Indo-Pak talks will usher in era of peace: Farooq

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, May 30: The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah has expressed hope that forthcoming talks between India and Pak will prove fruitful and usher in an era of peace and stability in the State.

The Chief Minister was addressing passing out parade of 3rd batch of recruit constables at Subsidiary Police Training Centre(SPTC),Talwara this morning.

The Chief Minister wished that God may provide prudence to neighbouring country to respond positively to peaceful efforts of India, which was bent upon destroying peaceful atmosphere in the State causing numerous miseries for the people.

The Chief Minister congratulated the recruits on the completion of their training and also officers who have imparted the training by putting in their best efforts.

The Chief Minister advised the recruits to give due respect to their uniforms while discharging their duties honestly and sincerely to fight against the law offenders as well as militants. He stressed that consideration of religion, caste or creed should not influence while performing their legitimate duties. He said that all religions and holy books teach us to promote feeling of brotherhood and love for each other.

Dr Abdullah impressed upon the recruits that whatever they have learned during the course of training, they will never forget in life and expressed the hope that they will be able to achieve the objective of their training. He advised them that they should never disobey the orders of their superiors and perform their duties with zeal and dedication. He said that this training will be beneficial to them in many ways even after their retirement. He called upon them to build up their standard to earn appreciations all over the country, adding that ultimately the State police has to solely provide security to the people, since the security forces have been deployed just to help us.

The Chief Minister said that police jawans have to work in difficult situation. He further said that he would feel immensely proud when our jawans in their fight against the enemy receive bullet on the chest and not on the back. Appreciating the combat spirit of the J&K Police, Dr Abdullah recalled his recent meeting with Unified Command which was attended by the Union Home Minister and Defence Minister in which Director General of Police, Mr A K Suri had demanded strong offensive weapons to fight against the militants.

The Chief Minister said that the police jawans have to learn more and more in the art of combating and fighting against the enemy in their career and stressed the need for introducing modern technology and computerization to update and improve the police working.

Earlier, on his arrival, the Chief Minister inaugurated the Chenab Barrack of SPTC, Talwara which has been constructed for providing residential accommodation to 250 recruits.

The DGP, Mr A K Suri and Additional DGP, Mr Gopal Sharma also congratulated the jawans on the completion of their training and expressed the hope that they will come true to the oath taken by them for serving the country honestly and fearlessly.

The Chief Minister also inspected the guard of honour and took salute at an impressive march-past presented by the contingents of recruits of JKAP, IRP and JKP. He administered them oath of allegiance to Indian and State Constitutions.

The Chief Minister gave away cash prizes and merit certificates to 10 recruits who excelled in range classification, outdoor and indoor activities during the training period. The awardees included, constable Rajinder Kumar, IRP Ist Bn, Const Rauf Ahmed, JKAP, 6th Bn, and Const Zahoor Ahmed, JKP, Ganderbal who were awarded cash prizes of Rs 2000, Rs 1500 and Rs 800 respectively with certificates of merit for securing Ist, 2nd and 3rd positions in outdoor activities. Const Rouf Ahmed of JKAP, Const Parvinder Kumar of IRP and Const Tilak Raj of JKAP bagged Ist, 2nd and 3rd positions in indoor activities and were awarded Rs 2000, Rs 1500 and Rs 800 respectively with merit certificates. Likewise, Const Majid Ullah of JKAP, Const Rohit Kumar of IRP and Const Parvez Ahmed of JKP Srinagar were adjudged Ist. 2nd and 3rd in Range classification and awarded Rs. 2000, Rs 1500 and Rs 800 respectively with merit certificates. Constable Rouf Ahmed of 6th Bn of JKAP was declared all round best and was given one rank of selection grade.

On the occasion, DGP presented memento to the Chief Minister while the Chief Minister presented mementoes to DGP, Mr Suri, Additional DGP, Mr Gopal Sharma, DIG, Mr P R Gandotra, Principal, SPTC, Talwara, Mr Abdul Rashid Shan, Parade Commander, Mr Sujjad Nabi, Assistant Parade Commander, Mr Adalat Hussain and SSP, Mr Karnail Singh.

Among others, the District Development Commissioner, Udhampur, Mr Mohd Sayeed Khan, senior officers of Army and BSF and prominent citizens of Reasi were present at the function.

9 foreign mercenaries shot dead in Poonch

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 30: Security forces gunned down nine foreign mercenaries in three separate encounters across Udhampur and Poonch district overnight and thwarted an infiltration attempt on the Line of Control (LoC).

A Defence spokesman said army soldiers noticed an infiltration attempt by a big group of militants on the LoC in Mandi sector of Poonch district at 0200 hours today. Troops kept a vigil on the movement of militants and encountered them this morning.

Exchange of firing led to the killings of five foreign mercenaries. Other militants fled back to Pakistan.

Army jawans recovered five AK-47 rifles, three pistols and a huge quantity of ammunition and explosives from the encounter site.

The Border Security Force (BSF) with the help of Special Task Force (STF) Gool gunned down two foreign mercenaries in village Sokar in Mahore Gool area of Mahore last night.

BSF sources said five columns of 73 battalion of BSF accompanied by STF Gool fanned out in Sokar village, about six kms south west of Gool in Mahore tehsil last evening after developing an information regarding militants movement in the area.

When columns were approaching the targeted area, the militants hiding inside a nullah opened heavy firing on security personnel, who took positions and retaliated. BSF and STF jawans surrounded the nullah, which had been covered with big boulders and vegetation.

During heavy exchange of firing, security forces eliminated two foreign mercenaries. Reports indicated that a couple of militants managed to escape during the gun-fighting taking cover of nullah. No casualty was reported on security forces side.

In the morning, security jawans carried out searches in the nullah and recovered bodies of two slain foreign mercenaries. They have been identified as Abu Farkan and Abu Mudassar, both hailing from Pakistan. They were activists of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit.

Recoveries made from the possession of slain militants included two AK rifles, one bayonet, six magazines of AK rifles, one radio set, 180 rounds, one hand grenade, Rs 7300 worth Indian currency and one Casio watch.

Security forces continued searches in Sokar forests to track down the militants, who escaped during the exchange of gun-fighting. Escaped ultras were believed to be two in number. Both of them were foreign mercenaries.

Another encounter took place between army and militants in general area of Surankot this afternoon. The encounter was launched on a tip off that militants had taken shelter in a dhok. The tip off was reportedly given by Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) cadre as the militants in question were Hizb activists.

After half an hour long encounter, troops blasted the hideout killing both militants inside. They were later identified as Mohd Ashraf and Abdul Rafiq, both residents of Gujaranwala, Pakistan. They were affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen’s Pir Panjal Regiment.

Two AK-56 rifles, six magazines, 181 rounds, six hand grenades, incriminating documents, brown sugar and some medicines were recovered from the possession of slain militants.

Soldier, Ikhwan commander killed in Shopian encounter
2 top militants of Jaish, Lashkar killed in Valley

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 30: Even as security forces have eliminated two top militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad outfits in Kashmir valley, militants killed a soldier and a counter-insurgent in a fierce gunbattle in Shopian.

Official sources told EXCELSIOR that a "district commander" of Jaish-e-Mohammad, namely Abu Hamza alias Asif alias Omar of Pakistan got killed in the overnight encounter between militants and security forces at Gamander, Chewa. As already reported in this newspaper, an encounter between troops of Rashtriya Rifles 13 Bn and SOG Ganderbal had begun at Chewa (Safapora) late last night. A group of three or four militants, who had hidden themselves at the house of Abdul Kareem Dar, engaged troops in an encounter. According to residents, at least three militants managed to escape from the cordoned area while one militant got killed. Police Gypsy and Dar’s suffered damage in the encounter.

In Shalteng outskirts of the capital city, troops of Rashtriya Rifles 02 bn and SOG Budgam raided a house at Mustafabad early this morning. Militants opened fire and at least three militants of the group are believed to have escaped. One militant died in the encounter. He was identified as Abu Zaf of Pakistan. A Police constable, namely Ghulam Mohi-ud-din, sustained gunshot wounds in the crossfire. Posted at Baramulla, he is on leave. One AK-56 rifle was recovered from the spot.

A diary, recovered from the site of the encounter, indicated that the slain militant was a top functionary of Lashkar-e-Toiba. Documents revealed that he had distributed cash worth Rs 11 Lakh among his subordinates the other day only.

Reports from Shopian said that early this morning troops of Rashtriya Rifles 1st Bn and SOG launched a cordon-and-search operation at Kharwar village. One soldier, namely Aijaz Ahmed and a prominant Ikhwani, namely Rasheed Malik alias Naasir of Damhal Hanjipora, were killed on spot. Two militants ran away and took shelter inside the village mosque. Troops called in heavy reinforcements but till late tonight they had no orders to search the place of worship.

Militants hurled a hand grenade on CRPF 54 Bn at Chini Chowk in Anantnag town at 8.45 p.m tonight. It exploded, causing injuries to six civilians of whom four were rushed to a Srinagar hospital.

Reports from south Kashmir said that an unidentified militant opened fire on a former counter-insurgent, Assadullah alias Showkat Muqami, at Irm Colony, Ashmuqam. He died on spot.

An encounter took place between militants and troops of RR 15 Bn at Aham Sharif, Bandipore. All the militants managed to escape. Later, a civilian ran over an unexploded shell which went off accidentally. He sustained multiple injuries. He was identified as Nazir Ahmed Khan S/o Syed Wali Khan of Panhar.

Series of raids in Valley
Vehicle carrying cash seized on highway

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 30: On the basis of specific intelligence inputs, Ramban Police have seized an Ambassador car which was carrying an illegal money consignment of Rs 12 Lakh from New Delhi to Srinagar. Four persons detained with the car, have led Police to several militant hideouts as a series of raids has been conducted during the last three days.

According to informed official sources, Ramban Police intercepted an Amabassador car, bearing registration number DAT 8275, at Ramban, on Srinagar-Jammu national highway, on Monday last. As per the intelligence reports, it was carrying a huge money consignment for a pro-Pakistan militant organisation. The outfit, according to sources, has been given a fresh assignment of subversive activities in Ganderbal Assembly constituency of Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and Sonawari segment of the J&K Awami League Kukka Parray as also in the capital city.

As four persons, travelling in the car, were arrested on spot, Police recovered cash worth Rs 12 Lakh from the vehicle. Sources identified the detained militant conduits as Fayaz Ahmed Rishi of Nesbal (Sumbal) and Shabir Ahmed of Bemina. They had reportedly offered a lift to two more acquaintances, namely Zulfiqar Ahmed Sofi S/o Sarwar Sofi and Imtiyaz Ahmed Pahloo S/o Mohammad Maqbool Pahloo of Basant Bagh, Gaw Kadal. Sources, however, said that the involvement of Zulfiqar and Imtiyaz had not been established.

On the sustained interrogation and disclosures made by Fayaz Ahmed and Shabir Ahmed, Ramban Police carried out a series of raids at several places in the capital city as also in Bemina and Sonawari localities. It could not be immediately ascertained whether anything objectionable had been recovered or not.

Even as some of the officials apprehended that the case was being hushed up under tremendous pressure of some influential persons, others asserted that things had been disclosed as revelations could have hampered the investigation.

Earlier in March, Kathua Police had similarly intercepted a vehicle at Lakhanpur and recovered a huge money consignment from it.

5 yr tax exemption for new unit holders in J&K
25 pc growth in IT collections: Ahluwalia

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 30: Chief Commissioner Income Tax North-West region Mr J S Ahluwalia has said that this region has registered 25 pc growth rate in terms of income tax collection and a considerable increase has been witnessed in Harayana and Himachal Pradesh States.

Talking to Excelsior here today Mr Ahluwalia who arrived here from Srinagar this afternoon said that budget was fixed to the tune of Rs 300 crores for the last financial year and the target was achieved very easily. Good results have been witnessed from Harayana and Himachal in terms of tax generation while Jammu region has also achieved the allotted target of Rs 65 cr revenue this year.

Replying to a question, the IT Regional Chief said that it was not possible to give separate revenue generation break up for salary and the business class, but maintained that the Deputy Commissioners concerned at Jammu and Srinagar will be able to give the accurate figures for J&K State. Over 10 percent increase in tax revenue has been recorded in the urban areas while the rest pertained to the semi-urban and rural areas.

Responding to a question on problems being faced in J&K due to non-issuance of PAN cards to a large number of people, Mr Ahluwalia said that no such matter has come to his notice so far. He, however, claimed that over 95 per cent people who fall under the category of income tax payers have been issued Permanent Account Number (PAN) cards in the region.

"I am not much aware about the problem in Jammu area but as per the information available to me about 90-95 percent people have received the Permanent Account Number Cards," he said adding that those who applied for the same and are still waiting for cards should contact concerned IT officials at Jammu or Amritsar.

He said in several cases, the cards which are usually sent through ordinary Post could not reach to their respective destinations and came back to the offices concerned due to wrong address. Such cases also came to light in big way. He also instructed to the officials concerned to look into the matter.

Mr Ahluwalia said that Government has given some special concessions to the J&K state as this State is backward. Special income tax exemption has been given to the new industrialists/unit holders for five years in the Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, it was ten years and was revised later. He ruled out the tax being realised from certain units under Minimum Alternate Tax Act and said that only it is being imposed on some firms in case they own the unit. Certain more facilities have been given to the tax payers of this State, he maintained.

Replying to a question on misuse of public money by some Trusts and non—control of IT department on them, the Income Tax chief said that proper control is being maintained by the concerned IT officials. Trusts and the donors are governed by sections 80-G and 12-A of the Income Tax. They have to spend at least 75 percent of the money meant for the object, according to norms laid down thereby. They are also required to file the IT returns. The donors as per Section 80-G are required to pay the IT of fifty per cent of the money donated.

Additional Commissioner Mr B D Kaler in response to another question regarding delay caused in the system of income tax returns and harassment caused to the parties, maintained that entire system is being computerised and it will take some time to make the system more smooth and fast. He also refuted the allegations of corruption and harassment to the parties in the Jammu IT office and maintained that good services are being provided to the people up to their satisfaction.

Home Ministry to get more powers

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, May 30: The Union Home Minister, Mr LK Advani, is gradually emerging as a stronger man. He has begun to seek more powers for his Ministry to fight terrorism.

Mr Advani’s cleverer colleague and Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, may not concede the demand of the Sangh Parivar for his (Mr Advani’s) designation in the Government as the Deputy Prime Minister. But Mr Vajpayee cannot afford to brush aside the report of the Group of Ministers on reforming the national security system.

Precisely, Pakistan and the ISI and illegal immigration, which dominate the report, have been identified as the main threats to India’s internal security. No wonder, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) under Mr Advani has begun using the perceived threat to security to argue for more powers.

Significantly, Mr Advani, according to insiders, has even favoured changes in the statute book. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has come under some criticism where the marked difference in the perception of civil and military officials about their roles and the "serious weakness" in the Chiefs of Staff Committee’s ability to provide single-point military advice to the Government have been highlighted.

The report has indicted the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) for failing in effective coordination with the Government. The report says: "The functioning of the COSC has, to date, revealed serious weakness in its ability to provide single-point military advice to the Government, and resolve substantive inter service doctrinal, planning, policy and operational issues adequately. This institution needs to be appropriately revamped to discharge its responsibilities efficiently and effectively, including the facilitation of jointness and synergy amongst defence services".

The chapter on intelligence (in the report of Group of Ministers) has not been made public in view of national security. Has the failure of the intelligence agencies in the Kargil conflict been outlined in the report? "I am afraid I can’t say anything in this connection", was Mr Advani’s reply.

The report has provided for the setting up of an intelligence coordination group, a defence intelligence agency, an integrated intelligence command, a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) post, and the conversion of service headquarters into integrated headquarters of the Ministry of Defence in the hope that this will lead to progressive decentralisation of decision-making.

The external threat has been limited to the neighbourhood with the focus on Pakistan. ISI infiltration through the porous borders has been specifically mentioned as a major risk to national security, with the report favouring ‘pro-active’ and not reactive measures to check the threat.

In view of the controversy triggered by a set of media reports, the Prime Minister is said to have ordered a ‘go slow’ on the Group of Ministers’ proposal to appoint a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). The External Affairs-cum-Defence Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh, has declined to be drawn into discussion on the issue, but he has reiterated that the decision on the post of CDS could be implemented only after Mr Vajpayee completes the process of consulting all the political parties.

The Prime Minister will not be able to undertake the process for at least a few weeks as he is scheduled to leave for Mumbai shortly to undergo a second knee operation. Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sushil Kumar, who is the senior most defence chief, was tipped to become the first Chief of Defence Staff. But he turned down the proposal in a letter to Mr Jaswant Singh.

While Admiral Sushil Kumar has maintained complete silence about his motivation, he is learnt to be upset about the strong indictment of the Chiefs of Staff Committee in the report of the Group of Ministers. Admiral Kumar is the chairperson of the COSC. The report, while justifying the setting up of a CDS, the report has said: "The COSC has not been effective in fulfilling its mandate".

The Chief of Defence Staff, under the report, is required to provide single-point military advice to the Government as the present system of the service chiefs rendering military advice independent of the other was found to be "unsatisfactory".

Cong flays Centre on Kashmir

SRINAGAR, May 30: The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress today welcomed Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s invitation to Pakistani Chief Executive, General Pervez Musharraf for talks on the Kashmir issue.

Addressing a press conference here, J and K Pradesh Congress Committee president, Mohammad Shafi Qureshi, however, said that the Centre’s decision not to permit the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) delegation to visit Pakistan for holding talks with leaders of militant organisations and Government there was ‘not good’.

He also described the latest initiative by the Centre as ‘confusing’.

"Earlier, the same BJP-led-NDA Government was not willing to talk to the military ruler in Pakistan, but now they have invited General Musharraf for a dialogue,"he said and added "we could see some that this was now done under some pressure".

Referring to the APHC, he said it was the Centre who encouraged it to take initiative for finding a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue. But when the APHC announced that its five-member delegation will visit to Pakistan for holding talks with the leaders of different militant organisations and the Government there, they were denied travel documents.

The Centre should have allowed APHC leaders to visit Pakistan, he said and added, "refusing permission to them was not a good decision."

The former Governor, however, termed as a ‘welcome step’ Mr Vajpayee’s offer of talks to General Pervez Musharraf saying that any effort from any side to restore peace and resolve the Kashmir issue would be supported by his party.

"Good relations with Pakistan are necessary", Mr Qureshi said and added that, "for restoration of peace in the Jammu and Kashmir we need help from Pakistan".

He said cross-border terrorism would stop only when Pakistan, which is arming, financing and helping them (militants), takes some measures in the direction of stopping it.

"Because of this aspect, involvement of Pakistan to find a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue becomes important", he said. About Centre’s chief negotiator K C Pant’s holding talks with various political, religious and traders federation leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Qureshi said,"we welcome it. But still we do not understand whether he has come here to restore peace or find a lasting solution to Kashmir issue.

A former Union Minister, Mr Pant has said that for finding a permanent solution to the Kashmir issue, peace and normalcy was necessary so that talks could be held in a very conducive atmosphere.

In reply to a question, Mr Qureshi said,"I got a letter from Mr Pant for holding talks, but the date and time have yet to be fixed."

When asked why successive Congress Governments at the Centre failed to resolve the Kashmir issue with Pakistan since 1947, Mr Qureshi said every Congress Prime Minister had made sincere efforts at every level to improve India’s relations with Pakistan which had resulted in many agreements in the past, including the Shimla agreement.

In reply to a question he said Congress would support any move from any side to help resolve the Kashmir issue once and for all as "both India and Pakistan are wasting millions of rupees on this issue".

"India and Pakistan have to find a peaceful solution to the issue and live in peace which is necessary for overall development of both the countries,"he said.

When asked about the announcement of early elections by Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, the state Congress chief said,’’as a political party, Dr Abdullah will see us ready and we are, in fact, ready to face elections in the State.’’

He said,"despite ups and downs during the last ten years, the Congress’ base in the Valley is still intact and time will prove it." (UNI)

PM satisfied with Musharraf’s response

MANALI (HP), May 30: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today said he was satisfied with Pakistan military ruler Pervez Musharraf’s response to his invitation for talks and dates for his visit to New Delhi would be decided soon.

"I am satisfied with his reply," Vajpayee told reporters before returning to Delhi after a week-long sojourn here, a day after Musharraf’s acceptance letter was formally handed over to New Delhi.

On being asked whether he would send a response to Musharraf’s letter, Vajpayee said "the time for correspondence is over. Now the meeting will take place."

Dates for the Pakistani leader’s visit would be decided soon, the Prime Minister said. (PTI)

Musharraf aides begin consultations

ISLAMABAD, May 30: Pakistan military regime is contemplating a ban on religious outfits like Lashkar and Sipaha-e-Sahaba to contain sectarian violence in the country.

Stating that the Government would not permit the religious extremist groups to fan sectarian hatred, Pakistan Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider said that Lashkar and Sipaha outfits were "listed for a ban if they continued their violent acts".

Haider, however, did not elaborate whether he meant Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a Sunni sectarian outfit, or Lashkar-e-Toiba - the Pak-based militant organisation active in Kashmir.

Officials here said even if the minister meant Lashkar-e-Jhangvi as listed for ban, it was significant as the organisation was an off-shoot of Harkatul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammad led by Maulana Mohammad Azhar.

Azhar was released by India in exchange for the passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines plane from Kathmandu in December 1999.

The minister, who has often threatened action against the extremist groups but always backed out later, issued the warning at a function at Rawalpindi yesterday.

The minister’s firm warning against the militant groups followed a low key but a broad-based consultative process initiated by Gen Musharraf’s close aides with the leadership of the religious parties and ‘Jihadi’ groups to blunt their opposition to the military ruler’s forth coming summit meeting with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, sources said. (PTI)

Centre evolves plan to curb terrorism

VIJAYAWADA, May 30: The Centre has evolved a comprehensive action plan to curb cross-border terrorism perpetrated by Pakistan and also Naxalism in five states, including Andhra Pradesh, Union Minister of State for Home Ch Vidyasagar Rao said today.

Addressing a press conference here, he alleged that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) had launched a proxy war against India by aiding and abetting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and funding and arming foreign merceneries and sending them across into the country, with the sinister design of destabilisation.

As part of the action plan to crush and curb militancy and extremism in the country, the police machinery was being modernised. The allocation of funds for the police department in various states had been increased from just Rs 200 crores to a whopping Rs 1,000 crores, he informed.

Mr Rao said the ISI did not enjoy the support of the local Muslims and cited the example of the Muslims not coming forward to perform the cremation of ISI agent Asom Ghori, who was killed in an encounter.

Expressing concern over the overstaying of more than 13,500 Pakistani nationals in the country, including about 3,000 without valid documents, the minister said states had been empowered to arrest those who did not possess valid documents and to deport them to ensure that they did not indulge in unlawful activities.

He said he was surprised when a Pakistani woman married to an Indian and having three children, approached him for Indian citizenship. This only revealed that a large number of Pakistanis were staying in the country both legally and illegally, he pointed out.

Mr Rao said Naxalism had been curbed to a large extent, with the Directors General of Police of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Orissa sharing intelligence inputs through the special cell created by the Home Ministry, with the Home Secretary as Chairman. (UNI)

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