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140 killed in US air strikes ISLAMABAD, Nov 18: With Taliban showing no intention of retreating from Kandahar, the US war planes today bombarded their positions afresh as whereabouts of Osama bin Laden remained a source of intense speculation with a report suggesting he was surrounded by US and British special forces in an area southeast of Kandahar. With Northern Alliance forces tightening their siege around the northern city of Kunduz, where four US bombers pounded Taliban positions, there were reports that thousands of militia fighters holed up there were killing each other to avoid capture. About 60 Chechen fighters drowned themselves in the nearby Amu river and a Northern Alliance commander said 25 trapped Taliban fighters shot each other when they saw opposition troops advancing towards them, CNN reported from Kunduz. A defiant Taliban said they had no intention to abandon their southern stronghold of Kandahar and dismissed reports that some of their fighters had been leaving the city. "Our orders are to live here in Kandahar and to defend our Islamic law...We have to stay here in Kandahar," Mohammad Tayyab Aga, Taliban spokesman told BBC. He also said Taliban supreme commander Mullah Mohammad Omar was still "in the area controlled by our forces." Amidst attempts by Afghan war lords to carve out territory for themselves, raising the spectre of more internal chaos and civil war, un special envoy Fransesc Vendrell held talks in Kabul with Alliance leaders including former President Burhanuddin Rabbani on convening a conference of various Afghan factions to form a broad-based Government. UN is insisting that the conference should be held outside Afghanistan which is not being favoured by the Northern Alliance. Rabbani, who returned to Kabul yesterday, five years after being ousted by the Taliban, said he had not come to rule and would welcome the establishment of a broad-based Government. Vendrell told BBC’s Pashto service that Rabbani would not automatically become leader in a new Afghanistan where many groups reject his authority. A pan-Afghan conference is one of the key tenets of a UN plan put forward by its special representative for Afghanistan Lakhdar Brahimi who has outlined a two-year transition to a new constitution and a multi-ethnic Government. UN accuses Northern Alliance, which has seized control of most of Afghanistan, of dragging its feet on the political process. The US is pressing Northern Alliance to refrain from forming a Government and meet their promise to let the UN help cobble together a multi-ethnic coalition government. There were conflicting reports with regard to the whereabouts of bin Laden. While a British newspaper said that British and US special forces have surrounded the world’s most wanted suspected terrorist in an area of 80 sq. Km in Southern Afghanistan, the Northern Alliance claimed that he was hiding 130 km east of Kandahar. Taliban ambassador to Pakistan Abdul Salam Aaeef, however, said bin Laden had left Taliban controlled Afghanistan. "I do not know where he is; whether he is in some other area of Afghanistan or has left Afghanistan. But I know this much that he is not in area under our control," he was quoted as saying by Afghan Islamic Press news agency. Northern Alliance Interior Minister Younis Qanooni dismissed the Taliban claim saying they were "trying to cheat the international community so that they will stop the aerial bombing. "According to my information, bin Laden is still in Kandahar province in Maruf, some 130 km east of Kandahar city. He has training camps there and strong underground bunkers," AFP quoted him as saying. British daily the Sunday Telegraph quoting Defence sources said that British and US commandoes have been dropped by helicopter across the southern approach to the area near Kandahar to prevent bin Laden from escaping to Pakistan. The daily also said a guard of bin Laden’s elite Al-Qaeda has slaughtered Taliban troops to prevent them surrendering to the Northern Alliance. It quoted civilians escaping the city as saying that a foreign Al-Qaeda commander had ordered the massacre of 150 Afghan Talibs who wanted to defect. Meanwhile, Afghan Islamic Press said that nearly 140 people, mostly civilians, have been killed by US strikes on Taliban and suspected terrorist targets in Afghanistan in the past two days. At least 46 people were killed in bombing raids overnight and today in and around Kandahar. Another 94 people were killed in a series of raids in the provinces of Khost and Nangarhar, it said. Meanwhile, citing reports from a variety of sources, AIP said 42 of those died during an intense aerial bombardment of Maywand district, 70 km west of Kandahar city. "Most of the victims were tribal nomads," it said. Several thousand Taliban are believed to be holed up in Kandahar, the Islamic militia’s spiritual home. Tribal leaders surrounding the city were making renewed efforts today to negotiate a Taliban withdrawal. Another 93 people were killed in a series of bombing raids on the eastern provinces of Khost and Nangarhar, AIP reported. The death toll in Khost was put at 62, with most of the victims reported to be students at a Madrassa, or Islamic seminary, which was bombed on Friday night as they were saying their evening prayers. The US military had acknowledged that a 500-pound laser-guided bomb dropped in Khost had suffered a "guidance malfunction," missed its target and damaged a mosque. Twenty-eight people, including 19 members of one family, were killed when US planes bombarded Zani Khel village, 10 km west of Khost city, AIP added. Another 30 people were reported killed today as US planes launched pre-dawn air strikes on Nangarhar. The province’s new administrator Qari Abdul Salam told AIP that the strikes targetted shamshad town, eight km from the border with Pakistan. AIP said the jets raided the area before dawn and returned for a second attack when people from the adjoining villages were engaged in rescue operations. Seven people with serious injuries were brought to a hospital run by Pakistan’s private Edhi Welfare Trust in Torkham on the Pakistan border, where one died later. "I don’t know how many people died but it is likely there are many casualties," said Imtiaz Hussain, administrator of the Edhi Hospital. "I think the Americans are targetting the remaining Taliban checkpoints, ammunition and arms depots." (AFP) |
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Excelsior Correspondent RAMBAN, Nov 18: In the first-ever fidayeen attack in this otherwise peaceful town of Doda district on Jammu-Srinagar national highway, 10 army jawans and four civilians were killed and 32 others including 29 soldiers were injured, 24 of them seriously. Three fidayeens, who launched the attack on a large group of army personnel from atop a hill on Maitra bridge in the heart of Ramban town this afternoon, managed to escape. Official sources confirmed a total of 14 fatal casualties—10 soldiers and four civilians—and 32 injuries till tonight but added that death toll could go up as condition of several injured was stated to be serious. Twentyfour critically injured jawans have been airlifted to Military Hospital in Udhampur. The fidayeen attack took place at 1405 hours and lasted just four minutes after which all three fidayeens fled away without any resistance. Sources said about 65 to 70 army personnel, mostly Sepoys, had boarded off from two buses at Maitra bridge in the town here to reach their transit camp on foot. Only empty buses are allowed to ply on the old wooden bridge of Maharaja’s times at Maitra, located just a kilometer from the national highway. Some of the soldiers in small groups started taking food or fruit on the rehris alongside Maitra bridge while others were heading for the transit camp when three fidayeen (suicide squads of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit) appeared on a hill, overlooking the bridge and opened heavy firing. Since the jawans were going on leave, most of them were without weapons, the sources pointed out. They said the suicide squads fired grenades with a grenade launching gun and subsequently opened indiscriminate firing with an assault rifle and a Pika gun. Sources said the army jawans, who were carrying weapons with them, retaliated but the terrorists had the advantage of having taken positions on a hill. The terrorists fled away after about four minutes of firing. Within minutes, army jawans from their transit camp rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area. The victims were rushed to sub district hospital of Ramban. Immediately thereafter, army personnel launched a massive search operation in the upper reaches of Maitra to track down the fidayeens but latter remained untraced. Two of them, according to eye-witnesses, were wearing combat dresses while their third associate was in civil dress. Sources said the terrorists in army uniforms were believed to be foreign mercenaries while the ultra in plainclothes could be a local. Police parties led by Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Banihal Rupinder Chalotra were also helping in the operation. Ten army jawans and four civilians were killed in the attack. The deceased civilians included rehri owners along the bridge and passers-by besides a 10 year old child. Army jawans killed in the fidayeen attack have been identified as Naib Subedar Gopal Bahadur, Havildar Vishwanath, Sepoy Hira Bahadur Thappa, Lance Naik Mohan Singh, Naik Kuljeet Singh, Rifleman Gurmeet Singh, Driver Pardhan Parshanta, Recruit Patil Shivaji, Sepoy Hans Raj and Signalman Kiram M R. The dead civilians included Mohd Yusuf son of Kamaal Din R/o Parnot, Ghulam Abbas Malik son of Mohd Abdullah Malik R/o Chambalwas, Mohd Ashraf son of Alam Din Bakerwal R/o Maitra and 10 year old Altaf son of Abdul Lateef Naik R/o Khari, Ramban. While two civilians had died on the spot, two others including a child succumbed to their injuries in the sub district hospital of Ramban. Three injured civilians were still admitted in Ramban hospital in critical condition. They included Fareed Ahmed son of Mohd Din R/o Ramban, Abdul Lateef Malik son of Ghulam Mohd R/o Maitra and Mohd Akram son of Kalu Khan R/o Maitra. A total of 29 army jawans were reported to be injured in the grenade explosions and rocket attacks, the sources said, adding that 24 of them were airlifted to Military Hospital of Udhampur in three sorties while five others were being treated locally by the army doctors. Twentyfour army jawans, flown to Udhampur army hospital, have been identified as Naik Ravi Chatri, Sepoy Ramesh Kumar, Naik Kumar Chatri, Lance Naik Bahadur Gurung, Sepoy Buneshwar Roy, Sepoy Karan Singh, Naik Tejbar, Sepoy S Pardhan, Naik Yogender Singh, DMT Rama Rao, Naik Dharminder Singh, Naik K B Rana, DMT Chandershekhar, Rifleman Manoj Kumar, Rifleman D Hari Dass, Sepoy Rupesh Chatri, Havildar Vishwanath, Havildar Y B Thappa, CHM Prithpal Singh, Naik K Bahadur, Naik Ganesh Parsad, Naik R V Gurung, Havildar A Rajendera. Entire Ramban town wore a deserted look within few minutes of the attack. All shopkeepers and rehriwallas fled to their houses in panic. Sound of gun shots was heard in Ramban town and adjoining villages. Traffic on Jammu-Srinagar national highway also screeched to a halt. Army and police jawans swiftly came into action and started massive searches in Ramban. Retaliatory firing by army personnel continued in Maitra for about an hour but, according to official sources, the fidayeens remained untraced. Sources said the army jawans, targeted by the fidayeens, had just landed at Maitra in two civil buses. They were on their way from Srinagar to Jammu and had to take a brief halt in army transit camp along Maitra bridge. Majority of the jawans were unarmed. The jawans with weapons retaliated effectively. Sources said the fidayeen attack appeared to be pre-planned and executed by the terrorists with the help of their local contacts. The ultras might have conducted reconnaissance mission several times before carrying out such a big attack in a peaceful area. A police official admitted that they were not anticipating a fidayeen attack in the peaceful Ramban town. Barring isolated militancy-related incidents, no major subversive activity had been reported from the town so far. A Sarpanch was killed in Maitra on March 8 this year while a couple had died under mysterious circumstances in the same area on July 19. A grenade attack had taken place in Maitra in 1995. The day-light fidayeen attack has created a wave of panic in the entire town. Meanwhile, in another grenade attack in Doda district three civilians, all teen-aged boys, were injured. The grenade attack took place at village Ghai in Dessa area of Doda late last night. Injured boys included Pritam Singh son of Ram Krishan, Suresh Kumar son of Thakur Lal and Pardeep Singh son of Harnam Singh, all residents of Dessa. They were students of 8th and 9th class and were grazing cattle in a field when a grenade was thrown on them by the ultras. Injured have been hospitalised. Condition of Pritam Singh was stated to be serious while two other injured were responding to treatment. Our Srinagar Correspondent adds: Pakistan-based spokesman of Lashkar-e-Toiba, Abu Osama, told Srinagar journalists on telephone that both the militants of his organisation, who attacked the Army convoy, were "Kashmiri mujahideen". He identified them as Saif-ul-Islam and Abu Sufian. Abu Osama claimed that the two militants swooped on the troops when they were taking lunch. He claimed that the duo made good their escape while killing 15 soldiers and leaving 40 others wounded. He claimed that both of them reached back to their hideout safely. |
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India reserves right to cross LoC: Swami Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 18: Union Minister of State for Home, Mr I D Swami said that India was committed to exercise restrain on border but made it clear that option to cross Line of Control (LoC) was still available to smash terrorist training camps in the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Talking to media persons, Mr Swami said, "we are committed to eradicate menace of terrorism from the country. We are hoping to solve this problem peacefully". He, however, made it clear that India still has option to cross LoC to destroy training camps of terrorists. "This option is open and will remain open", he said, adding, "it is not appropriate time to cross LoC". Replying to a question, Union Minister of State for Home asserted that India reserves the right to liberate parts of the Kashmir occupied by the Pakistan. "It is obligatory on the part of Union Government to adhere to the unanimous resolution passed by the Lok Sabha regarding liberation of the PoK", he said and made it clear that there was no question of by-passing Lok Sabha resolution. He pointed that State Government has reserved certain number of seats in the State Assembly for the residents of the POK. He, however, made it clear that there was no time frame to liberate occupied Kashmir. Regarding demand of the autonomy raised by the National Conference Government, Mr Swami said that there was no question of accepting pre-1953 conditions in the State. "Union Government has already rejected autonomy demand of the State Government", he said. Replying to a question regarding reports of infiltration of the Taliban terrorists in the Jammu and Kashmir, Union Minister of State for Home said that there was no report of any such infiltration. The Minister was of the view that out-come of Afghanistan episode will have positive impact on Jammu and Kashmir. He, hoped that after eradicating Al-Quaida and other terrorists organisations, USA and other forces will divert their attention towards Kashmir. Earlier, addressing one day convention organised by the state unit of BJP on POTO and Internal Security, Mr Swami stoutly and staunchly defended promulgation of Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO) and condemned opposition for opposing this anti-terrorism ordinance just for the sake of opposition. He, however, said that Central Government wants to bring consensus on the issue. "Only Government alone can not fight against terrorism. It is proxy war and every citizen should contribute in war against terrorism", he said and added that Prime Minister has convened meetings of the all Chief Ministers to bring consensus on this issue. He was of the view that those opposing this ordinance actually trying to weaken the on-going war against menace of terrorism’’, He said that entire world has now become victim of the terrorism. "Menace of terrorism has engulfed entire world and no part of the world is safe from it", he said and added that it was crucial time to intensify war against terrorism. Pointing towards September 11 incident, Mr Swamy said, "India’s battle against terrorism did not start after these attacks but September 11 attack has awaken up the world to the reality". "India has been among the worst victims of the terrorists attacks and has to wage its battle not as a soft state but as a determined nation with its security, investigative and legislative system well equipped to punish terrorists and eliminate terrorists", he asserted but regretted that opposition parties were not supporting Union Government in its hard stand against terrorism. "It is most unfortunate that despite being the worst victim of the terrorism, opposition parties of this country are not supporting Government to enact strong law to deal with terrorism", he said and accused the opposition of playing vote politics with the matter related to the security of the country. Allaying all apprehensions aired by opposition parties, Union Minister of State for Home said, "POTO is a legislation which effectively deals with terrorists acts. It imposes punishment for terrorism, for abatement of terrorism, for harbouring terrorists and for being a member of a terrorist organisation". "Besides providing powers to deal with terrorism POTO provides several safe guards",he said and informed that acquisition of property with funds of terrorist organisations will need an approval of a designated authority or the special court. "Several actions taken under the ordinance will be reviewed by a review committee headed by a sitting or retired high court judge. The banned organisations can also move the review committee", he said, adding, "the ordinance has detailed procedures permitting interceptions, which can be made for a limited period and required ratification of the review committee". Criticising some organisations for terming POTO as against freedom of press, Mr Swamy clarified, "the section 3(8) of POTO merely requires that a person in possession of an information which he knows or believes to be of material assistance in prevention of a terrorist offense, is a must unless if there is reasonable cause otherwise disclosed this to the police". Launching a scathing attack on opposition for creating confusion among minorities regarding POTO, Mr Swamy reminded that the Congress has promulgated all those draconian laws like MISA, DDA and TADA which were mis-used by the then Congress regimes. He, however, informed that members of majority community were worst victims of these laws. "Percentage of minority community was only 4.5 percent among those who were arrested under TADA", he said. |
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PDP urges EC to keep vigil
on review of electoral rolls Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 18: Cautioning Central Government against nefarious designs of National Conference to rig forthcoming Assembly elections in the State, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mufti Mohammed Sayed today asked the NDA Government to take some positive steps to revive confidence of the inhabitants, of this violence plagued state, in the democratic institutions. "People have lost faith in the democracy and democratic institutions due to the rigging in the elections and manipulations of results by the successive State Governments", Mufti regretted, while addressing a press conference. He, however, said that forthcoming Assembly elections will provide golden opportunity to the Indian Government to win confidence of the people. While appreciating repeated statements of the Prime Minister to hold free and fair elections in the Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti cautioned Centre against evil designs of the National Conference Government, which according to him, was hell bent to rig forthcoming polls. Mufti aired apprehension that National Conference will not allow free and fair elections in the State. "The genuinesses of our apprehensions is confirmed by the very first step initiated in this directions regarding poor mechanism and wrong methodology being used for review of voters lists", he said, adding, "these faulty elector rolls would be definitely tell upon the final outcome of these elections and virtually affect the future of the State". He remained that electoral rolls were prepared no later than 1988 and all exercises made thereafter for inclusion and deletion of voters have been faulty. "In a sincere attempt to hold free and fair elections it is imperative upon the Election Commissioner of India to ensure a careful review of voters lists and their preparation afresh", he said. He said that these faulty rolls would definitely tell upon the final outcome of these elections and virtually affect the future of the State. "We are of the considered opinion that we cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past, particularly our experiences of 1987 polls", he cautioned. PDP chief further said that during the past 12 years of turmoil in the state, no serious work could be done at the time of elections to properly update the voters lists, particularly in Kashmir valley. "A generation has grownup ever since which, we must say, is most relevant and significant in so far as the future of the State is concerned", he said, adding, "much of them are hesitant, depressed or annoyed youth who need to be involved in the democratic process rather than alienated further". Coming down heavily on National Conference for not taking any sincere efforts to win confidence of alienated youth, Mufti cautioned, " we cannot afford to infuriate alienated youth to fall prey to the grim conspiracies of the ruling National Conference that has admittedly no representative character and is generally and specifically responsible for the present condition of the state". He appealed to the Election Commission of India to make it sure that the electoral rolls will be fairly and properly updated by its functionaries. Chiding at Farooq Abdullah for repeatedly trying to project himself as most patriotic person, Mufti asked Dr Abdullah to take positive steps to remove alienation among masses. "There is a wide spread feeling among masses that Farooq Abdullah is responsible for the present turmoil. If he is so patriotic he should resign two months before elections to win back confidence of the people in democratic process", he said and it was in the interest of the nation to revive confidence of the people in democratic institutions. Accusing State Government of harassing sincere and dedicated officers, Mufti said that National Conference Government has been appointing junior and inexperienced officers at important posts to manipulate and rid the elections. He cited examples of two senior IAS officers who have been transferred without any reason. Coming down heavily on National Conference for its failure to mitigate woes of the masses, he said, "over the past few years the organs and agencies of the Government have rendered non-responsive and non-functional". "The administration seems to have entered a stage where it has ceased to respond and react to the demands and urges of the people. The wide spread corruption, with the corrupt enjoying a long and protective land of the high and mighty, has created an impenetrable wall between the people and administration", he said and adding, "nothing can be done without greasing of the palms. Even minor representation are not processed or considered at the portals of the administration without under hand deals". |
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Laden, ISI supporting LeT in J&K From B L Kak NEW DELHI, Nov 18: Britain’s International Institute for Strategic Studies has revealed that Osama bin Laden and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) provide "active support" to the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant outfit operating in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistani military intelligence "is reported to be giving active support to the Kashmir-based Muslim guerrilla movement, Lashkar-e-Toiba, as is international terrorist Osama bin Laden". This finding is contained in the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ report, titled The Military Balance 2001-2002. The report, which was made public the other day, runs into 320 pages. According to the report, local support for militancy in dying out in Jammu and Kashmir with the people desiring a "peaceful resolution" of the issue. The report says: "There is a growing number of Kashmiri Muslims who are wary of the conflict and wish to reach an accord with India". Yet another finding of the International Institute for Strategic Studies: New Delhi wants to cut down on its constant and heavy military commitment in Kashmir, which is a drain on resources that could be better directed to the military-modernisation plans. The report has noted: "The commitment of a standing force of the police and military personnel to Kashmir is a heavy burden for a country that is trying to implement large-scale reforms". Stating that the Agra summit talks between Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and Gen. Parvez Musharraf had "delivered little, at least publicly", the report said: "An important development is the more cooperative relationship between the US and India that has developed since the Bush administration took office in January 2001". The report also noted that India was embarking upon an ambitious programme to restructure, modernise and re-equip its Armed Forces. According to the report, New Delhi’s "improved relationship with the US may result in financial assistance and thus some impetus to this process". "A new strategic era has now dawned", the report said while referring to the September 11 attacks on the US and the subsequent developments. Meanwhile, New Delhi has let it be known that it does not want to enter into a "sterile debate" with Islamabad. New Delhi’s standpoint: India has never sought to compound Pakistan’s current difficulties. Pakistan should stop chasing "chimeras", a Ministerial source said. Responding to questions, the source told EXCELSIOR that Pakistan should shed its "compulsive hostility" towards India as it was its "negative disposition" that was at the root of the Indo-Pak differences. Instead, Pakistan, the Ministerial source emphasized, should address the question of cross-border terrorism. The source reiterated that a meaningful dialogue with Pakistan was possible only if Islamabad terminated cross-border terrorism. The source insisted: "There has to be a reduction of cross-border violence and transformation on the ground. The caravan of peace had not been overturned. A meaningful dialogue could commence only after Pakistan reined in cross-border terrorism". |
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Heavy fighting near Poonch
town Excelsior Correspondent POONCH/RAJOURI, Nov 18: Eight terrorists including six infiltrators were eliminated by army and police in three operations across the twin border districts today. All slain ultras were the foreign mercenaries. Terrorists slaughtered a Panch in Thanna Mandi. SSP Poonch Dr Kamal Saini told EXCELSIOR that a fierce gun-battle took place between a group of sneaking terrorists and security personnel at Tingla Top near the historic shrine of Dera Nangali Sahib in Poonch this morning. Troops of Poonch Brigade and Poonch Police encountered a group of six to eight terrorists, about two kms inside the Line of Control (LoC) after they intruded into the Indian territory. Heavy exchange of firing continued between the two sides for about one and a half hour. Four hardcore terrorists, all Pakistanis, were killed in the operation while others fled to a surrounding forest area. Security personnel didn’t suffer any casualty in the operation. The ultras, who escaped during the exchange of firing, included a notorious guide of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), official sources said. They said a massive hunt has been launched by army and police to capture the guide alive as his disclosures could prove very useful for the security forces in identifying Pakistani camps and the number of terrorists being trained there. Identity of the slain terrorists hadn’t been established so far. Three AK-47 rifles, one pistol with AK and pistol ammunition, a sophisticated wireless set and grenades were recovered from the possession of slain terrorists. Another encounter took place between troops of 19 Punjab, assisted by police, with a big group of 12 terrorists near General’s memorial in Dara area along Poonch river, about two kms from Poonch town at 2345 hours last night. Entire group of the terrorists had intruded into Poonch from across the LoC and were heading towards a forest area when they were trapped by army and police. Heavy arms firing, whose sound was heard in town throughout the last night, continued till early today. Sources said only two out of a total of 12 terrorists could be killed in the operation as the terrorists took advantage of night and hide themselves in a forest area. Slain ultras have been identified as Abu Al Wasim Shaheen and Ahmed Nawaz Bhatti, both Pakistanis. One AK rifle, a sniper rifle, three AK magazine, 95 sniper rounds, 10 hand grenades, 12 Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGLs) and 20 pencil cells were recovered from the scene of encounter. Army continued a massive search operation in the forests to eliminate the fleeing ultras. Searches were going on till the reports last came in. Meanwhile, two more terrorists were eliminated by army at village Saji Bagla in Gurjan area of Thanna Mandi of Rajouri district late last night. Three militants were killed by troops in the same area last evening while two others had escaped. Army jawans chased the fleeing ultras and eliminated them late last night taking toll in the encounter to five. Slain ultras were suspected to be Pakistanis. No casualties were reported on army side in the operation. A total of five AK rifles with ammunition were recovered from the spot. SHO Thanna Mandi Chowdhary Mohd Amin was also camping at the encounter site. Meanwhile, two terrorists entered into the house of a Panch Ghulam Qadir Najar son of Haleem Mohd at village Mangota in Thanna Mandi late last night and dragged him out. The terrorists took Panch behind the house (after locking his family inside) and beheaded him. Both terrorists escaped after the killing. A police party visited the spot today for investigations. Local people have resented the killing of Panch, the reports said. |
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POTO confrontation to rock Parliament NEW DELHI, Nov 18: As Parliament’s winter session begins tomorrow, opposition parties today hardened their stand on the controversial anti-terrorism ordinance even as the Government said it has an open mind on changes being suggested to the proposed law. Ruling NDA’s ally TDP sought amendments to clauses in the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO) relating to freedom of press while left parties vowed to "defeat" in Parliament the bill seeking to legitimise the ordinance saying it contained "draconian" provisions that "violated’ democratic rights in the guise of fighting terrorism. Faced with stiff resistance from opposition parties, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has convened an all-party meeting here on November 20 in a bid to evolve a consensus on the proposed legislation. Vajpayee’s action follows his apparent failure to secure Congress support on POTO during a meeting with leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi last evening. The Left parties met here to chalk out floor coordination in Parliament and strongly disapproved of the Centre’s "unilateral" action in promulgating poto without consulting the opposition and said they would "defeat it on the floor" of Parliament. "Far from being an instrument of fighting terrorism, the proposed legislation has all the potential of being misused against innocent citizens, journalists, opposition activists and minorities as had been experienced during enforcement of tada," a CPI (M) statement said. Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi told a public meeting in Pune that the Centre was willing to consider the changes and improvements to POTO and asked the opposition to suggest the same instead of opposing it to gain "political mileage". Joshi also ruled out misuse of the proposed statute against journalists. Re-entry of George Fernandes as Defence Minister and the storming of the make-shift temple in Ayodhya by VHP activists last month are among a host of issues the opposition is likely to rake up during the session in its attempt to put the Governmnent on the mat. (PTI) |
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Maneka, Jagmohan’s portfolio changed NEW DELHI, Nov 18: Minister of State Maneka Gandhi was tonight divested of the Ministry of Culture and given independent charge of the Ministry of Programme Implementation and Statistics with the additional charge of Animal Welfare. The Ministry of Culture has been allocated to Tourism Minister Jagmohan. President K R Narayanan on the advice of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, made these portfolio changes. (UNI) |
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Three MoD officials, 5 others in CBI net NEW DELHI, Nov 18: CBI has unearthed a scam in the Defence Ministry and registered a case against eight persons including three senior officials of the ministry and two foreign companies for allegedly causing loss of crores of rupees to the Government through supply of sub-standard ammunition to the Army during 1992-95. The FIR registered by CBI’s Special Investigation Group (SIG) has named the then Joint Secretary (Ordnance) Amitabha Pande, then Director (Ordnance) Ramanath Jha, the then Additional Financial Advisor to Defence Ministry B D Singh, the then Additional Director General of Weapons & Equipment (ADGWA), Army Headquarter Lt Gen (retd) Vinay Shankar, Hong Kong-based company M/s Pitcare Ltd, its Managing Director Peter Lim, Singapore-based Compasia) Pte Ltd and its representative Borislav Jurisic as accused. CBI alleged the accused persons and companies committed misconduct in the matter of supply of 10,000 rounds of 130mm illuminating ammunition and 6,700 rounds of 122mm illuminating ammunition to Indian Army by M/s Pitcare Ltd, Hong Kong, which also had its office in Singapore. The supplies were received by Central Ammunition Depot, Pulgaon, Wardha district in Maharashtra, in September 1993. But during proof test in September 1995, the performance of 130mm illuminating ammunition was found to be "not satisfactory" and the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA) recommended the whole lot as "not fit for use". The 122mm illuminating ammunition was also found to be substandard during user performance trials, CBI alleged. CBI, which conducted a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) into the matter between November last year and July this year, accused the Ministry of Defence (MoD) officials of entering into a criminal conspiracy with the foreign companies and their representatives. In furtherance of the said conspiracy, while entering into the contract with M/s Pitcare Ltd, the ministry officials deliberately did not verify the credentials of the company and accepted terms and conditions in the contract that were unduly favourable to the suppliers and detrimental to the interests of the Government of India, CBI alleged. During the negotiations, the company had agreed that the payment would be made only on receipt of goods in India and the competent authority had also approved the award of the contract on the said terms of payment, the FIR said. However, when the contract was signed on January 21, 1993 the mod officials by abusing their position as public servants agreed for the payment to be made on delivery which in turn was construed to be the presentation of the bill of lading, the agency alleged. Further, the consignment covered under the said contract was dispatched from Singapore/Hong Kong on May 31, 1993 but the inspection certificate was issued by the purchaser’s team conveying the inspection and acceptance of the ammunition even before the consignment had left the original station. In fact, no such team visited Singapore or Hong Kong for the said purpose, CBI alleged. (PTI) |
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JeM, HuM will be liquidated
SIACHIN GLACIER (LADAKH), Nov 18: Taliban and its fraternal Pakistani terrorist allies, including Jaish-i-Mohammad and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen cadres, now on the run in Afghanistan, will "face liquidation" if they dared enter Indian territory, Defence Minister George Fernandes warned today. Accusing Pakistan of still trying to prop up remnants of the Taliban regime by clandestine supplies of arms, material and even sending its army personnel in Mufti, Fernandes told Islamabad to take a lesson from its Afghan debacle and stop aiding cross-border terrorism in South-Asian sub-continent. Concluding a day-long whirlwind tour of high altitude border posts in this icy glacier - his record 20th visit to the area - Fernandes told the troops very close to the Line of Control (LoC) that New Delhi wanted a "broad-based neutral and representative Government" in a regime which was not inimical towards India. Asked by newsmen what impact Taliban’s ditching its Pakistani terrorist allies like Harkat and Jaish, leaving them to face the wrath of advancing Northern Alliance forces in Afghanistan, would have on Kashmir, the Defence Minister said these militants, now on run, if dared cross into India would be liquidated. He said the security forces all along the LoC had been put on high state of alert to check any infiltrations. Fernandes said New Delhi had told Islamabad in explicit terms to finish its cross-border terrorism activities declaring that if Pakistan still did not see the perils of backing terrorism, then it would meet the same fate as terrorism had faced in Afghanistan. The Defence Minister, addressing forces in Siachen base camp, a forward post facing point NJ 9842 where the Line of Control terminates, Partapur and in district headquarters of Leh, asserted that the worldwide fight against terrorism would continue even after the events in Afghanistan. Fernandes cautioned against thinking that because of rapid advances by Northern Alliance over the last week, Taliban was a spent force. He said Taliban still had the capacity and capability to force a long drawn war in Afghanistan by taking to guerilla tactics and the international community instead of going by the belief that Taliban phenomenon is over, should take concrete measures to ensure that these rabid forces did not re-emerge in Afghanistan. For the first time coming out openly with details of wide assistance given by India to Northern Alliance forces, Fernandes said New Delhi had helped these forces in every way from heavy and medium equipment to small arms and in other spheres. Fernandes said last week, rapid advances by Northern Alliance into major Afghan towns marked only the first phase of what he called Afghan campaign saying the next obstacle to be overcome would have to be a truly representative and broad-based Government in Kabul. Saying that New Delhi and Kabul had centuries old cultural, historical and religious ties, Fernandes said it was India’s security concern to have a "friendly and neutral Government in Afghanistan". He said as already outlined by Prime Minister A B Vajpayee, India was committed to helping actively in national re-building and humanitarian help in Afghanistan. Turning to the situation in the Glacier, often billed as the world’s highest battlefield, the Defence Minister said the whole region had this year been "comparatively quiet" except for occasional small arms exchanges in the middle sector. On the contrary, Fernandes said exchanges were now more live in Akhnoor and Mendhar areas of Jammu region adding that Pakistani army buildup was also reported from various sectors facing the International Border in Rajasthan. Referring to the Turtuk region, the minister said when he first visited the area in 1998, he had to go with a lot of police protection and "now you can call it one of the most peaceful places in the world". (PTI) |
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Badal injured,shifted to Delhi AMRITSAR, Nov 18: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today suffered a fracture in his left leg after tumbling in the bathroom here and was airlifted to New Delhi for treatment. Badal had a fracture on the upper end of his left femur bone and has been advised complete bed rest for a week, Dr Shivender Singh, orthopaedician attending on him told PTI. Another doctor attending on Badal said the X-rays revealed that the Chief Minister suffered a moderate fracture which would take about a month to heal. The Chief Minister cancelled all his engagements, including his participation in the bi-centenary celebrations of coronation of Maharaja Ranjit Singh which was addressed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He was examined and treated by local doctors before a team of medicos from Delhi took him in a state aircraft to Ganga Ram Hospital in the national capital this evening, official sources said. The Chief Minister was administered three units of blood in the hospital, the sources said. The Prime Minister visited him in hospital here. (PTI) |
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Three soldiers killed in Kupwara Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Nov 18: Having killed about a dozen army soldiers at Ramban, militants struck on security forces at two places in Kupwara district today, killing three soldiers and leaving three more injured. Meanwhile, militants have also killed a civilian and another has been left injured in the same district. Informed sources in north Kashmir told EXCELSIOR that militants ambushed a patrol of Rashtriya Rifles 32 Bn at Kumar Mohalla Sogam, in Lolab valley of Kupwara today. Troops retaliated but militants managed to escape. Two soldiers, namely Dinesh Chhatrti and Vishwas Bahadur, sustained critical injuries. Both of them later succumbed to injuries. However, officials did not confirm their death. Sources said that militants also ambushed a patrol of RR 42 Bn in Dardsun Kralpora forest area of Kupwara district. Again, troops retaliated but militants managed to escape. Havildar Prahlad Phukan got killed and three soldiers sustained injuries. They were rushed to hospital. Police recovered the beheaded dead body of a civilian, Fayaz Ahmed Shah S/o Hissam-ud-din Shah R/o Hayatpora Lalpora from Dardpora area. He had been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen from his home on Friday. Reports from Kupwara added that a civilian, Fayaz Ahmed Shah S/O Mohammad Maqbool Shah R/O Gagloosa, Trehgam, sustained injuries in a mysterious shootout when he was coming out of the village mosque after performing his prayers. Official suspect that militants could have fired upon Shah for his alleged links with security forces. However, residents held the security forces responsible. |
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NEW DELHI, Nov 18: Just as Jehadi elements appear to have acquired an upper hand among separatists in Jammu and Kashmir, senior Kashmiri leader Shabir Shah has initiated moves for a merger of local pro-independence groups "till an amicable solution is found" to the Kashmir issue. Shah has written to leaders of organisations comprising the 23-member Hurriyat Conference proposing that all of them give up the identity of their respective groupings in favour of one organisation. Calling it a "political merger", Shah told PTI that he had suggested to all the separatist groups, including the components of the Hurriyat Conference, to suspend their individual political activities and work under one banner. "Confusion among us is turning profitable for our opponents and is a major blockade in the way of resolution of the Kashmir issue," wrote Shah who heads Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP). "There is a need for broad-based unity to get the Kashmir issue resolved," added Shah who was the pioneer of forming the Hurriyat Conference in 1993. He, however, was ousted from the umbrella organisation in 1996 after he met the then US Ambassador to India Frank Wisner against the wishes of the Hurriyat Conference Executive Council. Hurriyat had decided to boycott Wisner when he visited Kashmir at that time. Hurriyat leaders have so far given no response to Shah’s missive with sources in the conglomerate saying the matter would first be discussed by its executive council. (PTI) |
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