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From Ahmed Ali Fayaz SRINAGAR, June 21: Jammu & Kashmir’s largest State land grab scandal has surfaced in Budgam district as a number of Revenue officials have been found responsible for transferring 800 Kanals of land, valued at Rs 90 Crore, to private parties. Even as 14 Revenue officials —including 3 Naib Tehsildars and 11 Patwaris —have been placed under suspension, and the matter has been handed over to state Crime Branch for investigation and criminal proceedings, at least one Deputy Commissioner, two Assistant Commissioners of Revenue (ACRs) and six Tehsildars are still in the dock. Highly-placed official sources disclosed to EXCELSIOR that involvement of over two dozen Revenue officials has been established in the encroachment of over 1200 Kanals of land in Rawalpora, Pirbagh, Humhama, Hyderpora, Narkara and Ompora villages in close periphery of Srinagar Airport. According to these sources, State land worth Rs 150 Crore has been illegally transferred to private parties in the last 18 years and the process is still in progress. Interestingly, a particular number of Patwaris and other Revenue officials have purchased their postings in the socalled "Humhama goldmine" and the same have been in rotation, in a particular area, for several years. Rates for posting in Humhama-Hyderpora belt have been anything between Rs 50,000 to Rs 100,000. It has been observed that almost all the members of the land mafia—including Patwaris and Naib Telsildars—have built or purchased palatial houses, cars and other luxurious items over the last several years. Some of them have even purchased real estate in Mumbai, New Delhi and Goa. According to these sources, mutations of State land by fraudulent means have been executed by the Revenue officials in a dozen villages around the Airport Road. At Nowgam and Humhama, a portion of the same land, has been sold to the Government —Northern Railways—and land compensation worth Rs 5 Crore is estimated to have been paid to the influential beneficiaries. At Humhama and Pirbagh, over 50 plush houses and equal number of shops have come up on the same state land. A portion of the scandal had been unearthed by a former DC of Budgam, namely G A Pir, who is currently posted as DC Anantnag. EXCELSIOR had diverted the Government’s attention towards the broad daylight fraud quite a number of times. Revenue Minister Abdul Qayoom today told EXCELSIOR that he lost no time in taking note of the Press reports and other complaints and he ordered a discreet inquiry into the matter last year. The preliminary inquiry conducted by Special Secretary Revenue Ghulam Nabi Mir and Director Land Records Mohammad Afzal Bhat established that 800 Kanals of the State land, valued at Rs 90 Crore, had been swindled at Waliabad (Pirbag), Narkara and Ompora alone. He said that investigation was in progress regarding the complaints of encroachments at several other places in Humhama. Mr Qayoom said that all the illegal mutations have immediately been set aside and DCs of Budgam and Srinagar, besides Administrator Srinagar Municipality, have been directed to ensure that all the encroachments are removed and illegal constructions demolished within a month under rules. He said that the case has been referred to the state Crime Branch for criminal investigation and legal proceedings against the officials who have been found guilty in the preliminary inquiry. The officials have been chargesheeted and a formal departmental inquiry is also being initiated. He said that the delinquent officials would a given a proper chance of defence and their dismissal from service was being proposed to the Cabinet and the Governor. Action against three retired Tehsildars — namely, Mohammad Amin Anbrabi, Mohammad Sikandar Malik and Bashir Ahmed Naqashbandi — is being formulated separately. However, the Revenue Minister was non-committal over the possibility of action against nine senior Revenue officers whose quantum of involvement in the scandal is being ascertained. Neverthless, Mr Qayoom flashed instructions to Collector Land Aquisition, Northern Railways, Mr Sharif and asked him to immediately stop compensation to all cases of dubious proprietorial rights. Mr Sharif has also been asked to verify the titles, mutations and revenue records pertaining to all suspicious cases. According to the complaints, a large portion of land has been sold and transferred to subsequent parties in brazen violation of Land Reforms Act. Land acquired under this act can not be disposed of by the tiller-owner to other parties. Even the senior Revenue authorities have opted to shut their eyes to this violation of law. Revenue officials placed under suspension have been identified as NT Nowgam Haji Ghulam Rasool Bhat, NT Magam Syed Mohammad Hadi, NT Soibug Wali Mohammad Mir, besides Patris, Moti Lal, Farooq Ahmed Ganai, Ghulam Mohammad Ganai, Ghulam Nabi Ganai, Khursheed Ahmed, Manzoor Ahmed Mir, Ghulam Hassan Sofi, Ghulam Nabi Ganai and Farooq Ahmed. Junior Assistant Mohammad Amin Khan has also been placed under suspension. All these officials have remained posted in Humhama-Hyderpora belt while changing places of posting, in rotation, in a particular area of costly land. Mr Qayoom said that a large number of Revenue officials and private persons had been found making illegal and unlawful enteries in the records so as to give illegal benefit to certain individuals, causing huge loss to the State. While as 473 Kanals of Kahcharai and other state land has been identified at Waliabad (Pirbagh), known as Rawalpora, and Ompora Estate, 329 Kanals of the State land hs been encroached in Narkara Wetland Reserve. Encroachment of Nazool and other State land had earlier been identified at LalChowk, Pallora, Amar Singh Club, Bakshi Nagar, Mendar as also at Gogjibagh, near Amar Singh College, in Srinagar. The inquiries conducted by Mr G N Mir, Mr Afzal Bhat and DC Budgam found illegal entries in respect of 329 Kanals of land out of 1311 Kanals subjected to verification. It was also observed that in order to facilitate encroachment of the State land, the fake owners have been allowed and advised to grow thick willow plantation in the marshy land. The officers responsible for custody of the state land have been found in active connivance with the encroachers. In case of Narkara Numbal, Chief Wildlife Warden has also maintained meaningful silence. Forged entries, indicating possession of land by a number of persons, have been made in Revenue records. In several cases, the same land has been sold, either to the Government or to other private parties for commercial purpose. At Waliabad (Rawalpora) a posh colony named after a "land dealer", on Airport Road, Revenue officials have swindled as much as 473 Kanals of the State land. According to the inquiries, Revenue officials have wilfully connieved with private persons to defraud the State for granting unlawful benefits to private persons against pecuniary considerations. Divisional Commissioner Khursheed Ahmed Ganai has already cancelled all such fraudulent mutations and deeds on January 24 last year and, subsequently, Financial Commissioner (Revenue) Vijay Bakaya, has also confirmed the action. |
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Militant, soldier
killed in Kupwara Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, June 21: Even as security forces and Police claimed to have eliminated "supreme commander" and "Budgam district commander" of Lashkar-e-Toiba in last evening’s encounter at Gopalpora (Wathora), near Chadoura, the militant organisation claimed that the duo were ordinary militants. Meanwhile, one militant and a soldier have died in the overnight gunbattle at Batpora, in Kupwara district. The counter-insurgent military organisation, Kilo Force, as well as SP Operations Budgam claimed that the two militants, who got killed in an operation at Alamdar Colony, Gopalpora (Chadoura) last evening, were Lashkar-e-Toiba’s "supreme commander of Operations" Abu Abdullah Makki alias Abu Hyder and "district commander Budgam" Mohammad Asgar alias Abu Ins. They claimed that Lashkar had suffered a major jolt as two of its most important commanders in central Kashmir had been killed. However, Lashkar’s Valley chief Abu Hanzla identified the two slain militants as Abu Qattal and Mohammad Asgar alias Abu Ins. He claimed that the former was the outfit’s "area commander" in Chadoura while as the latter was an ordinary militant. Five personnel of Rashtriya Rifles 02 Bn, including a Major, had sustained injuries in the gunbattle last evening. Residential house of one Ghulam Nabi Wani was razed to rubble. He, as well as his daughter Rehana, were taken into custody for questioning. Later Rehana was let off. Reports from Kupwara said that one soldier of 1/4 GR had died in the overnight operation of security forces at Batpora. Three militants are believed to have escaped with gunshot wounds. However, they all remained untraced. residential house of Wali Mir S/o Abli Mir was destroyed in the encounter. Reports from Kupwara added that this morning militants attacked a formation of 18 RR at Rednag. One soldier sustained injuries. All the militants managed to escape. Officials confirmed that a soldier sustained injuries. |
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SRINAGAR, June 21: In an unexpected development, Hurriyat Conference today blamed Pakistan for the mushroom growth of political outfits in Jammu and Kashmir which it said was aimed at weakening the 23-party conglomerate. "Everyday new political outfits are taking shape in Jammu and Kashmir to weaken Hurriyat Conference and the responsibility for the same lies with the friends and sympathisers of the movement from across the border," senior executive member of the conference Abdul Gani Lone said today. Mushrooming of political parties in the state was "painful and unfortunate," he added. Lone, president of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference said "it is unfortunate that two-person organisations are being floated without having any support." Formation of such outfits is given wide publicity in the media just to weaken the Hurriyat Conference, he said. Referring to the mushroom growth of militant outfits in 1988-89, Lone said, "we are repeating same mistakes willingly or unwillingly." Regarding the proposed Indo-Pak summit meeting, Lone cautioned, "if any attempt is made to harm Hurriyat Conference or a parallel organisation is framed it will harm the ongoing movement in Kashmir." Lone did not identify any of the outfits in his address at the public meeting at Zahchaldara-Handwara, his home town, 100 km from Srinagar. Party’s general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Gulzar said people of Kashmir had made numerous sacrifices for the "just and honourable" solution of Kashmir issue.(PTI) |
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Abu Bakar shot dead in Poonch; Havildar injured Excelsior Correspondent POONCH, June 21: A foreign mercenary of Tehreek-ul-Jehad (TUJ) outfit was killed and a police Havildar was seriously injured in an encounter at village Sundri in Sabjian belt this morning. Official sources said the district police developed a specific information last night regarding presence of a hardcore TUJ ‘commander’ Abu Bakar and his associates in Sabjian area. Troops of Poonch Brigade led by its Commander and police personnel launched a search operation in Sabjian early today. Sources said the militants were spotted in village Sundri at about 0930 hours and were asked to lay down their arms. Militants opened firing with AK rifles on army and police, who retaliated. Fierce exchange of gun-fighting followed between the two sides in which troops succeeded in killing Abu Bakar, a hardcore militant, presently operating as a ‘commander’ of TUJ outfit in Sabjian. Two other militants managed to escaped during the exchange of firing and remained untraced despite day long searches carried out by army and police. A police Havildar Bahar Din (No. 707) was seriously injured while fighting bravely with the militants. He was immediately evacuated from the firing site and was admitted to the district hospital of Poonch. he had sustained two gun shots. However, there was no casualty on army side. Recovery made from the possession of Abu Bakar included one AK-56 rifle, four magazines, 11 rounds, two hand grenades and one wireless set. Poonch Brigade Commander supervised the encounter. SSP Poonch Dr Kamal Saini also visited Sabjian. Meanwhile, security forces continued searches for two absconding associates of Abu Bakar. Sources said Bakar had been assigned the task of recruiting local youths into the militancy by TUJ leadership. |
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Tourists, Manager among 6 killed Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 21: Two tourists and a Bank Manager were among six persons killed and 13 others injured in three separate road accidents on Jammu-Srinagar and Jammu-Pathankot National Highway. According to police, two tourists were killed and nine others injured, four of them critically, when their Tata Sumo bearing registration number MP13-3578 was hit by a speeding tipper number JK02-5017 at Jhajjar Kotli this afternoon. The tipper driver reportedly fled away from the spot leaving behind the victims in lurch. Getting the report of accident, a police party from Jhajjar Kotli Police Station rushed to the spot and started rescue operation. All the injured were evacuated from the badly damaged Tata Sumo and rushed to Government Medical College Hospital where doctors declared two of them as brought dead. The condition of four of the injured was stated to be critical till reports last came in. The deceased have been identified as Bahadur Singh and Jyoti Devi, both residents of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. Identity of the injured have been established as Laxmi Devi, Narmada, O P Nigam, Manoj Singh, Badri Nath, Shivani, Vijay Nigam, Narayan and Shatru Bhai, all residents of Madhya Pradesh. A case of causing deaths due to rash and negligent driving has been registered against the erring tipper driver at Jhajjar Kotli Police Station and a hunt was on to nab him. But no arrest was made till late this evening. In another road accident on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, Manager of Ellaquai Dehati Bank, Mr Dalip Raj, son of Brij Nath of Trikuta Nagar, was killed and two others sustained grievous injuries when a Maruti car in which they were travelling skidded off the road and rolled down into 45 feet deep gorge at Dogra Morh near Chenani. The ill-fated vehicle bearing registration number JK02L-4020 was on its way from Patnitop to Chenani when met with accident killing one on the spot and rendering two other passengers critically wounded. The injured were rushed to District Hospital, Udhampur and their condition was stated to be serious. They have been identified as Gian Chand, son of Tirlok Chand and Jagdish Chand, son of Pardes Chand, both residents of Chenani. The deceased Manager was posted at Chenani. Meanwhile, two of a family were killed and two others received critical injuries when a scooter, they were riding on, was hit by a speeding and negligently driven truck number PB06B-6653 at Supwal near Samba on Jammu-Pathankot National Highway this afternoon. The victims were on their way from Samba to Satraiyan when their scooter met with the accident with a truck which was on its way from Jammu to Pathankot. The driver of truck immediately fled away from the spot leaving the victims in pool of blood. The victims were immediately shifted to Samba Hospital where doctors pronounced two of them as brought dead. The injured were, later, referred to Medical College here in view of their deteriorating condition. The deceased have been identified as Sukhdev Singh, son of Puran Singh of Satraiyan and his 10 years old son Ajay Singh. The injured were Suman, wife of Sukhdev Singh and their four years old son. The condition of surviving child was stated to be out of danger. Getting the report of accident, a police party from Samba Police Station led by Station House Officer (SHO) S S Sambyal immediately swung into action and succeeded in apprehending the erring truck driver from Hiranagar after a long chase. A case of causing deaths due to rash and negligent driving has been registered against the erring driver Daljeet Singh, son of Buta Singh of Batala. In second accident on Jammu-Pathankot National Highway, a 75-years old woman was knocked to death by speeding unidentified truck at Vijaypur. She died while being shifted to hospital. |
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Ultra killed in attack on NC leader’s house Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, June 21: Militants attacked house of a National Conference leader at village Malsar in Gandoh tehsil of Doda district last night causing injuries to a woman neighbour while in retaliatory firing by army and leader’s PSO, one militant was killed. Ruling party leader and his family escaped unhurt in the attack. Official reports said three to four militants opened heavy firing on the house of NC leader Abdul Rashid at village Malsar under the jurisdiction of Gandoh police station at 2230 hours last night. PSO of Abdul Rashid took position inside the house and replied the firing effectively. Hearing the sound of gun shots, a patrol party of army and police rushed to the spot and laid a cordon around the house of NC leader. Troops also engaged militants in the firing and gunned down one of them. Other militants fled away taking cover of darkness. Abdul Rashid, who was present in his house, survived an attempt on his life. His family members were also unhurt while the house suffered minor damage. Body of slain militant was recovered near NC leader’s house this morning. He has been identified as Awas Wani son of Mushtaq Wani, a resident of village Phagwari, Gandoh. His weapon was taken away by his fleeing associates. One wireless set was recovered from the spot. Wani was a ‘platoon commander’ of Hizbul Mujahideen and was active in Doda for last five years. Sources said a woman Sareena Begum, a neighbour of the National Conference leader was seriously injured in the militants firing. She has been admitted in district hospital of Doda. Army and police personnel continued searches for the militants but they remained untraced. Sources said all other militants involved in the attack were also believed to be local ultras affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen outfit. |
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Mufti favours talks, opposes bullets SRINAGAR, June 21: Former Union Home Minister and Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said only a dialogue could lead to a lasting solution to the vexed Kashmir issue. "The policy of bullet for bullet during the past ten years has not helped us reach anywhere," he told reporters here at the end of the two-day executive meeting of the PDP. He said the PDP executive had expressed great satisfaction over Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s offer to Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf road for a composite dialogue and the Pakistani leader’s positive response. "We express the hope that the talks will improve the frozen relations between the two countries and provide them with an opportunity to come out of the time warp," he said. "We do not expect any magic during the summit but consider it a good beginning," Mr Sayeed added. He said there was no chance of failure of the summit as both the leaders have to keep in mind the interests of the people of the sub continent. Mr Sayeed described the Centre’s chief negotiator K C Pant’s recent visit to Jammu and Kashmir as an essential and welcome step. Without naming the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), he said those who rejected Mr Pant’s offer of talks should now respond positively to the invitation so that a lasting and peaceful solution to the Kashmir imbroglio is found. The PDP leader said the Government has to take a number of confidence building measures to create a conducive atmosphere in the State where rule of law needed to be re-enforced and the State administration including the security forces made accountable. Mr Sayeed sought immediate disarming of the surrendered militants working with different security force agencies and said the Special Operation Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police should be disbanded if the State Government failed to control them. He urged the Government for payment of relief to the dependents of victims of violence, including family members of the deceased militants. The PDP leader said the people of the State have lost faith in electoral process due to rigging in polls adding it was now imperative on the Centre to conduct free and fair elections to restore their faith in the ballot. He said the PDP was committed to safe and dignified return of the Kashmiri Pandits to their homes in the Valley. (UNI) |
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Khan co-opted in IBA Committee Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 21: Mr M Y Khan, chairman Jammu and Kashmir Bank Ltd (JKBL) has been co-opted as member of the managing committee of Indian Banks Association. This information was given to JKBL staff by Bank General Manager D V Gupta in a meeting at Bank’s zonal office this morning. This was a rare distinction conferred on the chairman by IBA. Entire staff extended congratulations to Khan on this rare achievement. Besides Gupta, S A Khan, DGM (T) and P K Bhat DGM (Law) also spoke on the occasion. Meanwhile, Officers Association of J&K Bank Ltd has also congratulated the Bank chairman for his co-option as a member of prestigious managing committee of IBA. The officers expressed their whole hearted support for the institution touching new heights under the stewardship of Khan. The officers hoped that clients as well as staff of the Bank would be immensely benefited for this representation of J&K Bank at the highest form of all banks of the country. The meeting was addressed by N K Khajuria, president and Suresh Gupta, general secretary of the Association. |
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Nunwan to be base camp for Amarnath pilgrims Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 21: Instead of Pahalgam, the Base Camp for the Amarnath pilgrims has been for the first time this year shifted to Nunwan, three kilometres ahead of Pahalgam towards Cave Shrine. This decision according to an official spokesman was taken by the Baba Amarnath Shrine Board to save the world famous tourist resort from the pollution. Unlike past no langers (community meals centres) will be permitted at Pahalgam this time, the spokesman said. He said that to handle the large number of pilgrims all facilities will be provided to yatris at Nunwan which were previously available at Pahalgam. He, however, said that the yatri camps will be as usual at Chandanwari, Sheshnag, Panchtarni and Baltal. At each of these camps 6000 yatris can be accommodated daily, he added. He said all the arrangements for the boarding and lodging have been made for the pilgrims at Jammu Base Camp and the first batch of yatris will leave for Holy Cave on July 2. He said to ensure that the yatris should reach their destination in time the departure time from the Base Camp here at M A Stadium will be at 4am and the cavalcade of the vehicles will cross the Nagrota TCP by 5-30 am. He said the Meteorological Department at Srinagar will inform the Divisional Commissioner, IGP, DC, PCR and Director Tourism, Jammu about the weather forecasts thrice daily during the yatra period. On the basis of this report the permission will be given to pilgrims for proceeding onwards from Base Camp, he added. The spokesman further said in order to deal with the increasing rush of yatris coming from other parts of the country 26 buildings have been booked for the accommodation of yatris at Jammu Base Camp which include Ambedkar Hall, Chander Bagha, Vinayak Sabha, Below Gumat, Jambu Lochan Community Hall, Aggarwal Sabha, Geeta Bhawan, Parade, Gandhi Bhawan, Dogra Sadar Sabha, Jammu, Samitri Bhavan, Devak Community Hall, Janipur,Brahman Sabha, Ranbir Higher Secondary School, Government High School , Canal Road, Jammu, Government Middle School Karan Nagar, Jammu, Government Primary School Bhagwati Nagar, Government primary School Krishna Nagar, Laxmi Narayan Mandir Gandhinagar, S D S Sabha Higher Secondary School, Rehari, Higher Secondary School, Gandhi Nagar, MAM Arts College, Jammu, Model High School, Satwari, Khatri Sabha, Kachi Chawni, Arora bans Sabha, Mahajan Sabha, Girls Higher Secondary School, Shastri Nagar and Vinayak Dharam Sabha. The spokesman said besides Jammu advance registration centres have been opened at six cities in the country which include Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkatta, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad. Meanwhile the State Government has issued the rate list for the ponies, labourers and Dandiwalas from Chandanwari to Holy Cave. As per this list Rs 2500 will be charged for riding pony for this destination while Rs 8000 will be charged by the Dandies carried by eight persons for the same distance. It said Rs 1100 has been fixed the rate for labourers carrying 20 kgs from Chandanwari to Cave Shrine while for labourers with Pithos the rate has been fixed as Rs 1200. Likewise from Baltal to Holy Cave Rs 1200 can be charged for pack poney and riding poney each while the charges for labourers from Holy Cave and back on this route has been fixed as Rs 750 and Rs 3500 for dandies. Meanwhile a record number of 1717 pilgrims were registered at six registration counters including one postal counter at TRC Jammu on 12 th day of advance registration today. Giving this information, Deputy Director Tourism Mr Manhas who is also the Registration Officer said this figure includes 1597 male and 120 female. They have been allowed the different dates in the next month, he added. With this the total number of pilgrims registered here so far has exceeded 15,000 Mr Manhas said, adding the strict measures have been taken to check loopholes in the registration this year. He said special instructions have been given to staff members to discourage the advance booking by the travel agencies. But the registration is open for Langer people, he added. |
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IED recovered in Arnia Civilian killed in blast Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 21: A civilian was killed and another seriously injured in an explosion which occurred after one of them fiddled with a live explosive device at village Chaprayal under the jurisdiction of Khour police station in Akhnoor tehsil last night. In another incident on the border, police today recovered a live IED in Shahpura village of Arnia this morning. Reports said two civilians were working in their fields at Chaprayal last night when one of them noticed a live explosive shell. To verify the nature of explosive device, he fiddled with it resulting into a powerful explosion. Both the civilians were seriously injured in the blast. One of them succumbed to his injuries while being shifted to sub district hospital of Akhnoor. He has been identified as Roshan Lal son of Sain Dass, a resident of village Chaprayal. Another civilian, who was injured in the blast, was identified as Ajit Lal. He has been admitted in Akhnoor hospital. Army and police parties rushed to the spot for investigations. Police said the shell appeared to have been fired by Pakistan army from across the border but didn’t explode at the time of firing. It remained unnoticed till it was spotted by a civilian while working in his fields. Meanwhile, on the International Border of Jammu, Arnia police today recovered a live IED from village Shahpura in Arnia sector. The IED had been hidden under a bicycle. The bicycle has also been seized by police. The IED weighed three and a half kg and had been filled with deadly RDX. A police party seized the IED before it could be used by Pakistani saboteurs, the sources said. Only yesterday, RS Pura police had recovered a consignment of arms and explosives from village Agre Chak. The consignment included two AK-56 rifles, two pistols and explosive devices. |
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Excelsior Legal Correspondent JAMMU, June 21: Bar Association Jammu has decided to intensify the ongoing agitation, against the opening of Fast Track Courts, by holding dharnas and relay hunger strikes at Sadar Court Complex from tomorrow. The decision to this effect was taken at a general house meeting held here today under the presidentship of D S Saini, wherein they unanimously expressed their full solidarity with Bar chief and offered cooperation in taking the ongoing strike " to the logical conclusion". Those who volunteered to sit on dharna tomorrow included M K Bhardwaj, S C Gupta, R P Jamwal, K K Pangotra, G S Charak, Rajinder Jamwal, Sheikh Shakil, S M Choudhary, Anwar Choudhary, B S Sudhan, Ajay Manhas and B L Kalgotra. While the meeting of general house was about to conclude, Advocate A K Sawhney, who was expelled yesterday from the Bar for his " anti-Bar activities" , entered the house alongwith his supporters and tried to disrupt the proceedings. Upon this, the members objected to his appearance in the general house meeting on the pretext that he has " no right to participate in the proceedings of the house", since his expulsion from the primary membership. As the protests were going on, Bar president adjourned the general house meeting. The members also criticised the conduct and behaviour of the authorities at the helm of affairs for " sabotaging" the ongoing agitation. They cautioned the vested interests to desist from their action of creating a wedge in Jammu Bar. Meanwhile, lawyers strike entered 61st day today as Advocates abstained from appearing in the courts. |
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Cheat boy, couple arrested in City Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 21; City police tonight arrested a cheat youth and a couple, all hailing from New Delhi, for their involvement in looting Mata Vaishnodevi and Amarnath pilgrims besides other tourists. Police sources identified the arrested cheat as Sandeep Raina, a resident of Tral, Kashmir, presently staying in New Delhi, Daleep Kumar alias Raju and his wife Anjali, also from New Delhi. Raina and couple were neighbours in New Delhi. Police said the accused used to mix up with the tourists and then mix tablets in their cold drinks or juice, which render them unconscious. This way, they used to rob the tourists of their cash and other costlier belongings. On June 10, they had robbed two Kashmiri tourists of Rs 17,000 in a local hotel at Sunder Singh road. Besides, Sandeep Raina was also involved in a number of other cheating cases. Arrest was made by a police party of Hari Market police post led by SI Baaz Singh and City SHO B M Sharma under the supervision of SP City (North) Sheetal Singh. |
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Major hawala racket
exposed NEW DELHI, June 21: The Delhi Police has unearthed a major operation to fund terrorist activity in the country through hawala channel, originating from Pakistan, with the arrest of six hardcore militants of the Jammu and Kashmir Islamic Front (JKIF) last night, a senior police officer said today. The interrogation of the six terrorists so far has revealed some vital inputs about their hawala operation and some more arrests are likely in the case. The officer, however, refused to divulge the vital information saying that if disclosed it would hamper the investigation. The interrogation was still continuing. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special) Ashok Chand told UNI that the six JKIF terrorists were arrested from a house in the Chandni Chowk area of the walled city. The six terrorists were identified as Feroze Ahmed Mir alias Junned (28), Mohammed Syed alias Yusuf alias Sobha (26), Mohammed Maznoon Mir alias Tariq Kashmiri (36), Mohammed Latif Hazzam (23), Abdul Rasheed alias Rashid and Indrajit Singh Bali, all residents of Jammu and Kashmir. Junned, Tariq Kashmiri and Abdul Rashid are Pak-trained terrorists who have earlier been involved in terrorist activities in other parts of the country. The six were produced before a city court which remanded them to three-day police custody where they are to be interrogated by the Delhi Police, the Intelligence Bureau and the Jammu and Kashmir Police, which is sending its team to the capital. However, the examination of the terrorists by the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) has been ruled out as the RAW does not associate itself with such ‘small’ cases and if required it takes the inputs from the Intelligence Bureau. The prosecution counsel had informed the court that the terrorists would also be questioned by the RAW. Mr Chand said the interrogation of the terrorists revealed that they were being regularly supplied money through hawala channel from Pakistan to carry out subversive activities against India. The money was supplied by JKIF through Kashmir-based Jammu and Kashmir Mass Movement (JKMM). He said the Jammu and Kashmir Police has been informed about the arrest of the terrorists and the involvement of JKMM in the hawala operations. Mr Chand said there were specific intelligence reports about the presence of these terrorists in the Capital and the continuous arrival of money through hawala channel for funding these anti-national activities. He did not rule out some more arrests in the case as a massive search operation was continuing. JKIF, an offshoot of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, which had been virtually defunct ever since foreign mercenaries over took the reins of militancy in mid-90’s, has now been making desperate attempts to revive its cadre and carry out militant activities in the State and in the national Capital, the offificals said. The group had of late been responsible for planting and detonation of some crude bombs in the Capital. Some activists of these groups had been arrested recently. The money had been sent through hawala channel by JKIF supremo Bilal Beg, who recently tied the nupital knot in Islamabad, they said. The money was sent in the name of Jammu and Kashmir mass movement, the face of JKIF. Police said the militants had revealed that Beg was under severe pressure from Pakistan’s ISI to revive the group and carry out militant activities in the State and the national Capital territory. They said police had also identified the hawala operator and was likely to take him in custody soon. Meanwhile, the (JKIF) activists, arrested last night for allegedly planning terrorist activities, will be interrogated jointly by the Delhi Police, Intelligence Bureau (IB), Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Jammu and Kashmir Police, a city court was informed today after they were produced there. Delhi Police informed the court about the joint interrogation and later Metropolitan Magistrate Narendra Kumar remanded all the accused to three days police custody for their interrogation. (Agencies) |
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Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, June 21: For the first time during ongoing firing on the International Border, Pakistan army fired four rockets in Pansar post of Hiranagar sector early this morning. One of the rockets hit a generator set of security forces while three others fell at isolated areas and exploded harmlessly. The rockets were fired by Pak army to celebrate the appointment of Army Chief Gen Pervez Musharraf as Pakistan President, official sources said. They said security forces reserve the right to retaliate equally. Hitherto, only small arms firing was being done by Pakistan army on Indian positions on the border. Rockets attacks created panic among people living in the forward areas of Hiranagar sector. |
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Political parties unanimous on Kashmir: Pant NEW DELHI, June 21: Centre’s interlocutor on Kashmir K C Pant today said political parties in the country, irrespective of their differences, were near unanimous in their approach to the Kashmir issue. "It is a healthy development as all political parties representatives I have met so far have been appreciative of the peace moves and have been unanimous on the Kashmir issue," Pant told reporters here after meeting representatives from Samajwadi Party and Akali Dal. Pant, who visited Jammu and Kashmir recently, said his aim was to take the next step in consultation with all political parties. Pant has been meeting representatives of political parties including Congress and left after his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir as the Centre’s negotiator. Earlier, Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh welcomed the announcement of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee of holding consultations with all opposition parties before his summit talks with Pakistani military ruler Pervez Musharraf. "We welcome the talks and nomination of K C Pant as negotiator on Kashmir," Singh said. "Kashmir issue is not anybody’s personal problem and Government should refrain from conducting any political experiment with the situation over there," Singh said, adding "a concerted and a joint approach would lead to an everlasting solution to the problem." Later, Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal also lauded the efforts of Pant and said "this is a sensitive issue and no diversion of views in the political parties should emerge on Kashmir." (PTI) |
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