 |
Terrorist
eliminated in Ragunath Mandir, encounter on in
Panjbakhtar temple Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 24: Atleast 12 persons were killed and 45 others were injured, eight of them seriously, when two fidayeens (suicide squads) simultaneously attacked and subsequently forced their entry inside two historic shrines—Ragunath and Panjbakhtar temples—in heart of the City late this evening. The fidayeen, who wreaked havoc inside Ragunath temple, was gunned down by CRPF and police after three hours operation while his associate was still holed-up in Panjbakhtar temple, which was also known as Shivalaya and Paison Wala Mandir. Among the dead were an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) of police Balbir Singh, a CRPF constable K K Pandey of Maharashtra, a woman and a child while the injured included some devotees, who were paying obeisance in over one and a half century old Ragunath temple. Atleast 75 devotees including women and children were rescued by police and local people from Ragunath temple while several others fled to safety on their own after the attack. The second attack in Ragunath temple, which was main attraction of the tourists here, in less than eight months triggered spontaneous protests from the people, who surrounded the shrine carrying stones and sticks in their hands and made an unsuccessful attempt to burn the body of the slain terrorist. But, their attempt was foiled by the cops. As trouble mounted in the City, authorities clamped curfew within municipal limits of the City. Director General of Police (DGP) A K Suri told EXCELSIOR that Lashkar-e-Toiba was responsible for the fidayeen attack. He said a telephone call was received at his residence late tonight in which a LeT activist said :"we have done it and now it’s your turn". The slain terrorist was a Pakistani, he added. Suri confirmed the killing of 10 persons in the fidayeen attack so far and injuries to 45 others. He said all the dead and injured were locals and none of them were pilgrims. Curfew was clamped within municipal limits of the City till tomorrow evening to ward off the possibility of any mob violence, he added. Preliminary information gathered by police and Intelligence agencies revealed that the fidayeens appeared at Residency road at about 1855 hours. One of them lobbed two grenades outside the famous Billoo Meat shop and forced his entry inside Panjbakhtar temple, where he started indiscriminate firing. As the grenade explosions and firing attracted police attention, another fidayeen forced his entry into Ragunath temple. After intruding inside Ragunath temple, the terrorist first lobbed three to four grenades and then started indiscriminate firing with an AK rifle. He tried to force his entry inside the sanctum sanctorum but the ‘pujari’ displayed an extraordinary presence of mind and immediately closed down the gate. A total of six pilgrims including five women were saved by the timely action of ‘pujari’. They spent next three hours inside the sanctum sanctorum till the terrorist was eliminated. The fidayeen had taken position behind pillars outside the main temple from where he continued firing on the innocent devotees besides police and para-military personnel. Crack commandos of CRPF’s 52 battalion led by Assistant Commandant Y N Roy and police parties comprising SP City Parbhat Singh, SP Operations Manohar Singh, SDPO City R K Chalotra and SHO Kuljit Singh took positions inside the temple. Initially, police and para-military personnel, assisted by local people, evicted over 75 devotees from the temple premises. Another 100 pilgrims fled to safety by using back side of the temple to reach Hari Market. Inside the temple, two large idols of Lord Hanuman and Maharishi Valmiki—the author of Ramayana—were badly damaged after being hit by a volley of gun shots. Marks of bullets could be seen all over the main temple. A ‘pujari’ later put curtains on the damaged idols. Finally after about three hours hide and seek operation, the crack commandos of CRPF and police succeeded in eliminating the terrorist. The trapped ‘pujari’ and devotees were brought out of the temple at about 2200 hours. The commandos carried out searches in the entire temple to make sure that there was no other terrorist present in the shrine. Director General of Police (DGP), A K Suri and Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Anil Goswami visited both the temples during the operation. Meanwhile, a fidayeen was still holed-up near the Panjbakhtar temple, located in a by-lane along Residency Road till late tonight when the reports last came in. However, there were no pilgrims stranded inside the Panjbakhtar temple as most of them including some in the injured condition either escaped or were rescued by police and local people. Contrary to heavy security outside Ragunath temple including two permanent posts, manned by CRPF personnel, there were less security arrangements at Panjbakhtar temple (Shivalaya) as Ragunath temple had high element of risk in view of a similar attack on it by two fidayeens on March 31 in which 10 persons were killed and 27 others were injured. Police evicted people from all houses in the vicinity of Shivalaya before launching an operation to kill the fidayeen. A bullet-proof Gypsy was run in front of the temple at 2315 hours tonight to get exact location of the terrorist, police said, adding the BP vehicle was hit by a volley of shots, which indicated that the terrorist was hiding somewhere near the temple but not inside. "We are about to eliminate him", Suri declared. Crack commandos had taken positions around the temple and a final assault had been launched on the fidayeen. Of the dead, four had been identified till late tonight. They included ASI Balbir Singh, a PSO of SP Operations Manohar Singh, K K Pandey, a constable of CRPF 79 battalion and a resident of Maharashtra, Akbar, C/o Ahmed Abidi and Yash Pal, son of Girdhari Lal of Ramnagar. Blood splattered historic Ragunath temple presented a spine chilling scene tonight as gun shots rent the air and bullet-ridden bodies of victims of the terrorist strike lay in the complex. Wailing relatives of those trapped inside the famous shrine in the attack were in a state of helplessness as they struggled hard to locate their near and dear ones. Darkness made their task all the more tough. Chaos and confusion reigned supreme in and around the holy complex as fierce gun battle went on for well over three hours with no one having any idea about the number of terrorists holed up inside the temple. Deafening explosions and exchange of fire appeared to have transformed the sprawling complex and the busy market around into a virtual battle ground. Passers by and shop-keepers ran halter skelter as soon as the encounter broke out shortly after sun set. The entire area was soon taken over by heavily armed security personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force and Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police Force. Sound of bullets subdued after the operations in which one terrorist was gunned down, but testimony to the gruesome incident were fresh blood and flesh all over the marbled floors. Wounded and agonised devotees were bleeding profusely as they were taken out by rescuers for treatment. Ambulances and fire tenders had swung into action, even as a large number of volunteers had gathered to help the victims of the attack. Most of the injured had suffered multiple bullet injuries in indiscriminate firing by the attacker who had sprayed bullets in all directions after storming the shrine. Many of them were crying for help. Rescue teams waded through broken glasses, bricks, stones and pieces of tiles as angry residents of the area shouted slogans condemning the "barbaric" attack. Amid chaos, it could not be ascertained as to how many terrorists had stormed the shrine. While one was shot dead, another was believed to have escaped under the cover of darkness. What made the job of the security personnel difficult was the presence of a large number of trees inside the temple complex. During the operations, the temple, which had witnessed a similar attack by militants in March this year, was surrounded by security personnel who barricaded and sealed the entire area. Presspersons, photographers and TV camera men jostled with one another in their bid to have a glimpse of what was happening in and around the temple. Sunil Kumar of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, whose wife along with their two year old daughter was trapped inside the Temple premises, had virtually turned sane and was showing video clippings of his family to the people even as no one among the crowd was familiar to him. Sunil is the witness to the entire episode how the terrorist pierced the ‘adequate’ security cover and managed to entered into the holy temple. "It was around 6.55 pm when I asked my wife Manjusha to pay her obeisance at sanctum-sanctorum along with our baby Muskan as the security personnel, deployed at the main entrance, did not allow me to enter along with video camera", he said and added, while as I was pleading before the cops to let me allow to enter the temple along with camera, a thin tall man wearing Salwar Kamiz forced his entry into the Temple" "Though security personnel deployed at main entrance made an attempt to stop the fleeing man, who was carrying a bag on his shoulder, but of no avail. Instead of paying any heed to securitymen’ warning, the terrorist hurled a grenade towards them and continued to run towards sanctum-sanctorum amidst big explosion", he narrated. Soon the entire temple premises boomed with guns shots and grenade explosions as a fierce encounter ensued between securitymen and the lone terrorist who had hid himself behind a pillar just in front of the sanctum-sanctorum. Within minutes the ever busy Residency Road and Ragunath Bazar area virtually turned into a battle field and the sweet sound of temple bells was replaced by gun-shots. While the fierce exchange of fire was going on inside the Ragunath Temple and Shivalaya Temple at Panjbakhtar Road, the eye-witness mob virtually lost their patience and resorted to slogan shouting. Mufti-Hai Hai, Mangat Ram-Hai Hai, Healing Touch-Hai Hai repeatedly rented the air as mob had assembled in front of the Ragunath Temple and Residency Road area. So were the anger among mob that some of them were even contemplating to move towards official residence of Chief Minister to hold demonstration there. Thousands of the people who were gathered there were of the view that Mufti’s ‘Healing Touch’ was responsible for the attacks. Anger against the Chief Minister could be gauged from the fact that some youth tore off the banners raised for Mufti’s welcome in the city and set them afire. These banners had been raised during the maiden visit of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed to Jammu after becoming Chief Minister. Notwithstanding the high voltage anger and slogan shouting during the encounter, there were some moments when mob cheered and appeared delighted as some trapped devotees were evacuated from the temples amidst exchange of fire. Manjusha, wife of Sunil and their daughter Muskan were among those who were rescued from the temple. Talking to EXCELSIOR, Manjusha said that she alongwith six other devotees, remained trapped inside the sanctum-sanctorum throughout the encounter time. "We kept the sanctum-sanctorum door locked even as the terrorists attempted to blast the door with grenade blast but failed," she narrated. Two splinters of the hand grenade pierced into Manjusha’s body and left her injured even as her condition is stated to be out of danger. Her two year old daughter too had a miraculous escape. In New Delhi, Government tonight decided not to send 150 heavily armed National Security Guards (NSG) commandos to Jammu to deal with the terrorist strike at Ragunath Temple as one terrorist holed up there had been killed. The elite NSG commandos on orders from Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani had left their base at Manesar near here to assist security forces in Jammu. After a meeting with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to review the situation in Jammu, Advani had told reporters "the NSG which was in readiness, has moved from Manesar". The NSG chief R S Mooshahari said that the commandos "are not flying to Jammu". The commandos with all their weapons had reached Delhi Airport and had even loaded their equipment in a special aircraft when the order calling off their mission came, official sources said. A high-level meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, tonight discussed the terrorist attack on Raghunath Temple in Jammu. Later Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan told reporters that Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani would make a statement on it in both houses of Parliament tomorrow. Asked about repeated attack on temples including Akshardham in Gandhinagar, Mahajan said that it was not a question of attack on temple or mosque. "Government is seriously concerned over the attack on holy places," he added. President A P J Abdul Kalam tonight telephoned Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and got a brief on the situation in Jammu in the wake of the terrorist strike on Raghunath Temple and the action taken there. Condemning the attack, Kalam voiced confidence that security forces would be able to contain the damage and protect human life. "It is a matter of serious concern that this was the second time in recent times that a place of worship was being attacked by terrorists," the President said in a statement, making an obvious reference to the terrorist strike on Akshardham temple in Gujarat in September. "The President is sure that our security forces will be able to contain the damage and protect human life," the statement said. ` Expressing heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the President extended sympathies to all those who suffered in this outrage. Congress president Sonia Gandhi expressed deep shock and anguish over the terrorist attack on the Raghunath Temple in Jammu. Terming the attack as "barbaric", she hoped that normalcy would be restored at the earliest inside the temple complex. In a statement here, she conveyed "heartfelt condolences to the unfortunate victims in the attack." She appealed to the people to maintain communal peace and harmony. J&K Govenor G C Saxena and Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed have strongly condemned the terrorist attacks and described it as against the teachings of all religions. Expressing shock over the act, Sayeed declared that those involved in the heinous crime wouldn’t be spared. He asked police and security forces to deal such elements with a firm hand as they deserve no mercy. He said spurt in the militant violence and attack on the religious place were an attempt to sabotage the peace process. Meanwhile, J&K PCC (I) president Ghulam Nabi Azad is reaching Jammu tomorrow morning for to assess the situation arising out of the terrorist attack on the temples. Azad strongly condemned the terrorist attack and said it was aimed at disrupting peace and the traditions of secularism in Jammu. He, however, hoped that people will maintain communal harmony. National Conference president and Union Minister Omar Abdullah also condemned the attack on Raghunath Temple in Jammu and said the State Government should pay adequate attention towards the law and order problem in the State. "The healing touch of Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed should actually heal the common man instead of encouraging the militants to carry out such dastardly acts," he said. Abdullah also asked the people to be vigilant against attempts by vested interests to stoke communal violence in the State. Union Minister of State for Home I D Swami tonight blamed the Congress-PDP Government in Jammu and Kashmir for the sudden rise in terrorist attacks in the State. " The healing touch of the Jammu and Kashmir Government has started showing its adverse effects," Swami told a TV channel tonight. Confirming that two terrorists were present inside the Raghunath temple in Jammu, Swami said operation was on to clear the shrine complex. The RSS described the attack on Raghunath Temple attack in Jammu as a "challenge to the nation," while the VHP blamed the State Government’s "policy" towards terrorists and separatists for the incident. "The attack is most unfortunate. This third major attack in the past three days poses a challenge to the nation," RSS joint spokesman Ram Madhav said over phone from Rajasthan. He demanded that the Centre and State Governments join hands to crush terrorism with a firm hand. Striking an aggressive note VHP senior vice president Acharya Giriraj Kishore said Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s policy of releasing separatist leaders from jail was responsible for spurt in terrorist activities in the State. Expressing surprise that such a strike has taken place in the temple barely a few months after a similar attack, Kishore demanded a CBI probe into the role of the police entrusted with the security of the shrine. "The Chief Minister’s role is seen as encouraging such activities. The CBI should probe this aspect as well," the VHP demanded. He also urged the Centre to ensure that no compromises were made in the fight against terrorism. Jammu Kashmir People’s Democratic Forum (JKPDF) convenor and CPM MLA from Kulgam Mohd Yusuf Tarigami condemned the fidayeen attack in strongest possible words, He said the attack was a desperate attempt to undermine the gains of recently held fair elections, which earned international legitimacy. "This is the time all political organisations in the State and the country must unitedly face the challenge and don’t use such unfortunate situation for partisan interests", Tarigami said. BJP MLA from Nagrota Jugal Kishore visited Ragunath temple to take stock of the situation. He attributed the blast to Mufti Government’s ‘pro-terrorist policy’. Congress (I) MLA Raman Bhalla also visited Medical College hospital and inquired condition of the injured. He condemned the fidayeen attack. Jammu State Morcha (JSM) MLA Ashwani Sharma also strongly condemned the terrorists’ strike in the City and blamed Pakistan for the incident. He demanded stern action against the terrorists. VHP State Chief Dr Rama Kant Dubey blamed Mufti Government for the attack and sought Home Minister L K Advani’s resignation. KP Sabha chief T N Khosa also condemned the attack. Reasi MLA Jugal Kishore has given a call for bandh in Katra tommorrow. Persons injured in the attack included Bishamber Dass S/o Lakshman Dass of Talab Tillo, Rinku S/o Dev Raj of Kanji House, Sumit S/o S M Bakshi of Shastri Nagar, Vijay Soni S/o Harbans Lal of Gandhi Nagar, Maqsoodi S/o Ghulam Nabi, Sanjay Sharma S/o Bishan Dass of Raghunath Pura, Mohd Sultan, S/o Abdul Ahad, Sunil Kumar S/o Laxhman Dass of Bohri, Esha D/o Rakesh of Channi, Dampur Lal S/o Zai Lal of Narwal, Ghulam Mohd, S/o Ghulam Hussain of Kulgam, Ashok Kumar of Ramnagar, Nazir Ahmed S/o Mohd Azam of Banihal, Narinder Singh S/o Paramjit of Residency Road, Arjun Singh S/o Kuldeep Singh of Nagrota, Suresh Kumar, S/o Mula Ram of Talab Tillo, Manohar Lal Verma, S/o Parveen Kumar of Patoli, Jan Mohd, S/o Ghulam Ahmed of Srinagar, Babu Ram S/o Krishan Lal of Kanji House, Ram S/o Rakesh Kumar of Panjthirthi, Sunil Gupta S/o Harbans Lal of Marh, Hazra of Magerkot, Vishal S/o Jagdish Chander of Janipur, Ashiq Hussain, S/o Ghulam Ahmed of Janipur, Som Raj of Poonch, Edison S/o George of Christian Colony, Sheela Devi S/o Pritam Lal of Raghunath Bazar, Ajit Singh S/o Kuljeet Singh of Nanak Nagar, Bishamber Lal S/o Jia Lal of Nanak Nagar, Sunil Bakshi S/o B M Bakshi of Patel Nagar, Ghulam Ahmed S/o Ghulam Hussain of Anantnag and Vishal Lawrence of Christian Colony. |
|
CID officer, two SPOs shot dead by terrorists Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI/POONCH, Nov 24: A CID officer and two Special Police Officers (SPOs), both of whom were relatives, were shot dead by the terrorists in two separate incidents at Thanna Mandi and Surankote late last night. Official sources said two terrorists fired a burst on ASI CID (Counter-Intelligence) Niaz Ahmed Qureshi son of Alaf Din from an open window of his house in Surankote town (near the sub district hospital) in Poonch district at 2045 hours last night. The ASI alongwith his wife and brother were watching television when the terrorists struck. As the ultras fled away, family of the ASI shifted him to the adjoining hospital in critical condition, where he succumbed to his injuries. Sources said the terrorists had fitted a silencer with the rifle, a result of which the sound of gun shots was not heard in the town. Police parties from Surankote police station and security forces fanned out in the town and started a search operation for the terrorists. However, no arrest could be made immediately. Body of the ASI was laid to rest with full police honours this afternoon. Local officers of police and security forces attended the burial. According to sources, the terrorists had burnt the ancestral house of the ASI in Faizalabad about two years back. Thereafter, the ASI had shifted to Surankote town. He was instrumental in the arrest of a number of terrorists for which he had been granted out-of-turn promotions. In another incident, two terrorists forced their entry into the house of Tufail Hussain son of Wazir Mohd, an ex-serviceman and a SPO posted in Rajouri, at village Tota Morha in Rajdhani area of Thanna Mandi at 2230 hours last night. They quizzed Tufail for about 20 minutes in front of his family members and then asked him to accompany them to the house of his nephew Mushtaq Ahmed son of Bhag Ali, also a SPO. The terrorists and Tufail Hussain trekked about 300 meters to reach the house of Mushtaq. After questioning Mushtaq for about 10 minutes, the terrorists gunned down both Tufail and Mushtaq. The ultras escaped towards a nearby forest area. A police party from Thanna Mandi police station rushed to the spot and recovered dead bodies of the SPOs. Bodies were handed over to their families this morning after post-mortem. Police and security forces have started a search operation for the terrorists, both of whom were believed to be locals. However, no arrests had been made so far, the sources said. Meanwhile, police have arrested another fake militant in Nowshera tehsil of Rajouri district, SSP Rajouri Prithvi Raj Manhas said today. He said the fake militant was involved in a series of thefts, posing himself as a militant. Some stolen articles were recovered from his possession. Last week, three fake militants were arrested in Nowshera. Another militancy related incident took place in Chakli Faroh village in Kalakote tehsil, where three terrorists mercilessly beat-up a civilian Mohd Zoo son of Khaliq Zoo. Injured was hospitalised by the local police. Two unidentified terrorists snatched a .303 rifle from a Village Defence Committee (VDC) member Mohan Singh son of Inder Singh R/o Phara. A blast took place near an army camp in Budhal area of Rajouri at 2300 hours last night. However, no casualties or damage was reported in the blast. Security forces destroyed a hideout of the terrorists in the house of Fazal Hussain son of Soba Khan at village Manyal in Azmatabad area of Rajouri today. Two IEDs, six UBGL grenades, one UBGL, six combat dresses, a number of equipments used in making the IEDs and personal belongings of the terrorists were recovered from the hideout. Meanwhile, a civilian Sher Singh son of Daya Ram was injured in a mine blast in Khour area of Akhnoor tehsil last evening. |
|
Give up extreme stances to resolve Kashmir issue : KC JAMMU, Nov 24: Kashmir Committee Chairman Ram Jethmalani today said respective parties should give up their extreme positions to find a peaceful solution to the vexed Kashmir issue. Elaborating this, he said that separatists should abandon their stand of "independence and secessionism" while BJP has to give up the demand of abrogation of Article 370, guaranteeing special status to Jammu and Kashmir. "Some midway has to be found for a peaceful solution to Kashmir problem," Jethmalani said. The Committee has impressed upon various leaders that violence has no role in the State, he said, adding even Democratic Freedom Party leader Shabir Shah agreed that the issue of secessionism should be kept out in resolving Kashmir problem. On the specific role of the committee, Jethmalani said it cannot give any solution as it is a private body and not vested with any constitutional authority or power. "We can only help in facilitating a solution." Asked if his committee would meet Pakistan’s Kashmir Committee (PKC), the noted lawyer said "we have no hesitation to talk to them though no invitation has been received from them so far." "We can go to Pakistan to have discussions with them and Hurriyat Conference can contact them for this," he said, adding "if PKC wishes to come to India, we will request Government to provide visas for their members." "They also need a face saving device to satisfy people on their side," he said. Asked about achievements of the Kashmir Committee, Jethmalani said "our efforts have been welcomed by people, including intellectuals, in the country." Asked about forces creating obstacles in resolving the Kashmir issue, Jethmalani said it was Pakistani military Junta and some people in Indian bureaucracy. Pakistan, he said, did not want peace and had not done anything so far to stop terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. "Even Al-Qaeda men have infiltrated into our territory." The Kashmir Committee Chairman said no solution is possible to Kashmir problem with meeting aspirations of all three regions of the State. Besides, "Kashmiriyat" has to be restored in the Valley where people of all religious faiths live in harmony, he said. Referring to his meeting with Shabir Shah in Srinagar, Jethmalani said Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims who had migrated from the Valley would have to be brought back with honour and dignity. (PTI) |
|
Minister's motorcade
attacked in Ganderbal Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Nov 24: While as militants launched an unsuccessful attack on the motorcade of a Minister in Kokernag area, two civilians have been eliminated by them in Tral. Meanwhile, a Sub Inspector (SI) of Jammu & Kashmir Police, who had sustained crtitical injuries in last evening’s shootout at Exhibition Crossing, breathed his last at hospital. Informed sources told EXCELSIOR that Sub Inspector Mohammad Akram of District Police Srinagar, who was a resident of Noorpora Tral, succumbed to injuries at SKIMS, Soura, today. As already reported, militants had left him critically injured and his associate Constable Mohammad Ashraf dead in a shootout at Exhibition Crossing last evening. SI Mohammad Akram, incharge SHO of Police Station Shaheed Gunj, was on duty when an unidentified militant fired upon him and others of his party at the crowded public place. Officials said that in last evening’s blast in the Gypsy of Dy SP DPL Awantipore, in which the officer and three constables had sustained injured, a civilian had died due to cardiac arrest. He has been identified as Habibullah S/o Ghulam Mohammad R/o Basant Bagh, Gaw Kadal. He was close to the spot when militants reportedly lobbed an explosive device on the Police vehicle at Panta Chowk. Since, there was no evidence of splinters and the hood of the Gypsy burned completely, officials believe that a militant had attacked the vehicle with a petrol bomb. Sources said that during last night, militants kidnapped one Abdul Ahad Ahad Sheikh S/o Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh from his residence at Panzoo village in Tral. Thereafter, they kidnapped a 42-year-old woman, Azi, and her husband Ghulam Rasool Bhat from their residence at Nadir village in the same locality. They were taken to a deserted spot outside Laroo village and tortured physically. After the torture, militants fired upon them. Abdul Ahad Sheikh and Azi died on spot. However, Ghulam Rasool Bhat managed to escape. Residents believe that he was let off. He has escaped to an unknown place. Official sources confirmed that the slain woman had been working as an informer with SOG Tral and security forces. However, it was not clear why the resident of Panzoo was shot dead. Reports from south Kashmir said that militants in ambush fired upon the motorcade of Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, Minister of Rural Development, at Hillar in Kokernag last evening, when he was returning from a tour of his Kokernag constituency. His escort personnel retaliated and the militants fled from the spot. Nobody was killed or injured in the shootout. Late last evening, an unidentified gunman appeared at Ganai Hamam in Baramulla town and fired upon the owner of a PCO, Intikhab Alam Bhat S/o Saifuddin Bhat. He was hit by a bullet but sustained only minor injuries. Militants today targeted a security forces’ vehicle in an IED blast at Markundal in Sumbal area of Baramulla district. It, however, missed the intended target and failed to cause any damage. On a specific information, troops of RR 76 Bn, BSF 138 Bn, BSF 120 Bn and SOG Tral raided a militant hideout in Shikargah forest area of Tral, late this evening. Even as militants managed to escape, troops destroyed the hideout and recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition. The seizure included seven RPG rockets, 10 anti-tank mines, 18 boosters, 20 Kg RDX and 30 Kg low grade explosive. |
|
‘Militants
violence can't derail peace process’ Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Nov 24: Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today asserted that he would strive for a serious dialogue between the Centre and the elected representatives of the people and other sections in Jammu and Kashmir adding no amount of militant violence could derail the process of dialogue. He said enough blood had been spilled in the past 13 years and now was the time to have serious and meaningful deliberations to address the problem. Addressing a largely attended meeting at the Tagore Hall here at which he handed over letters of appointment on compassionate grounds to the next of kin of victims of militant violence in Srinagar district killed between January 8, 1990 and April 26, 1993, Sayeed said dialogue and not the gun was the means to find solution to any problem. He said the Government has accorded top priority to the initiation of an unconditional dialogue as also reflected in the Governor’s address to the joint session of the state legislature on Thursday. At today’s function, 121 letters of appointment were distributed. The Minister for Rural Development, Pirzada Muhammad Syed, principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Muhammad Iqbal Khandey and the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Parvez Dewan were present. Chief Minister said he was committed to return to the State peace with dignity and cautioned against forces that would try to sabotage the efforts. He, however, affirmed that the process would not be allowed to derail. The Government, he said, would bring the people, particularly the youth, out of the atmosphere of hopelessness and usher them into an era of peace and prosperity. "The task ahead of us is stupendous and the challenges enormous but our determination is equally strong", he added. He said the sincerity of purpose would lead us to the goal. The Chief Minister said he had been able to move forward in his effort to create a consensus at the national level in respect of the urgency of a serious dialogue. He said the largest political party of the country, the Congress party, attaches importance to initiating a dialogue in order to address the problem that has left the State bleeding. He said the National Democratic Alliance Government at the Centre too had been offering unconditional dialogue to militants. He said while the process of dialogue would take some time to get going his Government would concentrate on providing good governance to ameliorate the sufferings of the people. He asked the administration at all levels to be responsive to the public grievances and work with missionary zeal. He said the procedures had to be simplified so that people were not put to inconvenience. The situation, he said, demands a healing touch that would be provided with a sense of responsibility and commitment. Soliciting the cooperation and support of the people in making the State a place of peace as it used to be in the past, the Chief Minister said all sections of the society had to work together to achieve this goal. He said the problems of unemployment and poverty had to be addressed on priority. He said the system had to be changed to infuse the sense of accountability. The change, he said, could not be affected in a day but the beginning had been made. The Chief Minister enumerated various steps taken by the Government, in the shortest span of time since it took over, to minimize the inconveniences to the people and said a beginning had been made and the process would continue. He asked the boys and the girls, who received their appointment letters today, to work with dedication. He said an appointment letter was no compensation to a life but a small effort to help out the families rendered destitute by militant violence. He said the process of recruitment would be institutionalized in which the deserving would get the jobs. |
|
J&K Assembly poll
wasn't ‘farce’ NEW DELHI, Nov 24: London-based Kashmir leader, Syed Nazir Gilani, has come down heavily upon the Srinagar-based All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) for nurturing ties with Pakistan rather than the people of Jammu and Kashmir. In a blistering attack on the Hurriyat Conference, Mr Gilani has said that the 23-party amalgam and the Pakistan Government seem to have ended up in a friendship of the blind and the lame. Mr Nazir Gilani, who is the secretary general of the Jammu and Kashmir Council for Human Rights (JKCHR), was recently in the Valley, where he interacted with a number of political leaders. Mr Gilani has admitted that, during his stay in the Valley, he did discuss the State’s political situation with political leaders. And as he dubbed the Hurriyat’s bond with Pakistan as one of the ‘blind and the lame’, he regretted: "Unfortunately the high priests of self-determination seem to have remained in touch with Pakistan through its High Commission in Delhi and through other means more than the people of Jammu and Kashmir". Before his return to London from New Delhi on Sunday morning, Mr Gilani made a sensational comment: "Politicians on both sides of the cease-fire line (known as Line of Control) are the real villains who are fostering India and Pakistan’s enemy image to advance their interests". Mr Gilani chided Pakistan Government forcalling just-concluded Assembly elections in J&K a ‘farce’. Stating that the Hurriyat Conference’s call for the poll boycott did not find people’s endorsement, Mr Gilani praised the role of the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr JM Lyngdoh, for his fairness and his superman-like tradition of impartiality and sensitivity. According to Mr Gilani, Hurriyat Conference leaders aren’t clear in regard to their priorities and representations. The rights of people of Jammu and Kashmir, he said, should have come first and a consideration of an accession to Pakistan remained a secondary element. He stressed that the Hurriyat Conference had no position on Jammu, Ladakh, Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), Gilgit and Baltistan. He lamented that the Hurriyat leadership "is silent" on the human rights movement in the PoK and the northern areas under the control of Pakistan. The Hurriyat Conference, he pointed out, had no opinion on the areas ceded to China by Pakistan. Mr Nazir Gilani accused Pakistan of not being keen to see genuine Kashmir leadership emerge and said that Pakistan would get marginalised if genuine leadership emerged in Jammu and Kashmir. Stating that the J&K electorate made valiant efforts to vote, Mr Gilani observed: "The common man is now convinced that in the free and fair election it has choice to elect representatives of his own choice. The people want clean and corruption-free administration". Mr Geelani opined: "A healing touch is required and there needs to be immediate end to repression. It will pave way for a solution of the Kashmir problem through a process of dialogue". He urged the Indian leadership to evolve a "positive and purposeful approach" to address aspirations of the people of the State and a flexible attitude in reviving the dialogue with Pakistan. (UNI) |
|
DC closes educational institutions in Jammu Excelsior Correspondent Jammu, Nov. 24: The District Magistrate, Jammu, Mr. Rohit Kansal has ordered that Jammu University, all colleges and Government and Private Schools shall remain closed tomorrow in Jammu. This step has been taken as a precautionary measures. |
|
|
Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 24: Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed has cancelled an ‘iftar’ party, which was scheduled to be hosted by him at his residence tomorrow evening. This has been done in view of today’s strike by the terrorists at Ragunath and Panjbakhtar temples. |
|
|
Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 24: Director General of Police (DGP) A K Suri today re-instated three suspended DySPs with immediate effect. They are Varinder Singh, Sameer Rekhi and Mohammad Yasin Kichloo. The three officers shall continue to remain attached with the offices they were attached during the suspension period, an official order said. |
|
Assassination bid on Karzai, Fahim foiled WASHINGTON, Nov 24 : A plot to assasinate Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and Defence Minister Mohammed Fahim was foiled after security forces in Kabul arrested a 22-year-old Iraqi Kurd trained in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir with a large amount of explosives strapped to his body, a report said today here. The militant — Bokan Akram Khorani — had 18 pounds of explosives taped under his vest and "had been trained and assigned to carry out a suicide mission," said Amrullah Salihi, spokesman for Afghan National Directorate of Security. Khorani had been sent to assassinate Karzai on his return from a trip to the US last week, but he reached too late to ambush Karzai and switched to a plan to kill Fahim, Salihi said adding he volunteered numerous details about himself and his suicide mission after his arrest on Friday. He had been "casing" the neibhourhood where Fahim lived when he was captured, and that police had been watching him since he arrived in Kabul from Pakistan several days ago, the Post said quoting the Afghan official. Khorani had been trained in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir for the last four months before crossing the border into Afghanistan, he said. Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the paper noted, "has long been a training base for terrorist groups fighting in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Afghan officials recently warned that fugitive Taliban officials, possibly working with Pakistani inteligence agencies, may be joining forces with violent Islamic groups in Pakistan that are hostile to the Karzai goverment and its us backers." Both Karzai and Fahim have been trgets of previous attacks. (AGENCIES) |
|
Sena-BJP demand dismissal of Maharashtra Government MUMBAI, Nov 24: Citing yesterday’s violent incidents at Kankavli in Coastal Konkan as ‘Breakdown’ of law and order machinery, the Shiv Sena-BJP opposition combine today demanded dismissal of Maharashtra Government even as the ruling DF coalition charged the Sena with ‘subjugating and imposing its political will by assaulting and murdering political workers’. ‘The DF Government has failed to discharge its constitutional responsibility and the law and order situation has worsened’, a high level delegation of the saffron combine told the Governor Mohammad Fazal here during a meeting and demanded dismissal of the ruling coalition. Angry NCP activists had yesterday set ablaze leader of opposition Narayan Rane’s bunglow at Kankavli in Sindhudurg district and indulged in large-scale arson after a local NCP leader Satyavijay Bhise was stabbed to death allegedly by Shiv Sena workers on November 22 night in the tehsil town. Clashes broke out between workers of both the parties over outcome of the November 14 Kalsuli Gram Panchayat polls in which bhise was elected. The opposition delegation, led by Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray, took strong exception to Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal’s reported statement ‘what is wrong in agitators taking to stone pelting when people are being killed?’ The saffron combine delegation also submitted newspaper clippings of Bhujbal’s statement. Earlier, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Bhujbal met the Governor to appraise him about the clashes at Kankavli. The Government, in a written communication to the Governor, stated that ‘politics of violence imposed by Sena disturbs the tranquil citizens of our state giving rise to grave law and order problem’. Deshmukh and Bhujbal told Fazal that ‘politics of violence is challenge to stable foundation of governance and will be dealt with firmly as Sena is likely to manipulate the issue’. They also demanded that the ‘Sena must put an end to the politics of murder and terror’. The Sena sources claimed that the Governor has said that he would seek a clarification from the Home Minister for his reported statement. The saffron combine delegation comprised leader of opposition in the upper house Nitin Gadkari, Sena MP Sanjay Nirupam, other Sena leaders Dattaji Nalawade and Liladhar Dake and city BJP unit chief Vinod Tawde. Later talking to reporters, Deshmukh said that those found guilty would be booked and appealed to people to maintain law and order. About the incidents at Kankavli, the Government informed the Governor that ‘NCP worker’s murder angered the local residents and their wrath quickly spread to other parts of the Kankawali city. Rane’s residence and vehicle also caught the fury of the disturbed residents and were damaged’. The statement also mentioned the 1991 killing of Congress worker Shridhar Naik, in which Rane was an accused but was later absolved by the court. ‘Similar incident had occurred at Khed Taluka in Ratnagiri district in the past wherein a Congress worker Bhilare was murdered by shiv sena workers’, the statement added. Following the Sena leaders’ meeting with Fazal, a delegation led by NCP state unit chief Babanrao Pachpute also met the Governor. State DGP Subhash Malhotra alongwith Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Ashok Basak also met the Governor and briefed him about the events at Kankavli. (PTI) |
|
Do not force your religious beliefs on others: Arjan Singh NEW DELHI, Nov 24 : Marshal of the Indian Air Force, Arjan Singh today told NCC cadets to ‘think of religion as a way of life’ and refrain from imposing one’s religious beliefs on others or to think one’s own religion was the best. Delivering a lecture titled ‘youth: the nation’s hope’ on the occasion of the 54th anniversary of the NCC today, Marshal Arjan Singh held his audience spellbound as he shared his own experiences with the cadets as well as the distinguished guests, who included the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy, Chief of Army Staff-designate, Gen NC Vij and other high-ranking officers. Remarking on the fulsome introduction Director General, NCC Lt Gen BK Bopanna had given him, the Marshal said Wryly that he had been in the University Training Corps (Precursors of the NCC) for three years (1935-38), but had not even become a ‘Lance corporal’. Furthermore, he confided that he could not even tie his uniform ‘putees’ correctly and had been much punished for this. More seriously, he told the audience that when he joined the Air Force in 1938, this training had taught him to have a positive attitude and always strive to ‘do better.’ He recalled the positive contribution made by the NCC during the 1965 war, when Pakistani paratroops were dropping around IAF bases, and how Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri had praised it for stimulating patriotic feelings for defence of the motherland. He stressed the importance of sports but cautioned them from letting it interfere with their studies. ‘Sports dont take much time, talking about sports does,’ he quipped. The Marshal said the President, APJ Abdul Kalam, had even before becoming President, repeatedly announced the future of the country was dependent on the youth. He exhorted the cadets to read Mr Kalam’s speeches and writings. The National Cadets Corps (NCC) makes its recruits ‘better human beings’, said the old air warrior in conclusion. In his speech, Minister of State for Defence, Chaman Lal Gupta called youth the ‘vanguard of progress’ and the key agents of social change, economic development and technological innovation. He said they are the most vibrant and creative segment of the society. Mr Gupta outlined the measures taken up the Government for the youth. Praising the NCC’s contribution, he said his association with the organisation had ‘redoubled his faith in the youth of the country.’ Earlier, director General NCC, Lt Gen BK Bopanna, in his opening remarks, gave a brief overview of the NCC’s activities. He informed that in view of the 50th anniversary of man’s ascent on Mt Everest, the NCC in collaboration with the Indian Mountaineering Federation, was organising an all-women expedition to climb this peak, mostly likely in 2004. Lt Gen Bopanna said they tried to ensure that cadets of the NCC not only join the armed forces, but every profession and serve in nation-building. He pointed out several governors, chief ministers and bureaucrats had served in the NCC. He said the present Air Chief S Krishnaswami entered the Air Force after serving in the NCC and now had become the head of the force. (UNI) |
|
Vigilance registers criminal case against Gurdev Badal CHANDIGARH, Nov 24 : Punjab Vigilance Bureau has registered a criminal case against former Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurdev Singh Badal for allegedly indulging in corrupt practices, favoritism and nepotism during his tenure as Minister from 1997-2002. According to a spokesman of the Bureau, Badal allegedly acquired property disproportionate to his known sources of income in his own name or in the names of his near and dear ones during the period. The spokesman said that Badal purchased a residential plot measuring 500 square-yard in the name of his children Kewal Singh, Suba Singh, Karnail Kaur and grand-son Bhupinder Singh. He also purchased land measuring over three acres at Faridkot and 250 sq yard plot in village Panj Guraian, the spokesman said. He said that the Akali leader was also having agriculture land in many villages and "misused his authority and got underground irrigation pipes laid from soil conservation departments". Badal acquired assets worth Rs. 1.07 crore disproportionate to his known sources of income. He has also acquired movable assets like luxary-cars, gold and bank deposits, he said. The spokesman also stated that badal being a public servant,also allegedly misused his office for giving financial benefits to his near and dear ones in the form of appointments, promotions and selections. Meanwhile, a report from Ludhiana said that a large number of Akali workers led by Amarjit Singh Bhatia, vice-president of the Shiromani Akali Dal and former member Parliament Amrik Singh Aliwal raised slogans against the Punjab Government when Gurdev Singh Badal, who was arrested by the Vigilance Bureau in a corruption case from Faridkot yesterday, was being produced in the court of Duty Magistrate D P Singla at Ludhiana today. Singla granted one day police remand to Badal. Badal was earlier sent to civil hospital by the Duty Magistrate for a medical check up as his advocates had complained that inspire of their client being a heart patient he had not been allowed any rest ever since he had been taken in to custody last night. Earlier, talking to mediapersons in the court complex, 73-year-old Gurdev Singh Badal (MLA) said that "it was a matter to shame for the State Government to humiliate a person who has been 11 times an elected mla in the state and who had always had a "clean record". He complined that he had not been allowed to take any medicine even though he had told the police that he was a heart patient. (PTI) Meanwhile, Akali Dal chief Parkash Singh Badal strongly reacted to the registration of a case against Gurdev Singh Badal. "This is a broad-daylight vendetta," he said in a statement here. "Gurdev Badal is being punished for his son’s refusal to be blackmailed during SGPC polls," he alleged. (PTI) |
|
|
|
| home | state | national | business| editorial | advertisement | sports | |