Daily Excelsior....News Page

Mufti meets Vajpayee, Advani, Fernandes
Centre to provide Rs 100-cr aid to JK Govt on power, other sectors

Excelsior Team

NEW DELHI, Dec. 2: Exactly one month after assuming reins of power as head of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-led coalition Government in the troubled State of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed formally opened his account in the power corridors here on Monday.

Mufti Mohammed Sayeed today met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and his senior colleagues and extracted promises of assistance including a Rs 100 crore aid from Centre,covering the power and other sectors and a commitment for raising of an Army batallion to recruit unemployed youths.

Sayeed is understood to have discussed the crucial issue of Centre’s promise of initiating talks with all sections in the State but there was no official word from either side.

The Chief Minister expressed confidence that the Centre would honour its commitment to talk to the newly elected MLAs and parties.

The Prime Minister assured Sayeed that the Centre would take care of a Rs 100 crore deficit to bridge the gap between non-plan and plan expenditire during the current fiscal.

Sayeed had an hour-long meeting with Vajpayee after which he said the Centre understood the "ground reality".

"We had a good and a positive meeting. The Centre understands the ground reality and is willing to help the State Government in addressing the alienation of the people," he told reporters.

He held meetings, one after another, with top echelons of the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) Government, and managed to make his presence felt. Most of the time, in his hectic parleys, Mufti Sayeed was accompanied by his Man Friday, Mr Muzaffar Hussain Beig, the Minister of Finance and Planning in his Government.

"There is complete understanding between the Centre and the State Government", he affirmed after his meetings with the NDA Government’s men of consequence.

And as he came out after his talks with Mr LK Advani, Mufti Sayeed said: "We are mainly creating conditions for a dialogue with elected representatives and other sections of the people in Jammu and Kashmir". This, he promptly added, was part of a "multi-pronged strategy" to usher in peace in the State.

Asked when will the dialogue process begin, the Mufti observed: "We have been in power only for a month... Give us some more time". He said that the Centres policy was to hold discussion s with various groups in different parts of the country, like the NSCN (I-M) in the northeastern region.

Mufti Sayeed seemed interested in downplaying his earlier remarks that he would not speak to the BJP leader, Mr Arun Jaitley, on the autonomy issue. Stating that his comments regarding the Jaitley initiative had been made on a "party to party basis", the Mufti told mediapersons that the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, had given the commitment of holding parleys with the elected representatives and others.

To a question on setting up of a screening committee for deciding on releasing militants, the J&K Chief Minister remarked: "It is a media hype which you people have created". He reiterated: "There is complete understanding between the Centre and the State. We understand the situation and there is complete understanding between us and the Government of India".

The Mufti needed no introduction as he interacted with the heavyweights, such as the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr LK Advani, Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, Finance Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh, and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Mr KC Pant. This was because of the fact that he held coveted Home portfolio at the Centre when Mr VP Singh was the Prime Minister.

The J&K Chief Minister spent 30 minutes with Mr Advani. The Mufti’s meeting with Mr George Fernandes lasted nearly 40 minutes. His talks with Mr Advani and Mr Fernandes were purposeful and encouraging. Equally meaningful were his discussions with the Finance Minister and the Deputry Chairman of the Planning Commission.

Mufti Sayeed sought Central assistance to rehabilitate victims of militancy. His emphasis was also on obtaining financial assistance to overcome power shortage, which, he told both Mr Advani, Mr Jaswant Singh and Mr Pant, cost the State about Rs 1 crore per day.

The Mufti was said to have, during his meeting with the Finance Minister, sought Rs 211 crores for the next four months for meeting the requirements in the State’s power sector. During the meeting as well as during his talks with Mr Advani, the Mufti, while discussing measures in relation to victims of militancy, made a pointed reference to Kashmiri Pandit migrants.

While discussing rehabilitation of the displaced KPs, Mufti Sayeed was said to have told Central leaders that he was keen to initiate their rehabilitation in a "humble way". He, in fact, sought realisation of funds to rehabilitate victims of militancy. In this context, he was also said to have urged the private sector to donate to the State’s ‘ revolving fund’ set up for this purpose.

Vital issues, such as employment to the unemployed youth, industrial development and political and security situation in J&K, came up for discussion the Mufti held with the Defence Minister. The Mufti urged Mr George Fernandes to start a special drive to recruit unemployed youth in defences forces.

The Chief Minister admitted that he had told the Defence Minister: "Aditional battalions of Army and paramilitary forces should be raised where the unemployed youth from the State should be picked up". While briefing Mr Fernandes on the steps taken by his Government to bring about peace and normalcy in the State , the Mufti requested him to work out modalities for conversion of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway into a four-lane road and carry out a feasibility study for the tunnel at Zojila pass on the Srinagar-Leh highway for an all-weather connection.

The Mufti also requested the Defence Minister to get the work done on Udhampur-Qazigund rail project on a priority basis, besides reviving the HMT factory and modernizing the Hindustan Telephone Industry unit in Srinagar. Mr George Fernandes promised Mufti Sayeed that he would soon visit the State, along with other Ministers, in an effort to sort out its problems.

After his meeting with Mr KC Pant, the Mufti told waiting reporters that they discussed developmental projects in J&K, particularly in the power sector, highways and railways. The Mufti said that he was keen on the Prime Minister’s ambitious golden quadrilateral linking Srinagar to Kanyakumari should begin.

Emphasizing the need for the Centre to provide assistance in productive sectors like horticulture and handicrafts, the Mufti also sought grants for drought relief.

Mr Pant said that the Centre was anxious to expedite ongoing and new projects in the State. He said that while power sector was an important topic for discussion, the State had succeeded in linking every village of Leh and Kargil districts with solar power.

The Mufti expressed gratitude to the Election Commission for essaying a commendable role in ensuring fair and transparent elections in the State recently. He stressed that the new Government headed by him was keen to deliver the goods and provide "a healing touch".

In the development oriented meeting with the Prime Minister, the State Finance Minister, Chief Secretary and other senior officers of the State Government also participated. The issues discussed included continuation of relief on power front by providing uninterrupted supply of electricity to the people during peak hours, exploiting huge Hydel Power and Horticulture potential and development of Information Technology.

The Chief Minister also apprised the Prime Minister of his Government’s plan to seriously work for ‘safe and honourable’ return of Kashmiri Pandits back to the Valley and construction of shelter sheds and other help to border population which bear the brunt of frequent shellings from across the border.

Magisterial enquiry ordered into civilian’s killing
3 LeT militants among 6 killed

Excelsior Team

SRINAGAR, Dec 2: Three militants of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba were among six people killed even as the Border Security Force (BSF) foiled a Fidayeen attack in Kashmir valley during Eid, whileas a magisterial enquiry has been ordered into the mysterious killing of a mason near Srinagar.

A BSF spokesman said alert troops of 88 batallion noticed two militants approaching their camp at Arampora in Baramulla district last evening.

When challenged, the militants lobbed two grenades and opened heavy fire on the troops which retaliated the encounter continued for some time during which one of the Fidayeens was killed. However, another managed to escape in darkness.

The slain militant was identified as Sohail alias Abu Ahmed Sahani, a resident of Gujranwala, Pakistan.

One constable Prem Singh was also injured in the encounter.

One AK rifle, five magazines, 157 rounds, one grenade, one knife and Rs 200 were recovered from the slain militant.

The spokesman said troops of 171 batallion acting on a specific information that some foreign militants were hiding on a hill top at Hajan, launched an operation to nab them late last night.

However, when the troops were about to storm the hideout, they came under heavy fire from the militants. The cordon around the area was further tightened and the holed up militants were asked to surrender but they continued firing on the troops.

Security forces also returned fire and in the six-hour-long fierce gun battle three Lashkar militants, including a self styled district commander Bashir Ahmad Ahangar alias Gazi, Mohammad Akbar Bhat and Siraj Khan alias Sajjad also a resident of Pakistan, were killed.

The spokesperson said Sajjad was a member of LeT suicide squad and had planned to strike in the city before Eid.

He said Bashir, involved in the killing of 32 people including security personnel in Pattan area, was carrying a reward of Rs one lakh on his head.

Three AK rifles, 2 magazines, one UBGL and four grenades were recovered from the slain militants.

An offfcial spokesman said body of a Pakistani militant was recovered by police from Rajramladi forest in frontier district of Kupwara last evening, the victim was identified as Mir Sajjad of Muzaffarabad of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and was reportedly killed in an encounter with security forces some time back.

A surrendered militant Sammander Khan was shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside his house at village Bankote in Bandipora area of Baramulla district last evening.

In nearby Ghat village the spokesman said militants shot at and wounded a National Conference activist Ghulam Hassan Khan last night. Khan was earlier associated with counter insurgent Ikhwan outfit.

He said militants shot at and wounded a Special Police Officer (SPO) Mukhtar Ahmad Rather at Shungleepora in the outskirts of Srinagar last night.

Meanwhile, in Srinagar, a 45 year old mason died under mysterious circumstances. Residents complained to EXCELSIOR that Police Division Nowgam arrested 45-year-old mason, Abdul Hameed Wani of Manchhua, Nowgam, on Tuesday last and subjected him to third degree torture for five consecutive days. As his family members, relatives and neighbours pleaded that Wani was innocent, Police refused to let him off. On Saturday, his family members made unsuccessful attempts to complain the matter to the Chief Minister who had arrived here for a night’s stay. He, however, put up in the inaccessible Nehru Guest House near Cheshma Shahi.

When nobody listened to the detainee and his family members, he was subjected to even more severe torture. According to residents, Police silenced the detained mason forever at a moment on Sunday morning when Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed was himself in town.

After the detainee fell unconscious due to severe physical torture and Police became apprehensive of his death, he was rushed to the nearby Ahmed’s Hospital wherefrom he was referred to SKIMS, Soura. Under treatment at the Intensive Care Unit, Wani breathed his last late last night.

Outraged family members and residents of Manchhua and Bagh-e-Mehtab localities staged a demonstration in protest against the alleged custodial killing of the civilian today. They burnt rubber tyres, blocked vehicular traffic, shouted slogans against Police and demanded immediate action against the SHO Nowgam, Gazanfar Sayeed, and SDPO Sadar, Mohammad Yusuf Bandh, who, according to them were responsible for the first custodial killing of the Mufti Sayeed Government. They also demanded judicial inquiry and registration of a murder case against the SHO and the SDPO Sadar.

In view of high tension in the city outskirts, Police refused to hand over the body to the family members till late this afternoon. "We have had enough of Mufti’s healing touch. Now, we are just asking for the dead body", lamented Wani’s relative Nazir Ahmed. He alleged that most of the incidents of custodial killings, extortion, black-mailing of innocent civilians, snatching away vehicles and detaining hapless civilians without any ground were often handiwork of Thana Police but, for political reasons, only SOG was being painted black. Nazir Ahmed pointed out that Wani had been detained on Tuesday, tortured for five days and finally killed but neither the entries were made in the Police records till Saturday nor were the family members informed about his arrest or charges against him.

Deputy Commissioner of Budgam, Baseer Khan, informed EXCELSIOR that in view of serious allegations by residents, he immediately ordered a magisterial inquiry into the circumstances that led to Wani’s death. The inquiry would be conducted by Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) Ghulam Ahmed Ganai, who has been asked to complete the investigation and submit his record within 10 days. He said that he also recommended the SHO’s removal and subsequently IGP Kashmir attached Inspector Gazanfar Sayeed to District Police Lines, Srinagar.

Authorities, however, turned down the demand of a judicial inquiry, registration of a murder case against the SHO and the SDPO and attachment of the SDPO on which the ruling PDP’s MLA (Chadoura) Javed Mustafa Mir had strongly insisted. Mir himself visited the Police Station on Sunday and asked what was the difference between the National Conference and the PDP Government after Wani’s death in Police custody.

While as DIG Srinagar-Budgam, Farooq Ahmed, said that the reality would surface after the magisterial inquiry came to an end, SSP Srinagar, Rashmi Ranjan Swain, maintained that Wani died due his hanging himself to death at the Police Station. He claimed that Wani had been arrested on Saturday November 30th in the wake of an information that he was in possession of a pistol and three wireless sets. He said that another detainee, Abdul Hameed Magray, confronted Wani and told him how he was in possession of three wireless sets. According to SSP, Magray produced a pistol before Police and claimed that the same had been given to him by Wani, who was still having three wireless sets.

Swain said that another co-accused and detainee, namely Zubair, also confirmed that he and two of his associates had used Wani’s pistol for at least six months. He said that Wani was the brother-in-law of a notorious Lashkar-e-Toiba militant, namely Asrani, and the pistol had been given to him either by Asrani or the same had been dropped somewhere in Bagh-e-Mehtab area by three militants who had died in an encounter. Another possibility was that the pistol belonged to a former militant, Abdus Salam Sheikh, who died due to falling from a free after his release from jail. Asked how torture marks had been found by doctors on Wani’s whole body, Swain refused to comment, saying that he had not seen the body himself.