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Demand for
elections under Central rule ridiculed Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 15: Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today ridiculed the demand for conducting assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir under the central rule, saying that mere mention of polls has sent chill in various political parties which are scared of National Conference. Speaking at a National Conference rally held here this morning to pay tributes to Mr Ghulam Hassan Bhat, former power minister, the Chief Minister declared that there would not be the Governor’s rule in the State. National Conference, he said, has been voted to power by massive mandate during last elections held under the Governor’s rule. Those having no base are crying for conduct of polls under the central rule as his statements on holding elections have unnerved the political parties. Perhaps they dream of grabbing power clandestinely by ignoring the will of the people, he further said that Governments can’t be thrust on the people, who are the real fountain of power. Without naming any party, the Chief Minister said that some leaders are roaming around and misleading people by launching a tirade against the National Conference. They are not opposing NC by pinpointing gray areas or projecting the problems of the people, but they oppose for the sake of opposition. He said malicious propaganda is being unleashed even from religious places. He said those visiting remote areas and far off villages must not forget that such a conducive atmosphere has been created in the State by his party, which gave supreme sacrifice of its workers and leaders. He also lashed out at those issuing statements day in and day out calling for tripartite talks for solving Kashmir issue and said they are hobnobbing with all sides in a bid to align with those that suits them. He said they have been craving for so called azadi or Pakistan but in the bargain got thousands of people killed. Have they got anything; he asked and said that neither azadi nor Pakistan but only autonomy is the viable solution to satiate people’s urges and aspirations. He said some leaders are now advocating for involving Pakistan in the talks initiated by the Centre and referring to a leader asking for this, he asked, why did not he do so when in Government. Dr Abdullah said if these leaders want their Government in the State, they should come forward and contest elections. He said he had offered dissolution of assembly much earlier for parties to test their mass base. But, they never saw reason and instead looked towards America, which stands for solving issues by dialogue. They got yet another setback when the United Nation’s Secretary General made it emphatic that the Lahore peace process should be carried forward for bringing peace and normalcy in the region, he said. Dr Abdullah said that issues with Pakistan on Kashmir could be solved at the high level talks between Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistan Chief Executive General Parvez Musharaf. The Chief Minister recalled the criticism on the holding of Panchayat elections describing these as his ploy to sabotage the peace process initiated by the Centre after announcing cease-fire. He said he never knew about the Centre’s moves about cease-fire while announcing the polls for democratic units at grass roots level. He said his scepticism about cease-fire was proved right as the civilian killings increased though borders turned silent. ‘I was never inimical to cease-fire’, he added. He said twice delayed Panchayat elections were after all held after 23 years thereby transferring power to the people. Panchayats would be empowered and delegated with financial powers for people at local levels to monitor the functioning of Government machinery besides fixing priorities of development. He said 33 per cent representation to women would be given after seeking the views of the local female population and hoped that in the next elections, they would come in a big way to join the fray. The Chief Minister referred to the killing of Sikhs in order to create wedge between the people and complimented the majority community for instilling confidence among their minority community brethren who were thinking of leaving their homes and hearts. He said communal amity has to be preserved at all costs and decried that attempts are being made to divide people on regional and religious lines. He said for furthering election prospects, sentiments of the people are being exploited and referred to malicious campaign launched in Leh during elections to LAHDC by creating unfounded apprehensions among the people. Dr Abdullah said despite difficulties, the Government has embarked upon rebuilding infrastructure and ensuring development of the State. He said the achievements of the Government would be brought out in the form of a book for people to see for themselves the development effort launched in various parts of the State that includes construction of roads and school buildings. He also referred to the development of remote areas in Ladakh region and improvement in female literacy in Kargil and said that with the assistance of armed forces numerous services have been made available for the people. Dr Abdullah paid rich tributes to Mr Ghulam Hassan Bhat and other martyrs who laid their lives for the just cause of the people. Several Ministers and National Conference leaders were among those who spoke on the occasion and paid tributes to Mr Bhat and others. A large number of workers, several ministers and legislators were present on the occasion. |
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Massive hunt on for
fleeing mercenary From Nishikant Khajuria SAMAH (AKHNOOR), May 14: Though security forces have succeeded in eliminating two foreign mercenaries after a fierce day-long encounter, here yesterday, the third one who managed to escape breaking the cordon laid by local police, is yet to be traced. Forces have launched a major combing operation in the area to nab the absconding ultra, who has reportedly sustained a bullet injury during the run away. Sniffer dogs have also been pressed into service and searches were being conducted in the entire area adjoining to the site of encounter. Nakas have been laid on link roads to the village and an alert has been sounded in Akhnoor and its surrounding areas to nab the escapee. A large quantity of arms and ammunition including two AK-47 rifles have been recovered from possession of the slain militants. As reported, an Army Major and three Special Operation Group (SOG) cops were killed while two foreign mercenaries (not three as reported yesterday by police) were eliminated in a day long fierce encounter, here yesterday. Meanwhile, an eerie calm prevails in this tiny hamlet that witnessed bloodiest ever gun battle between security forces and dreaded foreign mercenaries. Presence of militants and their movement in the area has come as a shock to the locals who are still finding it hard to believe that Pak sponsored marauders of death have made inroads in their otherwise peaceful village. "Since the eruption of militancy in the State, we had never even heard of militants’ movement in our village despite being a border area," said an elderly villager Tilak Ram. This is for the first time that presence of militants has been spotted in this border village which is barely 14 kilometers away from the Akhnoor town and 42 kms from Jammu. It is believed that this group of militants had sneaked into Indian territory through Kali Dhar and were heading towards upper reaches in Reasi. Fear lurked on the faces of the denizens as militants might strike the village and target the patriotic villagers who informed police and security forces about their presence. "Till yesterday morning, we had no fear in moving freely in the entire village and its adjoining areas even during night hours, however, after this ugly incident, no one will dare to come out of his house in dark," said Madan Lal. The site of encounter presented a post-storm like scene. Almost completely damaged house of Dharam Chand and gutted belongings of the family members spoke intensity of the day long gun-battle. Countless bullet marks on the damaged walls and ceiling were testimony to the fact that a heavy exchange of fire had taken place while blood stained pieces of electronic goods were seen scattered in the entire house. However, despite all this destruction in the fierce gun battle, the sanctity of the ‘stone gods’ was still intact, as santcum-sanctrom was completely safe. Bullet ridden bodies of both the slain militants, apparently foreigners, (most probably Pakistanis) and in the age group of 24 to 26, were still lying in open in the compound of Dharm Chand’s house. A digital watch of ‘Casio’ tied on the right wrist of one of the slain militants, was still functional and displaying correct time when this correspondent visited the site. According to eyewitness accounts, the militants fled from the house of Dil Mohd Gujjar in Samah Karhkoli breaking the cordon laid by local police party, and ran towards the house of 80-year old ex-serviceman Dharam Chand. "All of a sudden, two gun wielding youth, clad in Salwar Kurta, appeared on the scene and asked us to run away before entering the house," Mangu, a kin of Dharam Chand, told EXCELSIOR. The eyewitnesses also blamed local police for the heavy casualties inflicted by the militants during the encounter. They asserted that had the Akhnoor police exhibited professionalism and not acted in a hasty manner, all the militants would have been eliminated and no casualty amongst security forces as well as civilians taken place. |
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Shabir Shah hails
PM’s remarks SRINAGAR, May 15: Naresh Kumar Jain, emissary of K C Pant, Centre’s negotiator on talks with Kashmiri groups, today met president of Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) Shabir Shah and handed over a letter containing clarifications sought by him. Immediately after receiving the letter from Pant’s emissary Naresh Kumar Jain, the executive committee of JKDFP met to deliberate on its contents. Both Jain and Shah refused to divulge the contents of the letter written in response to Shah’s communication seeking certain clarifications from the Centre. Shah said the details of the letter would be made public only after the JKDFP executive body discussed it. "We have not hidden anything from the public so far, nor do we intend to do so in future," Shah said. Earlier this month, a two-member JKDFP team comprising Saleem Geelani, spokesman and chief organiser of the party, and Maulana Abdullah Tari, secretary general, had handed over a letter to Pant seeking some clarifications. The clarifications were sought on whether talks would be held with Pakistan, even though at a later stage, agenda of talks and if the Centre considered the Kashmir issue as a law and order problem or a dispute which needed to be resolved. JKDFP also sought to know if the Government was serious about holding talks with groups like National Conference and Congress and whether it planned to hold talks with the Kashmiri militant groups. Jain and Shah came out after remaining closetted for nearly 20 minutes. Asked about his mission, Jain said he was entrusted with the job of handing over the letter. "Shah will disclose the contents of the letter," he told reporters. Asked where the talks will be held - Srinagar or Delhi, Jain said "preferably in Delhi". About the proposed visit of Pant to Srinagar, he said "Pant will visit Srinagar but no date has been fixed yet." Jain said no date has also been fixed for initiatives. Shah said he will enter into a dialogue with New Delhi to resolve the Kashmir issue and welcomed the recent remarks of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee that he will leave no stone unturned to foster friendly relations with Pakistan. Meanwhile, JKDFP executive committee deliberated for six hours the content of the letter sent by Pant but reached no conclusion, top party sources said adding the meeting may be extended tomorrow. "We are still in the process of deliberations and the meeting of the executive will be resumed later tonight again," the sources told PTI. They said the letter from Pant involves delicate issues and needs further discussions before reaching any conclusion. "There are many knots which have not been opened yet," they added. The sources said JKDFP’s response would be "positive" with regard to resolution of Kashmir issue "as per the wishes and aspirations of the people of the State and in the larger interests of ongoing freedom movement." (PTI) |
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Jawan killed, 3 hurt in
ambush Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 15: Fourteen persons including 11 civilians and three Special Police Officers (SPOs) were injured, three of them seriously, when militants lobbed a grenade on Kishtwar police station in Doda district this afternoon. In another incident, an army jawan of Rashtriya Rifles was killed and three soldiers were seriously injured in an ambush laid by the militants at Khadi between Banihal and Ramsu on Jammu-Srinagar national highway today. Official reports said unidentified militants tossed up a grenade on Kishtwar police station at about 1600 hours today when SPOs were collecting their salary from cashier. The grenade fell near the police station and exploded with a bang causing injuries to 14 persons. Militants, suspected to be two in numbers, managed to escape through by-lanes after throwing the grenade. Police parties rushed the injured to sub district hospital of Kishtwar from where three seriously injured blast victims were airlifted here and admitted in Medical College hospital. The seriously injured persons including one SPO and two civilians. Eleven other injured, admitted in Medical College, were responding to treatment in Kishtwar hospital. Of 14 injured, three were SPOs and 11 were civilians, who were moving in front of police station and were trapped in the grenade attack. This was second attack on Kishtwar police station, located in the heart of town, in less than a month. In the first attack last month, a grenade fired by the militants with a grenade launching gun, was trapped in a tree in front of police station building and exploded harmlessly. Besides police station, civil hospital of Kishtwar was also targeted by the militants last month but there was no casualty or damage. A blast in Kishtwar bus stand had left 14 persons injured few days back. Sources said the militants in Kishtwar and Bhaderwah towns were now resorting to hit and run tactics instead of facing security forces in eyeball-to-eyeball encounters. It may be recalled that a security jawan was killed and five others were injured in a similar grenade attack in Bhaderwah last week. Meanwhile, a group of three to four militants ambushed a patrol party of Rashtriya Rifles in Khadi area between Banihal and Ramsu on the national highway this morning. Militants opened firing on army patrol with grenade launchers. Army jawans returned the firing. Cross-firing led to killing of an army jawan and injuries to three others. Militants, who had advantage of firing from atop a hill, escaped after brief exchange of gun-battle. Injured jawans have been shifted to Military Hospital. Re-enforcement of army has reached Khadi and was hunting the militants. |
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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, May 15: Veteran Congress leader A K Antony was today chosen to be the new Kerala Chief Minister to head the United Democratic Front (UDF) coalition Government after his party closed ranks under prodding from the central leadership. 61-year-old Congress working committee member, ‘Mr Clean’ of Kerala politics, was unanimously elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party with his rival, K Karunakaran, setting aside pre-election wranglings and not pressing his claim. Low-profile and shy, Arakkaparambil Kurien Antony will become Chief Minister for the third time. The name of Antony, who steered the party and the alliance to a massive mandate, was proposed by Karunakaran-loyalist Kadavur Sivadasan and seconded by Vakkom Purushothaman, Aryadan Mohmmed and G Karthikeyan at a meeting of the newly-elected MLAs chaired by KPCC president Yhennala Balakrishna Pillai. The election came soon after Sonia Gandhi endorsed his name when AICC observers Ghulam Nabi Azad and Motilal Vora contacted her in the evening shortly after the CLP’s first meeting authorised her to choose the new leader. It turned out to be a smooth affair as Karunakaran, who rebelled during the run-up to the polls and quit from the CWC, had declared that he was not in the race for Chief Ministership. The party leadership has already made it clear that the post of Chief Minister and leader of the State unit of the party, would not go to the same faction indicating that the PCC presidentship would go to Karunakaran’s side, possibly to his son K Muraleedharan, MP. A leader with an unblemished image and uncompromising commitment to ideology, Antony, 61, headed the state cabinet between 1977-79 and 1995-96. He was also Union Minister for Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution between 1993-95 in the Narasimha Rao Government. A politician who stood by his principles, he resigned from Chief Ministership in 1979, protesting his party Congress (U)’s decision to support Indira Gandhi in Chickmagalur byelection. Antony’s stand led to a fresh polarisation of political parties in the State where Congress (U), CPI, Kerala Congress (M) and RSP, till then partners of the Congress-led front, joining the coalition led by CPI(M). The Left Democratic Front was voted to power with a massive mandate in 1980, but Antony opted out of the race and concentrated on organisational matters. In 1982, his party quit the LDF and joined the alliance headed by the Congress and later merged with the parent party. Subsequently he was appointed as the AICC general secretary (1984-1987). He has also served as acting treasurer of AICC during 1994-95. (PTI) |
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Massive combing operation
on Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 15: All security agencies including army and police carried out a day long operation in different villages of RS Pura in search for a group of militants, noticed by two Village Defence Committee (VDC) members in Badyal Barahamana in the early hours of this morning. DIG Jammu-Kathua range Dr S P Vaid said two VDC members, who were patrolling a village in Badyal Barahamana, noticed a group of militants carrying arms and moving in a field at about 0330 hours today. VDC members informed police and security forces, who rushed to the village. Enforcement of army, BSF, CRPF, SOG, police and VDCs was also rushed to village with the onset of dawn. A massive search and combing operation was launched by security forces in village to eliminate the militants. Besides Badyal Barahamana, all surrounding villages in RS Pura were also sealed by police to block movement of the militants. But, the militants couldn’t be noticed again. However, four Bangladeshis were arrested by police from RS Pura but they weren’t carrying arms and ammunition with them. The VDC members were confidant that they had seen the militants carrying arms with them, police said. Taking no chance, police and army with help of other security agencies continued searches in the village. Few months back, RS Pura police had gunned down three foreign mercenaries in a surrounding village after they were noticed by local people and VDC members. Prior to that, movement of the militants has been noticed several times in forward villages of RS Pura sector. Police said all security agencies were on full alert in RS Pura, Samba, Hiranagar and Akhnoor areas following Sunday’s encounter in Sungal Sama area of Akhnoor in which two foreign mercenaries and four security jawans including a Major and three SOG cops were killed. Official sources admitted that Pakistan was now concentrating on Jammu border for infiltration of militants, mostly foreign mercenaries. Routes being used by the militants included Hiranagar, Samba, Suchetgarh, RS Pura, Kanachak, Akhnoor and Khour, they said. Sources confessed that everything was not right on the borders. Frequent infiltration by big group of militants including three recent intrusions from Hiranagar, Akhnoor and RS Pura were a pointer to the fact, they said, adding security forces have been asked to maintain strict vigil on the borders to ensure that militants couldn’t cross the border easily. |
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Three Sikh publishers punished by Akal Takht AMRITSAR, May 15 : Five Sikh high priests today awarded 10 days religious punishment to three publishers of Guru Granth Sahab for not publishing the holy book with religious fervour and respect and held the publishing house responsible for not showing proper respect while despatching the book to various places. The punishment to the three publishers Harbhajan Singh, Harvinder Singh and Mohinder Pal Singh of a local publication house, Bhai Jeevan Chattar Singh was pronounced by the Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti from the temporal seat of Akal Takht in the Golden Temple complex here today. The punishment under the chairmanship of president of Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) Jagdev Singh Talwandi was decided at a meeting of the five high priests held earlier in the day. The priests also formed a six member High Powered Committee to monitor publication and despatch of the religious book within and outside the country. The three were ordered to do "kirtan" (religious prayers), for one hour, dust shoes of devotees in a Gurudwara for another hour and spend yet another hour cleaning utensils in the shrine. The publishers were declared "Tankhaiya" and awarded religious punishment by the then Akal Takht Jathedar Ranjit Singh in 1998, but failed to appear before him. The six member High-Powered Committee,besides Talwandi includes Vedanti and Sikh scholars, would monitor publication of the Guru Granth Sahab. It would also ensure that the religious book is despatched to different places with due reverance. The publishers based abroad would also have to print the religious book as per the instructions of the committee to ensure that no disrespect is shown either in publication or despatch of the Guru Granth Sahab, Vedanti said. The high priests also took a serious view of an alleged incident of sacrilege of the religious book in Sangrur district today even as the district police chief denied that any such incident had taken place. (PTI) |
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Janipura exchange out of order Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 15: Janipura telephone exchange with ‘53’ level has gone out of order for last over one week causing enormous inconvenience to consumers. Non-functioning of exchange has badly affected the working of High Court complex, Doordarshan and Daily Excelsior office besides other offices, located in Janipura. People as well as PCO owners were worst affected due to failure of exchange. The exchange works for only few minutes during the day. However, every evening it completely stops functioning. No senior Telecom official was available in Janipura to listen to the people’s problems and set things right in the exchange. |
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Raghunath new Ambassador to Russia NEW DELHI, May 15: Former Foreign Secretary K Raghunath was today appointed as India’s new ambassador to Russia. Raghunath, who succeeds S K Lambah, is expected to take up his assignment shortly, it was officially announced here. Raghunath’s tenure as Foreign Secretary ended on November 30, while he was in his second year of extension. His appointment to the key slot comes at a time when Indo-Russian relations are on the upswing. Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov concluded a highly successful visit to India earlier this month. As part of contacts at the highest levels, Russian President Vladimir Putin had visited India last October when he and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee signed a historic declaration on strategic partnership. Vajpayee is slated to visit Moscow in November this year. (PTI) |
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SRINAGAR, May 15: Two foreign militants were killed in an encounter with army during search operations in Bandipora in Baramulla district today, the sources said. A woman Saleema Jan was killed and two others Hamid Khan and Rashid Khan were seriously injured when security forces returned fire after their picket was targeted by militants at Sogam in Kupwara district today. Militants gunned down an Ikhwan activist Manzoor Ahmad Rather at Guri-Bijbehara in Anantnag late last night. The body of an unidentified person was picked up by police from Kerigam in Anantnag district today, they said. The Special Operations Group (SOG) of local police apprehended a Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militant Abdul Rashid Lone from Ganderbal on the outskirts of Srinagar today. (PTI) |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 15: Army gunned down a militant in general area of Mahore in Udhampur district this afternoon. One AK-47 rifle, three magazines and ammunition was recovered from slain militant. There was no casualty on army in the gun-battle. Identity of slain militant, who was affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen, hasn’t been established. |
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Centre signalled HC to delay judgement: Advani NEW DELHI, May 15: Giving a new dimension to the Ayodhya controversy, Home Minister L K Advani today said that Narasimha Rao Government’s "refusal" to request the Allahabad High Court to give an early verdict on land acquisition case was a "signal" to delay the judgements which resulted in public anger leading to demolition of the disputed structure. Deposing before the Liberhan Ayodhya Commission of inquiry, he said he did not think the analysis that the Centre’s signals to the Allahabad High Court to delay the judgement "is factually wrong". He said "throughout the month of November 1992 from our side we had been making direct approaches to the High Court for an early verdict as the arguments have been complete for over a month. "(Atal Bihari) Vajpayee met the Prime Minister (P V Narasimha Rao), I met the PM and we urged him to request the High Court to give an early verdict. After all it was entirely upto the High Court to time its verdict," he said. Advani added "the Government, like any other authority, could request it. When it is publicly known that the Government has conveyed to Vajpayee, Advani and others that Government is not going to make even a request for an early verdict what is the message conveyed to judiciary except what I said in the statement." Advani blamed the Centre for not taking any step to urge the High Court to deliver an early judgement and added "if the High Court had pronounced its verdict on its own before December six in response to our requests, the demolition would not have occurred." The Home Minister, recalling what was told to him by RSS leader Prof Rajendra Singh, said Singh met Rao on December three and "urged him again to request the Allahabad High Court for an early verdict" as "RSS itself had certain doubts whether they would be able to keep all these lakhs (of Karsevaks) under control." Singh told Rao that if the judgement was delivered, irrespective of whether it upheld or rejected the UP Government’s notification acquiring 2.77 acres of land adjacent to the disputed structure, it would help diffuse the situation, the BJP leader said. When Singh told the then Prime Minister that he was apprehending that there was a possibility of untoward incidents during the "Symbolic Karseva" on December six, 1992, Rao had replied that he was confident that with leaders like Singh around everything would remain in control and nothing untoward would happen. Advani said had the verdict been against the State Government, the Physical Kar Seva could have started on the land belonging to the Nyas Committee and had it been upheld the same could have been started on it. (PTI) |
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MUMBAI, May 15: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Rajnath Singh today said his Government would not ban the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), whose activities are under suspicion following the recent spate of riots in various parts of the country. Addressing a press conference at the BJP office in south Mumbai here, Mr Singh said that his Government did not want to encourage "hidden activities". But, if SIMI activists are caught indulging in anti-national activities, they would be dealt with strictly. "There are indications that things are not quite good, but, this is not the proper time to discuss such issues", the Chief Minister said, replying to a query whether he had specific information about SIMI’s alleged anti-national activities. Mr Singh informed that his Government had strengthened patrolling on the UP-Nepal border where three Pakistani agents had been killed recently. The UP Chief Minister, who is here to release Petroleum Minister Ram Naik’s annual performance report, will also meet with industrialists and film industry representatives tomorrow to seek investment for his State. Talking about the BJP’s defeat in the Shahajahanpur Parliamentary constituency by-election, Mr Singh said the sympathy wave for late Congress MP, Jitendra Prasada’s wife, cut into BJP votes and led to the Samajwadi Party’s win. Elaborating on the economic reforms carried out by his administration, he said the growth rate was eight per cent and to further improve the financial scenario, his Government would impose strict fiscal discipline. The minister also informed that his Government had made a provision of rupees ten crore for the construction of a Buddha statue on the lines of those destroyed in Afghanisthan. "The statue at Sarnath in UP would be one feet taller than the one in Bamiyan, he added. (UNI) |
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