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Army jawan
dies, 2 injured Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, May 4: Two more militants including a hardcore ultra ‘Shaheen 3’ were gunned down by army in two separate operations in Surankot and Thanna Mandi area today. An army jawan was killed and two others were injured in Thanna Mandi encounter. According to official sources, troops continued searches in Udarian village of Thanna Mandi this morning after killing four militants last evening. Army personnel had reports that a ‘commander’ of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit had escaped during yesterday’s gun-battle. In the resumed operation this morning, army soldiers were told by local people that three militants including their ‘commander’ had escaped to a surrounding forest area in Udarian. Jawans sealed the forests and started searches. A fresh encounter began at 1000 hours today and continued for about four hours. Finally, army succeeded in killing a most wanted militant of Lashkar outfit, who was later identified as ‘Shaheen 3’. He was an ‘area commander’ of Lashkar for Surankot and Thanna Mandi and was involved in a series of subversive activities including killings of civilians, attacks on security forces patrol parties and camps besides extortions. However, in the process, army also lost one jawan while two others were left injured. Deceased jawans has been identified as Devinder Singh. Of two injured, one was identified as Bhagwant Singh. The injured have been hospitalised. Special Operations Group (SOG) Thanna Mandi and local police also actively participated in the operation, which led to elimination of ‘Shaheen 3’, an Afghani. Recovery made from the possession of ‘Shaheen 3’ included one AK-56 rifle, one pistol, one wireless set of Kenwood, five magazines and 460 rounds of AK and some burnt ammunition of Pika. Two body-guards of ‘Shaheen 3’ managed to escape during the encounter and remained untraced despite a massive operation launched by army to eliminate them. In yesterday’s operation at Udarian, army had gunned down four militants. Three of them were today identified as Abu Bakar and Abu Tarab alias Hassara, both ‘area commanders’ of the outfit, hailing from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Heptullah alias Abu Pasha of Pakistan. Identity of fourth militant, who was an Afghani, hadn’t been established so far. Another encounter took place between army and militants in Doba Gali of Surankot this afternoon. Encounter started after a patrol party of army was fired upon by the militants. Army gunned down one militant in the operation while two or three others escaped. An operation to eliminate the fleeing militants continued. One AK-47 rifle, three magazines and 69 rounds were recovered from the scene of encounter. Slain ultra, who couldn’t be identified, was a local. |
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Two lakh electronic meters
being installed Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 4: The State Government has decided to give two and half hours relief in the power curtailment in Jammu province in view of extreme hot weather conditions from May 5. Minister for Power, Mr Surjit Singh Slathia addressing a press conference here today said that daily curtailment of electricity has been reduced from 9 hours and 45 minutes to 5 and half hours per day. There will be rotational curtailment of two hours in the morning hours, two hours in the afternoon and one and half hours in the evening. He disclosed that as per revised schedule, there will be three groups A, B & C and nine time slots covering from 6 AM to 10.30 PM either that is 6 AM to 8 AM, 8 AM to 10 AM, 10 AM to 12 Noon, 12 noon to 2 PM, 2 PM to 4 PM, 4 PM to 6 PM, 6 PM to 7.30 PM, 7.30 PM to 9 PM and 9 PM to 10.30 PM. He explained that for instance on a particular day, Group A area will remain off from 6 AM to 8 AM, 12 noon to 2 PM, 6 PM to 7.30 PM and the next day A Group will remain off from 10 AM to 12 Noon, 4 PM to 6 PM and then from 9 PM to 10.30 PM and the third day A group will remain off from 8 AM to 10 AM, 2 to 4 PM and 7.30 to 9 PM. Mr Slathia further maintained that all organised industrial load will remain off daily from 6 PM to 12 PM. In Industrial area Bari Brahmana it shall remain off from 6 AM to 10 AM on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (Industrial Feeders of Phase -I & II of BB,33 KV BB-II & 33 KV Narvada Feeder) and shall remain off on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Industrial Sector Gangyal, Digiana, Birpur Complex, Top Industrial Complex and R B Jodha Mal. All PHE load shall remain off daily from 7 PM to 10 PM. Referring to the power theft in the department and leakages, Mr Slathia said that special flying squads have been constituted and the load of the consumers is being checked and revised by the special teams constituted. Even the load of the residential premises of the senior officers and other employees of the PDD is being closely monitored. Strict instructions have been given in this regard. In response to a question he admitted that some of his officials were involved in the power theft but at the same he said that over 2 lakh new meters are being installed and the chances of theft will be minimised. Appreciating efforts, he said over 70,000 illegal power connections have been revised. He refuted the allegations that earlier announcement made by him regarding curtailment was objected by the Chief Secretary and maintained, " I being Power Minister has taken a decision to give relief to the people of this region in view of shooting of temperature above 40 degree Celsius and moreover, the Chief Minister has agreed to it." In a reply to yet another question, the minister said that he has talked to Union Power Minister Suresh Parabhu and has requested to provide additional power supply. He, however, regretted that J&K has failed to get promised 120 MW power supply from Ranjit Sagar Dam (Thein Dam) of Basohli as out of the total capacity of 600 MW, it has been able to generate hardly 60-70 MW power at present. There is no water in the rivers due to failure of rains and the snow fall on the high mountains. " We have also presented our case before the Prime Minister that State is helpless as per Indus Water Treaty signed with Pakistan by Government of India. Therefore, J&K should be compensated suitably. Mr Vajpayee has agreed but no favourable response has been received so far from the Centre. He said major power crisis is ahead and the State Government is doing its best to provide respite to the people here. |
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Ayodhya case LUCKNOW, May 4: In a new twist to the Ayodhya demolition case, a Special CBI court today dropped proceedings against three Union Ministers L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti and 18 others till the "legal defect" in the notification constituting the court was rectified. The Special Judge Srikant Shukla held that the trial against the eight accused, including the three Ministers and 13 others, brought within the ambit of this case could not be proceeded on the basis of the consolidated chargesheet filed by CBI which was already quashed by the Allahabad High Court earlier. The High Court had cited a legal defect in the Government Notification constituting the Special Court to try the case when it quashed the notification. Besides the three Ministers, others against whom the proceedings were dropped include Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray, former U P Chief Minister Kalyan Singh and VHP leaders Ashok Singhal and Giriraj Kishore. Reacting to the judgment, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Rajnath Singh said his Government would do "whatever is "lawful" and denied that it was trying to protect "anyone". "We will go by whatever is lawful. What I said two months ago is still relevant," Singh told reporters in Delhi. Bringing 13 other accused within the ambit of crime No.198 of 1992, the Special Court said there were two alternatives before him to try the case after the judgment of the High Court early this year. The first, the Judge said, was to keep the matter pending till the rectification of the defect pointed out by the High Court and the second to drop proceedings against the eight accused while continuing proceedings against the remaining 13 accused. The Court found it proper to follow the second alternative, he said in his order. However, the Judge ordered that another 26 remaining accused should appear before the court on June 8 for framing of charges under Section 282 (2) of Cr.PC. The special court observed that 13 other accused including Kalyan Singh and Bal Thackeray, though not specifically mentioned in the case crime number 198 of 1992, were also covered by the recent High Court judgment. The court rejected the plea of Srivastava and Rai that they too were covered by the High Court judgment. It said that the two officials were aware of the implications of the destruction of the disputed structure and had deliberately not deployed sufficient number of security personnel to protect it. The special judge said he had made an attempt to separate the joint chargesheet filed by the CBI taking cognisance of case crime numbers 197 and 198 of 1992. He observed that trial against the eight accused persons, including the three union ministers mentioned in the case crime number 198 of 1992, could not be proceeded on the basis of the consolidated chargesheet filed by the CBI. The CBI had argued that the names of all the 47 accused figured in the investigation carried out by the agency on the basis of one of the two firs, which remained unaffected by the recent High Court judgment. The defence counsels had pleaded that CBI’s argument was not tenable as the two FIRs (crime number 197 and 198) were registered at the Ram Janam Bhoomi police station after the affiances. CBI counsel P K Chaubey told newsmen "we are studying the judgment and our options are open." On being asked about rectification of the defect in the notification by the State Government, Chaubey said "we are nobody to dictate to the State Government. Its their prerogative." The Allahabad High Court had, in its recent judgment, quashed the case crime number 198 of 1992, in which the three union ministers along with five others were specifically mentioned, citing a legal defect in the Government notification for constituting a special court to try the case. It had observed the notification was defective as prior sanction of the court was not obtained before constituting the special court to try the case. The High Court had, however, said the defect was curable and the State Government, if it so desired, could issue a fresh notification. (PTI) |
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One ton vehicle rolls down Excelsior Correspondent POONCH, May 4: Six army jawans were killed and a driver was seriously injured when a one ton army vehicle rolled down about 200 feet deep into a nullah at village Timra in Sathra area, about 18 kms from here on Mandi-Poonch road this afternoon. The army vehicle of 17 Rashtriya Rifles was on way from Mandi to Poonch. It skidded off the road due to a mechanical failure and went down about 200 feet deep into a nullah in Timra area at about 1530 hours. The vehicle was carrying seven jawans only including driver. While six of them died on the spot, driver was critically wounded. Army and police personnel rushed to the site of accident. Injured driver has been shifted to a Military Hospital in critical condition. Identity of deceased and injured jawans couldn’t be ascertained. Bodies of jawans have been shifted to a hospital for post-mortem and will be sent to their native towns tomorrow morning. Defence sources ruled out any sabotage in the mishap saying preliminary investigations have clearly established mechanical failure as a reason for the accident. National Conference leader and MLA Poonch-Haveli G M Jan visited the site of accident and expressed condolences to army officers over the killing of six jawans. Local police have registered a case in the accident for further investigations. Meanwhile, a video coach bus, which was on way to Jammu from Poonch, also met with an accident at Tanda in Akhnoor tehsil last night causing injuries to 14 passengers. Two passengers with serious injuries were referred to Medical College hospital. They have been identified as Jasmeet Kour wife of Daleep Singh, a resident of Ward No. 3, Poonch and Harpal Kour wife of Balbir Singh of Poonch. Twelve other injured were discharged after first-aid in the sub district hospital of Akhnoor. Bus had skidded off the road due to rash driving. Local police was investigating the case. Our Kathua correspondent adds: Twelve persons were injured when a matador turned turtle in Kathua town this morning. Injured were shifted to the district hospital from where five of them were referred to Medical College hospital in Jammu. Injured admitted in Medical College included Ajay Kumar son of Puran Chand, Rashmi Sharma daughter of Yog Raj, Varinder Kumar son of Purshotam of Jakh, Ajay Kumar son of Kashmir Ram of Kotli and Tarsem Lal of Vijaypur. They were responding to treatment in Medical College. |
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Arms dump recovered
from NC activist’s house Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 4: Three Pakistani militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad as also a soldier of the paramilitary Border Security Force (BSF) and a contractor got killed in different militancy-related incidents across Kashmir valley since last evening. Two civilians got injured in a mine-blast in Tangdar area today. Official sources told EXCELSIOR that, on the basis of a tip off, troops of BSF 171 Bn, 182 Bn and J&K Police raided a militant hideout at old colony of Bagh-e-Mehtab in westers outskirts of the capital city here this evening. During the search operation, exchange of gunfire took place between the holed up militants and security forces which lasted for two hours. During the encounter, one militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba, namely Abu Ibrahim of Pakistan got killed. He was active in the area with code-names of Yasir Kamran and Haider Iqrar. One AK-56 rifle, one pistol, one wireless set and a hand grenade are claimed to have been recovered from the spot. One soldier of BSF 182 Bn, namely Abdur Rehman of Kupwara, also died in the gunbattle. Officials confirmed that two militants, including the top-wanted Fayyaz Darma, managed to escape from the cordoned area. Reports from Kupwara said that, on the basis of a specific information, troops of Rashtriya Rifles 24th Bn and SOG Handwara raided a militant hideout at Chak-e-Sodal, in Handwara area today. During the operation, an encounter took place between the militants and security forces. One Pakistani militant of Jaish-e-Mohammad, namely Mohammad Hayyat Khan alias Sadiq, got killed. One AK-56 rifle was recovered from his possession. In Sirajpora forest area, near Kakroosa village of Handwara, troops of Rashtriya Rifles 6th Bn and SOG Vilgam eliminated a Pakistani militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba. His identity could not be ascertained immediately. Reports from Anantnag said that during last night, militants intruded into the house of a part-time contractor, Ghulam Mohammad Kamgar S/o Abdul Khaliq at Gadole, Kokernag, and shot him dead. Reports from Tangdar said that two farmers sustained injuries when a mineblast occurred while their ploughing the fields at Amrohi, in close vicinity of Line of Control (LoC). They were rushed to a hospital in critical condition. Militants hurled a grenade, followed by firing, on Police Station at Pampore, at 2025 hours this evening. Police guards retaliated and there was no damage. A BSF Sub Inspector, Kanwal Singh, who had got injured in a shootout at Baramulla on Wednesday last, has succumbed to injuries at Army’s Base Hospital. Reports from Bandipore said that on a specific information, troops of CRPF and SOG raided the residence of the ruling National Conference activist and a recently ‘elected’ Sarpanch, Wali-ur-Rehman S/o Barkat Ali of Chak Arsala Khan, and recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition. The seizure included two rockets, one 82-mm mortar bomb, seven Chinese mortar bombs, seven mortor detectors, two rocket boosters, one Russian-made flame-thrower, one kg explosive, one IED with PTD circuit, one wireless set, three rifle grenades and two hand grenades. The house-owner has been arrested. |
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Alternate road to Valley shelved NEW DELHI, May 4: The 85-km-long Mughal road project, an alternative route to the Kashmir valley from Jammu via Rajouri-Shopian and Pulwama, has been temporarily shelved following objections raised by experts at the central level. "The project has been suspended," Director General Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Lt Gen A K Puri told UNI here. To provide a dependable alternative link between the two regions of the State, the erstwhile empirical road was proposed to be constructed under the centrally-sponsored scheme "roads of economic importance" at an estimated cost of Rs 77.40 crore. The 300-km-long Jammu-Srinagar national highway, the lifeline of the Valley linking it with the rest of the country is often faced with problems of frequent blockades due to landslides and avalanches. "Funds have not been allocated and there were security concerns also, Lt Gen Puri said adding insurgency in Poonch district was one of the reasons why the work was stopped. Two years ago, State Minister of Roads and Buildings Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Shah had said in the Assembly that the State Government had decided to hand over the construction work of the Mughal Road to the BRO in 1988-89. It was decided to hand over the project to the Beacons for speedy execution and both the State and the Central Governments would spend equal funds and the road was scheduled to be completed in six years. However, the project was suspended due to paucity of funds. The State Government had then approached the Centre for financial assistance, which asked the Jammu and Kashmir Government to submit a detailed project report. In 1999, Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah had said in the State Assembly that the project had been conceived during the time of Sheikh Abdullah. Later, Mr Rajiv Gandhi the then Prime Minister had okayed the project and had announced a massive financial assistance from the Centre. However, the project could not be undertaken after the Defence Ministry raised objections. Two other alternative routes, which could link Srinagar with Jammu were under the consideration of the State Government. One was the road that would link Paddar with Kishtwar and touch the south Kashmir via Simpthon pass. Another was Doda-Desa-Karpan and Kashmir road. The Mughal Road would have generated considerable employment potential along the entire stretch passing through backward areas of the State. When completed, the road apart from generation of economic activities would have mitigated the sense of isolation of the people of Kashmir. The Swalakot hydel project, which was recently awarded to a Norwegian Consortium could also lead to the development of another road, connecting Jammu with Srinagar, from Udhampur to Panchari and then to Banihal. An alternative road linking Drass with Kargil via Sonamarg is also under construction and once completed it would not fall within the firing range of Pakistan. Lt Gen Puri said 184 incidents of violence against the BRO men in the State were reported during the last year in which at least 18 personnel were killed and 75 injured. "However, the work continues and the Army is providing security to our men," he said. The restoration work on Jawahar tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway has been completed, he added. The Jammu-Srinagar highway would be converted into four-lane for which more tunnels need to be constructed, the Director General said. (UNI) |
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Musharraf to take over as President on Aug 14 ISLAMABAD, May 4: Pakistan Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf is likely to take over as the country’s President on August 14. A high-level meeting of officials has been going on for the past week to find a legal and constitutional route to take Gen Musharraf from the Army house to the President’s house, Pakistan Observer today said quoting highly-placed official sources. The decision in this regard was taken at last week’s meeting at the Army house, which besides, Gen Musharraf was attended by Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Mahmood, Director General Military Intelligence Lt Gen Ehsan, CGS Lt Gen Yousuf and eminent law expert and honorary Chief Advisor to the Chief Executive Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada. Following threadbare discussions, the meeting which continued till late in the night assigned Mr Pirzada to work out two or three alternative legal strategies that could lead Gen Mushharraf to assume the office of the President of Pakistan in August after the installation of local Governments, the paper said. The meeting also decided that Gen Musharraf while still remaining the Chief of Army Staff would also assume the office of the President. It was in this meeting that Lt Gen Usmani was elected as the Deputy Chief of Army Staff without elevation to four stars. The General is in no way ready to cause any heart burns in the Army ranks by giving arbitrary elevations. The main objective behind the move was to assign some of his duties to the senior most officer while maintaining status quo otherwise, it said. Mr Pirzada is currently busy working out constitutional modalities. Barring some unforeseen change of mind, Gen Musharraf is likely to assume the office of the presidency on August 14, 2001, the Pakistan Observer said. After taking over as the President, Gen Musharraf may restore Parliament where the breakaway group of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) led by Mian Azhar has emerged as one of the biggest group. The restored national and provincial assemblies are likely to ratify the elevation of Gen Musharraf to presidentship. (UNI) |
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Opinion polls predict incumbent Govts defeat NEW DELHI, May 4: Results of two opinion polls on the coming assembly elections in five States today came out with different projections with one predicting defeat for the incumbent Governments in three States and other saying there will be clear winners in two States but a tight finish in a third. The India Today-Org-Marg opinion poll forecast victory for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala and the CPI(M)-led Left Front in West Bengal and a close race between the fronts led by DMK and AIADMK in Tamil Nadu. In Kerala, the opposition UDF has been projected to bag 93 to 103 of the 140 seats while the LDF 43 to 53 seats. The ruling Left Front in West Bengal is projected to get 150 to 165 of the 294 seats. The Trinamool Congress-Congress combination is expected to get 120 to 135 seats. However, in Tamil Nadu the opposition AIADMK-led front is likely to secure 120 to 130 of the 234 seats while the ruling DMK front may get 105 to 115 seats. The India Today poll was conducted between April 17 and April 26 in the three States. Using stratified random sampling, 4,300 voters in 18 assembly constituencies of Kerala and 8,000 voters from 28 assembly segments in both Tamil Nadu and West Bengal were surveyed. The poll in Tamil Nadu was conducted before the rejection of AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha’s nomination papers so its impact has not been fully reflected, the news magazine said releasing the results. The Outlook-CMS poll predicted that the Congress was on the winning side in three of the four States going to the polls next week. In Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK-led front is likely to get 165-175 seats, leaving 60-65 seats to the DMK-led front. Predicting a close finish in West Bengal, the news magazine said the Left’s tally is expected to be 145-155 seats, a loss of 47-57 seats from the 1996 elections. The Trinamool-Congress combine is projected to win 129-139 seats. In Kerala, the UDF is expected to corner 78-83 seats of 140 seats while the LDF is projected to win 54-59 constituencies. In Assam, the Congress is likely to corner 75-80 of the 126 seats. While the AGP-BJP combine is expected to win in 27-32 constituencies, it added. (PTI) |
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NEW DELHI, May 4: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Rajnath Singh today said his Government would do "whatever is "lawful" in the Ayodhya case and denied that it was trying to protect "anyone". "We will go by whatever is lawful. What I said two months ago is still relevant," Singh told reporters when asked for his reaction on the special CBI court dropping proceedings against 21 accused, including three Union Ministers till the 'legal defect’ in the Government notification establishing the special court was rectified. Asked if there was an attempt to protect some BJP leaders, he said "we are not trying to protect anyone..... This question arises only when someone is a criminal." The three Union Ministers accused in the case were L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti. (PTI) |
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12 booked for using ACs illegally Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 4: Electric Sub Division Janipur today conducted a surprise raid in various parts of the division and found about a dozen consumers using air-conditioners illegally. The raids were conducted in Roopnagar, Dugra Nagar Enclave, Bhavani Nagar and Bantalab areas and it was found by the officers of the Sub Division that ACs were running illegally by many influential and political persons. The consumers were fined and imposed a penalty on the basis of three months flat rates. Many welding set and crusher owners were also found running their establishments with excess load than the sanctioned one and that too at peak hours. The department framed challans against the defaulters and will be submitted in the Court of Mobile Magistrate Electricity. It was made clear to the consumers that the theft of power is cognizable offence and whosoever commits theft of power can be imprisoned for three years with a fine of Rs 3000. During the raid, it was found that some of the domestic consumers were having double circuit and their lines were removed and power disconnected. The raiding team comprised AEE, AE and JEs. |
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NEW DELHI, May 4: Reflecting a growing desire for liberation of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Rawalpindi-based Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) has decided to contest the coming Assembly elections in the occupied territory on the plank of independence. The JKLF central executive committee, at a meeting chaired by its chief Amanullah Khan in Rawalpindi, also decided to "accelerate the movement for reunification of the divided Jammu and Kashmir," according to a JKLF statement to PTI here. "A number of decisions were taken (at the meeting) including the one to contest the elections to `Azad Kashmir’ Legislative Assembly on the manifesto of independent Kashmir," the statement said. To garner support for the movement for liberation of PoK, the JKLF would hold an ‘Independent Kashmir Rally’ on June 18, it said. JKLF was the first group to start militancy in Jammu and Kashmir in 1988. However, the group split in 1993, with Srinagar-based leader Yaseen Malik parting ways. The Amanullah Khan faction also decided at the meeting to "continue working for conciliation" with Yaseen Malik group "without compromising independence and policies of the organisation", it said. (PTI) |
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LeT statement embarrassment for Muslims: Imam NEW DELHI, May 4: Sharply reacting to the reported statements of Pak-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) on the division of India, Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari today said "no compromise can be made with anybody at the cost of integrity and unity of our country". "We will not hesitate to sacrifice our lives in order to save the integrity and unity of our motherland," Bukhari said in a statement adding "the childish statements of the organisations like LeT provides embarassment to Indian Muslims." "The said statements of LeT will strengthen such forces which are dreaming to convert country into Hindu Rashtrya by disturbing communal harmony," the release said. (PTI) |
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MUMBAI, May 4: In another gangwar killing, a leading hotel owner, who was facing threats of extortion from the Chhota Rajan gang, was shot dead by two gangsters, owing allegiance to the underworld don, at Gamdevi in central Mumbai today, police said. The owner of Golden Crown Hotel, Jaya Shetty (55), was gunned down on first floor of the hotel by the gangsters at 1.20 pm. Police said Shetty had police protection from January this year following several threats for extortion from Chhota Rajan gang. However, when he left for his native place Mangalore in March last, Shetty informed the police to withdraw protection. He returned to Mumbai ten days back and neither informed police about his return nor asked for any protection, police said. The police managed to arrest one of the assailants, while the other fled from the scene, police said. The arrested gangster Ajay Suresh Maithy (26) was a sharpshooter of the Chhota Rajan Gang, police said adding that he will be produced in court tomorrow. (PTI) |
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