Police vehicle burnt; cop held in murder case
Budgam tense as SOG kills boy

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 5: While the people in Kashmir had widely condemned the militant strike on Jammu & Kashmir Assembly and everybody seemed to be all praise for the rescue operation done by Police and security forces, a constable of the Special Operations Group (SOG) today brought relief to the Valley’s separatist camp. He gunned down a 17-year-old boy without any reason or provocation, at Sheikhpora, on Srinagar-Budgam road, resulting in a massive protest against the "arrogant and unbridled task force".

Official sources told EXCELSIOR that at 0745 hours, a brand new Tata-407 of SOG Budgam halted at Sheikhpora when it was on way from Humhama to Budgam. It had fully exhausted its fuel. Constable Tariq Ahmed Bhat of Sanoor-Kalipora, Beerwah, stopped a tipper and asked its driver to syphon off some diesel for the stranded SOG vehicle. The driver refused, saying that he had no pipe.

When the SOG constable asked him to get off and arrange a pipe, the driver sped away. Thereupon, the constable opened volleys of gunfire from his AK-47 rifle but the tipper fled fast. In the indiscriminate firing, gunshots pierced through the chest and heart of a 17-year-old boy who was witnessing the drama near a shop. He fell in a pool of blood and died on spot. He was identified as Showkat Ahmed Khan S/o Abdur Rehman Khan of the same village.

Within minutes, entire population of the village gathered at the spot and staged a massive protest against the killing. Angry protesters burnt rubber tyres on road and did not allow any movement of traffic while chanting slogans against SOG and demanding action against the erring personnel. Consequently, the traffic was diverted via Narkara-Ompora. As the news of the killing spread like a wild fire, nearby towns of Humhama, Ompora and Budgam observed a total shutdown.

Angry villagers attempted to overpower the three SOG personnel but they ran away towards the nearby SOG camp. Still, the demonstrators torched the SOG vehicle which gutted completely.

Over 1,000 people gathered at Ompora and proceeded to Sheikhpora in the form of a procession. However, Police resorted to baton-charge and fired tear-smoke cannisters. Officials said that two Policemen and three civilians sustained injuries in the clash. However, DC Budgam Rohit Kansal and SP Budgam Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari rushed to the spot and managed a smooth burial of the youth. They pacified the angry mobs while promising stern action against the erring constable. They also promised the bereaved family a Government job and release of ex-gratia within a few days.

It was in the evening that vehicular traffic resumed operation on Srinagar-Budgam road and a few shops opened at the three Budgam towns.

SP Budgam, Ashiq Bukhari, told EXCELSIOR that a murder case was registered under FIR NO: 244 of 2001 and the erring constable was not only placed under suspension but also detained at Police Station for interrogation. He said that two of his accompanying SPOs, namely Showkat Ahmed Sheikh S/o Shaban Sheikh R/o Balkote, Uri, and Mohammad Yusuf Mir S/o Qasim Mir R/o Patwaw have also been disarmed and detained for interrogation. However, their involvement in the unwarranted gunfire was not established.

Enquiries revealed that the erring constable, Tariq Ahmed Bhat S/o Abdus Salam Bhat of Sanoor-Kalipora, has had a militant background for five years before joining SOG as an SPO. He worked as SPO with SOG Budgam for five years and lately he had been regularised as a constable.

Meanwhile, at Bana Mohalla in Habbakadal, militants lobbed a hand grenade towards a paramilitary picket this evening. It missed the intended target and exploded on road. The offensive was retaliated but militants managed to escape. Shots were also heard in Fruit Mandi area.

Reports from south Kashmir said that an encounter took place between militants and security forces in Shangus area. Troops of SOG Anantnag and RR 7th Bn participated in the operation. Officials confirmed that one unidentified militant got killed.

A woman, namely Raja, sustained injuries in a shootout in Sumbal area.

Pak to keep fuelling proxy war

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Oct. 5: The Union Home Minister, Mr LK Advani, is in the possession of evidence as well as a set of documents, clearly suggesting Pakistan’s renewed efforts to keep fuelling the low-intensity proxy war it has been promoting in Jammu and Kashmir for years now.

In his informal chat with a group of BJP leaders on his return to New Delhi from a whirlwind visit to Srinagar, which was rocked on October 1 by the deadly terrorist attack on the J&K Legislature complex, Mr LK Advani said that even as the militants had become desperate as a result of the mounting pressure from the security forces and the success of the troops’ seek-and-destroy missions in J&K, Pakistan will not lessen its grip on the proxy war it has been waging from across the border for more than a decade now.

Answering a pointed question vis-à-vis the Government of India’s next move, the Home Minister admitted that the car bomb attack in Srinagar had imparted a sense of urgency to counter-insurgency operations. "Our forces are confident-indeed, they have the courage and capacity to deal with the sudden spurt in militant strikes in Jammu and Kashmir", Mr Advani said.

By the time the Home Minister decided to hold informal talks with a group of his partymen on certain aspects of the J&K situation, the Union Home Ministry had received reports from Islamabad that gave an interesting account of Pakistan’s state of health and the military regime’s involvement in arming Islamic militants. Stating that the Pak Army has taken charge, once again putting democracy on hold, these reports revealed that more people owned firearms than refrigerators.

Revelation number two: Islamic rebels-many would call them terrorists-openly operate inside Pakistan’s borders, with Government support. Pakistan’s very survival, to quote the President and military ruler, Gen. Parvez Musharraf, is at risk.

On October 1, someone claiming to be from one of the best-known Pakistan’s rebel groups, Jaish-e-Mohammed, took responsibility for the suicide bombing in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir State. Revelation number three: One of this region’s many open secrets is that the Pakistani Government itself has armed Islamic militants, sending them off to fight the Indian authorities in Kashmir in an attempt to wrest the contested Himalayan territory from India’s control.

One of the recent issues of New York Times, which has been gone through by Mr LK Advani, has observed: "The country (Pakistan) is polarised. On one side stand Western sympathisers who have felt increasingly marginalised and believe that the current turmoil may be a real stroke of fortune that halts ‘Talibanisation’ of Pakistan. On the other stand the holy warriors, the hope of the dispossessed". A spokesman for Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement issued on Oct. 1, condemned the Srinagar attack.

"But whatever the Government’s past relationship to Jaish-e-Mohammed", the US publication said, "it seems clear that the United States, in its new determination to combat terrorism, has sided with a military Government (of Pakistan) that is not averse to backing insurgency in Kashmir".

In fact, an article carried by New York Times under Islamabad dateline let it be known: "Radical Muslim political parties, historically weak at the polls, are traditionally potent in the streets, where the number of poor and the number of refugees grow. Twin jihadis-one in Afghanistan, one in Kashmir-save many Pakistanis from the idle hours of joblessness and fill them with self-righteous purpose". But those drawn to jihad, however grateful for their guns and grenades, often despise the national leaders who provide them".

The US publication has cautioned: "The more those leaders look like American cronies working to oust the Taliban Government in Afghanistan, the more the hate may grow. By drafting this fragile nation (Pakistan) into a central role in the ‘war on terrorism’, Washington runs the danger of setting off a cataclysm in a place where civil violence is a likely bet and nuclear weapons are among the stakes".

Islam is a growing force in Pakistan. Hundreds of religious schools, known as madrassas, have, as ascertained by the American intelligence community, eagerly sent their students to fight at the Taliban’s side. And revelation number four: Pakistani border guards wish them well as they head to the front lines.

Revelation number five: While Pakistan’s mullahs have sent out a plea for 50,000 volunteers to defend Afghanistan against the ‘infidels’, many of Pakistan’s fundamentalist clerics endorse the Taliban’s formula for a pure Islamic State. Revelation number six: The Pakistanis understand the severe Afghan terrain. They know where the caches of weapons are-and probably the remotest of hideouts.

Be that as it may, hopes that the impending global war against terrorism would eventually bring peace in Kashmir faded on October 1, when a bomb ripped apart the J&K Assembly House killing scores of innocent people. For decades, India has told the world fraternity of the terrorist strikes as it battled with the gun-totting mercenaries and terrorists, who converted the once paradise into a blood thirsty region.

Terrorism has opened its fang, once again, more to send a message to the world fraternity that the terrorists would strike with impunity. If one attack on the United States can raise the conscience of the world, Indians have too many tales to tell. Terrorism has taken much of the prime in Kashmir; it continues to cast its shadow on the innocent people, Mr LK Advani has admitted.

After his on-the-spot assessment of the situation in Srinagar, Mr Advani stated that India had repeatedly given concrete evidence of the terrorist training camps, the role of Pakistan in harbouring them and the forces that have been trying to foment trouble in various parts of India.

That the terrorist strike in Srinagar took place at a time when a powerful world opinion was on rise against the menace is symptomatic of the larger game-plan that certain terrorist outfits have made for India, particularly Kashmir. This also raises question on the sermon that Pakistan is doling every day against terrorism.

'Weapons of mass destruction can be used'
Advani warns terrorists attacks

NEW DELHI, Oct 5: Home Minister L K Advani today warned states about the possibility of terrorist attacks including by use of weapons of mass destruction and said it was time to be prepared for such contingencies.

He also said the concept of federal crime and establishment of a Central law enforcement agency should be accepted by states to effectively deal with terrorism and organised crime.

"There are lessons for India also in the aftermath of terrorist strikes in the US. Threats of similar terrorist attacks, including by use of weapons of mass destruction, can no longer be taken lightly," he told the day-long conference state Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police on internal security.

Taking note of reports of some terrorist groups trying to get their hand on nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, Advani said it was time to be prepared for handling such contingencies as also sensitising the people.

The Home Minister underlined the need for a Central legislation to effectively deal with terrorism and organised crime like counterfeit currency and cyber crime as also a Central law enforcement and investigating agency.

Briefing newspersons on the outcome of the conference, Home Secretary Kamal Pande said most states had favoured establishment of a Central agency as the states did not have the expertise to deal with crimes like terrorism.

Official sources said among the states opposing setting up such an agency were West Bengal and Rajasthan and the two states told the conference that they would consult their respective Governments on the issue.

Asked how such a Central agency would be different from CBI, Pande said CBI was overburdened with cases relating to corruption and a Central agency having experts to deal with terrorism and organised crime would fill the vaccuum.

A concrete view would be taken on all these key issues relating to internal security at the proposed conference of Chief Ministers next month, he said.

Pande told the meeting that a National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) was being set up within the Home Ministry to deal with both natural and man-made disasters. It was proposed to model NDMA on the lines of America’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which carried out the rescue work after the September 11 strikes in New York and Washington.

In his opening remarks, the Home Secretary said that Central paramilitary forces would be trained and equipped for rapid deployment in case of a major terrorist attack and asked the State Governments to prepare a national data base on infrastucture and facilities relating to disaster management both in the public and private sectors.

Comprehensive guidelines on disaster management which were being prepared keeping in view the existing and anticipated threat perceptions would be circulated to all states in about a month’s time, he said.

Recommending a minimum action programme to states on disaster management, the Home Secretary said that sub-units should be set up in all district headquarters and civil defence and home guards must be brought within their ambit.

He said the states should procure search and rescue equipment like earthmovers and cutters as also sniffer dogs besides strengthening fire and medical services and revamping communication network.

Pande also stressed on the need for forging inter-state cooperation by pooling and augmenting manpower and material resources as well as expertise for disaster prevention, management and relief.

He asked the State Governments to take precaution in the existing security scenario while issuing documents used for establishing identity — birth certification, ration card, voter identity card, driving license and passport etc.

Three detailed presentation were made at the meeting on internal security, disaster management and biological and chemical terrorism.

During the detailed discussion, the emerging scenario in the aftermath of terrorist attacks in the US and the evolving international coalition against terrorism were discussed especially regarding the implications on India’s internal security.

Special focus was given to civil aviation security, Pande said noting that the meeting emphasised that security for installations of strategic importance should be beefed up. A proposal to deploy Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at all airports across the country was also under consideration.

The need for strengthening surveillance along Wagah-Attari checkposts in Western sector as also in vulnerable coastal areas of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu besides Indo-Bangladesh and Indo-Nepal borders was also discussed.(PTI)

RSS chief for attack on Pak camps

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 5: Without naming Pakistan, Rashtriya Swyam Sevak Sangh (RSS) chief, Mr K Sudershan today said India should attack the terrorist camps in neighbouring country.

In an informal chat with media persons, after inauguration of Sanjeevani Sharda Kendra Bhawan at Anand Nagar Bohri near here today, he said India should attack these camps. When a reporter asked him should India attack the terrorist camps in neighbouring country in view of the Pakistan’s involvement in terrorist activities and Fidayeen attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, he retorted, 'India should go for it.'

He said under the new international law every nation has the right to attack any country which is involved in aiding and abetting terrorism and destroy the camps there.

The RSS chief while referring to global action against terrorism after the September 11 Fidayeen attacks in US cities of New York and Washington said India should fight her battle itself instead of depending on any other nation. He maintained that no nation will fight for us.

While referring to improving ties between United States and Pakistan after September 11 attacks he said, U S has joined hands with Pakistan for attacking Afghanistan and the America will see its interests first instead of other nations.

RSS chief who is on three days visit to Jammu while speaking at main function earlier said Hinduism believes in unity in diversity and this is the reason that despite the differences in our culture from one part of the country to other part we are a one nation.

He said likewise the Hinduism has a firm belief that different paths lead to one goal and unlike others we do not claim that the only path followed by us leads to heaven or God.

He said even in different parts of the country different languages are spoken but they have all one origin and concept. He said the Hindi is linked to Indian nationalism and has a connectivity with these languages which all have a one conviction. But in comparison to that Urdu and English are outer languages which have dissimilarities with our culture.

While referring to Jews said, he they have been subjected to atrocities in every country of the world except India when they were a scattered community world over. And after their consolidation 1800 years back in Israel, the Jews faced first threat from Islamic countries, but they survived out of their strong conviction, he added.

He criticised those who equate RSS and VHP with SIMI, saying the Hindu organisations can not be banned as they are committed to unity and integrity of Nation.

He alleged SIMI is involved in anti-national activities, while justifying its ban.

He asked the exiled community members that they should not leave the concept of their motherland. He asked the displaced people to make their children self reliant and lay a strong foundation for their future. "The community should preserve their cultural identity at all costs", the RSS chief asserted.

K C Sudershan warned that the day we forget our identity as Hindus we will perish while stressing on maintaining self confidence. He expressed the hope that the Kendra will help in preserving the cultural ethos of the community.

Earlier he inaugurated the Bhawan by offering pooja in a traditional manner. Later the RSS chief was also felicitated by the Kendra and offered a Shawl. He was also presented the traditional Kashmiri utensils (Thal and Six Khasus) by the Kendra on the occasion.

Two renowned engineers of the Kashmiri Pandit community who have made their contribution in the construction of the Bhawan namely Messrs T N Pandita and Hira Lal Koul were presented a shawl by the RSS chief.

On the occasion he also released a Sharda primer published by Jyotshiya Karyalya Gole Gujral. The function started with lighting of traditional lamp and Guru vandna.

RSS North India Pracharak Parmukh, Mr Indresh Kumar, Mr Om Parkash Mengi, Shri Shri Kumar and T N Pandita were among the others who graced the function.

On the occasion Prof B L Koul, SSK chief highlighted the achievements of the Kendra while the vote of thanks was presented by Mr T N Pandita.

A monologue was also presented by Mr L Handoo, a renowned artist and Deputy Director Door Darshan Jammu while Ravi Bhan a well known singer recited a bhajan.

Terrorist released during hijacking involved in attack

NEW DELHI, Oct 5: Sheikh Umer, one of the terrorists released by India in exchange of the passengers of the hijacked IC-814 plane at Kandhar, was also involved in the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

Sheikh Umer, second year B Sc at the London School of Economic,was arrested by the Indian security forces in 1994. He was taken by External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh to Kandhar in Afghanistan along with Maulana Azhar Masood of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Mushtaq Zargar of Ul-Omer to seek release of the passangers from the hijackers of the aircraft.

The FBI sources revealed to CNN that Sheikh Umer sent 100,000 dollars to Mohammed Atta, prime accused in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre, which claimed lives of more than 5000 people.

Once he was released in Kandhar, Sheikh Umer fled to Karachi and stayed their for several weeks. In India he was lodged in Tihar jail for years.

He joined the Islamic Society in London in October 1992 and visited Pakistan in March 1993 where he frequently interacted with the Jamait Islami leaders. Later , he joined Hizbul-Tehreer, but subsequently came under the influence of Harkat-ul-Ansar.

The Harkat-ul-Ansar was allegedly involved in kidnapping of five foreigners from tourist resort of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Indian sources said that Sheikh Umer underwent arms training at Miransar in Afghanistan. In March 1994, he planned to disrupt visit of Prime Minister Narasimha Rao in Britain.

Later he came to New Delhi on July 24,1994 from Lahore by PIA flight and quickly moved to Jammu and Kashmir to get actively involved in the subversive actvities. He is also believed to have masterminded the kidnapping of five foreigner. After his release in December 1999, he along with Maulana Azhar Masood came to Pakistan. Later he joined Jaish-e-Mohammed. (UNI)

Abdullah Bhai, Sher Khan gunned down

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Oct 5: Two ‘commanders’ of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) outfit, whose assets were recently frozen by United States, were killed in a day long encounter today in Bhatru forest area in Bhaderwah tehsil of Doda district.

Official sources identified slain militants as Sher Khan, tehsil commander and Abdullah Bhai, district commander of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen for Doda. Sher Khan was a local resident of Bhaderwah while Abdullah Bhai was a Pakistani.

SP Doda Ashkoor Wani told EXCELSIOR that a tip off was received about two hardcore militants’ presence in Bhatru forest area of Seol village in Bhaderwah tehsil this morning. A contact with the militants was established at 12 noon and the encounter started immediately thereafter.

By 1600 hours today, troops of 4 Rashtriya Rifles and STF jawans succeeded in killing one of the two militants, who was later identified as Sher Khan. An hour later, Abdullah Bhai was also eliminated by security personnel, Wani said.

Two AK-47 rifles, five magazines, one Chinese grenade, two boosters and a wireless set were recovered from the possession of slain militants. No casualty was reported on army or police side in the operation.

Sources said Sher Khan’s body was defaced as he sustained a burst on his mouth during the encounter. His identity was established with the help of the rifle sting, where his name was written. An identity card was found in the pocket of Abdullah Bhai.

According to sources, Abdullah Bhai was a hardcore Pakistani militant and was operating in Doda district for last about three years. Earlier, his area of operation was Bhalesa. He had recently shifted to Seol.

Killing of two ‘commanders’ was a big setback to Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, the sources said.

Scuffle between two groups of advocates at High Court

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 5: Two groups of advocates had a scuffle when one section of the lawyers tried to disturb the election process of other group, who were going to elect office-bearers for the Association under the name and style of J&K High Court Bar Association, Jammu.

The incident took place at High Court Complex, near Janipur this morning when the election process of one group had started. As the election process was midway, some advocates, most of them junior advocates and led by Bar general secretary entered the court premises and asked the election commissioner, B S Manhas to stop the process. In the meantime, both the groups had some heated exchange of words and was followed by scuffle.

Some of the advocates, within the mob, tried to destroy the election material which was strongly opposed by the other group. Despite persuasion by some senior advocates, the two groups continued to indulge themselves in heated exchange and in the process, the election process was stalled as ballot papers were tore apart and ballot box smashed and later thrown away.

Advocate S S Lehar, who was contesting for the post of president, alongwith U K Jalali, was already heading the separate adhoc body of the J&K High Court Bar Association, Jammu. And, by holding today’s elections he wanted to make it a body elected through proper process, which was never acceptable to the advocates from the Lower Court, who disapproved the division of the Bar Association of Jammu.

When contacted advocate S S Lehar said, "we were conducting the elections for the J&K High Court Bar Association when a group of advocates from Lower Court came and disrupted the smooth election process at the High Court complex", adding, "atleast 52 votes were polled till 10.30 am when the group interfered and disturbed every thing."

He further informed that the J&K High Court Bar Association which was founded in 1979 has 114 permanent members. These members include senior most advocates of the State namely, Pramodh Kohli, Ved Raj Wazir and D C Raina. Advocate Lehar was of the views that there are already a number of separate bar associations representing various fields, so there should not be any problems when a body for High Court is being formed.

Election Commissioner for the elections, advocate B S Slathia said that half of the voting was over when a group of young advocates led by Bar Association of Jammu general secretary came and tore the ballot papers and threw away the ballot box. He informed that the elections have now been deferred and a fresh date will be announced after a meeting with the members.

The Bar Association of Jammu president, Mr O P Sharma in this regard said, "there were some differences among the members, but were sorted out later and it was agreed upon by most of the senior members that instead of separate association a committee will be formed in the High Court".

He also said, "it is a family matter and such things often happen, but it does not mean we are divided, the Jammu Bar Association is known for its unity and integrity and we have to maintain it".

However, he said that final decision in this regard will be taken tomorrow.

SC directive to J&K Govt

NEW DELHI, Oct 5: The Supreme Court has directed the Jammu and Kashmir Government not to entertain any more claim for properties left behind by those who migrated to Pakistan or left home in the wake of riots following partition and Pakistani aggression on Jammu and Kashmir five decades ago.

"We have noticed with distress that vested interests and unscrupulous litigants are usurping the evacuee properties in the State by filing frivolous and belated applications preferring stale claims under Section 8 of the Evacuees (administration of property) Act, 1949," a bench of Justice M B Shah and Justice R P Sethi said in a recent judgement.

Terming the situation prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir regarding administration of evacuee property as "shocking and alarming", the bench said the size and the quantum of the properties is alleged to have been squeezed and reduced to a bare negligible existence.

Justice Sethi, writing the judgement, said claims were being entertained by the authorities without reference to the 12 year limitation period prescribed in the act.

Holding that there was no justification for such applications, the bench directed authorities "not to entertain any application under Section 8 of the act hereafter as it cannot be conceived that a person whose property was allegedly wrongly declared or vested in the custodian would keep silent for a period spread over five decades." (PTI)

J&K political problem: Ray

NEW DELHI, Oct 5: The problem in Jammu and Kashmir is political in nature and has to be solved politically through "de-alienation" of people, a top army commander in charge of Ladakh region said today.

General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GoC-in-C) 14 corps Lt Gen Arjun Ray said a military process can be effective in reducing violence "but it is a political problem and has to be solved politically."

He, however, said no political process can be "endurable or sustainable till de-alienation of people is done."

"It is important for the decision-makers more than ever before to focus on people," Gen Ray said at a presentation here.

Stating that human security comes through human development, he said political process must go hand in hand with human development.

The definition of national security generally is read in geographical and military terms, he said adding "but if human security is not in place, national security will be fragile."

The 14 Corps Commander said in the 21st century, armed forces should concentrate on people and not territory.

"The role of army has changed. It is no longer to win war but to prevent war," he said.

He said women, who by nature abhor violence, can play a key role in conflict resolution and its prevention.

Emphasising on empowerment of the fair sex, he said it should start at the Panchayat level. "Regrettably, nothing has been done in Jammu and Kashmir despite amendments in this regard," he said. (PTI)

Armed man held before Gujral's arrival

AMRITSAR, Oct 5: Minutes before the arrival of former Prime Minister, Inder Kumar Gujral at the Golden Temple this evening for paying obeisance the city police arrested a armed person from the vicinity of the shrine.

Confirming the arrest, SSP, Parampal Singh Sidhu identified the arrested person as Jasbir Singh a resident of Gobindgarh village of Bathinda district. A .315 bore country made pistol was recovered from his possession, the SSP claimed.

According to the FIR registered at the Kotwali police station, the arrest was made from outside the ‘Serai’ gate leading to the temple complex. However certain SGPC officals and even devotees claimed that the arrest was made from inside the main shrine at 1615 hours where-as the former Prime Minister arrived at the shrine at around 1730 hours.

Ruling out the possibility of the armed intruder attacking the former Prime Minister, Mr Sidhu said that the decision to pay obesiance at the shrine was taken after the arrival of Mr Gujral here. A visit to the shrine was not in the tour Itinerary of the former Prime Minister as received by the local district, he said.

The local police after checking out the background of Jasbir Singh said that as per the Jaito police he had left home in 1995 and taken to the path of crime and was a hardened criminal. He was wanted in a number of cases, police said.

Meanwhile the police on further search of Jasbir Singh also recovered a live cartridge in addition to the country made pistol.

The police have started interrogating Jasbir and are trying to verify whether he had terrorist links. Following the arrest of the armed intruder, security inside the shrine was further increased and policemen in civil clothes were stationed even in the main complex. (UNI)

'Target Pen' a new assignment of ISI

NEW DELHI, Oct 5: "Target pen" is a new offensive launched by Pakistan’s ISI in Jammu and Kashmir under which mercenaries have been "instructed" to influence or persuade the media in the Valley "to plant stories against the State Government."

According to official sources, about Monday’s suicide attack at the State Assembly, which left as many as 38 dead, ISI asked militants to persuade the vernacular press to "shift the blame on the Government agencies."

The sources said there were enough wireless intercepts that Pakistan’s ISI had asked the militants to plant stories that the "entire action is a drama enacted by the agencies of the Government to malign Pakistan as also to ensure that Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) are banned by the western world."

The sources said that some over-ground sympathisers of these militants had even approached the local media but failed to muster any "great amount" of support from them as everyone was witness to the disaster and the tactics adopted were similar to those in previous suicide attacks.

JeM, which claimed the responsibility for the attack immediately after the incident, back tracked from its version following widespread criticism and condemnation in the Valley. Faced with worldwide condemnation of the attack at the State Assembly in Srinagar, ISI appeared to have chided the terrorist group, JeM, for admitting the responsibility for the attack, the sources said.

The group had even released the name of the militant, who drove the vehicle into the security forces bunker located outside the State Assembly.

However, faced with a piquant situation and an apparent dressing down from its masters in Pakistan, a JeM spokesman denied its involvement 24 hours after the attack.

The sources said enough indications were coming in through intercepts and interrogation of militants that "certain batches within these groups" were defying the orders from ISI and carrying out suicide attacks in Kashmir. Pakistan Government cannot afford any such incidents in the Valley following increased international vigilance.

The sources termed the statement of JeM spokesman as "damage control exercise as the Valley people were very much disturbed over the action, which left so many people dead and seriously injured." (PTI)

Concessions galore for Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Oct 5: In major concessions for supporting the fight against terrorism, Britain today announced renewal of defence cooperation with Pakistan, suspended since 1998 nuclear tests, and said Islamabad has a vaild interest in a broadbased post-Taliban Government in Afghanistan.

After an hour-long meeting with President Pervez Musharraf, British Prime Minister Tony Blair also promised London would help Pakistan with a fresh package of assistance including IMF aid.

Britain would also support steps in the European Union for trade and economic cooperation with Pakistan on which an agreement is likely on Monday, Blair told reporters with Musharraf by his side.

Blair, who later left for New Delhi for discussions with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on terrorism, said Britain and Pakistan have agreed that any post-Taliban Government in Afghanistan must be broadbased and include all key ethnic groups including Pashtoons.

Blair, the first Western leader to visit Islamabad after the Sept 11 terror strikes in the US, said he came to thank Pakistan for its stand and to make clear that any punitive action against terrorist mastermined Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan would not be directed against the Afghan people or the Islamic world.

"The 11th of September was an outrage against the civilised value of all peoples of all faiths in the world," he said adding this was not a "crime against the West but against humanity." (PTI)

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