J&K owes Rs 174 cr to Powergrid

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jun 18: An amount of Rs 174 cr is still outstanding against the Jammu and Kashmir Government on account of power supplies and distribution.

Addressing a press conference here, the Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Power Grid Corporation of India, Mr R P Singh said here last evening that J&K Government has yet to pay Rs 174 cr to the Powergrid Corporation on account of power including surcharge. As compared to previous years, it has improved a lot and has cleared huge amount pending against it. By the end of this month, PDD has assured to clear Rs four crore more and it is hoped that pending amount will also be cleared soon.

Mr Singh, in response to a question said that Powergrid has sufficient power and it is increasing its capacity and the transmission system in phased manner. The Corporation is today world’s one of the largest power transmission concerns. It is committed to intensify its operation in the J&K State.

The CMD disclosed that work on the high capacity 400 KV Wagoora-Kishenpur Transmission line will start soon after the approval is obtained from the Centre. However, the security of the towers established by his organisation in the State is the responsibility of the State Government, he maintained.

The Chairman said that Powergrid Corporation of India operates over 40,000 Ckt kms extra high voltage Transmission network and transmits over 30,000 MWs of power across the country. The Corporation is trying to involve national and multinational private companies in the business. But in J&K hardly any private concern is interested to invest due to insecurity and troubled conditions. They fear delay in the completion of projects.

In response to a question he said that Corporation has an ambitious plan to increase its network to one lakh Ckt kms by 2012 for which an investment of Rs 80,000 crore is to be made. Mr Singh said that country plans to double its generation capacity by 2012 and as such needs most efficient energy management system and communication facility to ensure security and reliability of system operation.

He stated that Powergrid proposes to enter into telecom business as a National Long Distance Operator by forming a joint venture with Telecom companies of national and international repute. This will necessitate laying of 52,000 kms of optical fibre including setting up of number of tele-stations around the country. He said that Powergrid optical fibre network is easier to lay, free from vandalism, rodent attack besides being safe, secure and reliable for agencies such as internet service provider, home entertainment business houses and private TV channels which are engaged in such activities throughout the country. Delhi-Mumbai are being connected as a beginning and the work on this project is likely to be completed by March 2002. Over 60,000 km optical fibre is being laid on this line.

Mr Singh said that main aim of the 800 KV Kishenpur-Moga transmission line is to ensure that the power supply to Kashmir valley does not get affected in case of breakdown. The old 220KV line is running parallel and in case of any breakdown in one the power flows uninterrupted through the alternate line. He said at present about 400 KV power is flowing through this high capacity new line commissioned last year. In reply to another question about transmission losses, Mr Singh said that Government has to formulate a policy in this regard. Under this policy, every State Government will have to sign an Accelerated Power Development Programme (APDP) agreement and have to re-structure their power consumption. Tamper proof metres can also be used to check the theft of power. However, he stated that so far as power theft is concerned J&K State is as good as any other State in the country.

Others who were present on the occasion included Mr K. Satyam, Executive Director NR-II, Mr S K Dubey Executive Director Commercial and other senior officials.

Army canteen owner gunned down in Shopian
Harkat ‘district commander’ killed in Kupwara

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, June 18: While as security forces have eliminated a top-wanted militant of Harkat-e-Jihad-e-Islami (HUJI) in Kupwara, militants have shot dead an army canteen owner in Shopian area of south Kashmir today.

Official sources in north Kashmir told EXCELSIOR that on the basis of a specific information, SOG Kupwara and troops of Rashtriya Rifles 06 Bn raided a militant hideout at Chak-e-Pazipora, in Kupwara district, late last night. As the security forces zeroed in on the hideout, militants opened heavy gunfire. Troops retaliated and killed one militant. He was later identified as Captain Omar Gazi alias Hyder of Pakistan. Officials claimed that Omar Gazi was HUJI’s "district commander" in Kupwara. It was being ascertained whether the militant killed in the encounter was the famous Gazi Baba who had created havoc in Ganderbal area in 1995-98 or he was a different guerrilla of the organisation.

One AK-56 rifle, 4 rifle grenades, 4 hand grenades and one under barrel grenade launcher (UBGL) were claimed to have been recovered from the site of encounter.

Reports from Kupwara added that during last night, unidentified gunmen appeared at Khudi village, in Langet area, and kidnapped a National Conference activist, Mohammad Sadiq Khan S/o Mir Zaman Khan. Khan is a former militant who later became a close associate of the slain NC MLA, Abdul Ahad Kar. He has been living unguarded at his home.

Sources in south Kashmir said that this afternoon militants fired upon Satinder Agarwal S/o Radha Krishen R/o Old Gun House, Kanpur (UP), at Shopian market. He died on spot. Officials said that he was running the canteen of Army’s 28 Field Regiment at Balpora.

Reports from Tral said that this morning, militants ambushed a patrol of SOG at Tral township. Two personnel, namely Shamim and Massarat, sustained injuries. SOG retaliated but militants managed to escape safely.

Surankot encounter toll 4
Abu Hassam gunned down

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, June 18: Army gunned down another militant in the continued encounter at Faisalabad in Surankot tehsil of Poonch district this morning taking toll to four while two minor boys were injured in a shoot-out in Kandi area overnight.

Official sources said army continued a search operation in Faisalabad area after killing a dreaded militant Abu Zabra and losing two jawans last night. Searches were suspended for a brief period last mid-night due to inclement weather and darkness but were resumed with the onset of dawn today.

Army and police personnel noticed two more militants hiding in a natural cave and challenged them. Both the militants came out of the cave after noticing the approaching army columns and opened indiscriminate firing.

Troops fired back and gunned down one militant on the spot. His associate again fled deep into the forest area and couldn’t be traced till this evening when the reports last came in. No casualty was reported on army side in the renewed encounter today.

Slain militant has been identified as Abu Hassam, hailing from Muzafarrabad district of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). He was a member of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit and was operating in Surankot for the last more than six months.

Recovery made from the encounter site included one AK-56 rifle, four AK magazines, 131 rounds, three hand grenades and one pouch. Army and police teams continued searches in Faisalabad forests to eliminate the absconding militant.

With the killing of Abu Hassam, a total of two militants and two army jawans have been killed in Faisalabad since last evening.

Meanwhile, two children were reported injured in an incident of shoot-out in Kandi area of this district last night. They have been identified as Yashpal and Sham Lal, both brothers.

Reports said the children were injured in exchange of firing between militants and security forces. They were sleeping in the outer premises of their house when they were hit by bullets.

The injured have been hospitalised. Police was investigating the case.

Meanwhile, Pakistani troops resumed heavy firing on Indian positions in Nowshera and Sunderbani sectors last night. Army returned firing at all forward posts.

Intermittent exchange of small arms firing continued for about three hours. Indian side didn’t suffer any loss of life or damage in the firing, the sources said.

They said Pakistani firing was aimed at infiltration of trained militants but the attempt was foiled by Indian side with effective retaliatory firing.

Instructions issued for fresh records
Govt sets up Task Force to curb land mafia

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, June 18 : As encroachment of Government land has been going unabated with the brazen nexus between land mafia and higher-ups, the State Government have constituted a three members Task Force Committee to supervise the Special Land Settlement work in 17 villages of the out-skirts of Jammu city where State/Forest land has been allegedly occupied by land mafia.

The Director, Land Record, Jammu, Assistant Settlement Officer Jammu and Tehsildar Settlement Jammu will be the members of the Committee.

This was stated by the Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Mr Abdul Qayoom here today.

While admitting that land mafia has been encroaching Government land, he said that in order to save the State/Forest land from being illegally occupied by land mafia, the Government has already issued instructions for preparations and reconstruction of the revenue maps and other records afresh which has either been destroyed or tampered with.

Mr Qayoom further said that no building permission would be issued by Jammu Municipality in these areas unless and until the status of the land is determined beyond any doubt and "No Objection Certificates" shall be issued by any of the revenue authority for obtaining building permission. He said that the general public is accordingly informed of the steps taken by the Government to save them from being looted.

The villages where Special Settlement Work is being undertaken include Channi Himmat, Channi Rama, Narwal Bala, Chwaddi, Sunjwan, Dilli, Palloura, Top Sherkhania, Nowabad, Rajpura, Chack Changarwan, Chinore, Keran, Patoli Mangotrian, Rakh Bahu, Sidhra and Majeen.

The Minister said that the Committee has been asked to complete the job, which includes measurement and preparations of Record of Rights (RORs) within four months. He said the Financial Commissioner, Revenue and Commissioner-Secretary, Revenue will personally monitor the progress on this account and the Settlement Commissioner has been directed to provide necessary tools and equipment to the Committee where it is required.

It is worthwhile to mention that there is a wide spread allegation that encroachment of Forest land in some areas of Bye-Pass has been going unabated despite the fact that State Government has repeatedly declared that strong steps have been taken to keep a check on illegal occupation of Government. During the last five years a large number of new colonies have been developed on above mentioned areas as land mafia have sold a major chunk of encroached Forest land.

It is also alleged that some higher-ups of the administration including some politicians and bureaucrats have connived with land mafia, active in encroaching Government land.

The alleged nexus between higher-ups and land mafia has also generated much heat in Assembly and Legislative Council. Government in the Floor of the House, have admitted that land mafia has been encroaching Forest/Government land. Thousands of kanals of Forest/Government land has been encroached by the land mafia in these areas. Government on the Floor of the House had announced to form a comprehensive policy to keep a check on the illegal occupation of Government land by mafia.

It may be recalled here that the Revenue Department has earlier placed some officials of the Department under suspension who were found involved in land scandals cases in Bakshi Nagar, Palloura, Amar Singh Club and Mendhar.

13 killed, Assembly, CM’s office torched, indefinite curfew

IMPHAL, June 18: Thirteen people were today killed and more than 50 injured when police opened fire on violent protesters resenting expansion of Nagaland ceasefire to Manipur went on the rampage torching State assembly and Chief Minister’s secretariat forcing the authorities to clamp indefinite curfew in three districts of the State.

The Centre rushed additional paramilitary forces to the state and Home Minister L K Advani, who spoke to State Governor Ved Marwah, told reporters in New Delhi that the situation in the State was "tense but under control."

Declining to say if the Centre would review the expansion of the truce with NSCN (IM) beyond Nagaland, a demand made by main opposition Congress, he rejected the demand for "greater Nagaland" and said the integrity of all the neighbouring States would be maintained.

Army staged flag march and curfew was imposed in Imphal east, Imphal west and Thoubal districts since 1.00 pm.

Police opened fire when supporters of the 66-hour strike, called to protest the expansion of the ceasefire, set on fire the State assembly and Chief Minister’s secretariats, Speaker’s bunglow, 15 official residences of legislators, political party offices and destroyed over hundred Government vehicles, official sources said.

The Speaker Sapam Dhananjay Singh was roughed up and seriously injured in the head before he was removed to a safer place in "critical" condition," they said. Four MLAs were also injured in the attack on the assembly.

The protestors torched the residences of Union Minister Th Chaoba Singh and former Deputy Chief Minister L Chandramani Singh.

Thousands of demonstrators, including women, raising slogans "do not break up Manipur", "no to ceasefire", "we will die for Manipur", laid seige to the Raj Bhavan demanding an audience with Governor Ved Marwah but were stopped by the reserve battalion, CRPF and Assam Rifles.

Several MLAs and former ministers in VIP area at Babupara left their official residences and headed for their constituencies after the angry protestors broke in.

Security and police forces were deployed in strength at tribal settled areas in Imphal and surrounding places while some people from hill areas fled to the valley, sources said.

Four MLAs also sustained serious injuries in the fire. They included N Bihari Singh, L Tomba Singh and P Achou Singh. Sources said protestors torched the residences of the Union Minister of State for Food Processing, Th Chaoba Singh and former Deputy Chief Minister L Chandramani Singh.

The agitators also torched offices of Congress, Manipur Peoples Party and Manipur State Congress Party.

The Press Trust of India office in the VIP area in Imphal could be saved as demonstrators, who torched the building next door, were dissuaded from setting it afire.

The trouble began this morning, when hundreds of demonstrators, including women, defying prohibitory orders came out on the streets and burnt effigies of the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, Centre’s emissary, K Padmanabiah and NSCN(IM) leaders Issac Chisi Swu and Thingaleng Muivah.

Important documents of the State Assembly as also property worth crores of rupees in several other places were destroyed in the fire, the sources said.

Police and other security forces of reserve battalions were called out to assist the existing forces deployed at all important points.

Security and police forces were deployed in strength at tribal settled areas in Imphal and surrounding places while some people from hill areas fled to the valley, sources said.

Manipur has been under the President’s rule since June two.

Advani refused to comment on a question whether the Centre would consider reviewing the ceasefire decision. "Such important decisions cannot be reviewed in a huff. There is a due process for it."

Asked whether all concerned State Governments were consulted before the ceasefire decision was taken, Advani said Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had convened a meeting of all Chief Ministers of Northeastern States and they had broadly agreed to the proposal.

"There has been a change in the Chief Minister of Assam later, but this meeting had taken place earlier," he said referring to Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s statement that he was not consulted on the issue.

He said Centre had taken the decision in this case. "It is the decision of the Centre which has declared ceasefire with the NSCN".

Advani said some reaction to the ceasefire extension was expected, "but not to this extent".

Army staged flag marches in Imphal and indefinite curfew was clamped as "adequate" additional forces including commandos were rushed to Manipur along with teargas shells, a Home Ministry spokesman said while briefing on the overall situation.

Besides speaking with the State Governor, the Home Minister also reviewed the situation with Home Secretary Kamal Pande, Special Secretary M B Kaushal and senior officials of the ministry looking after the Northeast.

The spokesman recalled that the Home Secretary had personally spoken to and sent letters to the Chief Secretaries of the Northeastern States before the decision to extend ceasefire was announced.

Gogoi, who had met Advani on Saturday and voiced his protests at the ceasefire extension, had been assured that territorial integrity of Assam or any other Northeastern State would not be compromised at any cost.

To allay apprehensions, Advani had also pointed out that NSCN(I-M) had agreed to abide by the ceasefire ground rules revised this year. The revised ground rules spoke of prevention of carrying of arms, extortions, setting up of training camps and providing havens or sanctuaries to other militant outfits. (PTI)

Secretary RD encroaches upon GAD authority
Bureaucratic tussle over attachment of KAS officer

From Ahmed Ali Fayaz

SRINAGAR, June 18: General Administration Department (GAD) and the Rural Development Department (RDD) at the Civil Secretariat have locked horns over the controversial attachment of a Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS) official posted in the border district of Kupwara. While the RDD high-ups maintain that they are ‘fully competent’ in ordering the attachment of an Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD), GAD officials insist that posting, placement, attachment, suspension and reinstatement of all KAS officers __ holding rank equivalent to a Deputy Secretary to Government __ is exclusively the prerogative of the GAD and Chief Secretary.

ACD Kupwara G M Alamgir, who is scheduled to retire on June 30, has been attached to Directorate of RDD, in the last month of his 35-year-long service career. His immediate removal from Kupwara, while directing Project Officer DRDA ,G M Khan, to hold the additional portfolio, has been ordered by Secretary RDD Abdul Salam Bhat. Bhat has mentioned "poor performance in implementation of Rural Development programmes" as the reason for the ACD’s attachment. Government Order No: 78-RD of 2001 Dated 29-05-2001, has been issued by the IAS officer under his own seal and signature.

Sources in top echelons of the State bureaucracy disclosed to EXCELSIOR that Mr Bhat issued the controversial order without any competence and he was so quick to issue the order that he put his own signatures on it. Government orders, after necessary approval of the Minister incharge, are generally issued under the signature of an Under Secretary or Deputy Secretary to the Government. However, the more astonishing factor in the matter is that Financial Commissioner Agriculture Production & Rural Development, I S Malhi, has been completely sidelined in what appears to be a hush-hush exercise.

When Chief Secretary Ashok Jaitly came to know that Secretary RD has violated the Government Bunisess Rules while encroaching upon the GAD authority, he directed Commissioner/Secretary GAD, R K Jeerath, to immediately put in abeyance Mr Bhat’s order. Jaitly pointed out with disdain that KAS officers should not be put on agony whimsically at the verge of retirement. Accordingly, Commissioner/Secretary GAD put in abeyance Secretary RD’s controversial order, vide Government Order No: 617-GAD of 2001 Dated 06-06-2001.

Even as G M Alamgir resumed charge as ACD Kupwara on June 11 and relieved Project Officer DRDA of his additional charge, Secretary RD refused to relent. Within 24 hours, he sent a "Fax Message" to DC Kupwara, Syed Haq Nawaz, asking him to "direct the District Treasury Officer and concerned branch of J&K Bank not to entertain bills/cheques signed by Shri Alamgir".

Again without the knowledge of the FC Agriculture Production & Rural Development, Mr Bhat communicated to DC Kupwara, vide No: Agri/RD/A/160/2000-111 Dated 12-06-2001, that "Government Order No: 617-GAD Dated 06-06-2001 issued by the General Administration Department is not to be acted upon". In his "Fax Message" Mr Bhat wrote to the DC: "Government Order No: 78-RD of 2001 Dated 29-05-2001 issued by Rural Development Department is in operation". Without any consultation with GAD, DC Kupwara, vide his No: DDCK/831-41 Dated 13-06-2001, forwarded Mr Bhat’s "Fax Message" to the District Treasury Officer and different banks in Kupwara district. He asked them "not to entertain any cheque/bill signed by Shri Alamgir ACD Kupwara".

As a result of the administrative clash over the controversial attachment of the ACD, entire rural development activity in the border district has come to a standstill. Reports from Kupwara indicate that there is total anarchy in all the nine community development blocks as some officials have rallied behind G M Khan and others have revolted against the "unauthorised" orders of Secretary RD and DC Kupwara. They have taken umbrage over the remarks of Mr Abdul Salam Bhat that there had been "poor performance" in implementation of Rural Development programmes in the district.

While both, Minister incharge RD Mr Ajay Sadhotra and Secretary RD Mr A S Bhat, are stated to be "out of Valley", sources in GAD insist that Secretary RD has no competence to order the attachment, or any other service/posting related matter, of any KAS officer. "Mr Bhat’s orders appear to be whimsical. He has even by-passed his own FC and acted like a monarch", says a senior IAS officer on the condition of anonymity. He observed that both of Mr Bhat’s actions were "brazen violation of Government Business Rules".

Yet another official asked how DC Kupwara had entertained a Secretary’s "unauthorised" orders, who, according to him, has no direct administrative control over the head of the District administration. Asked for comments, three DCs in Kashmir valley said that they would have honoured only the GAD orders had such a situation arisen in their districts. They invariably said that Secretary RD has no competence to issue such orders.

An office-bearer of KAS Officers Association described the Secretary RD’s orders as "unauthorised" and commented that government officials, particularly at the verge of superannuation, can not be humiliated and victimised over the whims of any individual or authority in the government. He was, however, optimistic that the Chief Secretary would assert in the matter, redress the victimised officer’s grievance and restore his dignity.

Alert sounded in City
Two Kashmiri youths snatch Maruti car

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 18: A general alert was sounded in the City this morning after two unidentified Kashmiri youths snatched Maruti Zen car from the driver near a petrol pump in Ambphalla and fled away. Police feared that snatched car could be misused by the militants in planting a bomb.

All police stations and Flying Squads have been alerted by police authorities against misuse of white colour Maruti Zen car No. 3827 JK05.

Police sources said the car driver Abdul Aziz, a resident of Barzulla, Srinagar lodged a complaint with Rehari police post that he was approached by two Kashmiri youths in General Bus Stand at 0600 hours today when he was starting his car for onwards journey to Srinagar.

Both the youths sought lift for Srinagar. Abdul Aziz said since he had to drive all alone to Srinagar, he obliged the youths. Aziz stopped the vehicle at Kahan Singh’s petrol pump at Ambphalla for filling petrol.

He told police that the youths fled away with car when he went inside the petrol pump to get a receipt of petrol. He didn’t know the identity of the duo but was sure that both of them were Kashmiris. A case in the car snatching has been registered at Rehari police post for investigations.

Police didn’t rule out the possibility of car snatchers having links with Kashmiri militants and said a general alert has been sounded to keep a vigil on Maruti Zen cars parked in crowded places.

In yet another incident, a Maruti car No. 4644 PCF owned by a Chartered Accountant Sudershan Kumar Gupta was also stolen by some unidentified car lifters from Gole Puli in Talab Tillo last night.

The car theft, according to police, appeared to be a handiwork of local car lifters.

Group in Centre trying to derail peace process: DFP

SRINAGAR, June 18: Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP), the only separatist group in Kashmir to have held talks with Centre, today alleged an "active group within the Central Government was trying to derail and water down the peace process initiated by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the State".

Reacting to the statement of the spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, a spokesman of the party said making such a statement "amounts to creating hurdles in the way of process of dialogue between India and Pakistan".

Terming the statement as "unfortunate", the spokesman said JKDFP and its president Shabir Ahmad Shah had expressed satisfaction over the process of dialogue and even accepted the invitation of the Government for talks. "But a group within the ruling party is active to derail and water down the process of dialogue".

"We have not lost faith yet (over the process of dialogue) but we regret the narrow sightedness of this group which is not aware of complications and intricacies of the Kashmir issue", the spokesman said.

The JKDFP also expressed resentment over the statements of Law Minister Arun Jaitly outrightly rejecting plebiscite in Kashmir during a discussion on a private TV channel, and said "it is untrue that Kashmiris have accepted the Indian Constitution".

The party also expressed surprise over Government’s unwillingnesss to allow Hurriyat leaders to meet Pakistani military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf during his coming visit to New Delhi and said "these acts will put question marks over the impartiality and succeess of the proposed talks between India and Pakistan".

The spokesman stressed that in view of complications and intricacies of the Kashmir issue, both the parties (India and Pakistan) should avoid statements which will "create fresh bitterness and affect the process of dialogue".

He hailed Prime Minister A B Vajpayee’s initiative and positive response of General Musharraf, who, he said, had gone to the extent of saying he would change history. (PTI)

Another body recovered

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, June 18: Body of a child, who had drowned in Malhar nullah near Reasi alongwith his family members on Saturday night was recovered this morning.

Body of five year old Anirudh was recovered from the banks of nullah.

With this a total of four bodies have been recovered while six others were still missing.

Two persons of two families had drowned in nullah when their Maruti Van was washed away in a flash flood. They were returning from Shiv Khori cave.

Police said body of a woman was also recovered from the nullah. It, however, couldn’t be ascertained immediately as to whether the body was those of six missing persons or that of a local woman.

Cong rules out alliance with NC

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, June 18:Congress today ruled out any electoral alliance with National Conference (NC) and said it would go alone in the next assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

"We have accepted the challenge thrown by NC, which wants to hold assembly elections before completing its full term in office, and Congress in the State will fight it alone", AICC general secretary incharge of Jammu and Kashmir, Mohsina Kidwai said addressing a day-long workers convention at local party headquarters here.

Welcoming the proposed Indo-Pak summit, she said both the countries should leave their "rigid policies" over Kashmir and work for removal of all hurdles that come in the way of restoration of peace in the strife-torn state.

Kidwai termed the proposed summit as "timely" and said Congress welcomes every step aimed at restoration of peace in Jammu and Kashmir and it (Cong) will not become a hurdle in such a move.

She said Congress always favoured talks with Pakistan to restore peace in the State but "wrong policies" of BJP-led NDA Government was responsible for the trouble in the State.

Kidwai, who is here to take stock of the situation and organisational matters in the State unit, will meet party workers in view of rift in the State party.

Fernandes, Pant review situation

NEW DELHI, June 18: Former Defence Minister George Fernandes today held discussions with Mr K C Pant, the Centre’s interlocutor on Kashmir, as part of the Government’s efforts to evolve a political consensus on resolving the Kashmir issue.

During the 90-minute meeting, the proposed visit of Pakistan’s Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf also came up for discussions. Mr Fernandes later told reporters that it was a national issue and would not like to speculate.

Emerging from the meeting, Mr Pant said Mr Fernandes’ perceptions based on his experience would be useful in understanding the Kashmir problem in depth.

He apprised Mr Fernandes of his recent visit to Kashmir, saying he had met a cross section of people there.

He said that during his review meeting on Saturday, progress on meetings with various political leaders was discussed. The review meeting was attended by officials of the Home Ministry and Planning Commission.

The question of the bleak power situation in the State, particularly in Leh and Kargil, also came up at the review meeting. It was pointed out that solar energy could be used an an alternative source of energy.

Issues of tourism, horticulture and two sick psus in Srinagar were also discussed.

The demand of the people of Kashmir for special status as given to the north east, also figured at the meeting. Mr Pant said the issue would be examined by the Planning Commission. (UNI)

PM to leave for Delhi today

MUMBAI, June 18: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will leave for Delhi tomorrow after his two weeks’ stay at the Breach Candy hospital here following a successful right knee joint replacement surgery.

Vajpayee will drive straight for the airport and board a special Airforce aircraft after addressing a press conference in the afternoon, official sources said today.

The Prime Minister continued with his physiotherapy sessions today and walked up and down the corridor under the supervision of the medical team attending on him.

He was visited by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu who spent nearly an hour with him.

The Prime Minister was expected to carry out his official duties from his residence after reaching the Capital till medically advised to resume normal work routine, the sources added.

Scores of well wishers would release mutli-coloured balloons as the Prime Minister’s cavalcade passes from the Breach Candy hospital.

A one-kilometer long banner carrying ‘get well’ messages has also been hoisted from the hospital to Haji Ali Dargah to bid adieu to Vajpayee. (PTI)

4 boys, girls arrested

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, June 18: Two girls, one of them being a married, were arrested by police alongwith their two boy friends for creating nuisance along Madhopur canal in Lakhanpur this evening.

They have been identified as Meenu, 22, wife of Vijay Kumar, Rita Sharma, Edwin and Lakshaman Kumar, all residents of Batala falling under Gurdaspur district of Punjab. Meenu was married only two months back, police said.

They said both girls and boys were indulging in ‘immoral activities’ alongside the canal. Police was tipped off by some local people.

A Lakhanpur police party raided the spot and arrested all four. They have been lodged in Lakhanpur police station where a case has been registered against them.

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