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Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, June 17: Ten members of two families from New Delhi and Jaipur including three women and four children were killed when a Maruti Van (taxi) was washed away in a flash flood at Malhar nullah late last night. Three other persons including taxi driver were rescued by the people. The families were returning from Shiv Khori in Reasi where they had gone last evening after the darshan of Mata Vaishnodevi shrine. Official reports reaching the district headquarters today said that three dead bodies had so far been recovered by local police while seven other victims were missing. They too were presumed dead. Reports said the Maruti Van taxi No 6881 JK02G was carrying 13 passengers including 12 members of two families, related to each other and a driver. They were returning after having the darshan of Lord Shiva in Shiv Khori at Reasi when the Van was trapped in a flash flood in Malhar nullah, about 18 kms from Reasi towards Katra, following heavy rains on upper reaches at 2330 hours last night. Seeing the Van drowning, the passengers reportedly jumped out of it and tried to swim to safety. Only three of them could succeed in coming out of the flooded nullah while 10 others were drowned. In view of extreme darkness in the area, the local or police help was not available immediately. By the time, local people swung into action, 10 persons had been washed away in nullah and couldn’t be rescued. Three others were rescued. Three persons, whose dead bodies were fished out of the nullah this morning, have been identified as Harsh Vardhan, 23, son of Surinder Kumar Sharma R/o Rajasthan,, Varinder Kumar, 33, son of Sita Ram R/o Rajasthan and Indu Bhardwaj, 4, daughter of Vijay Parkash Bhardwaj R/o New Delhi. Three persons, who were rescued, included Vijay Parkash Bhardwaj, 32, son of Vidya Charan R/o New Delhi, Shatrujit Madho, 16, son of Arvinder Kumar R/o Rajasthan and Shah Nawaz son of Siraj Singh R/o Channi, Jammu. Seven persons, who were still missing, have been identified by two rescued persons as Abril Bhardwaj, 5, daughter of Vijay Parkash R/o New Delhi, Kinny, 5 and Nicky, 4, both sisters and daughters of Dharminder, Archana, 39, wife of Vijay Parkash R/o New Delhi, Manjula Sharma, 50, wife of Surinder Kumar R/o Rajasthan, Yashu Vardhan Sharma, 18, son of Surinder Kumar Sharma R/o Rajasthan and Parveen Bala, sister of Vijay Parkash R/o New Delhi. Police have pressed local divers into service to trace the dead bodies of seven missing persons. However, they remained untraced till the reports last came in. Efforts to recover the bodies were also joined by army and local people. Police said there appeared no chances of any survival now. SHO Reasi Inder Singh Jamwal alongwith his teams was camping at the site of mishap. Victims belonged to two families hailing from New Delhi and Jaipur, Rajasthan. They had come for Mata Vaishnodevi pilgrimage. After having darshan of holy shrine, the pilgrims had gone to Shiv Khori shrine in Reasi and were returning to Katra when the tragedy struck. Meanwhile, an army officer’s son Vishesh Kumar was injured at Falata near Rhembal when his Maruti car No HR11A 0080 was hit by a rashly driven truck No. 8085 JKP. The injured Vishesh son of Col Saharash Kumar has been hospitalised. Truck driver managed to escape from the scene of accident. |
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Use of optical fibre
shortly: Jayawanti Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jun 17: Equipped with Disaster Management techniques like emergency restoration systems to restore power, the Powergrid Corporation of India now plans to diversify its area of operation to become National Long Distance Telecom Operator by putting into use optical fibre in the transmission system. Immediately after laying foundation stone for a Powergrid township complex for the families of employees of the Jammu region Corporation near Panama Chowk here today, the Union minister of State for Power, Jayawanti Mehta said that after its successful service during Gujarat killer earthquake and Orissa cyclones tragedies, the Powergrid has established a fame by demonstrating the capability to restore damaged system within weeks time against conventional requirements. She said the Powergrid intends to diversify into telecom business through establishment of a national backbone telecom network of 13,800 km connecting 56 cities in a phased manner. With the adoption of new advanced technology, the Powergrid plans to carry only one line both for electricity and the telecommunication link which would save huge Government exchequer, she said . Referring to the present power shortage in the J&K state, the Union Minister assured that Centre will try to help out the State Government in resolving the power shortage issue. While the power shortage at national level is 12 percent, it was surprisingly 27 percent in J&K, she said adding that efforts were being made to look into the matter so as to improve power condition. Mrs Mehta complimented the Powergrid Corporation of India for selecting J&K for constructing the first ever Powergrid township complex for the employees here. She said that the township to be constructed with an estimated cost of over Rs 15 crore and it will be a modern eco-friendly complex with unique features of rain water harvesting and harnessing solar energy alongwith extensive afforestation and development of green belt. The Minister said that at present about 40 per cent of country’s power is being generated and transferred through Powergrid lines. With its capabilities and the achievements every year. A Powergrid spokesman said that Union Power Minister, Suresh Prabhu who was scheduled to reach here from Chandigarh to lay the foundation stone, could not make it as his plane failed to take off due to bad weather. Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Prof Chaman Lal Gupta in his address lambasted State Government for its poor performance in terms of power generation. He alleged during past four years of popular Government, not even a single Megawatt power has been added to its existing capacity. He said because of power shortage the economy of the State is suffering badly. Referring to the rich power potential in J&K, Prof Gupta pointed out that river Chenab alone has the hydro power potential of about 15,000 MWs but its potential is not being tapped properly. He expressed his dismay over slow pace of progress on Dul Hasti power project and said had this project been completed in time, the people of State would have not to face acute power crisis. State Minister for Power Surjit Singh Slathia who was also present on the occasion, urged upon the Union Minister of State for Power to help the State in tiding over the power crisis. He said J&K had to suffer on account of Indus Water Treaty and asked the Centre to compensate the State adequately in this regard. Earlier, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the Powergrid Mr R P Singh welcomed the dignitaries . On the occasion he claimed that organisation has shown tremendous performance by consistently achieving excellent rating against MOU with Government of India since 1993-94. The Powergrid has been conferred with Prime Minister’s special award for being ranked amongst top ten Public Sector Undertakings for the year 1997-98. Five employees of the Powergrid were also honoured on the occasion by the Minister who had performed excellently by risking their life to restore power supply to Kashmir valley . They included Nidiya Ram, Bhagwan Dass, Chhaju Ram, Anchal Singh and Rattan Lal. Earlier, it was disclosed that in Ist phase, 42 B- type quarters, 20 C -type quarters and 12 D-type quarters will be constructed besides a single one for the regional head. A transit camp and a Community Centre will also be developed. Only two storey buildings are proposed to be built on this 2.78 acre land. Among others present on the occasion included Vaid Vishnu Dutt, Mirza Abdul Rashid (both MPs), besides Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Mr Anil Goswami. |
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Suspension of 8
members revoked: Kidwai Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 17: All India Congress Committee (AICC) has revoked a controversial order of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief, Mohammed Shafi Qureshi wherein few days back, eight Congressmen from Jammu and Kashmir were suspended from the primary membership of the party for three years. This was disclosed by general secretary of the AICC and incharge J&K affairs, Mrs Mohsina Kidwai while talking to reporters during a day long political convention of the party held here today. "No Congress member has been suspended from the party", she said while expressing ignorance over decision of the PCC chief but admitted that ‘Show-Cause’ notices were served to three leaders. The Show-Cause notices were later withdrawn to keep the party united, AICC general secretary said. She said that all Congress members are united and there is no question of suspending any member at this crucial time. While admitting that high command has no knowledge about the decision of PCC chief to suspend some members including a former Minister, the AICC general secretary, however, made it clear that PCC chief has power to serve show-cause to any member in order to maintain discipline. Meanwhile, some senior Pradesh Congress leaders today stayed away from the political convention of the party which was chaired by Ms Kidwai. When her attention was drawn towards the same, she expressed her concern over the decision of some senior Congress leaders to boycott today’s function. Terming the decision of dissidents to boycott convention as ‘very-unfortunate’, she , however, declined to comment whether any action will be taken against them or not. In her apparent attempt to pacify both the erring factions, Mrs Kidwai said that AICC chief Mrs Sonia Gandhi has appointed Mr Qureshi as PCC chief. "I don’t think any decision will be taken under pressure from any group", she said. Earlier addressing one day political convention of PCC, Mrs Kidwai declared that discipline will be maintained in the Congress at any cost. She exhorted Congress workers to iron out their differences to provide alternative to National Conference. "As people of the State have been looking towards Congress to get them rid from the yoke of National Conference it is duty of the Congressmen to come to expectations of the people" she said, adding, "revival of Congress is must for containing ever increasing influence of the communal and fundamentalists forces". Launching a scathing attack on National Conference for its ‘unholy nexus’ with Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), Mrs Kidwai said that it was very unfortunate for the country that new breed of leadership of some so-called secular parties have forged alliance with "communal" BJP. "Construction of Ram temple at disputed site, abolition of Article 370 and Common Civil Code are some of the issues of the hidden agenda of BJP", Mrs Kidwai said and expressed her anguish that some parties have been hesitating to cooperate with Congress to keep a check on the activities of BJP. "BJP has been implementing its hidden agenda but secular parties, directly or indirectly, have been supporting BJP", she said while taking a dig at Samajwadi Party (SP) for vehemently opposing Congress. AICC general secretary declared that Congress will support any move of the Centre to bring peace and tranquillity in the State. "We welcome decision of the NDA Government to invite Pakistani military ruler General Parveez Musharraf to hold dialogue’’, she said. Mrs Kidwai, however, said that Congress has no hope on BJP as this party always adopted double standards. Mrs Kidwai lambasted ruling National Conference for its failure to mitigate miseries of the masses. "National Conference Government has not only failed to keep a check on the activities of militants but also failed to even provide basic amenities to the people", she said and added that minorities have been feeling insecure in the regime of National Conference. Mrs Kidwai said that only Congress can provide alternative of the ruling National Conference in the State. PCC chief Mohammed Shafi Qureshi in his address, cautioned the people against nefarious designs of BJP which, according him, has been trying to divide people in the name of religion. AICC secretary, Mr Satya Jeet Gaikwad, Mr Dharam Pal Sharma, Madan Lal Sharma, Darshan Raina, Suman Bhagat, Balwan Singh, Swaran Lata, Tara Chand, MLA, Ch. Lal Singh MLA, Mula Ram and many Congress leaders addressed the convention which lasted for more than four hours. Only two Congress MLAs were present in the convention as anti-Qureshi group has decided to boycott the convention to lodge protest against decision of the PCC chief to suspend eight members. Most of the dissidents boycotted the convention. Earlier a political resolution was passed in the convention in which Congress criticised both State and Central Governments. Resolution also, unanimously expressed faith in the leadership of Mrs Sonia Gupta and reiterated full confidence in Mr Mohammed Shafi Qureshi. |
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JKLF calls on India-Pak to grant independence to J&K ISLAMABAD, June 17: The Amanaullah Khan faction of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) has asked India and Pakistan to take steps to solve Kashmir issue on the basis of independence to unified Kashmir. In a common letter sent to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistan military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf ahead of their proposed summit, the JKLF leader said their forthcoming meeting could change the very course of history not only of India, Pakistan and Kashmir but of the whole world as well provided the two countries, Kashmiri leaders and international community demonstrated sincerity to solve Kashmir issue. Khan said Indians were "mistaken" if they thought that time would solve Kashmir issue and that Pakistanis were equally "mistaken" if they thought that Jammu and Kashmir would fall into their lap. He said "the only solution that did not hurt the national egos of India or Pakistan, did not harm their legitimate national interests and was based on the wishes and aspirations of Kashmiris could be acceptable to all the three parties to the issue was to give independence to Kashsmir with a mandate to have friendly relations with both India and Pakistan." The letter said "re-unification and independence of Kashmir could change Kashmir from the position of a bone of contention into a bridge of friendship between India and Pakistan." (PTI) |
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Judicial activism should wake the executive: Jaitley NEW DELHI, June 17: Union Law Minister Arun Jaitley today said judicial activism should be used as a powerful weapon to wake up the executive. "Judicial activism and restraint are two sides of the same coin," he said at a function organised on the 115th birth anniversary of K N Katju, former Home, Defence and Law Minister. Judicial activism, he said, had played a key role in many fields especially in protecting the environment of the country. "There are a large number of areas in the judicial review that do not fall in the domain of judicial activism, particularly the economic policies. The court cannot say that a price of a certain commodity should be reduced or how terrorists should be handled. In fact these are the limits of the system," he said. Earlier, inaugurating the function, Union Minister for Human Resource Development Murli Manohar Joshi said Public Interest Litigation should be discussed by the judicature widely. "The judiciary should see ways to mend the misuse of PILs and how it can be brought to the use of all," he said. Delivering the keynote address, Mr Justice J S Verma, chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, said judicial activism was the spirit of the law and a legitimate judicial process for all citizens. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Shivraj Patil, former CBI Director Joginder Singh, and Constitutional expert Rajeev Dhavan were among those present at the function. (UNI) |
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Abu Zabra gunned down Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, June 17: Militants burnt six houses including four belonging to Special Police Officers (SPOs) at Jabbar Mehrot and Phagla villages of Surankot tehsil in Poonch district last night while army gunned down a hardcore Pakistani militant Abu Zabra in an encounter in Faisalabad, Surankot tonight. Official reports here said two groups of militants simultaneously attacked Jabbar Mehrot and Phagla villages last night and torched houses of four SPOs. Two houses of one SPO’s neighbours were also gutted. However, there was no report of any casualty as the house inmates managed to come out safely before their houses were set on fire by the militants. Militants from both the villages managed to escape after burning the houses. The gutted houses belonged to Basharat Hussain, Sharbat Hussain and Israr Hussain, all SPOs and residents of Jabbar Mehrot, Altaf Hussain, SPO and his two neighbours Abdul Gani and Feroz Din, residents of Phagla. A police party from Surankot visited Jabbar Mehrot and Phagla villages this morning for investigations. A case has been registered at Surankot police station in the burning of houses but no arrest has been made so far. Meanwhile, troops laid a cordon in Faisalabad village of Surankot tehsil in Poonch district this evening. Army had reports of three militants presence in the village. An encounter started at 1900 hours and in an hour long exchange of firing troops gunned down one militant while two others managed to escape. Slain militant has been identified as Abu Zabra, a ‘commander’ of Lashkar-e-Toiba and a resident of Pakistan. One AK-56 rifle, three magazines, two hand grenades and one pouch were recovered from the possession of slain militant. Army continued searches to eliminate two absconding militants. In another case, Rajouri police today arrested five youths and smashed their gang, engaged in thefts in the town. One of the thief was arrested by Shafik Mir, chairman Muslim Youth Welfare Association after he became doubtful of his activities. Interrogation of the thief led to the arrest of four more thieves, all of whom was residents of Rajouri and Manjakot. A large quantity of stolen goods have been recovered from the possession of thieves, whose entire gang has been busted. Two arrested thieves have been identified as Tahir Ahmed and Mohd Maqbool, residents of Rajdhani Manjakot. Identity of three others, who hailed from Rajouri, was kept a secret by the police as their associates were still at large. Over a dozen cases of thefts have been worked out with the busting of thieves gang, police said, adding police was looking for some local suspects, who used to help the thieves in disposing off the stolen property. |
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Two army jawans killed in battle Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 17: Two army jawans were killed in an encounter with the militants tonight at village Faisalabad in Surankot tehsil of Poonch district. Two jawans of 27 Rashtriya Rifles sacrificed their lives in the highest traditions of army after eliminating a dreaded Pakistani militant Abu Jabra, official sources said here late tonight. They said army jawans after eliminating Jabra were hunting for his associates in Faisalabad forests when they came under a heavy volume of firing from the foreign mercenaries killing two of them. Other jawans continued a chase for the militants. |
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TMC MPs can inform Speaker,says Panja KOLKATA, June 17: Describing the stand of Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on rejoining the NDA as "vacillating and utterly childish", dissident leader Ajit Panja today said the party MPs could individually inform the Lok Sabha Speaker about their return to the BJP-led alliance. Claiming that seven of the nine Trinamool MPs were insisting on the party’s return to the NDA, he wondered what was holding Mamata back from rejoining the alliance. "Her vacillating attitude is utterly childish," Panja told PTI here, adding "the MPs can individually inform the Lok Sabha Speaker about rejoining the NDA." Maintaining that he continued to be in the NDA defying the party line, the dissident leader said those MPs who wanted to return to the front would have to apprise the Speaker since they had earlier announced severing ties with NDA. They should do so at least two weeks before the beginning of the next session. Panja, who was stripped off all key posts of the party, including the State chairmanship, last month, said a core committee of the West Bengal Trinamool Congress would be announced at a meeting here on June 30. Those who would sign the oath form by June 25 would be included in the core committee. A task force would also be formed subsequently to tone up the organisation, he said, adding everything was being done to strengthen the NDA. (PTI) |
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Hurriyat divided over Indo-Pak summit NEW DELHI, June 17: With the summit level talks between India and Pakistan round the corner, Hurriyat Conference, the main seccessionist umbrella body in Jammu and Kashmir, is divided on what stand it should take vis-a-vis the parleys between the two countries. The 23-party conglomerate, whose executive committee met earlier this week, has failed to arrive at any consensus, Hurriyat insiders told PTI. While the hardliners within the Hurriyat Conference continued with their tirade against India, the moderates wanted to take a "soft stand" on the Centre’s decision to hold talks with Pakistan as they felt that it was an "opportunity" failing which the conglomerate would suffer "internationally". The entire controversy started with a "mysterious" statement by the Hurriyat on Sunday in which it suggested cancellation of the agitation till the summit was over. One of the moderate leaders and former Chairman of the Amalgam, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, while confirming the statement, stated on various television networks that the decision to suspend the agitation programme was taken after intense consultations. However, ripples started appearing over the statement within hours as other senior leaders including fire-brand Jamaat-e-Islami leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Abdul Gani Lone denying any such move. With expectations that the executive meet would clarify the doubts over the stand, Hurriyat Chairman Abdul Gani Bhat made a categoric statement that the conglomerate had not suspended its agitation but only postoned it. The Hurriyat executive meet failed to arrive at any consensus and the insiders said hard-liners prevailed upon the moderate leadership not to soften their stand against New Delhi. The Hurriyat would be meeting again this week but there was little hope that there would be some headway, the insiders said. (PTI) |
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NC activist, son injured in grenade attack Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Jun 17: While as no militancy related incident was reported today from anywhere in Kashmir valley, a National Conference (NC) activist as also his son and PSO have been left wounded in a grenade attack in Pulwama last evening. Official sources said that late last evening, militants lobbed a hand grenade on the residential house of a ruling NC activist Hakeem Ghulam Nabi at Puchal, near Quil base of Indian Air Force, in Pulwama district. Hakeem, who is a retired J&K Police constable, sustained injuries. His son Aijaz and PSO, constable Bashir Ahmed, also sustained splinter injuries. They were all rushed to hospital. |
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Centre, Cong reject Pakistan demand for plebiscite NEW DELHI, June 17: Government and main opposition Congress tonight rejected the Pakistani demand for a plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir, just weeks ahead of the proposed Vajpayee-Musharraf summit. "Pakistan has violated all UN resolutions on Kashmir. The J and K Assembly has accepted the Indian Constitution. So, there is no question of a plebiscite," Law Minister Arun Jaitley told Star News. Jaitley was supported in his contention by Congress spokesman S Jaipal Reddy and former Prime Minister V P Singh while participating in a panel discussion on Kashmir. On whether Hurriyat Conference should be included in the Indo-Pak dialogue process, Reddy and Singh said there should be no tripartite talks. "Talks are going on with all groups in Kashmir, that is an internal process," Reddy said. Singh said the issue of involving other Kashmiri groups could be examined at a later stage. Asked whether the Line of Control (LoC) should be converted into an international boundary between India and Pakistan, Singh, while endorsing the proposal, said "this is not the proper time". Reddy also felt that while the proposal was worth considering, the situation was not ripe as yet. Jaitley said the need for a discussion on the issue did not arise at the moment as all parties were party to the 1994 resolution of Parliament declaring the whole of J and K as part of India. On the issue of demilitarisation of J and K, Reddy said the Government should not lower its guard since Pakistan-based militant groups were active and Singh felt a decision on the issue would depend on the ground situation in the State. During the discussion, Jaitley said it has found in the recent past that there had been a decline in the participation of Kashmiri youths in militancy. (PTI) |
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Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, June 17: Scion of Mirwaiz family, Mirwaiz Maulvi Umar Farooq, today tied his nuptial knot to a Kashmiri girl settled in United States of America. The ritual of Nikahkhwani was performed by eminent Indian religious scholar, Maulana Anzar Shah Kashmiri, who had arrived here specially for the ceremony from Deoband. Twenty-five-year-old son of late Mirwaiz Maulvi Mohammad Farooq, Umar, chose Ms Sheeba Masoodi as his life partner. Like Mirwaiz Umar, Sheeba too is reportedly a research scholar in Islamic studies. After his post-graduation in Islamic Studies from the University of Kashmir, Mirwaiz Umar is currently busy on M Phil research assignment on Shah-e-Hamadan Mir Syed Ali Hamadani. Having functioned as the founder chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference for four years, Mirwaiz Umar is the chairman of Awami Action Committee as also the head of its religious arm, Anjuman-e-Nusrat-ul-Islam. Sheeba Masoodi is daughter of a US-based doctor Sibtain Masoodi who settled in America in 1970s. The family is originally from Khrew village, situated in saffron-rich Pampore area. Nikahkhwani was performed by Maulana Anzar Shah at Rawalpora residence of the bride’s uncle, Mr Hasnain Masoodi who is a Sessions Judge, currently holding the state’s Anti-Corruption court at Srinagar. Members of the two families, as also the bride herself, were present at the ceremony. Chairman of Democratic Front Mr Bhushan Bazaz and some select friends of Mirwaiz family are camping here for the ceremony. |
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PoK Govt, Hurriyat support summit ISLAMABAD, June 17: The Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) Government and PoK unit of Hurriyat Conference today backed the proposed Indo-Pak summit but attacked Indian External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh’s remark that the whole of Kashmir belongs to India saying such an utterance "tantamounts to sabotaging" talks to resolve Kashmir issue. The Hurriyat PoK unit leaders, who met here, said they supported the Vajpayee-Musharraf summit and participation of Kashmiri leadership would make the process of talks more "result-oriented." It expressed the hope that the Pakistani military ruler would play an active role during his visit to India to resolve the Kashmir issue in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiris. The meeting, attended by PoK Prime Minister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry and chairman of PoK Hurriyat Conference Sadiq Ginae, passed a resolution saying the "bold stance of Musharraf has boosted the morale of the people of Kashmir struggling for their right of self-determination." At the same time, they strongly condemned the statement by Jaswant Singh’s remark that the whole of Kashmir including, PoK, was part of India. "Such a statement tantamounts to sabotaging the process of talks on Kashmir," they said. (PTI) |
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NEW DELHI, June 17: Centre’s interlocutor on Jammu and Kashmir K C Pant today held a review meeting of senior Government officials to take stock of the progress made on various issues raised by various groups during his visit to the State. Pant, who met officials from Home Ministry and Planning Commission took stock of the situation on the demands raised by various groups in Jammu, Srinagar, Leh and Kargil, official sources said here. Among the issues raised during the three-hour meeting were problems of migrants who fled from Pakistan occupied Kashmir in 1947. Relief on interest against bank loans, power-shortage, upgradation of Srinagar airport for international charter flights and tapping of solar energy, the sources said. They said in order to reduce power shortage in the Himalayan region of Leh and Kargil, efforts were already on to tap solar energy for electricity generation. Pant has asked the officials to submit the action-taken report on various projects and would again be convening another similar meeting to assess the pace of development. (PTI) |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 17: On the eighth day of advance registration 1138 Yatris were enrolled at TRC counters here today. These include 1044 male and 94 female. Giving this information, the Deputy Director Tourism, Mr Manhas said among them 1032 will be permitted to have the darshan via Pahalgam route while 106 will be allowed to go via Sonamarg, Baltal route. They will have the pilgrimage on the different dates onwards July 5, he added. He said during the month long Yatra starting from July 2 to August 4, no Yatri will be allowed to leave for the darshan from Jammu on August 1. This step has been taken to contain increasing rush of pilgrims at holy Cave during the last days of darshan. Allaying fears that only 735 pilgrims will be allowed to leave for the Darshan of Icy Lingam from Jammu Base Camp, he said the total number of Yatris will be over it. This quota has been allotted exclusively to Jammu and does not include the pilgrims who have been registered at the different registration counters outside Jammu, Mr Manhas added. |
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3 rockets recovered from Bhatindi Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 17: Police recovered a consignment of explosives and ammunition including three rockets from Bhatindi under the jurisdiction of Trikuta Nagar police station today. A police spokesman said the explosives had reportedly been dumped by the militants in Bhatindi sometime back. They were detected by the labour while digging land for the construction of a State Forest Corporation (SFC) contractor’s house in Bhatindi. A police party from Trikuta Nagar police station immediately rushed to the spot after getting a report and effected the recovery which included three rockets, three magazines of AK-47, 109 rounds and three pouches. Rockets and ammunition was live but old. The spokesman said the consignment appeared to have been dumped by the militants quite sometime back but they couldn’t use it due to pressure maintained by police. Police said it appeared that rockets had been fired by the militants at an Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) depot in Railway Station in 1990 from the same spot. Other rockets might have been dumped by the militants as they couldn’t use them. The IOC depot had survived damage as rockets had missed the intended target. Police party which made the recovery was led by Bhatindi police post incharge Tahir and SHO Trikuta Nagar Shamsher Singh Parihar under the supervision of SSP Jammu R R Swain, SP South J L Sharma and DSP East Sanjay Sharma. Only a day before, Trikuta Nagar police had arrested a hardcore Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant Billal Ahmed from village Bajalata, where he was camping to establish outfit’s network. A rifle and ammunition was recovered from Billal Ahmed. Meanwhile, police have rounded up four suspects from Narwal area for questioning. Their identity wasn’t disclosed by police authorities immediately on the ground that their questioning was at a preliminary stage. |
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