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‘Kashmir
is my agenda’ ISLAMABAD, June 15: Pakistan military ruler, Gen Pervez Musharraf said tonight he was going to India with "an open mind" to change the history" and hoped the Indian leaders would respond with an equal measure of openness in their discussions on the Kashmir issue. Answering questions from a select panel on a live radio and TV programme, he said Kashmir constituted "the baseline" of his talks with Indian leaders. Kashmir is my agenda. Discussions on eight other points without Kashmir is not acceptable." "There are other issues. We are prepared to discuss them. Since they have invited me, they know my stand. Kashmir is the issue", Musharraf said. He said he is going to India with an open mind and his openness would be in proportionate with the openness of the Indian leaders. " "I am going with an open mind. Openness is directly in proportion to openness the other side shows," he said. The military ruler said "it is true that historically Kashmir issue was not moving forward. Hope this time it is not going to happen. I am going there with an open mind. I hope my counterparts in India, Indian leadership and Indian Government also have an open-minded approach." "This time we must change history. I am going there to change history and if we get cooperation we can make a new beginning," Musharraf said. Emphasising the centrality of Kashmir issue in his talks, Musharraf said "I have no doubt Kashmir issue is the core issue. "This is the first time that the Indian Government referred to Kashmir in an invitation letter to the head of state of Pakistan" he said However, he said it was "regrettable" that Indian External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh has said the whole of Kashmir, including the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, belongs to India. "Hope this is only a statement. He does not mean it." Musharraf further said that his country was willing to allow the Indo-Iranian gas pipeline to run through its territory. "If they want the pipeline, we are prepared. Pakistan is willing to permit laying of the pipeline through its territory," he said. "If they don’t want to buy gas cheaply, it is their problem. But if they want the pipeline, we are prepared," Musharraf said. Answering a wide range of questions, he said when asked how he was going to stay in power that he came to power because of God’s wish. "I do not fear any force and am determined to change Pakistan. I have mandate of the Supreme Court. We even have power to change the Constitution if necessary". Referring to Pakistan’s huge foreign debt and the steps needed for debt-servicing and revival of the economy, Musharraf said the country must come out of its economic mess "if its dignity is to be restored." (PTI) |
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Militants forcibly recruiting Kashmiri youth Excelsior Correspondent NAGROTA, June 15: Though tears streaming from the eyes of 15 years old Javed Ahmed Gagroo, his innocent face was delighted as he was among the three minor Kashmiri youth who were rescued by the Army from the clutches of the so-called Mujahideens. The horrified experience which he witnessed during weeks long captivity with the militants was still haunting him but he was happy that he will again meet his family. Javed Ahmed Gagroo, Javed Ahmed Ganai and Basarat Gulzar Hajam, all hailing from the Anantnag district of Kashmir division were rescued by the Army from the clutches of militants who were forcibly taking them to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) for training. An alert column of Army intercepted a group of militants near Gulabgarh at Udhampur district who were taking them to PoK. After an encounter soldiers rescued these youths. Story of other three youths namely Riyaz Ahmed, Ghulam Hassan and Javed Iqbal who were presented before media men by Army was same but they were brave enough to give a slip to the militants and managed to reach at nearby army formation. Story narrated by all the six youth was similar. They were recruited much against their wishes. "Hailing from poor families, the youth were intimidated extensively by the terrorists and a feeling of awe inspired in them. Helpless and having resigned to fate, they revealed that they had no other option available as the terrorists had threatened to eliminate their entire families if they expressed any opposition", said an army officer. During interaction with media-men these innocent youth virtually broke down while narrating horrified experience and ill-treatment meted out to them by the so-called Mujahideens. "I have lost all hopes of meeting my family members", sobbing Gagroo said while disclosing ill-treatment meted out to him by the terrorists. It was all due to the efforts of armymen, the Kashmiri youth said, that he will again meet with his family. Same was the feeling of Basarat Gulzar Hajam, a tenth class student of Government Higher Secondary School Mattan who was kidnapped by the militants on gun point. Militants kidnapped him from Mattan and used him as porter for so many days. "With heavy load on my shoulders I was forced to track difficult terrain without any food and water", fear stricken Basarat recounted how he spent a week with militants. "They used all three of us as porters at gun point", another youth Javed Ganai said. Hailing from Dara Dulia village of Poonch, Javed Iqbal was kidnapped by militants while he was working in his field. "As I refused to accompany them, they (militants) gave me a severe thrashing with butts and threatened to eliminate my entire family. I had no option but to go with them ", said Iqbal. Iqbal spent one month with militants and during that period they gave him inhuman treatment. Javed Iqbal ran from the captivity of militants while they were camping in a hide out at Badot in the Poonch sector. These youth revealed that two pro-Pakistani outfits — Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) and Hizbul Mujahideen Pir Panjal Regiment (HMPPR) — are forcibly recruiting local Kashmiri youth into their outfits to show that militancy is still continuing in Jammu and Kashmir. These youth said they were shown heavy weaponry by HMPPR outfit in Banihal area and were asked to get training in militant camps across border in Pakistan. They were told that they will be given missiles to handle and these could kill hundreds of people at a time, they said, adding mercenaries were treating locals like their servants and brutally treating them. They said they were happy that army had saved them from militants and now they wish to join the force to serve the country. Col. Naveen Chopra of 16 Corps said that revelations by the six youth are a clear indicator that the general public is disillusioned with the on-going terrorist violence and holds Pakistan responsible for the same. "An increasing realization is perceptible that the terrorists, acting at the behest of their Pakistan based mentors are out to impede developmental work in Jammu and Kashmir", he said, adding, " the people are yearning to see normalcy returned to their State". Mr Chopra said that having sensed the public mood and seeing that no one likes to pick up arms voluntarily, terrorist outfits have resorted to forcible recruitment to portray a situation that the Kashmir problem is a people’s movement. "Six youth disclosed that similar disillusionment persisted amongst a large majority of the local terrorists and they were all looking for an opportunity to shun the path of violence and return to the mainstream to work for the development of the State", he said. |
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Plot to create LeT network
foiled Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 15: Jammu Police have arrested a hardcore Kashmiri militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit from village Bajalta near Nagrota. A large quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives have been recovered from the possession of militant. Arrested militant has been identified as Billal Ahmed son of Ghulam Qadir Pandit, a resident of village Hanji Derawala in Pattan area of Baramulla district. Police sources said an information of militant’s presence in Bajalta area was developed by DySP East Sanjay Sharma. Police maintained a vigil in Bajalta forests for more than one week and finally succeeded in apprehending Billal Ahmed from a hideout. Initially, Billal Ahmed didn’t break out. However, he was subjected to sustained interrogation during which he confessed that he was a hardcore activist of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit, hailing from Baramulla. Billal told police that he had been deputed to Jammu by Lashkar’s top leadership to set up outfit’s network by recruiting local youths. For the purpose, Billal Ahmed was camping in Bajalta. He had contacted a number of youths in Bajalta, Bhatindi, Sunjwan and other localities on outskirts of Jammu but couldn’t succeed in mobilising them to join the militancy. Sources said Billal Ahmed also revealed that he had his another hideout in Pattan area. Accordingly, a police party from Trikuta Nagar police station led by SHO Shamsher Singh Parihar rushed to Pattan and recovered a consignment of arms and ammunition from Billal’s hideout. Consignment included one AK-56 rifle, two magazines, 80 rounds and some explosive material. Billal told police that he had planned to bring arms and ammunition to his camp in Bajalta at a later date. However, he was arrested by police before he could succeed in his mission. The militant now has been sent to the Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) for sustained questioning to extract more clues from him regarding Lashkar’s network in Jammu and their plans. Police said the questioning of Billal could give more clues about outfit’s contacts. With the arrest of Billal Ahmed, police claimed to have foiled an attempt by Lashkar outfit to create its network in Jammu. |
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Kashmiri boy surrenders Excelsior Correspondent POONCH, June 15: Two civilians were killed by the militants in two separate incidents last night while a Kashmiri youth, who was being forcibly taken across the border for arms training by a group of militants, surrendered before army. Official reports said the militants gunned down a civilian Mohd Rafiq, 35, son of Feroz Din in his house at Tula Dhok at village Mastan Dara in Surankot tehsil last night. Militants, numbering three, escaped from the village after committing the crime. A police party reached the spot this morning for investigations. Reasons behind the killing of Mohd Rafiq couldn’t be ascertained immediately. Another civilian Mohd Din son of Shabab Din, a resident of Shahpur was killed in exchange of firing between army and militants in last night’s gun-battle at Shahpur in Budhal. Eight top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) foreign mercenaries from Pakistan and Afghanistan were killed in the encounter. Reports said Mohd Din was trapped in the exchange of firing while returning to his house. He was hit by a volley of shots fired by the militants and died instantly. His body was handed over to his family members this afternoon after post-mortem in the local hospital. Reports said a Kashmiri youth Billal Ahmed son of Ghulam Rasool, a resident of Anantnag surrendered before Behram Gala police post in Surankot. Billal escaped from the clutches of a group of militants, who had kidnapped him from Anantnag and were taking him across the Line of Control (LoC) through Surankot for arms training. Billal Ahmed said he had no love for the militancy and wanted to live a normal life. Police said Billal will be restored to his family shortly. |
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Massive protests in Valley SRINAGAR, June 15: Police today fired warning shots and lobbed teargas shells to disperse youths protesting the alleged "reign of terror" unleashed by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir even as six top Hurriyat Conference leaders, including its chairman Abdul Gani Bhat, were put under house arrest and three others detained as a precautionary measure. Groups of slogan-shouting youths took to streets in repsonse to Hurriyat’s call for widespread protests soon after Friday prayers and fought pitched battles with police, official sources said. Police swung batons and lobbed teargas shells at Jamia Masjid here to scatter the protesters who pelted stones at the cops, the sources said. Police finally fired warning shots to bring the situation under control, the sources said, adding there were no casualties. Sopore and Badgam towns also witnessed massive demonstrations after the prayers led by senior executive members of Hurriyat Sheikh Abdul Aziz and Syed Aga Hassan Alsafvi Almoosvi respectively. Reports of protests were also received from Chrar-e-Sharief and different mosques in Anantnag, Baramulla, Pulwama and Kupwara where secessionist leaders addressed the congregations. Six top Hurriyat leaders, including Bhat, were put under house arrest and three others detained to prevent demonstrations called by them against the alleged "reign of terror" unleashed by security forces. Contingents of local police assisted by para-military forces in a pre-dawn action laid siege to the office-cum-residences of Muslim Conference chief Bhat at Wazirbagh and Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chief of the political bureau of Jamaat-e-Islami, at Hyderpora and asked the inmates not to come out of their houses. In Srinagar, a demonstration was organised by World Islamic Students League against alleged desecration of mosques and shrines by security forces. Police cane-charged the protesters. Addressing the Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid, former Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq charged the Government with "letting loose a reign of terror in the State under the pretext of Indo-Pak summit". Geelani alleged he was not allowed to offer Friday prayers. (PTI) |
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Nothing much expected from summit: BJP AJAY KA, June 15: BJP today said not much should be expected from the forthcoming Indo-Pak summit but was hopeful that start of talks process would help reduce tension and violence in Jammu and Kashmir. "We hope the summit brings peace... But not much should be expected from this," BJP president Jana Krishnamurty told a press conference here on the sidelines of BJP’s state unit convention which is to decide party’s strategy for the coming assembly polls. "However, the start of dialogue process would help reduce tension between the two countries and violent activities in Jammu and Kashmir", he added. Stating that the summit was expected in the third week of next month, Krishnamurty said Pakistan military ruler Gen Pervez Musharaf’s acceptance of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s invitation for talks has had its impact in Pakistan also and referred to Musharraf’s rebuke to clerics against indulging in anti-India sloganeering. Stressing that BJP was against tripartite talks on Kashmir, he said the party backed the 1994 Parliament resolution which speaks about retrieval of parts held by Pakistan. He also strongly disfavoured division of Jammu and Kashmir even as he admitted that Jammu and Ladakh provinces of the State had not been developed properly and favoured an economic package for these regions. The BJP president said Centre’s interlocutor K C Pant was making efforts to bring peace in the militancy-torn State. Ruling out creation of "Harit Pradesh" out of UP, Krishnamurty said the NDA agenda spoke about creation of only three States - Uttranchal, Chattisgarh and Jharkhand. Earlier, Krishnamurty inaugurated UP BJP’s convention which was attended by several party leaders including Kushabhau Thakre, party’s incharge of UP, Pyarelal Khandelwal and Sunil Shastri. The two-day convention will discuss party’s electoral strategy for the assembly polls expected by March next year and the issue of forging a tie-up with Rashtriya Lok Dal of Ajit Singh. UP Chief Minister Rajnath Singh and several of his Cabinet colleagues are also attending the convention. (PTI) |
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Two arrested, one escapes Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 15: Trikuta Nagar police today arrested two miscreants involved in an attempt to snatch golden jewellery from a businessman’s wife near Jagdish Aggarwal park in Sector No. 1 of Trikuta Nagar late last night. Another miscreant, involved in the unsuccessful bid, was still at large and was being traced by police. The miscreants also attempted to kill the woman with a knife after she raised an alarm but the lady survived unhurt as some people rushed towards accused. Police sources said Kanta Jain wife of Asha Candles owner N K Jain, a resident of Trikuta Nagar was on way to her house after purchasing some drugs at about 2100 hours last night when three miscreants, riding on two scooters, asked her to explain the address of Lochan Nursing Home. As the woman raised her finger, the miscreants surrounded her and tried to snatch the entire golden jewellery she was wearing. However, the woman displayed tremendous courage and presence of mind. She caught hold of one of the accused and thrashed him. Simultaneously, she raised an alarm and people rushed towards the miscreants. Police said one of the miscreant tried to snatch chain and ear rings of the woman but couldn’t succeed. In the melee, all three accused fled away leaving behind one scooter and their shoes. While trying to rescue herself from woman’s clutches, one of the accused also brandished a sharp-edged knife and tried to attack the businessman’s wife but she survived. In the meantime, police parties led by DySP East Sanjay Sharma and SHO Trikuta Nagar Shamsher Singh Parihar rushed to the scene of crime. The seized scooter bearing registration No. 4731 JKR and pairs of shoes found at the spot gave enough clues to police team. Police parties under the supervision of SSP Jammu Rashmi Ranjan Swain succeeded in apprehending two accused within a couple of hours after the crime while their one associate remained untraced. Arrests were made from Channi Rama area. Arrested chain snatchers have been identified as Sanjeev Sharma son of Amar Chand Sharma, a resident of Kunjwani and Vikram Khajuria son of Bodh Raj Khajuria, a resident of Dansal. Accused, who couldn’t be arrested so far, has been identified as Nitin Sharma son of Suraj Parkash Sharma of Kunjwani. Another scooter No 4964 JK02D was also recovered from the accused alongwith a sharp-edged weapon used in the offence. Interrogation of the accused revealed that they were involved in three four other cases of chain snatching also and were wanted to police. A case against them has been registered at Trikuta Nagar police station for further investigations. Police continued efforts to apprehend Nitin Sharma. |
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PM’s bold initiative isolated separatists: Sagar Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 15: The Minister for Works, Mr Ali Mohammad Sagar today said the bold initiative taken by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee by inviting the Pakistan Chief Executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf for talks has isolated the separatists not only internationally but locally as well. Addressing public meetings at Nitco Lane and Muthi, after inaugurating tube wells there, Mr Sagar expressed the hope that the proposed talks would bring peace to the trouble-torn State which has witnessed a lot of blood-shed during the past decade. He said the Prime Minister’s initiative, which was positively reciprocated by Pakistan has vindicated the stand of the National Conference that the solution to Kashmir issue can be found only through bilateral talks between the two neighbours. Mr Sagar said the NC’s demand for changing the Line of Control (LoC) into the International Border is also now gaining momentum and a solution is likely to be worked out on the same lines. Mr Sagar said the people, who till recently vowed of State’s merger with Pakistan, are now eager to participate in the elections to satiate their hunger for power. "These are the same people who got thousands of Kashmiris killed during the past decade by misleading them," he said adding that they have now also become the frontline detractors of NC only to hoodwink the people. The Minister said, need of the hour was restoration of peace in the State and he hoped that the upcoming Vajpayee-Musharraf summit would be a step in that direction. "Everybody in the State irrespective of religion, region, caste and creed has been adversely affected by the militancy and we had to pay a heavy price by way of life and property," Mr Sagar said and added that everything, except human lives, can be reconstructed once peace is restored in the State. "Roads will be constructed, better education and healthcare would come, tourists would throng the State and industries would be set up only when complete peace is restored," he said adding that despite various odds the Government was trying utmost to provide succor to the people and the achievements recorded during the past four years speak for themselves. He said although so much has been done but still a lot needs to be done to bring economic and social prosperity to the State. Mr Sagar hailed the people of Jammu for the appreciable role played during militancy despite provocations by the enemy. He said our strength lies in unity and the nefarious designs of the elements bent upon dividing the people on religious and regional lines should never be allowed to succeed. The Minister said that the Government was alive to the problems of the people of Jammu on account of scarcity of drinking water and several schemes have been launched to augment the potable water supply in the region. He said a Rs 450 crore project has been submitted to the centre for financial assistance for taking up massive upgradation of the water supply schemes in Greater Jammu. Speaking on the occasion, MLA Jammu West, Mr Hans Raj Dogra appreciated the commendable job done by the Minister for Works, Mr Ali Mohammad Sagar especially for his efforts in augmenting the potable water requirments of Jammu city to a large extent. "From the core of my heart I hail the efforts being made by Mr Sagar to mitigate the sufferings of the people for which he will be remembered long," Mr Dogra said adding that the people of Jammu should be thankful to Mr Sagar for his efforts in extending potable water supply to every nook and corner of the city. The Minister also inaugurated the 15 Km long, Kunjwani Sai-Dablehar Road, constructed at a cost of Rs 1.23 crore under NABARD programme. The road provides connectivity to a population of 20,000 souls in eight villages of the area. MLA R S Pura, M R Bhagat, MLC, Chowdhary Mohammad Hussain, BJP leader Kashmira Singh and former MLC, Dhan Raj Bhagotra were also present. |
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Musharraf to visit Delhi on July 9 ISLAMABAD, June 15: Pakistan military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf would begin a three-day visit to New Delhi for summit meeting with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on July 9, Pakistan’s Urdu daily "Jang" reported today. However, a spokesman of the Indian High Commission here told PTI the dates were still being worked and they would be announced simultaneously in New Delhi and Islamabad as soon as they were finalised. Pakistan officials were not available for comment on the report. Quoting highly reliable and diplomatic sources, Jang said that dates for Gen Musharraf’s proposed visit have been finalised through diplomatic channels, but the formal announcement in this regard would be made simultaneously from New Delhi and Islamabad after India’s approval of the proposed dates. It said Gen Musharraf would leave for India on July 9 and return to Islamabad after spending two nights and three days in New Delhi. The newspaper also quoted the acting Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Sudhir Vyas as saying that no special team was supposed to visit Islamabad to finalise details of Musharraf’s proposed visit. (PTI) |
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PM walks in the hospital corridor, Dr Ranawat leaves MUMBAI, June 15: Recovering fast from the June 7 right knee joint surgery, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today again took a walk in the corridor of the seventh floor of the Breach Candy hospital here. Vajpayee, on a normal diet now, continued with intensive physiotherapy sessions even as Dr Chittaranjan Ranawat, the New York-based orthopaedic surgeon who operated on him, left for the US last night. A team of doctors led by noted city orthopaedician Dr Nandu Laud was attending on the Prime Minister and assisting him in physiotherapy sessions. Ranawat had earlier expressed satisfaction over the steady recovery of the Prime Minister, who is tentatively slated to be discharged by June 19. The visitors, who came to wish Vajpayee today, included External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Vajpayee, who was in a relaxed mood, continued to monitor world development, watch TV and browsed through official files from his hospital bed, a PMO spokesman said. (PTI) |
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Two Havildars killed in Rajouri Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, June 15: Two Army Havildars were killed and two soldiers were seriously injured when their jeep rolled down into a nullah at village Deri Laleot in Manjakot area tonight. Army vehicle was on way from Krishna Ghati to Jammu, reports said. Deceased Havildars have been identified as Banwari Lal and Hem Ram, both from Grenadiers. Two injured jawans have been hospitalised. |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 15: The BSF early today killed a militant in Paharpur area of Hiranagar sector and apprehended 11 Bangladeshi intruders in RS Pura sector as Pakistan army continued firing on the International Border. BSF sources said the slain intruder was suspected to be a Pakistani. A Mouser, four kg explosives and ammunition was recovered from his possession. Another associate of the intruder managed to escape back to Pakistan. BSF also apprehended 11 Bangladeshi intruder in RS Pura sector this morning and handed them over to police. |
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CAT admits CBI chief aspirant’s application BANGALORE, June 15: The Central Administrative Tribunal bench here today admitted the application filed before it by an IPS officer of the DGP rank to consider him for the post of CBI Director. The CAT bench, comprising Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy (CAT-Vice-Chairman) and S K Ghosal (member) ordered after completion of arguments on the admissibility of the application filed by R Vishwanathan. Vishwanathan was the DGP for Fire Force and Home Guards when he filed the application. He was recently shifted and appointed as inquiry officer (a newly created post) in the case relating to the sale of infant girls in Gulbarga district. The bench adjourned to July five, the final hearing on the application. Vishwanathan, in his application, has pleaded that he be considered for selection as CBI Director as he was "qualified, capable and competent" as the officers being considered for the post. The CAT bench here had on April 28 ruled that the appointment of the CBI director is subject to the final outcome of the application filed by Vishwanathan. Subsequently, pending disposal of the case, the Union Government had appointed P C Sharma as the acting director of the country’s premier investigating agency. (PTI) |
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NEW DELHI, June 15: Army chief general S Padmanabhan today met Home Minister L K Advani to brief him on counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir. Though officials did not reveal what transpired at the meeting, highly placed sources said security arrangements for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra were also discussed. In addition to para-military forces and local police to provide immediate vicinity cover to the pilgrims, army units had also been deployed at vulnerable mountain passes and stretches where militants could threaten the pilgrim route. (PTI) |
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