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Stoning in
Bhaderwah, Kishtwar Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 24: Minorities defied curfew in Poonch town late this evening and took out a procession denouncing yesterday’s vandalism by majority community youths while protesting desecration of a holy book even as miscreants set on fire another shop of minorities at Khanetar today. Official reports reaching here said that a large number of minority community people gathered at Geeta Bhawan and voiced deep concern over damage caused to their property yesterday and today by the miscreants. They defied curfew and marched towards Bus Stand shouting slogans against police, whom they charged with openly supporting the urchins, who caused damage to minorities property. Youths indulged in heavy stone pelting on cops at Main Chowk. Police resorted to lathicharge and fired teargas shells to disperse the protesters. A clash between cops and agitationists continued in the town for about an hour after which the youths dispersed. Minorities alleged that local police openly sided with majority community in targeting their property and demanded stern action against cops as well as miscreants. They shouted slogans like ‘we won’t allow Poonch to become Pakistan’. Earlier in the day, miscreants set ablaze a karyana shop of a minority community member at Khanetar. while an indefinite curfew continued in Poonch town for the second day today. Our Poonch correspondent reports that people of majority community took out a procession in Khanetar shouting anti-Government and religious slogans. Mob set on fire a karyana shop of a minority youth resulting into tension in the village. Police and CRPF was deployed in the village, which chased away the miscreants. The burning down of shop was strongly resented by minorities, who demanded stern action against the accused. Situation in Poonch town remained tense but well under control. The town reeled under curfew for second successive day with troops patrolling all sensitive areas and staging a flag march. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the town. Curfew was clamped on Poonch town yesterday afternoon after college students clashed with minorities and forces closure of shops and business establishment, triggering tension. A complete bandh was observed in Rajouri district today in protest against the sacrilegious act. Bandh was complete in Rajouri town, Jawahar Nagar, Gujjar Mandi Darhal and Thanna Mandi. People took out a procession in Thanna Mandi denouncing desecration of holy book and demanding strict action against the accused. Bandh passed off peacefully at all the places. Sensing trouble, the district administration didn’t allow people to take out a procession in the town. Transport was off the roads in most parts of Rajouri district. A bandh continued for second day in parts of Doda district including Bhaderwah, Kishtwar and Doda towns. People took to streets in Bhaderwah and Kishtwar this afternoon after gathering in religious places. People turned violent in Bhaderwah town and pelted stones on Tehsildar’s office and some adjoining buildings. Stray incidents of stone pelting were also reported from Kishtwar town. People gathered in a mosque at Bhaderwah after receiving a call on loud speakers from Moulvi Khanat Hussain Farash. Police and para-military personnel maintained a strict watch on the protesters and chased stone pelting youths. Generally, the situation remained normal in the entire Doda district though there was strong resentment among majority community against sacrilegious act. SSP Doda Ashkoor Wani told EXCELSIOR that authorities were maintaining a high alert in the district and said barring a couple of incidents of stone pelting, no untoward incidents was reported during the day. |
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Lata Mangeshkar releases cassette on blood donation Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Mar 24: The Melody Queen Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar released first audio cassette on blood donation titled "Katre Katre Mien Hai Tu" at New Delhi. Produced by the Young Blood Association, Jammu, the cassette was released in an exclusive function attended by eminent personalities. While releasing the cassette, Melody Queen appreciated the sincere efforts of Young Blood Association Jammu in motivating general masses for voluntary donation of blood. She also blessed the organisation for the success in this venture. Prominent among those who graced the occasion were Jammu Maharaj, Mr Krishan Chand Ji (Raj Jyotshi), religious preacher Ashok Maharaj Ji, Usha Mangeshkar, Anil Padha, chairman YBA and Ms Sureshta Khajuria beside other family members. Ms Sureshta Khajuria and Mr Anil Padha represented YBA from Jammu and presented YBA memento to Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar as a token of love and respect on this historical occasion. |
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Tension grips Surankote Excelsior Correspondent POONCH, Mar 24: Tension prevailed in Surankote tehsil following recovery of a teen-aged girl’s dead body outside a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp this morning. People including women took to streets denouncing the killing of girl. In another incident, militants gunned down wife of a newly elected Sarpanch at village Panad in Darhal tehsil of Rajouri district last night. Reports reaching here said that dead body of 16-year old Shamim Akhter daughter of Mohd Rashid, a resident of Marhot, presently putting up at Hari Mohalla, Surankote was found lying outside a CRPF camp in Surankote this morning. Police immediately swung into action after getting a report of girl’s body lying outside the camp and shifted it to sub district hospital for post-mortem. It couldn’t be ascertained immediately as to how the girl was killed and who were her killers. Local people, however, blamed security forces for the killing of teen-aged girl. They alleged that modesty of the girl was outraged and she was killed. Official sources, however, said that the girl was killed in exchange of firing between militants and security forces and categorically ruled out any foul play. They said the encounter took place at 2030 hours last night in which the girl was trapped. A large number of people came out of their houses and marched in Surankote town protesting the killing of girl and demanding stern action against the accused after their identification. Security forces have been deployed in the entire tehsil to maintain law and order. People were demanding a judicial inquiry into the killing. Meanwhile, in another incident, two unidentified militants intruded into the house of a newly elected Sarpanch Salam Din at village Panad under Darhal police station last night. Militants opened indiscriminate firing targeting the Sarpanch. However, militants missed the intended target. The bullets hit Sarpanch’s wife Begum Jan, 40, resulting into her instant death. Militants escaped after the killing. A police party visited the house of Sarpanch for investigations. |
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CM’s concern over
desecration of holy book, Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 24: Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today voiced deep concern over ‘volatile situation’ developing in the country in the wake of desecration of a holy book and denounced the burning down of a temple in Baramulla town by some miscreants yesterday. Making a statement in the Legislative Assembly after question hour in response to the issue raised by majority of the members earlier, Dr Abdullah said the State of Jammu and Kashmir was getting affected by happenings in other parts of the country. He strongly criticised the burning of temple by protesters saying Islam and Quran don’t teach such practices. "This is clearly an anti-Islamic act", he noted and asked "how the people protesting against a sacrilegious act could justify the burning of temple"? The Chief Minister said he had issued clear instructions to police yesterday that they shouldn’t resort to firing on protesters and use only lathicharge and tear-gas to disperse them. However, he added, police had to resort to firing which resulted into killing of one student. He said such a situation was sometime also exploited by the militants, who join mob to create trouble. He said he has deputed Minister of State for Home Mushtaq Ahmed Lone to Baramulla for an on-the-spot investigations. On return, he will give more information to the Assembly. Earlier, as soon as the House began its proceedings in the morning, most of the members belonging to both ruling party and Opposition were on their feet and demanded a statement from the Government. Sharing sentiments of the House, Speaker Abdul Ahad Vakil asked leader of the House to give a statement on the issue after question hour. Meanwhile, in response to a question of NC MLA Mushtaq Ahmed Kuchchay on Urdu language, the Chief Minister admitted that there was shortage of Urdu teachers in many schools of Jammu. "In many schools, Hindi teachers have been engaged against the posts of Urdu", he said and asked the Education Minister to make Urdu compulsory upto primary level. Several House members including Sadiq Ali and Mujahid Mohd Abdullah (NC), Abdul Gani Veeri (PDP) and Ashok Sharma (Congress-I) voiced concern over discrimination with Urdu language notwithstanding the fact that it was official language of the State. Speaker Abdul Ahad Vakil directed the Government to share the concern of legislators and accord its due share to Urdu language both in educational institutions and Government officials. In written reply to the question, the Chief Minister said that in most of the Government departments and offices upto district level having direct inter-action with majority of citizens, most of the official business is transacted in Urdu. These departments included Revenue, Judiciary and police. He said the cadre of Urdu stenographers has not altogether been abolished though some posts have been converted into English stenographers. Facilities for studying Urdu language have been made available upto Post Graduate and Doctorate level, he said, adding Urdu is also taught as the first language from Class I to Class X in schools. |
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Venkataswami to probe Tehelka scam NEW DELHI, Mar 24: Ten days after the Tehelka expose triggered a political storm, the Government today appointed a commission of inquiry headed by Justice K Venkataswami, a retired Supreme Court judge, to probe the allegations about bribery in defence deals involving politicians and bureaucrats made in the news portal’s video tapes. Given four months time to submit its report, the commission would probe "whether the transaction relating to defence and other procurement referred to in the said video tapes and transcripts have been carried out in terms of the prescribed procedures and the imperatives of national security", a Government notification said. Its other terms of reference would include "whether in any of the aforesaid procurement transactions, illicit gains have been made by persons in public office, individuals, and any other organisation as alleged, and if so, to what extent." Justice Venkataswami would also suggest action against persons found responsible "for their acts of commission and/or omissions" during the probe of the allegations made by the news portal tehelka.Com. Speaking to PTI from Chennai, Justice Venkataswami, who is expected to reach Delhi mid-next week, said the four-month time limit fixed by the Government for completion of the probe could be sufficient. "I hope the probe into the matter would be completed within the four-month time limit fixed by the Government," he said. Asked how he felt about the assignment at hand, the retired judge said "I have not applied my mind to the subject at all and it will be too premature to comment on the issue." The Commission, to be headquartered in Delhi, "may, if it deems fit, make interim reports to the Central Government" during the four-month probe period, the official notification said. It said the setting up of the commission was necessitated as certain allegations had been made in the video tapes and transcripts released by tehelka.Com under the name of "Operation West End" followed by widespread coverage of the subject in the print and electronic media. These allegations tend to cast an adverse reflection on the manner in which defence procurement and other transactions of the central Government were carried out allegedly for illicit gains and for extraneous consideration, the notification said. "In view of the doubts and suspicions generated as a result of the wide publicity given to these allegations, a thorough probe into the matter is considered necessary," the notification said. (PTI) |
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Court declares CC Bank Ltd appointments null and void Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 24: Court of Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Jammu, Mr G A Dar has directed Citizen Cooperative Bank Limited (CCBL) that the process of recruitment initiated by the bank at its own without reference to the District Services Saltine Board, is null and void. The Court held that the Bank being a cooperative Society, has to make appointments on the basis of the selection made by respective District Services Board only, constituted vide SRO 233 of 1998. The direction was passed in a common judgment in case of Vipan Anand, Yash Pal Singh, Ravinder Singh and others versus CC Bank Limited, wherein the petitioners had prayed for regularisation as Cashier-cum-Clerk in the Bank, as was done in other cases from time to time. It was mentioned that in 1998, two candidates—Sheetal Sharma and Narinder Kumar were appointed as Cashier-cum-Clerks on the purely adhoc basis for 89 days by the Bank, but within six months, both these candidates were regularised. The Court upon this ruled that the appointments/regularisation of both Sheetal Sharma and Narinder Kumar, being in violation of procedure prescribed under SRO 233, was also invalid. It was further ruled that the rights of regularisation doesn’t accrue to the petitioners simply on the basis of having been appointed on adhoc basis. The process of recruitment initiated by the bank on its own, without reference to the District Services Selection Board is null and void, the Court held. It directed that the bank while processing the appointment cases in future shall afford equal opportunity to these petitioners and give due weightage to the petitioners for having gained experience while working in different spells of adhoc appointment. Sanjeev Kumar Shukla appeared for the petitioners, while’s Abhinav Sharma represented the Bank. |
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Teams deputed at
treasuries Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 24: Vigilance Organisation has deputed teams at various treasuries in the State following a tip off that number of cheques/WDC bills were being presented for the payment by various departments at the fag end of the financial year. Informed sources told EXCELSIOR that following the reports, the Vigilance teams have been fanned in length and breadth of the State, as it was being apprehended that a number of money spending departments might try to present cheques/bills on account of non-existent and sub-standard works, fake purchases/supplies and under other related heads at the close of the financial year. The sources revealed that in order to prevent such wasteful expenditure and to ensure financial discipline, the Vigilance Organisation has sanctioned a number of teams associated with accounts experts to keep a close watch on the drawals presented for payment at the treasuries. The sources said that the Organisation expected detection of huge number of such cheques/WDC bills especially those for which funds were provided under centrally sponsored schemes which the departments especially those connected with the developmental activities, might try to encash under the garb of rush at the treasuries. The sources said that in past also, some corrupt elements often tried to encash money from the treasuries at the close of the financial year. |
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LeT ‘commander’ among four killed in Doda Excelsior Correspondent DODA, Mar 24: Four persons including a ‘commander’ of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit were killed and two civilians were seriously injured in separate incidents across the district overnight. SSP Doda Ashkoor Wani told EXCELSIOR that a joint patrol party of army and police retaliated after being ambushed by the militants at village Dewathar Singhpura under the jurisdiction of Chatroo police station in Kishtwar tehsil this morning. In the resultant encounter, a Lashkar ‘commander’ was shot dead by troops and police. A couple of other militants were reported to have escaped in the gun-fight. One AK-56 rifle with three magazines and 10 rounds, one wireless set, a grenades and Rs 15000 in Indian currency were recovered from the encounter site. Another encounter took place between militants and troops of 11 Rashtriya Rifles of Mughal Maidan in Dedpal area of Chatroo this afternoon. In the exchange of firing, two civilians were seriously injured. Identified as Abdullah son of Reshu Machi R/o Dedpal and Waseem S/o Abdul Qayoom R/o Sangram Bhata, the injured have been admitted to sub district hospital of Kishtwar. Militants managed to escape after the encounter and remained untraced. Bodies of two civilians were found lying on the banks of river Chenab at village Chill in Doda this evening. Police recovered the bodies but couldn’t identify them. Both the male bodies have been shifted to district hospital for post-mortem and identification. A Selection Grade Constable Sonaullah (No 3/S) son of Ghulam Hussain Wani R/o Manigam Pattan, Baramulla was also found dead along the banks of river Chenab in Ramban tehsil last night. The deceased was a trainee of lower class course from Srinagar and was absent from evening roll call since March 22. His body has been sent to SSP Srinagar. |
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Defence scam gives hope to Hurriyat NEW DELHI, Mar 24: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) today said the Tehelka tapes had raised hopes within the APHC that the beleaguered Vajpayee Government would now permit its members to visit Pakistan, as the step would project the centre as a "genuine messenger of peace." The gesture would convey the message all around that the Centre, even in this moment of crisis, was honest in bringing about peace in the Valley and the world would appreciate it, APHC chairman Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat told UNI. Prof Bhat who was attending the Pakistan Day celebrations here last night along with other senior Hurriyat leaders, said the Government was in trouble over the defence scandal and a positive stance on Kashmir could help take the heat off it. External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh was also scheduled to visit the US and have talks with US Secretary of State Colin Powell and other senior US administration officials in Washington on April six. He could hold talks from a stronger platform, if permission was granted, to visit Pakistan, Prof Bhat added. Also, the US has named a senior foreign policy advisor and career diplomat, who is a security expert with strong views on nuclear proliferation as its new Ambassador to India. Prof Bhat said the Hurriyat wanted to visit Pakistan to initiate a purposeful dialogue on Kashmir. Now was the time the Centre did some re-thinking and issued passports to all seven members, he felt. "We will be talking to Pakistani leaders and as soon as we get back, we will be talking to the leaders here. This is how the peace process will have to be moved ahead," Prof Bhat said. (UNI) |
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Shabir Shah arrested SRINAGAR, Mar 24 : Meanwhile, five militants, including two Pakistan based Harkat-ul-Mujahideen activists were among seven people killed while a Police Station was attacked in the State during the past 24 hours. A security force patrol was attacked by militants with grenades and automatic weapons at Mirpora village in the South Kashmir district of Anantnag in the wee hours today, a police spokesperson said. Security forces returned the fire and the clash was going on when reports last came in. Two militants belonging to the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen were killed and two houses damaged in the incident. Militants shot dead Khurshid Ahmad Misgar, who was reportedly working with security forces at Hamambal at Khanyar in the down town city this afternoon. A constable was injured when militants attacked a police guard posted at a minority picket at Nursinghpora in the Badgam district late last night, the spokesperson said. A militant was killed by security forces in the woods at Kupwara late last night and an AK rifle and some magazines recovered. Militants attacked a security force search party at Gratabal in Baramulla district today. Forces returned the fire and in the ensuing gunbattle two militants were killed. Militants entered the house of one Salam Din at Panihad and shot dead his wife Begam Jan last night. The spokesperson said militants fired three grenades from an unknown place towards a Police Station at Magam in the central Kashmir this afternoon. However, two grenades exploded without causing any damage while another remained unexploded and was later defused. Militants detonated a powerful improvised explosive device at Tehipora Handwara in north Kashmir when an Army vehicle reached there. Police said there was no report of any casualty or damage to vehicle. Security personnel detected two militant hideouts in Kupwara district and seized two rocket projectile guns, nine grenades, a powerful anti-tank mine and two ak magazines with 88 rounds of ammunition. Meanwhileas at least 20 people, including a police officer, were injured and a police vehicle set afire as violence over alleged desecration of Quran rocked Kashmir for the second day today. Police detained Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party president Shabir Ahmad Shah as curfew clamped on Baramulla after eruption of violence remained in force, Police burst teargass shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse the slogan shouting demonstrators led by Shah at Lal Chowk this afternoon. Later, Shah and his eight associates were taken into custody by the police. The demonstrators, mostly women, from Badgam alleged that men from Jammu and Kashmir Police Task Force in the district were harassing people during night hours during the past one week. They told reporters that youths were being tortured and women molested by the Task Force men on the directions from the district Superintendent of Police. They said if the SP was not transferred immediately they would launch an indefinite dharna in every village of the district. The sources said a Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Pattan, Abdul Qadoos, was injured when protesters pelted stones at a police party escorting the vehicle of a member of Legislative Assembly at Hanjiveera, some 27 kms from here. Police swung batons and lobbed teargas shells to disperse the demonstrators, the sources said, adding 10 people, including some policemen, were injured in the skirmish. A police vehicle was also set ablaze, they said. Protesters tried to defy curfew at Khawajabagh in Baramulla leading to pitched battles between them and police. Reports of clashes between police and protesters were also received from Bandipora, Sopore, Kupwara, Badgam, Shopian and some other places in Kashmir. (AGENCIES) |
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CBI files objections in Meenakshi case Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 24: In a much publicised Meenakshi’s kidnapping case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Public Prosecutor Mr SK Bhat today filed objections in the bail application of main accused involved in Meenakshi’s kidnapping and alleged rape case Aftab Ahmed in the Court of Special Judge CBI Mr Brij Mohan Gupta. In the objections, it was submitted that Meenakshi’s kidnapping case was referred to CBI. As per the statement recorded under Section 164 CrPC before judicial Magistrate Udhampur, Meenakshi disclosed that all the three accused committed rape upon her as such the case was registered under Section 376 RPC in which the punishment is 10 years and life imprisonment, as such this case is triable by the Sessions Court. In the objections, it was further disclosed that after the statement of Meenakshi, aged about 17 years, before the Judicial Magistrate Udhampur this offence become a heinous and against the society. The investigations in this case is in progress and the CBI is yet to interrogate doctors and connecting persons. If the bail is granted to accused Aftab Ahmed there is apprehension that he will kill the girl and her parents and also destroy the material evidence. After hearing the arguments of advocate R K Kotwal appearing for the accused and Public Prosecutor S K Bhat the court directed both the counsels to advance further arguments in the case on next date. |
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Firing in Sanjay Nagar; suspected ultra nabbed Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 24: A suspected militant was arrested by Gandhi Nagar police today from Sanjay Nagar locality this afternoon after he opened firing on the civilians and made an unsuccessful attempt to kill them. Arrested militant has been identified as Harmeet Singh, a resident of village Khori Nar in Poonch district. Police sources and eye-witnesses said the militant was moving under mysterious circumstances in busy Sanjay Nagar locality at about 1430 hours today when he was spotted by local youths, who became suspicious of him. The ultra opened firing on civilians with a Mouser. However, the six shots fired by him didn’t hit any civilian. Some youths succeeded in over-powering the ultra. In the meantime, a police party from Gandhi Nagar police station led by SHO Gian Chand rushed to the spot and arrested the militant. A Mouse was recovered from his possession but he had emptied it by firing all rounds. Police said the ultra has been shifted to Gandhi Nagar police station where he was being subjected to sustained interrogations. Harmeet Singh was reportedly working for a group and had come to Sanjay Nagar to meet his contacts and hand over a revolver to them for carrying out their activities. The firing incident sparked off tension in Sanjay Nagar locality. However, normalcy was restored in the area after the arrest of militant. Police appreciated the courage displayed by local youths in over-powering the ultra. A case against Harmeet Singh has been registered for further investigations. |
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