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‘Peace
initiative hasn’t ended’ NEW DELHI, May 24: Union Home Minister L K Advani today asserted that India’s peace initiative in Jammu and Kashmir had "not added" with the six-month-old ceasefire being called off but ruled out "any intermediary role" for the Hurriyat Conference in the proposed dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad. "The new initiative is aimed at conveying two messages —though moratorium against pro-active actions in Kashmir has ended, our peace process has not," he told reporters here, a day after New Delhi invited Pakistan’s military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf for a dialogue. Asked about the demand of the Hurriyat to send its team to Pakistan, Advani questioned the locus standi of the conglomerate to act as an "intermediary" in any Indo-Pak talks. "If we want to hold talks with Pakistan, we can do so directly without any role by an intermediatory. There is no scope for the Hurriyat in this regard," he stressed. He, however, said the Hurriyat could send its suggestions to the Government on issues relating to development and welfare as also on security matters in J and K. Replying to a question, Advani said the decision to call off the ceasefire and extend an invitation to Musharraf was discussed at a luncheon meeting he had with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Defence Minister Jaswant Singh yesterday and it was firmed up during the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) last night. Asked whether there was a shift in the stand taken by India that it would not engage in talks with Pakistan till Islamabad stopped sponsoring cross-border terrorism, he said New Delhi’s position had "squirmed" Islamabad for one and a half years. During the period, India talked to a large number of countries which endorsed its position creating a "sea-change in world opinion", he said. The Home Minister said Musharraf, who after having assumed power in October 1999 had rubbished the Lahore declaration and the Shimla agreement, had in the last two months changed his stand. New Delhi’s "peace initiative had not started with the announcement of non-initiation of combat operations during Ramzan (in November last). It had begun with the Prime Minister’s visit to Lahore (in February 1999)," he said. Recalling an interview to an Indian newspaper given by Musharraf, Advani said the military ruler had stated that he would like to discuss Kashmir and all other issues. "Our position is that we want to talk about all issues including Kashmir". On the possibility of the talks yielding tangible results, he said that Kashmir was an "old" issue and it had "many implications". The positions of India and Pakistan on it were "distant" and "gulf is very wide", he said. To a question why the ceasefire was called off, he said the Government got "no advantage" out of it as militants continued to strike and Pakistan failed to rein them. However, there was peace along the Line of Control with the shelling coming to an end bringing a sense of relief to people living in border village, he said adding this had been "gratifying". On his assessment of the ground situation in Kashmir after having attended a meeting of the Unified Command along with the Defence Minister in Srinagar on Saturday last, Advani said though in the last two months there had been more action against militants, the situation was not like what it was during September-October last year when the security forces had dominant position. On the role of K C Pant in negotiating with Kashmiri groups in the wake of the new initiative, the Home Minister said he would continue talking to various Kashmiri groups, including Pandits, the National Conference, the people of Ladakh and Jammu and others. (PTI) |
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Husband, wife
beheaded in Bandipore Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 24: While the Cabinet Committee on Security Affairs recalled the security forces’ six-month-long unilateral ceasefire with Kashmiri militants last evening, troops of Rashtriya Rifles eliminated eight Pakistani militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba in Langet-Sopore belt of north Kashmir, in two different operations. A Gujjar couple have been founded beheaded in Bandipore area. Official sources told EXCELSIOR that troops of Rashtriya Rifles 30 Bn had laid an ambush in Katirdaji forest area, in Dooniwara belt of Langet-Rafeeabad during last night. Early this morning, troops noticed the movement of a heavily-armed group of militants and opened fire. During the fierce gunbattle, six militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba were killed at Haril and one at Doodkul. Security forces did not suffer any damage. Seven AK rifles and a wireless set were recovered from the spot. Five of the Pakistani militants killed in Katirdaji have been identified as Abu Amand, Abu Shahdin Ayubi, Abu Aamir, Abu Usman and Abu Usman Madni. Officials said that all the militants killed in Langet-Rafeeabad area were believed as the freshly inducted group of the Pakistani cadres of Lashkar-e-Toiba. At Hadipora village, in Sopore belt, troops of RR 28 Bn raided the house of one Mohammad Sultan Dar and killed one militant in an encounter. He was identified as Abu Zubair of Pakistan. One AK rifle, 10 rifle grenades and a wireless set are claimed to have been recovered from the site of encounter. Officials said that Abu Zubair too was a Pakistani member of Lashkar-e-Toiba. Meanwhile, reports from Bandipore said that decapitated dead body of a Gujjar couple were recovered from Duber forest area in Bandipore. The husband and the wife, who were residents of Katsan, have been identified as Jamal-ud-din Mughal S/o Mohammad Din and Zaitooni. They had reportedly ventured into woods for fetching some firewood. Reports from Ganderbal said that dead body of a tipper driver, Bashir Ahmed Rather R/o Armpora Ganderbal, was recovered from Wusan after a shootout. While as an official bulletin claimed that the civilian had died in militants’ attack on Rashtriya Rifles Sector Headquarters, residents claimed that he died of a stray bullet as a soldier was firing apparatntly without any aim. |
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Farooq wants to rig
Assembly polls From Dinesh Manhotra RAJOURI, May 24: Charging the National Conference Government with failure on all fronts, J&K People’s Democratic Party supremo Mufti Mohd Sayeed has said that ‘zero performance’ was registered by the present regime in the State during its tenure. "Except making big promises, Farooq Government did nothing for the welfare of people of the State since coming to power," he said while addressing a largely attended public meeting at Kalar in Rajouri, today. "Farooq Abdullah came to power with a mindset to loot people and public exchequer and he has nothing to do with the welfare of masses, particularly poor and down trodden," the PDP chief alleged and called upon people to teach this corrupt regime a lesson in the forthcoming State assembly election. Mr Sayeed lamented that in 1996, assembly polls, people of the State had voted for National Conference with the hope that a democratic Government would redress their grievances and solve their problems. However, he added, after assuming the power, Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah and his ruling National Conference legislators started looting people and public exchequer. Dubbing the Farooq Government as ‘most corrupt regime’ in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP chief alleged that unemployment and corruption have increased manifold since the installation of this Government while Government jobs were being sold by ruling National Conference legislators. "Commoners are fed up with this corrupt regime and want to get rid of it as soon as possible," he said and exhorted people to throw the National Conference Government out of power in the forthcoming State assembly polls. Accusing the NC Government of degrading democratic institutions in the State, the former Union Home Minister claimed that Farooq Abdullah was scared of conducting assembly elections under the Governor’s rule. "Farooq does not want free and fare elections as he has realised that people will give him a fitting reply," the Mufti said. "Farooq wants to rig the polls by misusing the Government machinery so that he could again become Chief Minister of the State but his ambition would never get fulfilled," the PDP chief said and predicted that National Conference would never return to power in the State. On the occasion, prominent Gujjar leader and PDP general secretary Master Tasadiq Hussain alleged that all developmental works have been stalled since the installation of Farooq Government while the funds were being misused by the ruling National Conference leaders. He highlighted some problems of the locals and asked the district administration to immediately look into these problems. PDP general secretary and Kissan leader Mr Trilok Singh Bajwa, in his address, expressed his concern over the severe drought situation in Kandi areas and appealed Government to provide immediate relief to the affected people. He feared that if immediate relief was not provided and emergency step were not taken, the human population would start dying due to starvation. Senior PDP leader Mr Gulam Hassan Laszan, while speaking on the occasion, alleged that ruling National Conference did not want return of peace in Jammu and Kashmir and Farooq Government was trying to derail the ongoing peace process. "To keep his Chief Ministership intact, Farooq Abdullah is sabotaging the peace process initiated by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee," he alleged. Mr Ashok Sharma, senior vice president of PDP Youth Wing, in his address, exhorted people to support the People’s Democratic Party and strengthen the peace loving forces in Jammu and Kashmir. Senior PDP leader Mr Fulel Singh, who had organised the public meeting, said that only PDP under the leadership of Mufti Mohd Sayeed, can provide the alternative of ruling National Conference and a good governance to people of the State. Prominent among others who addressed the gathering, included; Mohd Shafi Dar, Inam Choudhary, Sham Bali, Akram Khan, Shamsher Singh, Mirza Iqbal and Nasrullah Mirza.. |
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Secessionist drive acquires new dimensions From B L Kak NEW DELHI, May 24: The secessionist drive in Jammu and Kashmir is being transformed into a pan-Islamic movement against India, according to an official document. The document, in fact, has warned that bands of religious fanatics will work relentlessly for the break up of the Indian Union. While referring to the secessionist movement in Kashmir and elsewhere in India, the document has also warned that the security environment will undergo changes with the emergence on the scene of groups of jihadi forces. According to the document, while Pakistan is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy to destabilise India, militancy in Jammu and Kashmir is a direct consequence of the unremitting efforts of Pakistan’s covert agencies to exploit the prevailing discontent and destabilise the established authority by creating an anarchic situation. The document, a copy of which has been made available to EXCELSIOR, contains finding number three: "The Taliban success in Afghanistan has brought about a qualitative change in the security environment of the region. It has also given rise to groups of jihadi forces. These forces are unlikely to stop in Afghanistan and Pakistan". Finding number four: Bands of Muslim fanatics will not easily give up their plan of indulging in subversive activities. They have, in fact, expansionist designs. They will work relentlessly for large-scale disturbances, leading to India’s disintegration. Sensational, indeed, is the finding vis-à-vis systematic indoctrination of Muslims not only in the three regions, namely, Kashmir valley, Ladakh and Jammu but also in the border areas of West Bengal and North-East region. The report says that systematic indoctrination of Muslims in fundamentalist ideology is detrimental to India’s communal harmony. Finding number six: Pan Islamist militant outfits have mushroomed with links to radical organisations in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and some other West Asian countries. Many new madrasas, funded by Saudi and Gulf sources, have been established in J&K and elsewhere in the country in recent years. Madrasas in large numbers have come up in the coastal areas of the west and in the border areas of West Bengal and North-East region. Finding number seven: Misguided Muslims and the mushrooming of madrasas can be the risk factors for internal security. With many pro-Khalistan militants continuing to enjoy shelter and support in Pakistan, efforts are afoot to revive terrorism in Punjab. Finding number eight: Powers-that-be have found it "difficult" to take action against the Bangladeshi infiltrators for political reasons. Politically, Bangladeshi migrants are in a position to influence the results of elections in a large number of constituencies in the North-East region of India. At least 32 per cent of these constituencies fall in Assam. Finding number nine: Political parties are using immigrants as vote banks. Action against the infiltrators invariably assumes communal overtones with political parties taking positions to suit the interest of the vote banks. Massive illegal immigration poses a grave danger to the country’s security, social harmony and economic well being. |
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NEW DELHI, May 24: The Government’s interlocutor on Kashmir K C Pant today said the new move by the Centre of starting negotiations with Pakistan was not going to affect the dialogue process with the Kashmiri separatist leaders. "No, I do not think that the move will have any effect on the parleys initiated by the Government with the Kashmiri separatist leaders for restoration of peace in the State," Pant told PTI in his first reaction to the Government calling off of the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir. Brushing off speculation that the calling off of ceasefire would have an impact on the parleys initiated by him, Pant said "the unilateral ceasefire was called off after giving a considerate thought." About his visit to the Valley, Pant said "it will be soon and the dates are being finalised." Pant, who will soon visit the State, is expected to hold talks with Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah and former Chief Minister of the State G M Shah. He said the road to peace was not without serious obstacles and one such hurdle was continuing violence against the innocent people of the State. "The Government expects that all right-thinking people in the State will join hands and march purposefully in quest of peace which has eluded them for the last 12 years. It is only in an atmosphere of peace that an agreed solution for the Kashmir issue can be evolved," Pant added. Pant, currently Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, defended the decision of calling off the ceasefire and said "the non-initiation of combat operations against the militants in the State was not being honoured by terrorists who chose the occasion to target civilians." Asked whether the peace process and holding of parleys with Kashmiri groups and operations against the militants could continue simultaneously, Pant said "yes, one process is aimed at restoration of peace while another is getting tough on those who threaten it." Asked whether in light of fresh development Hurriyat was to be given a fresh invitation, Pant said "why should I give any invitation when I have already extended it. It is yet to be replied by them formally." On April 15, Pant had written letters to several Kashmiri groups including the Hurriyat Conference inviting them for talks, but it was rejected by the 23-party conglomerate. However, another seccessionist leader Shabir Shah had responded to the invitation after which Pant sent him a letter stating that New Delhi was not averse to holding talks with Pakistan and the entire process was for finding a permanent solution to the Kashmir problem. (PTI) |
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Two other ultras, civilian
killed Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, May 24: A ‘logistic commander’ of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit was among three militants gunned down by army and police in three separate operations across Rajouri and Poonch districts. A civilian was also killed in one of the operation. Official sources said a night patrol party of army and police noticed movement in Dara Sangla area of Surankot tehsil in Poonch district at 0400 hours today and challenged the militants. One of them opened firing on army and police jawans, who fired back. In the encounter, one militant was killed while army heard the sound of running, indicating that one person had escaped during the exchange of gun-battle. In the morning, army carried out search in the area and recovered a pair of female chappals. "This indicated that militant was accompanied by a woman, who fled away during cross-firing", the sources said. One AK-56 rifle, three magazines, 97 rounds, four hand grenades, one Kenwood radio set and a pouch were recovered from the spot. Slain militant has been identified as Abu Harish Adil R/o Multan, Pakistan. He was functioning as ‘logistic commander’ of the outfit for Surankot tehsil for the last three days. Another operation was carried out by army in Hari Mahrot area of Surankot at 0700 hours today. Operation was carried out on the basis of a specific information given by local people about the movement of militants. The encounter that followed resulted into killed of another top Lashkar ultra Al Rashid alias Shameem R/o Faisalabad, Pakistan, a ‘district commander’ of Hizbul Mujahideen for Surankot. A civilian Mohd Ashraf S/o Mohd Din R/o Safeda, Hari Mahrot was also trapped in cross-firing between militants and army and got killed. Meanwhile, Army and SOG last night trapped a group of eight militants in Khadarian village of Kalakot when they were fleeing towards a forest area after kidnapping two Gujjars— Mohd Ismayil and Mohd Gujjar from their houses in Dikyana village of Chingus. Troops were making all out efforts to trace the Gujjars and had a chance encounter with them in Khadarian. In the fierce exchange of gun-battle, army and SOG gunned down one militant. However, other militants fled away from the scene of encounter alongwith hostage Gujjars. One SOG jawan was also injured in the encounter. He has been hospitalised. Troops continued massive searches in Khadarian forests to eliminate the militants and rescue Gujjar boys, who were being taken forcibly for arms training by the militants. Meanwhile, BSF and police recovered one 12 bore gun, 34 AK rounds and two grenades during a search operation in Anong village of Kandi police station. |
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Explosives recovered in
Arnia Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 24: Pakistan army continued heavy firing all along the International Border in Jammu sector in an apparent attempt to stop border fencing work. Unprovoked and indiscriminate firing caused injuries to a civilian in forward village of Khour. In another incident, two militants were spotted by people in Arnia but they managed to escape by the time security forces could lay a cordon. A consignment of explosive devices was recovered from their possession. Official reports said there was no let up in firing by Pakistan army in Kanachak, Domana, Akhnoor, Pargwal, Khour, RS Pura, Ramgarh and Samba sub sectors. Firing, which resumed around 2230 hours, continued till late this morning. Firing was replied by Indian side at all the places. Reports said that firing took place mostly in those villages where fencing work, being carried out by the Border Security Force (BSF), was in full swing. However, no fresh damage was reported to fencing pillars and other material in enemy firing. "Undeterred by Pak firing, the BSF continued fencing work with full speed", the BSF sources said, adding ‘Pak troops wouldn’t succeed in stopping fencing of the border with firing’. "We are well prepared to meet Pak threat of firing. It will be replied with full force", they added. In Karni village of Khour, a civilian sustained a bullet fired by Pakistan army and got seriously injured. He has been identified as Bushan Lal son of Thoru Ram, a resident of Karni. Reports said Bushan Lal was working in his fields when Pak troops suddenly resorted to indiscriminate firing. The injured civilian was evacuated from firing site and admitted to hospital. Meanwhile, people in Arnia noticed two bags lying in a sugarcane field in Ram Dass Suhagpur village late last night and informed security forces. Army and a police party from Arnia police station rushed to the field and seized the bags. A powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED), weighing two kg, six grenades, four time pencil bombs and two pouches were recovered from the bags. Some local people told police that they had noticed mysterious movement of two militants in the area. Police and security forces continued searches in Arnia throughout the last night but couldn’t trace any militant. It appeared that the militants had managed to escape after dumping explosives consignment in the field. Few days back, a big consignment of arms and explosives was recovered by police on a tip off given by local people. Frequent recoveries indicated that infiltration of the militants was on rise from Arnia sector, the sources said. Security forces detected and defused one anti-tank mine at Chunni Tana Khour Sector. |
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NEW DELHI, May 24: The Congress today welcomed the Government decision to invite Pakistan Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf for talks and said that trade and economy should be on the agenda of discussions. "Trade and economy could pave way for better relations between the two countries," party spokesperson on foreign affairs Mr K Natwar Singh said at the media briefing here. He said that the Government has only delayed the talks. "If this step would have been taken six months earlier, a large number of lives could have been saved." The Government has taken a hundred eighty degree turn on the question of talks, he said. "So far the Government had been insisting that there would be no talks with Pakistan as long as the cross border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir does not end. The Government had also been saying that it would not have talks with a military ruler." The Congress leader said that the party favoured talks on all issues with Pakistan, including, trade, commerce, military and security issues. Elaborating his party’s stand on third party intervention, Mr Singh said that the talks should be confined between India and Pakistan. He opposed the inclusion in dialogue of "some people in Jammu and Kashmir who wish to be invited to the talks". Mr Singh said that it must be made clear to the Pakistan that the whole country was one on the Government peace initiative. Replying to a question, he said that the Government should convene a meeting of all the political parties to arrive at a consensus on the stand that the Government would take in talks with Pakistan. Asked whether the Indian invitation to Gen Musharraf could have come due to pressure exerted by another country, Mr Singh said, "I certainly hope, not". On the cease-fire in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Singh said that the Congress has always supported every peace move of the Government but the Government has failed to explain what they wanted to achieve through these cease-fire. (UNI) |
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SRINAGAR, May 24: Former chairman of the separatist All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Syed Ali Shah Geelani today said the 53-year-old Kashmir issue could be resolved "once and for all" only when the United Nations resolution would be implemented. Talking to UNI, the hardliner Jamat-e-Islami leader said the vexed issue could be resolved only once the people of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh were given the opportunity to decide their future. Asked whether Pakistan would agree to withdraw all its forces from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) as per the UN resolution, Mr Geelani said, "let India declare first that she is ready to accept the UN resolutions, we will request Pakistan to withdraw its forces". He said in case Pakistan withdrew its forces, India would also have to pull out its forces from Jammu and Kashmir. However, he added that forces which would maintain law and order would have to remain for implementing the resolution. He said under the UN resolution there were only two options—merger either with India or Pakistan. However, he said people of the State were the final authority to decide their future. On the issue of supporting Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s invitation to Pakistan Chief Executive General Parvez Musharraf, Mr Geelani said if the two leaders were meeting to discuss the Kashmir issue with sincerity it was a good thing. "Core Kashmir issue should be the only agenda for the meeting between Mr Vajpayee and Gen Musharraf," he said and added that India’s announcement that it had identified eight points to be discussed could not be seen an effort to find a lasting solution to Kashmir issue. When asked where he saw the people of Kashmir in the talks between Mr Vajpayee and Gen Musharraf, Mr Geelani said there were several bilateral agreements between the two Governments in the past which had failed to yield any results. "Nobody can ignore the people of Jammu and Kashmir if we have to bring lasting peace in the sub-continent," he said and added that the Kashmir issue had to be addressed in its historical context. About the withdrawal of the six-month-old unilateral ceasefire, Mr Geelani said it (ceasefire) never existed on the ground. He alleged that custodial killings, torching of houses, arrest and torture of innocent people never stopped. (UNI) |
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NEW DELHI, May 24: The All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) today welcomed the Centre’s decision to invite Pakistan Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf to New Delhi for talks and said it was a positive step towards resolving the long-standing Kashmir imbroglio. "However, we doubt if the talks will be held to resolve the core issue of Kashmir or discuss trade and commerce between the two countries," former chairman Mirwaiz Omar Farooq told UNI here. Mr Omar said the details of the decision were still awaited. The Hurriyat Conference had always maintained that the problem could only be resolved through tripartite talks involving Pakistan, India and Kashmiris. "If it addresses that aspect, then it is a welcome move," the Mirwaiz said adding bilateralism could not yield the desired results. "However, the conglomerate is not averse if the two countries start a dialogue and then invite Kashmiris to find a lasting solution to the issue," he added. The principle that Kashmiris are the basic party to the issue has to be accepted by both Pakistan and India. Asked if the invitation was aimed at sidelining the Hurriyat Conference, Mr Farooq said the alliance stood vindicated by the move as it had always maintained that Pakistan was an important party to the issue. Islamabad had also declared that the solution to the problem should be in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Farooq said. The Hurriyat would, however, remain a part and parcel of negotiations on the Kashmir problem, he added. "We are not isolated... And will be more involved as the negotiations start," he said. The APHC would encourage both countries to sit across the table to discuss Kashmir and other long-pending issues. About the Centre’s decision to end the cease-fire, Mr Farooq said, "the move is not surprising. The truce was never implemented on the ground as offensive operations, custodial killings and crackdowns continued in the state." "Last week, there were about 13 custodial killings in the Valley," he claimed. Yesterday, the Centre, in a major policy shift, called off the six-month-old unilateral cease-fire (non-initiation of combat operations) and invited Gen Musharraf to visit India "at his early convenience", in pursuance of the Lahore declaration and the Simla agreement. The Government also decided that Mr K C Pant will continue to be the chief interlocutor for holding talks with various groups in the strife-torn State. Another Hurriyat leader Abdul Majid Banday said the invitation to Gen Musharraf was a positive step, which should be backed up by concrete steps to find a permanent solution to the Kashmir problem. "If the move is not supported by some concrete steps, it could have the same ending as the cease-fire," he said. About withdrawing the cease-fire in the troubled State, Mr Banday said it would have no difference on the ground. The truce never worked beyond one month and now the Government has formally withdrawn it, he opined. (UNI) |
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Defiant Manipur BJP MLAs head for Delhi IMPHAL, May 24: Defying the BJP high command, 25 party MLAs in Manipur along with nine others belonging to allies today headed for Delhi to "put pressure" on the party leadership to allow them to form a new Government in the State even as Samata Party leader George Fernandes said imposition of President’s rule was one option to end the crisis. The BJP MLAs led by R K Dorendra Singh, chief ministerial contender, hinted they would "pressurise" the central leadership for accepting a party-led ministry to replace the Samata-led Government which lost the trust vote on Monday. "We are going to Delhi to meet BJP central leaders and convince them of the necessity of forming a party-led ministry in the State. We have majority support in the 60-member assembly. Why are they not allowing us to form the ministry?" senior BJP leaders asked before leaving for Delhi. A senior leader requesting anonymity said "we may even form another regional party if the central leadership does not allow formation of a new ministry." However, BJP spokesman Narendra Modi said in Delhi that the high command was not aware of the Delhi visit by the BJP party MLAs. The 25 BJP MLAs and nine legislators of some other parties came together and formed Progressive Democratic Alliance hours after the fall of Koijam Government. In Mumbai, Samata Party president George Fernandes told reporters that President’s rule was one of the options being discussed to end the political uncertainty in Manipur and a solution may be in place in a day or two. Fernandes said the other options included formation of an alternative Government or restoration of Samata-led ministry. Union Minister of State for Food Processing and leader of MSCP (Chaoba faction) Chaoba Singh said President’s rule might be imposed in Manipur. "Because of the betrayal of trust of National Democratic Alliance leadership by the State party members, there is a possibility of imposition of Central rule and the assembly being kept under suspended animation," Singh told reporters here. He said none of the major parties in the State assembly was in a position to stake claim to form a new Government. Singh said the present caretaker Koijam Government should not be allowed to hold office for long as it had lost the confidence motion. Meanwhile, Samata Party MLAs at a meeting here today reaffirmed their faith in the leadership of Radhabinod Koijam and demanded his re-installation as Chief Minister. Several Samata MLAs, however, said if restoration of Koijam was not possible, they would accept a new Government led by BJP member H Bhuban Singh, the lone BJP member who voted in favour of the confidence motion, the sources said. (PTI) |
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Girl among 3 killed in lightning Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, May 24: Three females including a teen-aged Matric student were killed when lightning struck village Chak, about 14 kms from here this evening. Police said the victims were on their way to houses when hailstorm lashed Udhampur. They took shelter under a tree, which was hit by lightning at 1730 hours. All three died on the spot. Victims have been identified as Neeru Devi D/o Bishan Dass, a police Havildar, Neeru’s three year old niece D/o Rattan Lal and Parkasho Devi, 37, widow of Surinder Singh, all residents of Chak. Neeru was a Matric student of Nehru Memorial School, Udhampur. The tree as well as victims were burnt under the impact of lightning. |
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Another fire in ammunition depot; soldier killed SURATGARH (RAJASTHAN), May 24: Huge explosions and bursting splinters from heavy shells lit the skyline in a 15-km radius as a massive fire raged in an ammunition sub depot near here, close to the International Border with Pakistan, claiming life of a sentry and seriously injuring two other guards. The fire, which broke out in the middle of the sub depot where anti-tank mines were stored, spread rapidly killing guard Kuldip Singh of the Defence Security Corps and causing serious burn injuries to two other sentries who were airlifted to nearby army base hospital, an Army spokesman said in New Delhi. He said bursting shells and mines were preventing about 25 civilian and army fire tenders from approaching the depot where nearly 8,000 tonnes of heavy and medium ammunition including T-72 tank shells, 130mm and 155mm artillery shells, rockets and assorted mines were stored. "The intensity of the explosions has come down considerably by 1900 hours," the spokesman said, adding the depot was located far from civilian areas. Within a span of a month, this is the second major mysterious fire in forward ammunition depot close to the border with Pakistan. The fire last month in another ammunition depot near Pathankot had gutted 427 tonnes of ammunition, mainly tanks and artillery shells of forward armoured formations located close to Indo-Pak border. The army spokesman said the fire had so far destroyed about 50 per cent of the ammunition stored in the depot located within the Mahajan firing range perimeter used both by the army and the airforce. "We believe that eight to ten plinths (layers) of ammunition is likely to be affected", the spokesman said. As the Army Bhatinda sub-area commander took a chopper for an aerial reconnaissance of the devastation caused by the fire, Inspector General of Police H N Meena told PTI in Jaipur that people in six villages close to the depot were being evacuated to safer areas. Eyewittnesses reported that huge explosions were rocking the area and their sound could be heard as far away as Suratgarh town itself. Meena said villagers from Birdhwal, Rahiyanwali, Uddaipur, Sardarpura and nearby hutments were being evacuated by public transport. Meanwhile, the Army has ordered a court of inquiry into the fire incident in the area, which was the scene of the recent corp level exercises "Poorna Vijay’ undertaken by the Army. Though the army had instituted a court of inquiry into the Pathankot fire as well as that in the Central Ordnance Depot near Bharatpur in May last year in which 1000 tonnes of ammunition worth over Rs 1200 crores was destroyed, the reports have not so far been made public. (PTI) |
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