the Chief Minister said that various areas would be demarcated into zones with concerned engineers and other staff held responsible for the power being supplied and consumed in their areas. With this measure, the people of the concerned zones would come to know about the power they consume everyday. Dr Abdullah regretted that in absence of rains and snow, the power projects in the State were generating less power which had resulted into the present crisis. The Chief Minister said that the State was heavily banking upon the Centre for the power supply though it has tremendous hydel potential that it could not tap due to the lack of counter guarantees from the Union Government. About Kalakote Project, Dr Abdullah said that the non-availability of requisite quality of coal has been the main reason for the shut down of the project while abandoned work on Tulbul Navigational Lock Project has deprived the State from making optimum use of Jehlum water during winter. He said that several other measures are required to be taken to regulate power supply, which include installation of meters, underground cabling in Jammu and Srinagar cities and above all whole-hearted cooperation from the people in making judicious use of electricity. The Chief Minister announced that the Ministerial bungalows would also be brought under the purview of power curtailment schedule. He offered curtailment for his official residence also. However, some citizens opposed it in view of the security considerations. Power Minister S S Slathia, who was present in the meeting, said that a massive drive is being launched to install two lakh meters by March this year in the State. The tenders for procuring these have already been floated. Chief Secretary, Ashok Jaitly, also present in the meeting said that restructuring of power Development Department was on anvil in the State. Principal Secretary Power, Ajit Kumar and Chief Engineer M&RE, H S Raina also briefed the meeting about the power situation. Participating in the deliberations, the prominent citizens sought curtailment in Ministerial bungalows and bureaucrats’ residences also. They pressed for long term and short term measures for surmounting the power crisis that has been becoming precarious over the years. |
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Quake toll may go to one
lakh AHMEDABAD, Jan 30: Five days after the killer earthquake shattered Gujarat, hope was fading fast today for the thousands trapped under rubble prompting Defence Minister George Fernandes to apprehend a staggering death toll of one lakh people. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, however, did not endorse Fernandes’ "personal assessment." In Lucknow, he cautioned people about a "harsh" budget and asked them to be ready for fresh taxes to mobilise resources to meet the situation. In a miraculous rescue, seven people were brought out alive in Ahmedabad, Bhuj and Anjar today, an expert Swiss team called off its rescue operation in Bhuj, the most severely affected town. But British, Russian and German teams continued their search for survivors even as officials were not optimistic about success. Stench of decomposed bodies pervaded the quake-hit areas of Kutch region with disfigured bodies scattered around and after a visit to some of these areas Union Health Minister C P Thakur did not rule out the possibility of outbreak of epidemic. There were also reports of looting in some pockets of Anjar and Bachau and exodus of people to safer places. As estimates of death toll varied, Fernandes said on his return from a tour of Bhuj and other severely affected areas that "if my worst fears come true, the death toll could be in six figures. The injured could be twice that number, if not more." Asked about this in Lucknow, Vajpayee told reporters that "it is difficult to make an exact assessment now." "It is his personal assessment," he said about the figure given by Fernandes. Maintaining that he did not dispute Fernandes’ assessment, Gujarat Home Minister Haren Pandya said here that the toll could be about 20,000. In all, he said, 6,566 bodies have been recovered, including 5,145 from Kutch district alone. A group of 13 Swiss experts and three sniffer dogs returned from Bhuj saying there was not much hope of finding any survivor. The team had rescued four persons in Ahmedabad and three in Bhuj from the rubble. In a miraculous rescue in the commercial capital, a 25-year-old woman and her two-year-old son were brought out alive by rescuers. In all, 111 people have been rescued in this city, according to municipal officials. However, the Army put the figure at 132. The Ahmedabad municipal administration has declared as "unsafe" 17 buildings which have developed cracks following the earthquake for demolition. Elsewhere in Bhuj, an eight-month-old boy was recovered from his dead mother’s lap and a seven-month-old girl brought out alive in heartbreaking scenes in the country’s worst disaster in fifty years. In Bachau town in Kutch district, three persons, including a grandmother, were pulled by a Russian rescue team. As the rescue team approached them, Kunvarben, 75, found the wait agonising and screamed "get me out. I’m terrified." Meanwhile, relief operations gathered momentum in affected areas with supplies pouring in from various places, including abroad. A Pakistani Air Force plane carrying tents and blankets arrived in Ahmedabad this morning. Two more aircraft with relief materials would be making sorties in the next two days. The Railways have restored rail links till Ratnala, about 20km from Bhuj, so that relief materials can now be sent by trains to ravaged areas. Power and communication facilities have also shown slight improvement. Over 80 medical teams, including over 900 doctors and paramedicos besides 20,000 defence personnel, were working in the affected areas. Nearly 17,000 surgeries, including 10,000 major, have been performed. Health Minister C P Thakur did not rule out the possibility of epidemic outbreak but said the Centre was taking all efforts to guard against it. (PTI) |
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Police recovers
stolen baby from Purkhoo girl Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 30: With the arrest of Sudesh alias Shashi Verma of Purkhoo, the city police has solved a bizarre case in which a newly born baby was stolen from the Labour Room of the SMGS Hospital on January 26. Impersonating herself as Staff Nurse of the Hospital, the girl had stolen the baby to emotionally black- mail parents of her lover who had died in a road accident. Giving details of the incident, a police spokesman said that on January 26, Shashi Verma stole a newly born son of Sita Devi, wife of Man-Bahadur, from the labour room. Posing herself as a Nurse of the Hospital, Shashi was reportedly freely roaming in Labour Ward. Sita delivered her son in the morning and was in Labour Room for the whole day. Her husband Man Bahadur was attending her and she was supposed to be shifted in the ward in evening. As Shashi was performing all jobs in the Labour Room, the poor couple fell in her trap. In the evening she asked Man Bahadur to bring an auto to take Sita back home as Sita and her newly born baby was normal and there was no need to be there in the hospital. When Man Bahadur reached entrance of the Hospital, the girl was standing there carrying his newly born baby. Shashi asked him to bring his wife. When he went inside, the girl in the meantime, left the place along with the child in the same auto. As the poor couple raised hue and cry, the Hospital authorities immediately lodged a complaint with City Chowk Police Station. The police registered a case and handed over investigation to ASI Bishamber Dass. Following investigation, some staff members gave description about the identity of the girl who had stolen the baby. The girl had also left her purse there which also helped police in ascertaining her identity. After removing baby from the Hospital she rushed to Rajouri to her relations house. Police has, reportedly, arrested the girl and recovered the baby from Rajouri. The baby was later handed over to Sita Devi and Man Bahadur. According to police, Shashi Verma had love affair with a youth of Akhnoor tehsil who was killed in a road accident. To emotionally black-mail her lover’s parents and marry with their younger son, Shashi told them that she was pregnented by their deceased son. With the stolen baby, she wanted to give impression to her lover’s parent that the baby belongs to their deceased son. When contacted, Dr Rakesh Khajuria, Medical Superintendent, SMGS Hospital said that Shashi was neither staff member of the Hospital nor a trained nurse. Dr Khajuria said that hospital authorities have paraded the girl before staff members of the Hospital to avoid such incident in future. |
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LUCKNOW, Jan 30: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said the coming budget would be harsh and people should be prepared for fresh taxes in the wake of devastating earthquake in Gujarat. Vajpayee told reporters here he was confident the people would happily shoulder the burden of fresh taxes in view of natural calamities of drought, floods and now an earthquake. Vajpayee termed as "personal assessment" the estimated death toll of one lakh people in the quake given by Defence Minister George Fernandes. "It is very difficult to hazard a guess at present about the exact death toll," he said, adding thousands of people were still buried under the debris in Bhuj and other quake-ravaged parts of Gujarat. Vajpayee said the Centre had decided to constitute a national disaster management authority, comprising experts from different fields, to meet natural calamities. This authority, he said, would take immediate decisions and steps, including relief and rescue operations and rehabilitation of people, in case of a natural calamity. The Prime Minister said an all-party meeting would be held in Delhi to discuss the Gujarat tragedy and seek consensus on tackling the situation. He said a crisis management group was meeting twice a day to monitor the situation and take all possible steps to help mitigate sufferings of the people. Vajpayee, who yesterday visited Gujarat for on-the-spot assessment of the havoc wrought by the quake, said the situation there was heart-rending and very pathetic. He thanked the national and international agencies for extending help to quake victims. "We are grateful to all of them for their timely help so badly needed to provide succour to people." "We still need more temporary shelters, tents, blankets and food for the people of Gujarat," Vajpayee said. |
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Militants don’t spare
even children Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 30: The fiendish designs of the militants are becoming clearer day by day. Even the innocent children are not spared from their gruesome motives. Yesterday, Raju, 10 years, alongwith his father Barkhi Ram of village Banani near Kunghai, in Marmat area of Doda district, while moving on a foot track leading to Goha, noticed a shining object lying in the bushes adjacent to the track. Out of curiosity and inquisitiveness, the child picked up the object to have a closer look. Barkhi Ram, on seeing this object in the hands of his beloved one, asked him to throw it away since he became suspicious about its appearance. The obedient son executed the directions of his father, unaware that the death awaited him. The object, the moment it left the innocent and playful hands of the child, exploded in the air, ripping apart the soul and body of Raju into pieces and injuring his father. Innocent Raju, who has no concern with the militancy and the politics associated with it, didn’t atleast deserve this kind of death! The militants have such heinous and barbaric minds that they have now resorted to plant such like objects, which attract the people, especially the children, on the roadside and busy areas. In the instant case also, the object was so placed that any passer-by, could get attracted to its designing and glittering shine. Raju happened to be one such innocent. The militants are hell-bent on causing sufferings to the locals so as to earn few bucks from their masters from across the border,for such misdeeds. Such incidents occur even at the time when India talks of peace. Let better sense prevail upon, during the extended month of ceasefire, to those who believe in violence! |
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Farooq to take up cancellation
of PRIME Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 30: Taking cognizance of the sentiments of the agitating students and the people, Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today said that he will take up with the Centre the issue regarding cancellation of PRIME medicos admission to various Medical Colleges in the State. ‘In a few days I will talk to the Centre and convey the sentiments of students on this issue,’ the Chief Minister said at a meeting of the prominent citizens and students of various colleges, here this evening. He said he has always been opposing the absorption of the students of unrecognised PRIME Medical College in various colleges but was left with no choice when the Centre gave instructions and insisted on their admission to save their career. For the past four years, he said, these students had been coming to him demanding justice but he always expressed his reservations. Dr Abdullah said the Government is keen to attach the infrastructure created by the management of PRIME College and utilize it as maternity and orthopedic hospitals. He expressed his anguish and surprise over the judgement of the parents of these students who allowed themselves to get duped by unscrupulous elements and played with the future of their children. He said the management is still approaching the Government for recognisation of the college and asserted that this will never happen. Intervening, the Chief Secretary, Mr Ashok Jaitly said the Union Health Ministry pressed hard the State Government to take the PRIME students in various colleges. This had the clearance from the Medical Council of India. |
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DIC officials booked in Rs 38 lakh subsidy scam Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 30: State Vigilance Organisation has booked several officials of District Industries Centre (DIC) Pulwama in connection with transport subsidy scandal worth over Rs 38 lakhs. Giving details, a senior Vigilance official said that action was taken by the SVO after receiving a specific complaint which indicated that huge money had been sanctioned and disbursed illegally by the officers of DIC Pulwama to the proprietor of M/S Wani Cattle and Poultry Feed Unit, Awantipora on account of transport subsidy claims. After preliminary inquiry a case FIR No. 4/ 2001 was registered with the Police Station Vigilance, Kashmir in this connection. In the course of verification conducted by a specially deputed Vigilance team, record connected with the disbursement was seized and examined. After proper scrutiny it was established that the said firm had submitted transport subsidy claims worth Rs 38.54 lakhs to the DIC Pulwama. It was also revealed that the officers had entertained the claim of the Wani’s firm spread over a period of five years between 1991-1996. The investigation indicated that officers of DIC had for ulterior motives processed the claims which were basically fake and fictitious and were sanctioned and disbursed the money without caring to verify about the genuineness and authenticity of the bills. It has also come to light that the firm had shown to have purchased raw material from various firms from outside the state. However, during course of verification some of the suppliers denied to have supplied any material like rice bran, maize, common salt etc. whileas some firms from whom purchases were shown to have been made and bills produced for payment, were found non-existent during verification. These facts were even confirmed by the Delhi Police. The seals of Sales Tax authorities at Lakhanpur affixed on the bills also turned out to be fake when compared with the original seals. The officers of the electric department Pulwama opined that the firm in proportion to the production had consumed much less electricity. The verification of the record revealed that the same had not been maintained properly thus establishing that the officers of DIC had entered into a criminal conspiracy with the proprietor of the firm for ulterior motive and in pursuance of the conspiracy, transport subsidy claim amounting to Rs 38.54 lakh had been fraudulently entertained, processed, sanctioned and money disbursed to which the firm was not entitled. Further investigation was in progress. |
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PM opposes separation of Jammu, Ladakh LUCKNOW, Jan 30: Prime Atal Bihari Vajpayee has said that there was a strong demand for separation of Jammu and Ladakh from Kashmir valley. " I don’t agree with such demand", the Prime Minister said while talking to reporters here today. Mr Vajpayee justified his Government’s decision to extend the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir saying it was in keeping with wishes of the people of the State. "Our decision to extend the ceasefire in the Valley is in line with people’s aspirations of peace and there is nothing wrong in our decision", Vajpayee further said. He said Government’s peace efforts have "generated a lot of hopes among the people in Jammu and Kashmir and militancy is only harming the interest of the State". (PTI) |
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Bush speaks to PM, assures all possible help LUCKNOW, Jan 30: US President George Bush today spoke to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and offered all possible assistance by his Government for the relief and rehabilitation of victims of the devastating earthquake in Gujarat. Bush, who called Vajpayee, told him "this is the least a friend can do for a friend in need." He conveyed condolences on behalf of the people of US over the death and devastation in one of the worst-ever natural calamities. During the five-minute telephonic conversation, with Vajpayee, who is now on a two-day visit to bis constituency -Lucknow, Bush said some help from the US side for the victims had already been dispatched. The two leaders agreed to keep in touch in this regard. (PTI) |
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Sukh Ram, two others discharged in telecom scam NEW DELHI, Jan 30: The Delhi High Court today discharged former Union Minister and Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) president Sukh Ram and two others in the 1996 telecom scam case. Justice R S Sodhi, accepting revision petitions of Sukh Ram, former Department of telecom official Runu Ghosh and P Rama Rao, Managing Director of a Hydrabad-based telecom company, challenging framing of the charges against them by a special court here, said "prima facie" there was no material to frame charges against them. The court said on the basis of material before it only a "suspicion" could be raised against the accused, which was not sufficient to draw a conclusion about their alleged involvement in the conspiracy. CBI in its chargesheet had alleged that Sukh Ram as Communications Minister in 1996 had conspired with Ghosh and Rao to provide benefit to the latter and in the process caused a wrongful loss of Rs 1.68 crore to the Government. Accepting the arguments of Sukh Ram’s counsel Anil Nag and Anand Prakash and those of the two other accused, the court said the decision taken by the Minister was a bonafide one. It said by accepting the tender of Rao’s firm M/s Arm Ltd, no dishonest intention could be inferred from the Minister’s decision. Sukh Ram’s counsel had taken the stand that the Minister had granted the contract to M/s Arm Ltd for purchase of "maar radio communication system" for rural areas at higher rates because the company was an old supplier of the department. Since the department was operating the same system under the same prices, the rates could not have been reduced even as some other suppliers had quoted lower prices, Sukh Ram’s counsel contended. The CBI alleged that while the technical evaluation committee of Department of Telecom had recommended a price of Rs 3,45,500 per system with single antenna, M/s Arm Ltd had quoted the price at Rs 3,54,944 per system. As per the amended purchase order of January 13, 1994, Arm Ltd was asked to supply 450 "crystal" version of maar system and 450 "synthesized" version at a total cost of Rs 30.20 crore, resulting in a loss of Rs 1.68 crore to the DoT, the CBI had alleged. Ghosh was accused of sending the files of the contract directly to the minister bypassing other official channels. Sukh Ram is still facing charges in a disproportionate assets case as CBI had recovered cash and other valuables worth over Rs four crore from his various premises in August 1996. (PTI) |
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Sushma appointed Addl Secy Environment Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Jan: 30: Ms Sushma Choudhary, Principal Secretary Education, belonging to J&K Cadre, who is tipped for deputation to the Centre, has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Forests. She will succeed K Roy Paul. The Centre also announced other senior level appointments with N S Sisodia being made Additional Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat in place of Pawan Chopra who takes over as the new Information and Broadcasting Secretary. Arun Kshetrapal, a 1968 batch IAS officer from Madhya Pradesh cadre, will takeover from Sisodia as Additional Secretary in the National Security Council Secretariat. Anil Baijal has been appointed Additional Secretary in the I and B Ministry. He would also hold additional charge of the post of executive member, Prasar Bharati board for a period of six months, an official announcement said here. Sarita Prasad, presently in her Himachal Pradesh cadre, has been appointed Chairman of the National Authority for Chemical Weapons convention in the Cabinet Secretariat in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary. She succeeds C N S Nair who goes back to his cadre. B S Minhas, posted in his Rajasthan cadre, has been made Additional Secretary in the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation succeeding Bhagat Singh, who is reverting prematurely to his cadre next week. The postings were cleared by the appointments committee of the Cabinet. Meanwhile, Mr N K Singh, Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office who was to retire tomorrow, has been appointed Officer on Special Duty in the PMO. A 1964 IAS officer of Bihar cadre, Mr Singh’s appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. Mr Singh, who will be on a contract basis from February 1, will continue to enjoy the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government, an official release said today. |
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HUJI militant killed in Surankote Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Jan 30: One militant belonging to dreaded Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HUJI) got killed when a group of the militants of the outfit attacked an Army Camp in Mahroot near Surankote in border district of Poonch in the wee hours today. According to reports a group of the militants in the cover of darkness at 3.30 am today attacked the Army Camp. The jawans who were on duty also retaliated and firing continued for hours together. When the firing stopped in the morning the jawans during the search of the area found some blood stains in the way leading to jungle. Following the blood stains the jawans located a dead body of HUJI militant at a distance. From his possession one A K 47 Rifle, three magazines, 63 rounds, two handgrenades, one pouch and medicines have been recovered. The slain militant has been identified as "Badshah". This is second attack since last two days by the Pak militants on army pickets in the Surankote area. Yesterday a group of Lashkar-e-Toiba militant outfits attacked the Army patrol party near Surankote and one militant was killed in the retaliation. |
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6 killed, 42 hurt as bus skids into gorge Excelsior Correspondent KARGIL, Jan 30: Six persons were killed while at least 42 others injured, some of them seriously when a State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) bus skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge near Kaksar bridge last evening. Reports reaching here said that incident took place when the ill-fated Government owned Transport bus was on its way to Thasgam in Drass from Kargil in the evening. After some mechanical snag, the bus went out of control just near Kaksar bridge and rolled into about 300 feet gorge. Four passengers were killed on the spot while two others succumbed to their injuries later. About fifty passengers were onboard when the incident occurred. The Army and GREF men rushed to the spot after they received information about the mishap. Several passengers were found missing and could be traced latter. One passenger was still missing. The unofficial sources have put the death toll over eight. The injured were shifted to District hospital Kargil and some were provided first- aid at nearby Army unit. Out of the 42 injured passengers the condition of over a dozen of them was stated to be serious. They were today referred to Srinagar for specialised treatment. The identity of those killed could not be established so far. The bodies were lying in the mortuary of Kargil hospital. Deputy Commissioner Kargil, Dr Mohd Din visited the hospital to review the situation and inquire about the health condition of the accident victims. The Police also supervised the rescue work in the evening which was disrupted due to darkness and chilling cold. With tough efforts the jawans removed the bodies and injured from the deep nullah to the road. |
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Budget session of Parliament from Feb 19 NEW DELHI, Jan 30: The budget session of Parliament will begin on February 19 with President K R Narayanan addressing both Houses on the opening day. The Lok Sabha would have its sitting till May 11 with a break from March 23 to April 16, according to a House release. During the break, standing committees of various ministries and departments would discuss the demands for grants of the concerned departments. (PTI) |
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