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Bid to
loot Rs 1 crore cash fails Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Mar 1: Two police constables were killed and five others including three cops, a driver and a Treasury official were seriously injured when suspected militants ambushed a private matador carrying a cash of atleast Rs 1 crore at village Lohai Khud in Marta area of Nagrota area under the jurisdiction of Basohli police station this afternoon. The cash drawn from the treasury here this morning was meant for disbursement in Government offices at Basohli, Billawar and Bani. The cash, which appeared to be the main target of militants, was saved as driver of the matador drove the vehicle about half a km distance only on rim and by the time militants had exhausted their entire ammunition. This was the first major strike by Pakistan-sponsored militants in Basohli tehsil, where they were reported to have made significant presence. Incidentally, the strike came barely three days before the visit of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to inaugurate Thein dam alongwith Punjab Chief Minister on March 4. Official sources reaching here said that a police team comprising cops and a Treasury official left in a private matador No. 6191 JK08 from District Police Lines here at 0900 hours in the morning alongwith a cash of Rs one crore for disbursement as salaries. Sources said the militants might have developed their links in the Police Lines, which was evident from the fact that they were even aware of the timing by when the matador would have been crossing isolated Lohai Khud, about 10 kms short of Basohli. The militants (numbering six), all of whom were wearing military dresses and face masks and had in their possession a jeep, fabricated like a defence vehicle, first bursted the tyres of matador by opening heavy firing from automatic weapons. Though the police constables also fired few shots aiming the militants they couldn’t match the strength of ultras. Driver of the matador identified as Shiv Nandan son of Rajinder Kumar of Kathua , despite being hit by a bullet, displayed tremendous courage and drove the vehicle atleast half a kilometer only on the rim. Driver’s bravery not only helped in saving the entire cash of Rs one crore but also the lives of five injured persons, who would have been killed by the militants had the vehicle not been driven away. All six militants fled away from the spot and disappeared in an adjoining forest area. Two constables had died on the spot in militants’ firing and five others were injured. Deceased have been identified as Hari Ram (constable No. 797) R/o Deval, Billawar and Jagdish Singh (Selection Grade Constable No. 782) R/o Gharh Malta, Billawar. The injured included matador driver Shiv Nandan, Treasury cashier Bhui Lal S/o Bishan Dass R/o Kathua and three constables Gopal Dass (Selection Grade No 705), Uttam Singh (constable No 343) and Chajju Ram (head constable No 522). ASI Harbans Lal who was heading the police team and two injured cops latter deposited the cash at Basohli Police Station. The injured were taken to a local hospital from where all five were airlifted to Jammu and admitted in the Medical College hospital, Jammu. Condition of one of them was stated to be critical. Bodies of deceased constables were being sent to Police Lines, Kathua after post-mortem. Sub Divisional Magistrate, Basohli and DySP Basohli Devinder Sharma rushed to the spot alongwith re-enforcement of police and CRPF and cordoned off the area. SSP Kathua Manohar Singh also left for the spot after getting a report alongwith ‘nafri’ from the Police Lines. A CRPF team led by Commandant RPS Rana was also camping at the spot. A massive search and combing operation has been launched in the forest area of Lohai Khud with the help of security forces to track down the militants and eliminate them. Police suspected the hand of some local militants behind the incident but didn’t rule out the involvement of foreign mercenaries. Eye-witnesses including a young girl told visiting police officials that she saw the armed men having taken positions in an area, just about 150 meters from the road and presumed them as army soldiers as all of them were wearing combat dresses. The girl said she was asked by the militants to leave the spot immediately as firing was going to take place in the area. Three motor-cyclists also confirmed having seen the militants but presumed them as jawans and didn’t inform police. Reliable reports said that wireless system of police had reportedly been jammed by the militants in a distance of about one km radius from where they struck. This might have been done by a powerful jammer. Police could flash a message only after the ultras had disappeared. This was the first major strike by the militants in Basohli tehsil though there had been reports with security agencies speaking about presence of militants in upper reaches of all three neighbouring tehsils of Basohli, Billawar and Bani. Isolated strikes by militants had already been reported from Lohai Malhar area of Billawar. The strike came just few days before the scheduled visit of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to inaugurate Thein dam on March 4. Security arrangements were being intensified in the entire area for the VVIP visit. Sources admitted that the looting incident might not have been possible without the nexus of militants with some police personnel, especially in District Police Lines, Kathua. They had prior information of the matador number and its colour and the timing by when it would have been crossing Lohai Khud alongwith Rs one crore. "But for the courage of matador driver, the militants would have succeeded in looting the cash", they said. The broad day light strike sparked off tension in the entire Basohli tehsil. Shopkeepers immediately downed their shutters in all markets to protest the militants’ strike. Local leader Darshan Sharma has demanded intensification of security arrangements in the tehsil to restore people’s confidence, which, he said, has been badly shaken in view of the strike. A police official said all out efforts were being made to eliminate or apprehend the ultras but a breakthrough remained elusive till the reports last came in. He said the militants had been trekking to upper reaches of Bani, Billawar and Basohli through Sarthal hills of Kishtwar in Doda district. |
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Col killed, Brig injured as Hizb ambushes Army column SRINAGAR,Mar 1 : An Army Colonel and a soldier besides three people were killed and two officers including a Brigadier injured in an ambush with militants at Anantnag this afternoon. The Hizbul Mujahideen, in a statement issued here has claimed the responsibility for the attack. Elsewhere in Kashmir, a Police Oficial and two members of a family were among six people killed whileas a gang of grenade throwers was busted in Sopore town of north Valley. Official sources said militants attacked an Army convoy with automatic weapons and grenades at Janglat Mandi in the south Kashmir district of Anantnag, about 55 km from here at about 1600 hours. Col J P John, Commanding Officer of T A Battalion and a jawan died in the ambush. The two died before they could be shifted to the hospital, sources added. A Brigadier, a Colonel and two other soldiers were also injured in the ambush. The Brigadier will be taken to Delhi for specialised treatment. Three civilians, identified as Abdul Ahmad Sheikh, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din and Mohammad Shafi were killed and two others wounded in the encounter. A defence spokesman here said unidentified militants ambushed an Army column at Janglat Mandi in Anantnag town this afternoon. One militant was also killed in the retaliatory firing by the troops, the spokesman said and added further details are being ascertained. Meanwhile, six people, including a policeman and two members of a family, were killed and 14 others, mostly securitymen, injured in militant attacks in Kashmir since last night. A Sub-Inspector of Jammu and Kashmir Police Mohammad Shaban, who was shot at and critically wounded by militants at Qammerwari Chowk in downtown Srinagar last night, succumbed to injuries today, the spokesman said. Bullet-riddled bodies of a person and his 25-year-old son, who were abducted from their house in Lashtiyal ten days ago, were recovered by Police from Boniyar Forest in Kupwara district in north Kashmir today. One person was killed by militants in Handwara in Kupwara district today, the spokesman said. A civilian who had suffered splinter injuries in a grenade explosion at Khudwani area of Anantnag on Monday died in hospital in Srinagar today, the spokesman said. He said four Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBT) Personnel, including two Inspectors, were injured when militants lobbed a grenade at a security vehicle at Qazigund in Anantnag district today. Militants also hurled a grenade at a police camp at Kulgam in Anantnag last night, wounding four policemen and a security jawan. Three persons were injured when militants opened fire at a house in Wagub-Sopore in Baramulla last night. The Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Border Security Force in a joint operation arrested five members of the Pakistan based Al-Badr militant outfit in Sopore last evening. These militants were involved in nine grenade attacks, which resulted in five deaths and injuries to 61 persons in the Sopore town in the recent past. Security forces also recovered one AK rifle, eight magazines, 197 rounds, one pistol and four greandes during the operation. (AGENCIES) |
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Rape case against 2
jawans Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 1: Mr Justice Tejinder Singh Doabia of the State High Court has quashed the proceedings taken by General Court Martial against two jawans of Rashtriya Rifles who were involved in a rape case which took place on March 21, 1996 while they were on search duty. In the 57 pages acquittal judgement, Mr Justice Doabia observed that police personnel made a categoric statement at the pre-trial stage that the two ladies were looking for money, in a statement which cannot be ignored. Again if the confessional statements are to be relied upon, then it must have some corroboration. This corroboration is certainly missing. The confessional statement implicating four persons and more so two petitioners are not supported by the medical evidence or even by the pre-trial statements of the latter statement of the two ladies. "In the present case, the exercise of power under the Army Act and rules have led to un-reasonable results. Grave the misconduct, greater is the need to see that procedural safe-guards of fair play are kept in view. The petitioners are not only to lose their jobs but would suffer from an indelible stigma in public and private life," the Court observed. It further observed that in the opinion of the court if the principles as applicable to the trial of criminal cases dealing with heinous offences are allowed, then the petitioners Surinder Kumar would become entitled to clear acquittal and petitioner Onkar Singh Chib would become entitled to the benefit of doubt. As such the proceedings taken by the summary General Court Martial against petitioners are also quashed. Advocate K S Pathania appeared for the petitioners whereas Mrs N Goswami Additional Central Government standing counsel appeared for the Union of India in this case. According to the case on March 21, 1996 on receipt of information that some militants are in village Shumahal. The patrolling party headed by Naib Subedar Shamsher Singh of Rashtriya Rifles alongwith others went there. On reaching the village Naib Subedar divided the party into two groups. One group was retained by him and other was put under the command of Naik Rajwinder Singh. This second group reached the house of one Gulzar Ahmed Teli. The petitioner forcibly caught hold the wife of Gulzar Ahmed. The sister of Gulzar Ahmed Teli was also there. It is stated that Naik Rajwinder Singh, L/NK Onkar Singh Chib and Sepoy Sanjay Parkash committed rape upon wife of Mr Teli and were alleged to have violated the person of sister of Teli. A complaint was lodged with the police station Pahalgam. The proceedings were taken under the Army rules and petitioner were punished. The petitioners challenged proceedings of Army rules in the State High Court on various grounds. |
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Several members walk-out Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 1: Majority of Opposition members today walked-out of the Legislative Assembly charging treasury benches as well as bureaucracy with taking the House proceedings especially the Zero Hour (in which important issues are raised by the members) casually. As soon as the Zero Hour began and BSP Legislature Party leader Sheikh Abdul Rehman raised the issue of police firing on retrenched workers of JP Industries in Kishtwar, the Opposition members, barring BJP, were on their feet and started shouting from their seats alleging that Government wasn’t replying the important issues raised by the members. A National Conference member Jagjivan Ram also joined the Opposition and asserted that no one from the Government side or official gallery was listening to members’ issues. He said it was only the media, which has been highlighting the Zero Hour proceedings. Opposition members included Sheikh Abdul Rehman, Som Nath and Sagar Chand (BSP), Congress Legislature Party leader Tara Chand and his colleagues Balbir Singh, Lal Singh and Chering Dorjey, Panthers Party MLA Harshdev Singh and PDP legislator Abdul Rehman Veeri continued to shout from their seats that despite Speaker’s directions, the Government was not reacting to the issues and nor any reply was given to the members. All of them later staged a walk-out from the House. The issue was again raised by another ruling party member Dillawar Mir, who said the Government was not serious on Zero Hour. There was no one in the official gallery from General Administration Department, he pointed out. Mir said if the Government couldn’t reply the issues instantly, it should atleast give the reply to members in writing later. Speaker Abdul Ahad Vakil said if despite Chair’s directions, the members weren’t getting reply of their queries, they can move a privilege motion against Secretary GAD. "It’s a contempt of House", the Speaker ruled amidst cheers from the Opposition members. Meanwhile, NC MLA Sadiq Ali today took a section of members, who were not attending the House, to task and demanded that their salary should be stopped. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Sadiq Ali pointed out that some members have attended the budget session only for a single day and were absent since then. "They were doing injustice not only with the House but also with the people, whom they represent", he said. Sadiq said that under law a member had to attend 90 per cent sittings otherwise he can’t be entitled to salary. He wanted to know how these members were drawing their salary. He said a member can remain absent only after properly applying for leave to the Speaker. BJP member Ashok Khajuria took the name of a Congress (I) MLA, who hadn’t been attending the House. Speaker agreed that it was moral as well as legal responsibility of a member to attend the House. |
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Extension in truce hailed NEW DELHI, Mar 1: Senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee today said in the Rajya Sabha that Government should begin talks with Pakistan on Kashmir issue and for stopping cross-border terrorism. While complimenting Government for extending the unilateral ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir without being provoked by terrorist violence, Mukherjee said it should go beyond this and start talks with the neighbouring Government. Participating in the discussion on the motion of thanks on the President’s address, he said modalities for talks should be devised by the Government. Mukherjee said the Government could not ignore that Pakistan was a reality and it had a view-point on Kashmir. He said Pakistan had never conceded that Kashmir was not an issue, adding only by beginning talks, the Government could convince the Pakistan Government about India’s view-point. The talks between the two neighbours, he said, had become necessary because both India and Pakistan had become nuclearised and this posed a risk of third party intervention in the area. Opposing the motion, Pranab Mukherjee said the Government had not outlined in the address its policy for bringing administrative and judicial reforms without which, he said, economic reforms of the Government could not succeed. Referring to economic policies of the Government, he said these were not helping the people and there was economic stagnation. The Government, he said, was following wrong economic policies of depending on foreign borrowings. T N Chaturvedi (BJP) said the cooperation extended by all sections of the people for quake-hit people of Gujarat showed there was need to learn a lesson from the catastrophe. Asserting there was no discrimination on providing relief to the people, he said efforts should be made to expose the nexus between builders and others. He said the President’s address had set the agenda for NDA Government to pursue its policies and programmes aimed at benefitting the people. On Jammu and Kashmir, he said the Government’s policy on J and K was clear and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s peace initiative had been widely appreciated. Stating he was not in favour of trifurcation of the State, he said the State should be unified to give a good governance to the people. Sharifuddin Shariq (National Conference) warned the Government against undermining and ignoring elected representatives and nationalist parties while opening a dialogue in Jammu and Kashmir. He said his party was not against the Centre talking to Hurriyat and militant groups but this should not be done over the heads of elected representatives. Describing Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s announcement of extension of ceasefire in Kashmir as a "bold step", Shariq said this should be followed by other concrete confidence-building measures. Shariq, supporting the motion, said the President’s address was silent on some crucial issues like growing violence and involvement of criminals in politics and demanded Government should spell out measures to check this menace. S Ramachandran Pillai (CPI-M) said Government should not do away with the Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism as it would be detrimental to the interest of farmers. Demanding a white paper on Government’s economic policies, he said opposition parties should be taken into confidence on major policy decisions. Accusing the Centre of trying to curb powers of State Governments, he demanded meetings of national development council and inter state council be convened soon. K Rahman Khan (Cong) expressed serious concern over plight of farmers in the country and said even after 50 years of independence, there were starvation deaths in the country. Opposing the decision to transfer shares of BALCO, he alleged valuation of the unit was not transparent and demanded a joint parliamentary committee to go into the matter. (PTI) |
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3 militants nabbed in RS Pura; arms seized Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 1: A day after killing two Pakistani militants at Badiyal Qazian in RS Pura sector, Border Police today arrested three more militants including a Pakistani of Islamic Front and recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition from their possession. While a Pakistani ultra was arrested from Mokhey village of RS Pura, two Kashmiri militants were nabbed from Ramgarh in stepped-up activities along the International Border in Jammu sector. SP Border, Jammu Manish Kishore Sinha told EXCELSIOR that two alert Village Defence Committee (VDC) members of Mokhey noticed movement of a militant at 0530 hours today. The VDC men had laid a naka in the area and tactfully engaged the intruder till a police party from RS Pura reached the spot. The intruder was arrested and subjected to interrogation during which he disclosed his identity as Rafakat Hussain alias Yassar R/o Sialkot and a hardcore activist of Islamic Front. From his possession, two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), a pistol and four magazines were recovered. Yassar disclosed during interrogation that he had been pushed to this side by Pakistan to trigger explosions on railway track and other crowded areas in Jammu. A major catastrophe was averted with the timely arrest of Yassar. In another incident, a woman noticed movement of two suspects at Pakha Chak in Ramgarh this morning and informed a team of police, SPOs, VDCs and army. Troops and police swung into action and apprehended both the militants from Abtal area. They have been identified as Tanvir Ahmed son of Ghulam Nabi Ahmed and Riaz Mohammad Parrey son of Ghulam Mohammad Parrey of Baramulla, Kashmir. Ten kg RDX, two pistols, four grenades, detonators and pistols silencers were recovered from them. Meanwhile, one AK-47 rifle, four grenades, eight magazines and one IED was recovered by a police party of Ram Munshi Bagh, Srinagar from RS Pura sector. Recovery was made on a tip off given by a local militant, who had infiltrated from RS Pura sector sometime back and reached Srinagar. Police sources said interrogation of all three militants was going on and some vital clues were expected. Killing of two ultras yesterday and arrest of three militants today indicated that Pakistan has stepped-up activities along the Jammu border with a view to intensify violence. Police and security forces have intensified searches in the border areas and also alerted people to keep a vigil on the anti-national elements. |
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Centre should specify
‘formula’ to solve SRINAGAR, Mar 1: Pakistan-based militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen today said the Centre should specify its ‘formula’ to resolve the long standing Kashmir issue. Claiming that Kashmir was a ‘disputed territory’, a Hizb spokesman said in a statement here that if India accepted this, Hizb militants would stop their activities in the State. He alleged that the ceasefire offered by New Delhi was "nothing but a farce aimed at misleading international opinion and a conspiracy to create differences among the people of Jammu and Kashmir". Meanwhile, Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit said Jehad (holy war) was the only solution to Kashmir problem and any outfit which had welcomed the ceasefire was "aiding and abetting state-sponsored terrorism". He also criticised former Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani saying "since Hurriyat has welcomed the ceasefire, the conglomerate cannot escape responsibility for the increase in custodial deaths in Kashmir". (PTI) |
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NEW DELHI, Mar 1 : Brig Bikram Singh, who became a household name as the Army’s spokesman during the Kargil conflict in 1998, was seriously injured in an ambush in Anantnag today but was reported to be out of danger. A Colonel and a jawan were killed and five people including Brig Singh and a Lieutenant were injured in the attack for which the Hizbul Mujahideen claimed responsibility in Srinagar. Brig Singh, Commanding a Sector Command and incharge of Counter Insurgency Operations in south Kashmir, was rushed to the base hospital in Srinagar where he was operated upon. Army sources here said he and the Lieutenant were out of danger. A familiar face on television for nearly two months during the Kargil war in the summer of 1998, ‘Colonel Bikram Singh’ gave a daily update to the media on the situation in the Line of Control. After promotion, he was posted to the Valley. (UNI) |
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Closure of Upper House demanded Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 1: Cutting across party lines, opposition MLAs today staged a walk-out protesting against non-fulfillment of firm commitment made by the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah on the floor of the House about enhancing the Constituency Development Fund from Rs 25 lakhs to Rs 50 lakhs. Harsh Dev Singh, MLA said this fund was placed at the disposal of the legislators for getting executed various works of urgent nature in their constituency since 1997-98. The allocation was raised for the MPs and also in other States in the country. Chief Minister, he stressed had categorically declared that the fund would be doubled and he had not linked it to any factor like availability of resources from the Centre. During the current year Rs 18.75 lakh has been released to the legislators and the balance of Rs 6.25 lakh of each MLA and MLC is being utilised for construction of Assembly complex at Srinagar. Acting Chief Minister, Ghulam Mohi-ud Din Shah, however, maintained that since the Annual Plan of the State has remained static for last two years so the enhancement is not possible during the current year. The legislators were so agitated over the issue that even the ruling party MLAs stood up on their seats and joined the opposition in demanding enhancement of CDF as promised by Dr Farooq Abdullah in the House last year. The NC members kept voicing their concern over the non-fulfillment of the commitment. Harsh Dev Singh charged that the State Government was not serious about the commitment made even by the Chief Minister in the House to which the acting Chief Minister responded that with more resources coming to the State this commitment will be fulfilled. There were heated exchanges between chief whip of NC Mubarak Gul and BSP leader Sheikh Abdul Rehman at one occasion but nothing was audible in the din. Even Gul was seen arguing with the Speaker. The drama continued for over 15 minutes and the order was only restored when the entire opposition staged a walk out. The members were unanimous in their demand that the Government should drastically cut down its un-necessary expenditure and even suggested what they called un-necessary burden on the exchequer on account of Upper House. The agitated members said that Government has made the Upper House as Rehabilitation Centre and shouted slogans "Rehabilitation Centre Bandh Karo", Gao Shalla Bandh Karo"(Close this rehabilitation Centre, pen). Some members pointed out that since MLCs have no specific constituency so it is not clear where and on what they spent their fund. Responding to it the acting Chief Minister was heard saying that let them also do development and welfare work. Ashok Khajuria alleged that one of the legislator, who has not any particular constituency, has misused the fund and utilised it for purchase of a palatial bungalow in Trikuta Nagar. The Chair intervened and asked the member not to level wild allegations without concrete proof. While all the legislators maintained silence, nominated MLA Bimla Luthra tried to say something. The Speaker pointed out that by explaining her position she would only invite suspicion. By reacting to members remarks you are making your position ambiguous unnecessarily Speaker told Ms Luthra. Leader of BJP, Shiv Charan Gupta said that he had written to the Chief Minister long time ago that CDF should not be allowed to be spend outside the constituency of the legislator. The Government wanted to have the opinion of Law Department in the matter, he said and added that till this day no decision has been taken on the issue Not satisfied with the reply of the Government, the opposition legislators from BJP, Congress, PP, JD, BSP and PDP walked out in protest from the House. |
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Vigilance probe ordered into Rs 38 lakh fraud Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 1: The Government today announced in the Legislative Assembly that a Vigilance inquiry has been ordered into illegal disbursement of over Rs 38 lakh illegally to a private firm of Awantipora, Pulwama. Industries and Commerce Minister Mustafa Kamal told NC MLA Mushtaq Ahmed Kuchchay that Vigilance Organisation has registered FIR No 4/2001 against Wani Cattle and Poultry Feed, Pulwama on the basis of a preliminary inquiry in which prima facie the malpractices were alleged to have been committed. In his written reply to the Call Attention Notice, Kamal said the suppliers from outside the State, who had been shown as having supplied the material, either don’t exist or have denied supply of raw material to the concerned unit. The seals of Sales Tax authorities of Lakhanpur, affixed on the documents, have been found to be fake, he said, adding that further inquiries are being made by Vigilance. Industry Ministry was awaiting the report of Vigilance in this regard. Meanwhile, replying to another Call Attention Notice of Jagdish Dubey (JD), Lal Singh (Cong-I) and Harshdev Singh (Panthers Party), Kamal said the Government was considering a golden handshake scheme for the employee of Himalayan Wool Combers Ltd and J&K State Handloom/Handicrafts Raw Material. The proposal of Golden handshake scheme has been submitted to the Cabinet for consideration, Kamal said, a final decision was expected to be taken up by the Cabinet shortly. Meanwhile, he said, Finance Department had already released budgetary support to meet the expenditure on the wages of employees of these two units ending 2000. For the month of January, 2001, the release of their wages was under consideration. Opposition MLAs said that employees of these two units were on hunger strike for the last five months and Government wasn’t serious in solving their problems. |
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Govt cancels PRIME medicos admission Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 1: The Government today cancelled its order granting permission for adjustment of 67 students of un-recognised PRIME Medical College, Budgam into four Government medical colleges, including one dental college. This follows cancellation of the prior permission granted by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare conveyed to the State Government yesterday vide letter No. U.12012/23/99-ME(P) dated 26/28 February 2001. It may be recalled that the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had given permission vide its letter No. U.12012/23/99-ME(P) dated 8th December 2000 to adjust these students, who were admitted unauthorisedly in PRIME Medical College, into Government Medical Colleges at Srinagar and Jammu, Government Dental College, Srinagar and SKIMS Medical College, Srinagar. The adjustment of the students was viewed as unfair and discriminatory by the general public and the students on the ground that the students adjusted did not come through Competent Authority Examination, which is mandatory for such admissions. The State Government after re-examining the issue, took up the matter with the Centre, which cancelled its earlier permission. |
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Top ultra killed, arms seized from official’s house Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 1: Army gunned down a militant in Bagha area of Doda and recovered explosives from the house of an Education Department employee in Banihal tehsil in two separate incidents overnight. Official sources said troops of Rashtriya Rifles retaliated after being fired upon by militants in a forest area at village Bagha in Doda this morning. Troops returned the firing and in the exchange of firing gunned down an ‘area commander’ of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit identified as Mohammad Irfan alias Abu Hamza, a resident of Sialkot, Pakistan. A UMG, a belt of 100 rounds, two hand grenades, a personal diary and currency of Saudi Arabia and Sudan was recovered from his possession Army and police recovered two kg explosives and two remote actuators from the house of one Ahmedullah, an employee of Zonal Education Office, Banihal. A hideout, used by the militants for shelter, was also detected in the kitchen of Ahmedullah’s house. |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 1: Police today foiled an attempt to smuggle bovine animals, in a most cruel manner, from Tawian area to Srinagar on the eve of Eid festival. Seven smugglers including one Kashmiri have been arrested by police and two truck load of bovines recovered. Police sources said they had reports that efforts were being made by smugglers to smuggle bovine animals from Jammu to Srinagar during the past few days. A constant vigil was, as such, being maintained on the trucks. This morning, a Ware House police post party headed by Police Post Incharge Ravinder Singh under the supervision of SDPO Gandhi Nagar Abdul Rouf Lone intercepted two trucks at Ware House this morning. Twenty bovines had been loaded in two trucks in a cruel and barbaric manner. Their legs had been tied and mouth closed with cloth. Boxes of grapes had been loaded above the cattle to hide them. Police, however, thoroughly frisked the truck and seized all 20 cattle including eight buffaloes and 12 cows. All seven persons travelling in the two trucks bearing registration Nos 1941 JKU and 841 JKF including their operators were arrested from the spot. Both the trucks have also been seized. Accused included one Kashmiri, two from Jammu and four from RS Pura. They have been put behind bars in Gandhi Nagar police station where a case under Sections 378 and 188 RPC has been registered against them. Police said the bovine smugglers disclosed that they used to collect cattle from Tawi area in the morning and smuggle them to Srinagar charging a handsome amount. |
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