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Jay
Pee Palace likely to be talks venue NEW DELHI, June 22: A high-level official team from Pakistan is expected to arrive here next week to discuss with their Indian counterparts various aspects of President General Pervez Musharraf’s visit to India, beginning from July 14. The team is expected to visit Agra along with the Indian officials to make an assessment of the security arrangements, besides giving final touches to the logistics of the visit, informed sources said today. The all important talks between Gen Musharraf and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee would be held in Agra, where the two leaders would go for retreat. The officials would also visit various hotels and places for finalising arrangements for boarding and lodging of the President’s entourage, which is expected to be quite large. Jaypee Palace, a five Star hotel is the most likely venue for talks, it was learnt day. The officials are also expected to visit Ajmer, where Gen Musharraf is going to offer prayers at the mausoleum of famous Sufi saint Khawja Moin-u-Din Chisti. Meanwhile, the Indian officials are in constant touch with the Pakistan High Commission here to chalk out detailed programme of the President. Meanwhile, Jaypee Palace , afive star hotel in Agra is the mlost likely venue for the talks between Gen Musharraf and Mr Vajpayee. A high-level team headed by UP Principal Secretary Home Naresh Dayal decided on the venue after conducting a survey of various five star hotels in Agra. The team took into consideration factors like security, helicopter landing and other facilities. He said though there were other hotels like Amar Vilas which were shortlisted for the purpose but the Jaypee Palace hotel was found to be the most suitable. The helipad could well be prepared in Jaypee Palace hotel, he added. Mr Dayal said all the rooms of the hotel would be booked two days in advance. The talks are to be held from July 14 to 16. Meanwhile, another report from Agra said officials of the Home Department, Special Protection Group (SPG) and State and Central intelligence agencies were in the city to make an advance assessment of the security requirements. Mr Naresh Dayal, who flew to New Delhi to submit the report last night, was back in Lucknow today. The sources said Jaypee Hotel which is not in a congested area, would not cause any inconvenience to the general public. Besides, it is one of the few hotels which have a conference hall of international standards. A final decision in this regard is likley to be taken within a couple of days, official sources said. Meanwhile , Indian High Commissioner to Islamabad Vijay Nambiar today met Pakistan Commerce Minister Razak Dawood and discussed trade relations between the two countries at Islamabad today. The meeting came amid reports that President Gen Pervez Musharraf was reviewing the whole gamut of relations with New Delhi, including India-Iran gas pipeline and extending Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status ahead of his visit to India. Though described as courtesy call by officials from both sides, Dawood and Nambiar reportedly discussed the status of trade relations between the two countries in the wake of Gen Musharraf’s visit. Dawood is the second Pakistani Minister with whom Nambiar had a meeting after India extended the invitation to Musharraf to visit New Delhi. Early this month he met Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider. Nambiar returned to Pakistan after a week-long visit to New Delhi where he took part in the preparations for the crucial Musharraf-Vajpayee summit. Besides Kashmir, trade and economic relations between the two countries formed part of the process of normalisation of relations. Officials here said that 2672 km-long Iran-India gas pipeline to be laid through Pakistan and extending MFN status to India were expected to figure prominently in the Indo-Pak summit. (AGENCIES) |
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Ultras were hiding in
PWD official’s house Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, June 22: Three hardcore militants of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit involved in several killings of security personnel were killed today in an encounter with army and police at village Kaskoot in Zanihal area of Banihal tehsil in Doda district. All three were ‘platoon commanders’ of Hizbul outfit. Reports said troops of 5 Sikh Li and Special Task Force (STF) Ramban launched a massive search and cordon operation in Kaskoot village early this morning after receiving reports that a group of three Hizbul militants were holding a meeting in the house of a Public Works Department (PWD) employee to chalk out strategy for triggering IED explosions in Banihal during Amarnath yatra. Army personnel continued searches in Kaskoot and established a contact with militants at about 0730 hours today. Three militants, who had taken shelter inside the house of Government employee, took positions inside and opened heavy firing on army and police personnel. Security jawans retaliated effectively and gunned down one militant within 15 minutes of the encounter. Two other militants continued to fight with army and police for one and a half hour. Both of them too were gunned down by 0900 hours. House of the PWD employee was blown up in the exchange of firing and gutted. The employee, whose identity was kept a secret by the police, had managed to come out of the house alongwith his family before the encounter started. Senior army officers and SP Ramban Mr Saji Mohan visited the site of encounter and lauded the jawans for executing a successful operation with high degree of professionalism. No casualty was reported on army or police side in the exchange of firing. Slain militants have been identified as Farooq Ahmed alias Kubeb son of Mohd Amin, a resident of Zanihal, Sabzar Ahmed alias Tufail son of Sonaullah of Zanihal and Ghulam Mohd alias Zunaid son of Jabbar Ahmed R/o Chachal. Tufail was Hizbul’s ‘platoon commander’ for Zanihal while Kubeb was ‘platoon commander’ for Kaskoot. Zunaid was working as ‘platoon commander’ for Chachal. Recovery made from their possession included three AK-47 rifles, three grenade throwers, one wireless set, six rounds and 10 magazines of AK rifles and one binocular. Sources said the killed militants were dreaded militants involved in a series of explosions on the national highway. They had blasted an army vehicle in which a Lt Col’s family was killed. They were also involved in blasting one ITBP vehicle and firing rockets on army’s Casper vehicles killing and wounding the jawans. Besides, they were also instrumental in a number of local killings and activities of extortions. Sources said the militants were planning strategy in the house of PWD employee for targeting Amarnath pilgrims vehicles on the national highway at Banihal. With the killing of all three militants, the possible strikes on the yatra have been averted, they added. Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was observed in Banihal after the report of the killing of dreaded militants’ spread. Shopkeepers downed their shutters. Last night, a Ramban police and STF party had an encounter with another group of Hizbul Mujahideen’s Paplu Group in Neel area of Ramban. Two militants of Paplu Group managed to escape taking advantage of darkness and hilly area after half an hour long encounter with police party. |
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Two boys hurt in
Surankot blast Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, June 22: Army and Poonch Police gunned down two militants and arrested two others during an operation in Surankot this evening where two teen-aged boys were injured in a powerful IED explosion today morning. A consignment of explosives including 16 rockets was also recovered by police from Loran, Mandi. Defence sources said a joint operation was carried out by army and Poonch Police in the upper reaches of Wansi Ridge near Tota Gali in Surankot at 1730 hours today. Operation was launched on the basis of a specific information. On seeing the approaching columns of security forces, the militants fled to a surrounding village of Jabbiwal and opened heavy firing in an attempt to escape towards a surrounding forest area. However, the effective retaliatory firing brought down by army and police resulted into the killing of both the militants. No casualty was reported on army side in the operation. Killed militants have been identified as Haider Shaheed and Zulfikar Khan of Lashkar-e-Toiba, Haider was Lashkar’s ‘area commander’ for Surankot. Recovery made from the scene of encounter included one Pika gun, 248 rounds of belted Pika ammunition, one AK-56 rifle with three magazines and 110 rounds, four hand grenades, eight UBGL grenades and two pouches. In another incident, army rescued two boys, who were being given arms training by the militants in local forest areas of Surankot. They were arrested after they were separated from their group. They have been identified as Saif-ul-Islam, 20, son of Ghulam Mohd Mir and Billal Ahmed Parrey, 16, son of Ghulam Nabi Parrey, both residents of Pulwama district in Kashmir valley. They were in custody of security forces and were being questioned to reach to the main group of militants. A powerful explosion rocked village Girjan dhok in Surankot at 1200 hours today. The explosion occurred with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), which had been planted by the militants. The IED had been concealed in a utensil. Two boys, who were playing in a field near the site of explosion, were injured. They have been identified as Basan Hussain, 14, son of Sayeed Mohd of Jharan Wali Gali (JWG) and Tariq Hussain, 7, son of Abdul Qayoom of Surankot. Security forces rushed the injured boys to an army unit where they were given first aid and evacuated to civil hospital of Surankot. Poonch Police recovered a consignment of explosives from Garanga forest in Loran area of Mandi sector this morning. Consignment comprised 16 rockets—nine of big size and seven small—, one pistol silencer, 80 UMG rounds and some ammunition. |
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43 killed, 125 injured in train accident KADALINDU (KERALA), June 22: In a major train accident, 43 people were killed and 125 injured, many of them seriously, when eight bogies of Chennai-bound Mangalore Mail derailed over a bridge with four coaches plunging into the Kadalundi river, 10 kms from Kozhikode, this evening. The toll is expected to rise as rescuers were till late in the night engaged in extricating those trapped in four bogies partially submerged in water, police said. The injured, most of them in serious condition, have been admitted to various hospitals including Kozhikode Medical College and Koyas. Police said many of the deaths took place because of the head injuries suffered by victims due to impact of the fall. Eyewitnesses said the accident could have been caused by a breach in the bridge at the confluence of Kadalundi river and the Arabian sea. The area had been receiving heavy monsoon rains which also hampered rescue operations by railway, police and civil official teams. While four coaches were partially submerged, four others were dangling from the bridge between Parapanangadi and Kozhikode. Of the four that fell into the river was a sleeper coach, two unreserved compartments and a woman-cum-guard coach, railway sources said. Many lives were saved as the river was shallow. Rescue operations were conducted from a new bridge under construction. According to police, rescue workers had so far fished out 21 bodies, including that of two women, from the river. Local people, fire brigade personnel and police rushed to the spot and braved heavy rains to rescue atleast 110 passengers trapped in the bogies. (PTI) |
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2 Conservators, 24
DFOs shifted Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, June 22: State Government has ordered a major reshuffle in the Forest Department and Integrated Watershed Development Project (IWDP) as two Joint Directors (Conservators) and 24 Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) have been transferred to new places of posting. According to Government Order No: 258 Fst of 2001, Abdur Razaq (IFS 1984), Jt Director IWDP Hills, has been transferred and posted as Jt Director State Forest Research Institute vice SC Sharma. The post has been declared equivalent to a Conservator/Jt Director in status and responsibility in terms of Rule 9(2) of IFS Pay Rules till the same is held by Mr Razaq. SC Sharma, IFS, (1985) Joint Director, State Forest Research Institute has been transferred and posted as Chief Executive Officer (Central), IWDP, Jammu in his own pay and grade. The post is declared equivalent in status and responsibility in terms of Rule 9(2) of IFS Pay Rules till it is held by him. Manu Raj Singh, IFS (1986) attached with Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu has been posted as DFO, Urban Forestry Division, Jammu vice S K Dhar who is retiring on superannuation on 31-08-2001, Mr Singh will take over on retirement of Mr Dhar. L K Sharma, IFS (1986), Staff Officer, Forest Protection Force, Jammu has been transferred and deputed to J&K State Forest Corporation. He will report to Managing Director, J&K State Forest Corporation for further posting. Manzoor Ahmed, IFS (1986),General Manager, J&K State Forest Corporation has been recalled from deputation and posted as Agrostologist vice M M Hussain. The post of Agrostologist is declared equivalent in status and responsibility in terms of Rule 9(2) of IFS Pay Rules till the post is held by him. A R Lattoo, IFS (1986), General Manager, J&K State Forest Corporation has been recalled from deputation and posted as TPO, Srinagar vice G S Kirmani. The post of TPO is declared equivalent in status and responsibility in terms of Rule 9(2) of IFS Rules till the post is held by him. Nisar Hussain Hakeem IFS (1988), DFO, Seed Division, Srinagar, has been transferred and directed to report to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. Manzoor Ahmed Tak, IFS (1988), DFO Langet Division has been transferred and posted as DCF Project Formulation In-charge, Demonstration Project Kashmir to be funded by Norway. The post is declared equivalent n status and responsibility in terms of Rule 9(2) of IFS Pay Rules till the post is held by him. Vasu Yadav, IFS (1994), DFO Working Plan Division Batote has been transferred and posted as DFO Batote vice Parvez Bhakat Malik who is retiring on superannuation on 31-07-2001. Yadav will take over on retirement of Malik. R S Jasrotia, IFS Deputy Director Forest Protection Force, Jammu has been transferred and posted as DCF Project Formulation In-charge Demonstartion Project Jammu to be funded by Norway. The post is declared equivalent in status and responsibility in terms of Rule 9(2) of IFS Pay Rules till the post is held by him. Farooq Ahmed Geelani, DFO Anantnag has been transferred and posted as Chief Executive Officer, IWDP Ramhiara vice Mufti Nazim Ud Din. Javed Iqbal Panzoo, Chief Executive Officer (Central) IWDP is transferred and deputed to J&K State Forest Corporation. He will report to Managing Director, SFC for further posting. M M Hussain, Agrostologist, has been transferred and posted as DFO SC Pohru-Langet vice Zahoor Ahmed Jan. Mian Javeed Hussain, DFO JV Division, Baramulla has been transferred and posted as DFO Forest Division, Srinagar vice Farooq Ahmed Geelani. Zahoor Ahmed Jan, DFO, SC Pohru, Langet has been transferred and posted as DFO Research Division, Sriangar against an available post. G S Kirmani, TPO, Srinagar has been transferred and posted as DFO Seed Division, Srinagar vice N H Hakim. Mohd Ashraf Beigh, DFO Lidder Division has been transferred and deputed to J&K State Forest Corporation. He will report to Managing Director, SFC for further posting. Mufti Nazim Ud-Din, Chief Executive Officer, IWDP Rambiara has been transferred and posted as DFO JV Forest Division, Baramulla vice Mian Javeed Hussain. A R Kakroo, Dy Director Forest Protection Force has been transferred and posted as DFO Langet Forest Division vice Manzoor Ahmed Tak. S K Trisal, ACF, Project Officer, NHW Project Batote has been transferred and posted as Project Officer, MFP, Kathua (SFP) vice A K Pandita. A K Pandita, ACF, Project Officer, MFP, SF, Kathua has been transferred and posted as Project Officer, NHW Project Batote vice S K Trisal. Mohammad Syed Mir, ACF attached with Principal Chief Conservator of Forest has been posted as DFO Working Plan Division, Sind Ganderbal. Bashir Ahmed Sheikh, ACF, Project Officer, MFP Project SFP Rajwar has been transferred and posted as ACF Sind Forest Division against available post. Abdul Rashid Shah, ACF, SMS, IWDP Srinagar has been transferred and posted as Project Officer, MFP Project, SF Rajwar, vice Bashir Ahmed Sheikh. R C Sharma, ACF attached with Basantar Project has been posted as ACF Nowshera Forest Division against an available post. Abdul Hamid Bhat, ACF In-charge Protection Squad, Srinagar has been transferred and posted as SMS, IWDP Hills vice Abdul Rashid Shah. |
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Hurriyat seeks appointment with Vajpayee, Musharraf NEW DELHI, June 22: Having failed in its attempt to get accepted as a party to the Kashmir issue, the Hurriyat Conference today sought appointments with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistani President Gen Pervez Musharraf before or after their summit level talks saying it would consolidate the peace process. "If the response is encouraging, we may be able to achieve a breakthrough and otherwise also we will not feel upset," Hurriyat chairman Abdul Gani Bhat told PTI here. Asked what led to such an initiative by the Hurriyat Conference, Bhat said "the letters to the Prime Minister and Musharraf on the eve of the summit of the two leaders has to be understood with reference to the events taking shape across the South Asia region in particular and the globe in general." He said there was "an urge for peace all over. But then no peace can happen in vacuum. We will have to address issues that threaten the peace process. As simple as that." The 23-party conglomerate today formally sought a meeting with Vajpayee and Musharraf stating that this was an attempt to "translate" the peace process into a "purposeful exercise". In similar letters to the two leaders, Hurriyat Conference chairman Abdul Gani Bhat said the conglomerate of 23 separatist organisations at its June 13 executive committee meeting had unanimously decided to help consolidate, with reference to the Kashmir issue, the peace process set afoot in Delhi and Islamabad. "Let there be no misgivings about it...Sensitivities notwithstanding, we will have to demonstrate a deeper sense of responsibility and a higher degree of understanding in dealing with the situation, which has unmistakably assumed alarming proportions," the letter addressed to Vajpayee and Musharraf said. For the first time in the history of six years of Hurriyat Conference, the amalgam has written a letter to Prime Minister of the country for an appointment. Hurriyat leaders, who wanted the Kashmir talks to be tripartite with their organisation represented as a principal party, came here yesterday to explore the possibility of having an appointment with Gen Musharraf by meeting the Pakistani High Commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi. The letter was made public after Bhat, accompanied by senior Jamaat-e-Islami leader Qazi Ahadullah, met Qazi this morning. Letter to Gen Musharraf was handed over during three-hour long meeting. Simultaneously, the Hurriyat spokesman in Delhi Abdul Majeed Bandey handed over a letter for Vajpayee at the Prime Minister’s Office. Bhat said the "dynamics of the situation has to be understood by each one of us." He referred in this context to nuclearisation of the region, open market economy and more important the "growing realisation at the people’s level that permanent peace is ensured so that the people breath and sleep in peace." The Hurriyat chairman said this could be possible "only if and when the dispute constituting threat to these issues was addressed." Asked when the Hurriyat leaders expected to meet Vajpayee and Gen Musharraf, Bhat said "anytime. Either before summit or after." When asked about his reaction to the statement by Prime Minister in Manali last month denying the Hurriyat leaders meeting with Musharraf, the Hurriyat chairman said "we dont have to go by statements. We have to consider the situation as it is existing. The two leaders are, hopefully, seized of it." To a question what if Vajpayee declined to meet them while Musharraf agreed, Bhat said "though I am optimistic about the results, I am still prepared for the worst. Well, if Pakistani President responds, there is no harm in meeting." Brushing off speculations about any rift within the conglomerate, the Hurriyat chairman said that the amalgam had decided on this move during the executive meeting of June 13 with complete consensus. (PTI) |
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‘Wonder like Taj Mahal needed’ NEW DELHI, June 22: "We need a wonder like Taj Mahal again," says Hurriyat Conference chairman Abdul Gani Bhat when asked about the forthcoming Indo-Pak summit being held in Agra. "Though I don’t expect miracles during the meeting between Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, I still hope they make a wonder like Shah Jahan did in the 17th century," Bhat told PTI here. He said there could not have been a better venue than Agra for such crucial talks as "it needs a blessing from the historic wonder itself and hopefully the two leaders live up to the message spread from the epitome of love." "Frankly saying, Kashmiris need a replica of Taj Mahal from the two leaders and hopefully the meeting paves way for involvement of Kashmiris in future talks," Bhat said. However, Bhat said it would be a choice between "love" and "lunatic asylum" for India and Pakistan during the forthcoming talks. "Well they have a choice. Either they stick to the 17th century epitome of love (Taj Mahal) or the lunatic asylum which is in its vicinity," he said. Asked what could be the possible venue if Vajpayee and Musharraf agreed to meet the Hurriyat leaders in response to the letter written by the amalgam, Bhat said with a smile "Delhi is fine for us." (PTI) |
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16,806 pilgrims registered; plea for extension of registration date Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 22: Out of 22,050 pilgrims, the quota fixed to be registered at Jammu registration counters, the Tourism Department has so far enrolled 16,806 pilgrims here, since the advance registration started on June 10. With only three days of advance registration left which will end on June 25, the Department has to register 5,244 more pilgrims to complete the quota. Keeping in view the present rush of pilgrims coming from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and UT of Chandigarh for advance enrollment, the quota will be completed by June 25. According to Deputy Director Tourism, Mr Manhas who is also the Registration Officer for Amarnath pilgrims, 1,657 more yatris were registered on the 13th day of advance registration today. He said this includes 1,514 male and 143 females who were given the different dates for pilgrimage in next month. However, there is a growing pressure on the State Government from various religious and social organizations to extend the advance registration date beyond June 25 in view of the increasing rush of people coming for daily registration. Some Hindu bodies including VHP, Baba Amarnath Yatri Niyas, Bajrang Dal and Sanjeevani Sharda Kendra have warned agitation in case the date was not extended beyond June 25. They demanded that the quota fixed for registration at Jammu Centres be increased besides separate registration centres be opened at Punjab to accommodate the heavy rush of pilgrims from that State. They also demanded that adequate and fool proof security arrangements be made for the yatris enroute from Jammu Base Camp to Cave Shrine. Meanwhile, the State Government has opened a Medical Registration Centre at TRC here for the facility of Yatris coming for advance registration. According to Dr Jyotsna Koul, Medical Officer of the Registration Centre, the people intending to go for the year’s pilgrimage are medically examined before giving the fitness certificate. She said children below the age group of 12 years, infirm and insane people, besides those with BP problem or suffering from respiratory track and heart ailments are not issued the fitness certificates as they can not climb the Mahaguns Top which at the height of 15,000 feet. Besides, the Udhampur Police has decided to utilize the services of 800 civil defence wardens during the month long Amarnath pilgrimage to provide assistance to yatris enroute from Tikri to Patnitop. Disclosing this the SSP Udhampur, Mr Deepak Kumar the civil defence will supplement the efforts of police and security forces in providing security to Yatris and deal with any eventuality. He said the Civil Defence personnel will be deployed on National Highway for regulation of traffic and other purposes along with police personnel. The SSP who organised a meeting of the civil defence wardens here today said, the main purpose of the move was to activate the 68 civil defence defunct wardens in the district. |
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3 army jawans escape
Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, June 22: A local BJP activist and a woman were among three persons arrested by police for ‘immoral activities’ in Budhal area. Three army jawans escaped during the raid. Police identified the arrested BJP activist as Bhagwan Dass, whose house was being used for illegal sex trafficking in Budhal. Besides Bhagwan Dass, Budhal police have also arrested a woman Meena Kumari, 30, widow of Balwant Singh and Rafiq Ahmed, both residents of village Dar Sakri in Budhal. Police sources said they had been receiving complaints for the past quite sometime that BJP activist was misusing his house for running ‘immoral sex activities’. He used to charge a substantial amount from customers for renting the room on hourly basis. Police verified the complaints by deploying plainclothesmen around the house and found them as genuine. Police, accordingly, laid a trap and arrested Rafiq Dar and Meena red-handed while indulging in illegal activities. Bhagwan Dass was also taken into custody for facilitating the activities from his house. However, three army jawans managed to escape from the house during the raid. One of them has been identified as bulldozer driver Sat Pal while identity of two others couldn’t be established immediately. A case against three arrested persons including the BJP activist and woman has been registered at Budhal police station for further investigations. Police said some more arrests were also expected during interrogation of the BJP leader. Meanwhile, army authorities have also taken a very serious note of the involvement of their three jawans in the case. Stern disciplinary action has been initiated against bulldozer driver Sat Pal. Efforts were also on to identify two other jawans. |
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Spl invitation to Musharraf from haveli owners NEW DELHI, June 22: The Jain family, living in the now famous Neharwali Haveli where Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf was born, has plans to formally invite him to visit it. The specially designed invitation will have the "swastika" on one side and the "Chand-Tara" symbolising Islam on the other, R K Jain, the youngest of the Jain brothers who now occupy the house, said here today. As for what would be written, "it is going to be a formal request to Gen Musharraf to visit the Haveli. Our attempt will also be to remind him of the emotional bond that exists between him and the place," he said. The invitation will be sent through the local MLA, Shoaib Iqbal of Janata Dal (S), who has been taking special interest in sprucing up the locality to welcome General Musharraf. "We know Gen Musharraf will be in the city only on the evening of July 14. But we do hope that he is able to squeeze in time to come to the Haveli," said Jain. (PTI) |
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Varsities to relax rules for migrants NEW DELHI, June 22: The Centre has asked all the universities to extend the date of admission to Kashmiri migrant students by 30 days and relax the cut-off percentage upto 10 per cent subject to minimum eligibility requirements. The Human Resource Development Ministry has announced certain concessions for wards of Kashmiri migrants in admissions to educational institutions for the academic session 2001-2002. The concessions should also include increase in intake capacity of upto five per cent course-wise, reservation of at least one seat in merit quota in technical and professional institutions, waiving of domicile requirements and facilitation of migration in second and subsequent years, an official release said today. The ministry has issued necessary instructions to the Vice Chancellors seeking their personal intervention in this regard, the release said. This has been done in view of the hardships being faced by the Kashmiri migrants and the consequent need to provide certain concessions to their wards, the release added. (PTI) |
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Prof Tiku appointed PSC member Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, June 22: Prof. B. K. Tiku (Retired Head of Bio-Chemistry Department of Medical College Jammu) has been appointed as member of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission. A notification in this regard has been issued by the Government. |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 22: Central Bureau of Investigation ( CBI) has conducted inquiry and registered a case against one Raj Kumar, Senior Auditor in the office of Controller of Defence Accounts for his involvement in the corrupt practices and amassing wealth disproportionate to his known source of income. According to the FIR, Raj Kumar while working as Senior Auditor in the office of CDA at Jammu and on other posts since his appointment as Auditor in September 1977 to May 17, 2001 had amassed huge assets disproportionate to his known source of income. Raj Kumar had worked at AOP Beacon Srinagar, D A Jammu and CSD Udhampur and promoted as Senior Auditor in 1987 at CDA Jammu and had misused his official position with ulterior motives to mint the money. It was pointed out in the FIR that he had constructed a high standard house amounting rupees 30 lakh at village Chakrohi in R S Pura. Further, he owned a double storey building worth rupees 10 lakh in the same village in the name and style of Raj High School, which is being run by his wife Preetima Bhagat. Raj Kumar is a father of six daughters and a son on whose education he has been spending lavishly in private institutions, it was mentioned. During the search of his residential and office premises, the CBI sleuths recovered a hard cash to the tune of rupees two lakh, KVP cash certificates and other multi-benefit certificates on his name, his wife and children to the tune of about 11 lakh purchased from different banks. During the search, the CBI team found items from his house and as per the inventory, they were to the tune of rupees 2,39,200. The total amount which was found disproportionate to his known source of income was rupees 15,25,200, for which he failed to account for. A case was registered and investigations started. |
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NEW DELHI, June 22: All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) chairman Prof Abdul Gani Bhat today met Pakistan High Commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi and discussed various issues including Kashmir and the summit level meeting between Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and President Pervez Musharraf. "We discussed Kashmir and the Agra summit," he told UNI after the meeting which was held at the Pakistan House here. Earlier in the day, the APHC put in formal requests for meetings with Mr Vajpayee and Gen Musharraf to translate the peace process into a purposeful political exercise. Prof Bhat sent his emissary Qazi Ahadullah to the Pakistan High Commission with the letter seeking a meeting with Gen Musharraf to consolidate the peace process set afoot in Delhi and Islamabad. An identical letter to Mr Vajpayee was delivered by Hurriyat spokesperson Abdul Majid Banday at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) here. The conglomerate of more than 23 political and militant groups in Jammu and Kashmir, have been demanding for its inclusion in the summit talks. Pakistan has been insisting on three-way talks but Gen Musharraf had last week said that the Hurriyat could join the dialogue after the summit meeting. However, on Tuesday, India once again rejected Pakistan’s demand as a non-issue. "As the APHC has put in formal request to meet Gen Musharraf during the summit talks, we also discussed the possibilities of an audience with the Pakistan President," Prof Bhat said. (UNI) |
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SPO, 2 militants killed in Valley Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, June 22: While as security forces have eliminated two militants in an encounter in Kupwara district, unidentified gunmen have slaughtered a Special Police Official (SPO) in Bandipore area during last night. Official sources said that security forces and militants had a fierce gunbattle at Darnar in Furkian forest area, near LoC, in Kupwara district. Two unidentified militants got killed. Two AK-56 rifles are claimed to have been recovered. Sources said that during last night unidentified gunmen appeared at Watpora village in Bandipore and kidnapped SPO Abdur Rahim Ganai S/o Ghulam Mohammad Mohammad Ganai from the residence of his sister who had passed away recently. Later, they slaughtered the SPO and threw his dead body at Panzigam. |
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