One killed, 15 injured as matadors collide

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 3: One person was killed and 15 others sustained injuries in collision between two mini-buses near Kaluchak on Jammu-Pathankote National Highway today.

According to police, one person was killed and 15 others received injuries, six of them critically, in head-on collision between two mini-buses at Kaluchak on Jammu-Pathankote National Highway at around 1115 hours today.

One of the mini-bus bearing registration number JK02K-8043 was on its way from Jammu to Raya Suchani while another vehicle number JK02E-4885 was on its way from Bishnah to Jammu.

Soon after the accident drivers of both the vehicles fled away from the spot leaving behind the victims bleeding profusely.

Getting the report of accident a police party from Gangyal police station under whose jurisdiction the area falls rushed to the spot and started rescue operation. All the injured were shifted to Government Medical College Hospital where doctors declared one of them as brought dead. The condition of six of the injured was stated to be critical till reports last came in. One of the injured was shifted to PGI Chandigarh in view of her critical condition.

The deceased has been identified as Mandeep Singh, son of Prem Singh of Raipur. The identity of the injured have been established as Rajesh Kumar, son of Behari Lal, Chanchla Devi, wife of Ashok Kumar, Raghubir Sharma, son of Shiv Kumar, Sharmila, wife of Shamsher, all the residents of Bishnah, Chaman Lal, son of Bishan Dass of Raya, Kasturi Lal, son of Mulakh Raj of Kheri, Chander, wife of Parshotam Kumar of Dablehar, Usmita, wife of Ajit Singh of Suchani, Kulveer, son of Bhagat Singh of Rajinder Pura, Anchal Kumar, son of Om Parkash of Dablehar, Ratno Devi, wife of Kher Singh of Chak Aptari, Pardeep, son of Mulk Raj of Samba, Yashpaul, son of Thoru Ram of R S Pura and Chanchala, wife of Dev Raj of Channi Himmat.

A case under Section 279, 337, 304-A RPC has been registered in this connection and hunt was on to nab the absconding drivers. But no arrest was made till reports last came in.

Three accused still at large
Two sons of DIG’s PA held in scooter lifting racket

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 3: Domana police have arrested two real brothers including one police constable for their involvement in an inter-state racket involved in lifting and selling of two-wheelers. Both of them were sons of police Inspector Balwan Singh, who happened to be PA of DIG Udhampur-Doda range Sheikh Owais Ahmed.

Three associates of brothers, who were part of the scooter lifting racket, have been absconding and were being searched by police.

A senior Jammu Police officer identified as the accused as Ravinder Singh, 26 and Randhir Singh, 21, both sons of Inspector Balwan Singh and residents of village Bakore in Akhnoor, presently putting up in Shiv Nagar area under the jurisdiction of Bakshi Nagar police station.

Ravinder was a police constable, presently attached with Special Operations Group (SOG) in RS Pura tehsil while Randhir Singh has left his education mid way. Of three, one of their absconding associate has been identified as Mohan Singh son of Karam Singh, a resident of Rajpura, Bakshi Nagar, presently living in Dumi, Malpura.

The police officer, who didn’t want to be named in view of the involvement of DIG’s PA in the case, told EXCELSIOR that Ravinder and Randhir lifted a brand new Hero Honda Splendor motor-cycle from a barat, which had come from Jammu to Muthi. The duo too were part of the same marriage party.

As soon as the news of motor-cycle’s missing spread, one of the marriage party member pointed out that he had seen the two brothers sitting close to bike. Absence of two persons from the function created doubts among the minds of people, who brought the matter to the notice of SHO Domana police station Chowdhary Rawail Singh.

The SHO alongwith his teams immediately swung into action and within few hours succeeded in arresting both the brother from near a scooter workshop in Shiv Nagar where they, with the help of a scooter mechanic, were engaged in changing engine and chasis number of the bike and replacing its equipments.

Both of them were arrested by police after a hot chase and shifted to Domana police station, where they were subjected to sustained interrogation.

According to police officer, both the accused including SOG constable admitted during interrogation that they were part of an inter-state scooter lifters racket and had earlier also lifted several two-wheelers and disposed them off, thus earning a huge illegal money.

The officer declined to comment when asked that whether father of the accused (a police Inspector) was in know of illegal activities of his sons. The matter was under investigation, he said, adding a special police party of Domana police station led by SHO Rawail Singh Chowdhary was on the job.

Police said the stolen Splendor was recovered from the possession of accused and more recoveries were expected within the next couple of days. A case against scooter lifters has been registered at Domana police station under Section 379 for further investigations.

Police said a massive hunt has been launched to nab three other associates of car lifters including Mohan Singh. Arrest of the absconders could yield more clues to police, they added.

It may be recalled that few days back Channi Himmat police station had registered a case against sons of two Deputy Superintendents of Police (DySPs). The duo were involved in a car lifters racket. Both of them had gone under-ground and remained untraced so far.

BSF SI shot at Baramulla
Army source, woman killed in Kupwara

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 3: Militants have killed a woman and a counter-insurgent source of security forces in Kupwara district while as a Sub Inspector of BSF has been left injured at Baramulla.

Official sources told EXCELSIOR that militants slaughtered to death one Bashir Ahmed Qureshi S/o Nawwab Qureshi R/o Kandi Khas who had been kidnapped on Tuesday. Since Qureshi, according to informed sources, had access to militant hideouts in Kandi, he was suspected to have informed security forces and helped them in launching an operation last week. Three militants had died in the encounter but at least a dozen others managed to escape from four different hideouts. Today Qureshi’s dead body was found with a slit throat in forest area.

Sources said that on Wednesday, militants shot dead Raja wife of Mohammad Sultan Malik, resident of Wularhama, Handwara.

This afternoon militants fired two pistol shots on Sub Inspector Kanwal Singh of BSF 135 Bn at main road, near Tehsil Office at Baramulla. With critical injuries he was rushed to Army’s Base Hospital in the capital city.

At the main bus-yard at Kupwara, militants today lobbed a hand grenade which exploded in air causing splinter injuries to five civilians. They were identified as Naseema D/o Rehman R/o Lone Harray, Kupwara, Kausar Parveen D/o Ghulam Qadir Lone, Siraj-ud-din Ahmed R/o Kupwara, Mohammad Ramzan Shah S/o Ama and Shabir Ahmed Sankoo S/o Nazir Ahmed, resident of Handwara.

Meanwhile, all the militants have escaped from the cordoned area at Khanpeth village of Ganderbal while causing injuries to two soldiers of RR 5th Bn. As already reported, SOG Ganderbal and security forces had launched the operation last evening after receiving information that militants of four pro-Pakistan organisations were present in a meeting, in the Chief Minister’s Assembly constituency. Sources today said that two soldiers, as also a 7-year-old boy namely Meraj-ud-din Dar of Gadoora, sustained injuries in the shootout.

Even after making good their escape, militants returned to the area late last night and attacked the headquarters of SOG Ganderbal. Police and CRPF retaliated and militants escaped. There was no damage to either side.

Reports from Pampore said that a road opening party of the paramilitary Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) spotted an IED at Samboora which had been planted under a culvert. It was seized and destroyed.

Pak pumps huge money for militancy in J&K

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, May 3: The Union Home Ministry has received fresh inputs, clearly suggesting that huge sums of money continue to be pumped into Jammu and Kashmir from various countries to fund militancy.

According to a Ministerial source, money is sent through different channels, including hawala transactions. There were no specific inputs to suggest that petro-dollars being remitted by Indians working abroad, were used to fund militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, the source told EXCELSIOR.

The Lashkar-e-Toiba, the militant wing of Markaz-Dawa-ul-Irshard, headquartered in Pakistan, has been charged with playing a key role in engineering terrorist violence in J&K. The Ministerial source, in fact, said in reply to a question that the Lashkar cadres, consisting mostly of foreign militants, were "actually involved in the on-going militancy" in the troubled State.

Stating that the Government was aware of the ‘sinister’ designs of the Pakistan-sponsored militant organisations as well as of Pak ISI to destabilize India by sponsoring terrorism and subversive activities in different parts of the country, the Ministerial source pointed out that their designs also included efforts to infiltrate terrorists and to target and train misguided youth for engineering violence.

While asserting that a "close and continuous" watch was being kept on the situation, the source said that all necessary efforts, including improved border management and sustained operations against terrorists and subversive elements, were being made to ensure that such designs were not allowed to succeed.

India, he said in reply to another question, was committed to resolving all outstanding issues with Pakistan in accordance with the Shimla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration. "We expect Pakistan to demonstrate its adherence to these agreements through its abandonment of cross-border terrorism and hostile propaganda", he said.

The Government of India has taken up with Pakistan that it should stop support to cross-border terrorism and abandon abetment of terrorism and its anti-India propaganda to create a conducive atmosphere for the implementation of the Lahore process and a resumption of the composite dialogue.

The Ministerial source divulged that the J&K Government had informed the Union Home Ministry that at least 6 terrorist outfits, namely, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen, Harkat-e-Jehad-Islami and Al-Badr continued to be "active" in Jammu and Kashmir and all of them enjoyed support from Pakistan.

The Government does not rule out Pakistan’s involvement in attempts at raising a new anti-India outfit, ‘Kashmir Liberation Army’. The Government has, in fact, come across reports about a new terrorist organisation going to be formed to support the jihadi elements in J&K. These reports, currently being examined, clearly indicated that the proposed outfit would be known as ‘Kashmir Liberation Army’.

According to the Ministry of Defence, Pakistan continues to receive defence-related materials from various countries. These supplies, sources in the Ministry pointed out, continued despite the existence of various export control regimes and declarations of restraint and restrictions by supplier countries.

Pakistani rulers, sources feared, would not hesitate to intensify the proxy war and engage even in Kargil-type misadventure. A high state of defence preparedness was being maintained and a constant vigil exercised to meet any threat all along the border, it was stated.

On the requirements of Indian Armed Forces, EXCELSIOR was officially told that they were reviewed on a continuing basis for induction of modernised weapons and weapon systems and keeping in view threat perceptions and the prevailing strategic and security environment as also emerging technologies.

One killed, 15 injured in bomb blast
Police crackdown on Hizbullah in PoK

MUZAFFARABAD, May 3: While as Police in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir swooped on pro-Pakistan militant outfit, Hizbullah, and arrested two of its key functionaries for allegedly swindling money, provided for the families of "Kashmir martyrs", at least one person died and 15 others sustained injuries in a powerful bomb blast in a cinema hall here this evening.

The injured have been admitted at Muzaffarabad Military Combined hospital.

Police launched a crackdown on the Hizbullah headquarters and arrested "supreme commander" Hassan-ul-Bana alongwith another functionary, Javed Ahmed Dand. Informed sources said that Police raided the Hizbullah office after learning through reliable sources that money worth Rs 1.15 Crore had been misappropriated. The money, according to sources, had been provided to the militant group for distribution among the Kashmiri families whose men had got killed in the 12-year-old separatist movement in the Valley.

Police had constituted a special team early this week which swung into action today and arrested the two commanders. Third one, identified as Abdul Mateen, gave slip to the raiding party. During sustained interrogation, Police recovered Indian currency worth Rs 40 Lakh from the possession of Hassan-ul-Bana in addition to seizing Rs 10 Lakh in his bank account.

Indian currency worth Rs 26 Lakh was seized at the residence of Abdul Mateen while as $55,000 were seized in his bank account. Police sources maintained that Rs 1.20 Crore had already been misappropriated by the Hizbullah functionaries and the ex-gratia had not reached the families of the "Kashmir martyrs" in the Valley.

Police sealed the Hizbullah headquarters and launched a manhunt for other accused allegedly involved in the scandal. However, none of the Hizbullah functionaries was available for comments and confirmation.

Guerrilla conglomerate Muttahida Jihad Council met here today and deliberated over the issue for several hours.

Meanwhile, at 1745 hours (PST), a powerful bomb blast occurred inside a cinema hall in this capital city. Official sources confirmed death of one cinegoer and said that 15 others had been left wounded. Investigations are underway as Police and security forces have sealed all exit routes and launched manhunt for those suspected behind the blast. Sources said that the hall was packed to its capacity when the explosion ripped apart the building.(CNS)

Threat against dialogue won’t deter Hurriyat: Lone

SRINAGAR, May 3: The Hurriyat Conference has said it would not be influenced by threats by certain groups and made it clear that it would hold talks with the centre if it was for resolution of the Kashmir issue.

"Threats would not deter Hurriyat from taking a decision according to the wishes of Kashmiris," Hurriyat Executive member Abdul Ghani Lone said at a seminar here yesterday. He warned against attempts to bully the leaders into toeing any particular line of action, saying "decisions made under duress are not in the interest of anybody."

Lone strongly criticised "elements who tend to pre-judge the motives of the leaders even when they entered into any full-fledged negotiations," indirectly referring to the threats issued by some militant groups against Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) president Shabir Ahmed Shah.

Hurriyat chairman Abdul Ghani Bhat, who presided over the seminar, referred to the grenade attack on Hurriyat meeting recently and said such incidents would not intimidate Hurriyat. "We will talk to New Delhi once these were for the resolution of Kashmir dispute," he said. Lone said he had his own perceptions about the Kashmir "movement" and as such he should not be accused of conspiracy and sell-out for holding them.

He said though he was against the decision of Shabir Shah to join the dialogue process at present, he respected the JKDFP leaders’ right to do so.

About the Hurriyat’s decision of not involving itself with the "non-serious" dialogue process, Lone said "despite differences of opinion within it, the Hurriyat was capable of arriving at decisions unanimously."

Another Hurriyat Executive member and firebrand Jamaat-e-Islami leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani echoed the views expressed by lone and spoke against pre-judging leaders and threats to deter them from making any decision.

"Kashmir issue can be resolved as per the UN resolutions but if that is not feasible then the option of dialogue is open," he said, adding the dialogue should be held under the supervision of UN or any "friendly" country.

He accused New Delhi of not being sincere about talks.

Another Hurriyat leader Fazal-ul Haq Qureshi asked the Hurriyat to bring into its fold other separatist leaders including Shabir Shah, Nayeem Khan of National Front, Farooq Rahmani of People’s League and Azam Inquilabi of Quami Mushawarti Council.

Nayeem Khan of National Front came out strongly against the attempts to create choas and confusion and asked Hurriyat to close its ranks.

"If Hurriyat gives right direction, we are with it," Nayeem said.

Democratic Freedom Party representative, Hakeem Abdul Rasheed said collective decisions should be respected.

He said the leaders should take people into confidence before taking any decision.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mohammad Ashraf Sahrai said all parties should sit together to resolve the issue.

Acting chairman of JKLF Bashir Ahmad Bhat said Kashmir issue should be resolved through dialogue.

Awami action committee general secretary, Ghulam Mohammad Bhat said Kashmir issue should be resolved as per the United Nations’ resolutions. (PTI)

Mamata helping LF: Advani

ASHOK NAGAR (WB), May 3: Union Home Minister L K Advani today accused Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee of helping the ruling Left Front in the coming assembly elections by joining hands with the Congress.

Addressing an election rally here, Advani said that six months ago when the TC was an ally of the BJP, it seemed certain that the Left Front would be out of power in the assembly polls.

"Now, there is uncertainty because Mamata has joined hands with a party which she earlier described as the `b’ team of the CPI(M). People of the State are angry with the CPI(M), but they are disappointed with Mamata", he said.

Alleging that the Congress had earlier hobnobbed with the CPI(M) to remove Vajpayee from Prime Ministership, Advani said neither the Congress nor the CPI(M) would be able to "do any good for the people".

"Only the BJP and no other party can do any good to the people of West Bengal. Therefore, the more votes you cast for the BJP, the better it is for the State", he said.

Pointing out that he had campaigned for Mamata Banerjee and the TC in the last Parliamentary election, Advani said Mamata could be a Cabinet Minister at the Centre because she was with the NDA.

Broadsiding the Communists, Advani said in 1942 the Communists had joined hands with the British against the Congress. "When Jan Sangh leader Shyama Prasad Mukherjee died in Kashmir, what did the Communists do other than abuse him and the Jan Sangh".

Advani, who spoke for 15 minutes at the rally, said when then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared emergency and gagged the fundamental rights of the people, the Communists supported her. "They betrayed democracy, they betrayed the people".

A TC leader Pratap Mitra and the CPI(M) leader Kamaruzzaman and Mohammed Shahjahan Mollah joined the BJP along with 100 of their supporters at the rally . (PTI)

3 MCD employees arrested by CBI

NEW DELHI, May 3: The CBI arrested a Junior Engineer of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) S K Saini for allegedly demanding and accepting bribes and subsequent raids at his house unearthed at least Rs one crore in assets, disproportionate to his known sources of income, agency sources said here today.

Saini’s two accomplices Ishwar Singh and Shakti, working as ‘beldaars’ for the MCD, were also arrested last night, agency sources said.

All three were produced in the designated CBI court today and remanded in 14 days judicial custody.

The sources said Saini was caught red handed last night while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 from a house owner C K Dhingra for letting him construct his house in the Kalkaji area of South Delhi.

Searches conducted at Saini’s house after his arrest revealed documents of immovable properties worth about Rs one crore. These properties, purchased on ‘Benami’, include a shop in central market, Lajpat Nagar and a "palatial flat" in Chittaranjan Park.

"These transactions reveal that the accused is in possession of huge assets which are disproportionate to his income," the sources said.

The CBI laid a trap for Saini after he allegedly demanded Rs 300,000 from Mr Dhingra and threatened to demolish his building if the money was not paid. When the latter expressed his inability to arrange the amount, the accused agreed to accept Rs 50,000 as the first instalment and demanded that Rs 100,000 be paid within two to three days and the reamining Rs 150,000 after 15 days.

According to agency sources, as Mr Dhingra did not want to pay the bribe, he reported the matter to the CBI, which laid a trap for the Junior Engineer.

Last night, Saini went to Mr Dhingra’s shop alongwith the two MCD ‘beldaars’ Ishwar Singh and Shakti. He demanded the Rs 50,000 amount and accepted the money through one of the ‘beldaars’. The waiting CBI sleuths moved in and arrested all three of them. (UNI)

Pant flays Hurriyat

NEW DELHI, May 3: Centre’s negotiator on Kashmir K C Pant today flayed Hurriyat Conference for its response to the invitation for holding talks on issue which was extended by the Government and said "nowhere negotiations are made through newspapers."

"It is a serious matter, there has to be an increased level of understanding and one has built a platform of trust," Pant told reporters after a two-member team of Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party handed him a letter from their party chief Shabir Shah.

Pant said that since he had not received any formal communication from Hurriyat Conference he would not be able to offer any comments.

When referred to statement made by Hurriyat chairman Abdul Gani Bhat that the amalgam would not be sending any formal statement to him, Pant said "it is necessary to approach this dialogue in a way that people are pulled together and a level of understanding is built."

He said "one may not agree but one can at least talk and at present this is necessary for the restoration of peace in the State."

Replying to another question that whether he would be visiting Kashmir valley, Pant said "yes, I would be visiting at an appropriate time."

He again appealed to groups in the State to avail the "window opportunity" initiated by the Centre. (PTI)

Trinamool hints at support to NDA

NEW DELHI, May 3: Even as the two parties fight against each other in West Bengal polls, Trinamool Congress leader Nitish Sengupta today said his party may extend outside support to the BJP-led Government at the Centre after the polls.

"As of now we are out of NDA, but after the polls we may extend issue-based support to the Vajpayee Government from outside like TDP," Trinamool general secretary and MP Nitish Sengupta told reporters here.

He maintained that the party leadership was now concentrating only on the single point agenda of ousting the Left Front Government in West Bengal and would take up other matters after the polls.

Sengupta, whose name did rounds as being among Ajit Panja’s group, however, sought to clarify that he was not a dissident.

"Bengal media took a very myopic view that just because I was not present at Shyam Bazar rally, they thought I was with Panja ... Panja, unfortunately, is behaving in a very childish manner," he said.

Seeking to justify party’s decision to quit NDA in the wake of Tehelka expose, the Lok Sabha member maintained that "though the Tehelka was a CPI(M) conspiracy, we had no other choice but to quit the Front".

Sengupta claimed that even after quitting NDA, party chief Banerjee had stood by the polls adjustment to allot 39 seats to BJP. "Unfortunately, it was BJP which broke the agreement".

Dismissing dissident leader Panja’s decision to share platform with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as a "mere personal matter", Sengupta said he did not find "anything objectionable in it".

Asked whether he would share an election platform with Vajpayee if invited, he said "I will politely decline".

Whether he agreed with Panja’s charge that Mamata Banerjee followed an "autocratic and whimsical" style of functioning, he said "I find Mamata a very sincere leader" and added in the same breath "tell me any party leadership which is not charged with being autocratic".

Sengupta charged CPI(M) cadres with playing a "dangerous game of escalating violence with the help of state machinery and police".

In Keshpur and Khejuria constituencies under Midnapore district, he alleged CPI(M) cadres have forced people indoors and not allowing Trinamool Congress to organise election meetings.

"Three days ago about 80 people were arrested and handed over to CPI(M) cadres only for being manhandled," he alleged.

Sengupta said that he has already faxed a letter to the Election Commission demanding countermanding of polls in these assembly segments.

"I for one also feel that may be it is not too late that the Governor decided whether Presidents rule can be imposed for at least two weeks for smooth conduct of polls," he said. (PTI)

Lawyers delegation meets CJ; demand rejected

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 3: The strike launched by Bar Association Jammu in support of its demand for abolishing Fast Track Courts scheme entered 14th day today, even as the talks between Chief Justice of State High Court and a delegation of lawyers failed to arrive at any conclusion following the rejection of demand by the former yesterday.

After serving an ultimatum of 72 hours, a written invitation was extended by the Chief Justice, through Registrar General yesterday, to the Bar Association yesterday. Accordingly, a delegation of Bar members headed by its president D S Saini called upon the Chief Justice and discussed with him the reasons for the ongoing strike.

The delegation, according to the sources, apprised the Chief Justice about the legal position and the problems which will arise out of the implementation of the scheme. It was stressed upon the Chief Justice to suspend the scheme and undertake deliberations with the Bar before the implementation of the scheme so that inconvenience to the litigants and the Advocates could be avoided.

The sources said that the Chief Justice reportedly rejected the demand of the Bar Association, despite the fact that the Chief Justice of India, Dr A S Anand has also expressed his unhappiness over the establishment of the Fast Track Courts and described these courts as " Slow Track Courts".

Meanwhile, a general house meeting of the Bar Association Jammu was held here today to discuss the outcome of yesterday’s talks between Chief Justice and the delegation of the Jammu Bar. Following the rejection of the demand, it was decided to continue the indefinite strike till the demands were accepted.

The house further resolved to send a delegation alongwith the memorandum to meet Chief Justice of India for seeking his timely intervention.

The strike of the lawyers, in the meantime, entered 14th day today and the functioning of courts was affected as lawyers abstained from appearing in the courts.

Two VDC members’ rifles snatched

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, May 3: Militants attacked the houses of two Village Defence Committee (VDC) members—Mushtaq Ahmed and Dev Raj in Basantgarh town last night.

After a brief exchange of firing, the militants over-powered VDC members snatched their two rifles, 50 rounds and one wireless set and fled away.

Police was investigating the matter.

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