 |
Swiss made
mobile satellite phone recovered Excelsior Correspondent/Agencies SRINAGAR, Nov 29: In yet another major success, the Border Security Force (BSF) has busted a hideout which was being used as a communication centre by the Pakistan based Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) at Chhatrahama on the outskirts of the city. Deputy Inspector General of BSF J P Sinha told reporters here today that troops of the 31 batallion, acting on specific information cordoned off Chhatrahama, about 12 km from here last evening to nab the militants. He said during the search, a hideout of the LeT was busted and communications equipment and other arms and ammunition were recovered. These included a Swiss made mobile satellite telephone with charger, 15 kg of explosive, two pistols, 2 magazines, 102 rounds, two grenades, 50 electric detonators, 15 main chargers and 30 timing devices. Mr Sinha said the satellite phone was being used to receive and transmit messages to Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir. The LeT were getting instructions from their mentors from across the border through this telephone, he said. However, he said, no arrests had been made as the militants had left the hideout before the troops reached there. It took troops some time to climb the height with the result that the militants managed to escape, he added. Meanwhile, suicide attacks on the formations of Police and security forces, which were introduced by Pakistan-based pan-Islamist guerrilla outfits after their Kargil fiasco in 1999, have claimed lives of 161 personnel in Kashmir valley during the last over three years. Ninety militants and almost the equal number of civilians have also died in these so-called Fidayeen strikes. Deputy Inspector General of Border Security Force (BSF), R S Bhullar, explained to EXCELSIOR this evening that the militants of four pan-Islamist guerrilla outfits had carried out as many as 55 suicide attacks on the camps of Police and security forces. The deadliest— in which over 40 officials, civilians, Police and CRPF died—however came on the State Assembly complex here on October 1st, 2001. In these attacks of tremendous psychological impact, Army suffered the maximum casualties as it lost 82 personnel, J&K Police suffered 42 fatal casualties, CRPF lost 24 soldiers and non-soldiers while as BSF lost 10 personnel. Two personnel of ITBP and one of Indian Air Force (IAF) also died in these attacks, in Kashmir. Out of 55 Fiadyeen strikes since July 1999, as many as 47 were launched by Lashkar-e-Toiba, six by Jaish-e-Mohammad and one each by militants of Hizbul Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. Ninety militants died in such operations. In order to boost the morale of fresh recruits as well as enrolled cadres, the Jehadi groups introduced suicide strikes in Kashmir valley on July 13, 1999, when half-a-dozen BSF personnel, including a DIG, were killed in a sneak operation at headquarters of Sector-11 in Bandipore. Later, militants carried out similar successful attacks on a large number of military and civil installations, which included headquarters of Army’s 15 Corps at Badami Bagh Srinagar, headquarters of Special Operations Group (SOG) Srinagar, Police Control Room Srinagar, J&K Legislative Assembly complex in Srinagar, Srinagar Airport, IAF base at Awantipore, headquarters of Army’s Sector-1 in Anantnag, headquarters of 19-Infantry Division in Baramulla. A number of Army’s Brigade, Battalion and Company headquarters as also CRPF’s Battalion headquarters at several places were also targeted. The latest strike came on Pamposh Hotel complex, headquarters of two CRPF battalions, in Srinagar when six CRPF personnel got killed on November 22 last. Both the militants, who had attacked the formation early in the morning, were also eliminated. All these daredevil attacks, besides around 20 in Jammu region, were triumphantly celebrated at Lashkar-e-Toiba’s headquarters at Muridke, near Lahore. The operation on the Corps Headquarters was conducted on November 3, 1999, when about 20,000 members of Lashkar-e-Toiba had gathered for a yearly congregation at Muridke. A mixture of facts and fiction, revolving around these suicide attacks, is being used to indoctrinate the fresh recruits. For example, according to a Lashkar publication, then SP South Ramesh Kumar Jalla, was among "dozens of Policemen" killed by famous Fidayee, Abu Talha, in a suicide attack on PCR Srinagar. Jalla, who had actually suffered an injury in his hand, is very much alive and presently posted as SP North in Srinagar. Admittedly, however, Abu Talha, had managed to escape from the PCR even as three of his associates got killed. Diaries and documents, recovered from the slain militants, indicate that "Abu Talha Hazarwi" has been the main source of inspiration and "role model" for a number of Fidayeen. Even after he got killed in an encounter with SOG in Srinagar outskirts, this code name was given to a number of his successors. Earlier this evening, before hosting an Iftaar party for Srinagar-based mediapersons, R S Bhullar and the officiating IG BSF, Kashmir, Harsh Vardhan Raju, claimed that infiltration of Pakistan-trained militants into Kashmir valley had witnessed a marked increase in the current year. They said that since July 19th this year, as many as 41 encounters had taken place between the infiltrators and security forces at LoC in Kashmir. According to the senior BSF officials, 108 militants were killed in these encounters. They sought to dispel the impression that militants had been "buying" the borders from corrupt BSF officers for the purpose of smooth infiltration. "There can be few black sheep in every force, organisation and institution. In BSF too, there have been few isolated cases. But, there is no question of such criminal involvement as a phenomenon", Bhullar asserted. Asked how many militants were presently active in Kashmir, he claimed that there were a total of 1,850 militants. While as 1,100 of them were Kashmiri youth, 750 were from Pakistan and some other countries. He said that there were 48 battalions of BSF in the Valley and 32 of them were on the task of counter-insurgency. The capital city of Srinagar, apple town of Sopore and most of the rural areas were directly under the counter-insurgency grid of BSF. The officiating IG BSF Kashmir, who is actually posted as DIG BSF Anantnag, claimed that BSF was doing "perfectly well" on the counter-insurgency front in Kashmir. Asked if the new Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s public criticism of SOG, had dampened BSF’s spirits, Harsh Vardhan Raju said: "BSF has been doing everything under the parameters of law. We have no concerns." He claimed that, in "excellent coordination of J&K Police and other security forces, BSF was very much on the forefront of counter-insurgency operations. "The moment we receive a credible tip off, we rush to the spot", he added. Raju said that BSF had killed 141 militants and arrested 168 more in the Valley since January 01 this year. It also recovered 262 weapons, including 158 AK-56 rifles, 62 pistols, 38 UBGLs, 99 wireless sets besides a large quantity of grenades and assorted ammunition. According to Raju, since January 1990, till date BSF has killed 2,361 militants in Kashmir and apprehended 9,350 militants. He said that 8,057 weapons and 695 wireless sets had been seized by BSF during the same period. |
|
Pak providing ready handle to those stoking communal passion OXFORD (UK), Nov 29: Congress president Sonia Gandhi today accused Pakistan of providing a "ready handle" to those who stoke communal passion in India and said that terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir are acting in pursuance of Islamabad’s foreign policy. It would be wrong to think that religion is their motive as "both Hindus and Muslims have been targeted alike," Gandhi said delivering a commonwealth lecture on "conflict and coexistence in our age" at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. "This is particularly so in our State of Jammu and Kashmir where it is evident that the terrorists are acting in pursuance of the foreign policy of our neighbour to the west," she said. Her lecture was made a subject of controversy back home with BJP accusing the Islamic centre of having links with international terrorist Osama bin Laden. Gandhi maintained that the fight against terrorists should be framed and implemented on a clear understanding that terrorism is indivisible, international and was also being pertetrated by some states as an instrument of their policy. In a veiled attack on the US, she said "the approach that says that the terrorism I face is of higher priority than the terrorism you face is illogical and has dangerous implications for global stability and security. "Equally grave is the cross-border flow of funds through different channels that support terrorist organisations. This must be dealt with comprehensibly and globally," she said. Though the US is now the world’s pre-eminent power in every sense of the term, "it cannot afford to act unilaterally," Gandhi said. "Many in the US are impatient with multilateralism, but in today’s inter-dependent world, there is simply no alternative to working in concert and collaboration with each other." Without naming Pakistan, Gandhi said "nevertheless, I should point out that, by the postures it adopts and the actions it takes, this neighbour provides a ready handle to those who stoke communal antagonisms within India. There are also religious and political leaders on both sides who feed on each other’s passions." The leader of the opposition in Parliament also referred to developments in Iraq and said India was closely watching them. "As a founding member of the UN, India is deeply committed to the principles of its charter. It is our view that the question of Iraq cannot be dealt with unilaterally. Concepts like ‘regime change’ are fraught with grave dangers," Gandhi said. The lecture was arranged by Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies which is affiliated to the renowned Magdalen College. It is currently headed by Dr Farhan Nizami, an eminent scholar hailing from Lucknow and Prince Charles is its patron. The lecture was attended by Jigme K N Wangchuck, Crown Prince of Bhutan, Prince Haji Abdul Azim of Brunei, Indian High Commissioner Ronen Sen and Ambassadors of Morocco, Kuwait, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka. (PTI) |
|
Govt for civilian air facility at Kargil State's choppers for Dras, Zanskar Excelsior Special Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 29: Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, is keen on an unhindered facility for the civilian population of Kargil region of Ladakh at the mountain-girt airfield in the Kargil town. This facility can be possible only if the Government of India decided to allow civilian aircrat to fly in and fly out from the Kargil airfield. It is, in this context, that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-led Government in J&K has planned to plead for the Centre’s intervention. Indications are by no means uncertain that when Mufti Mohammed Sayeed takes up his Government’s economic package with the Vajpayee Government for special allocation of funds, he will also highlight the need for early facility for the civilian population at the Kargil airfield. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister is reported to have decided against allowing the State-owned aircraft to be used for merry-making trips. The aircraft, under reference, is the 9-seater chopper called ‘super king’ Beach-craft A-350. According to qualified sources, Mufti Sayeed has sent out a message to the State’s officialdom, making it clear that the chopper will be used only in emergency situations and for emergency duties. This small state-of-the-art aircraft will not be disposed of, considering the Chief Minister’s reported emphasis on using the aircraft available with the State’s Civil Aviation Department in emergency situations, such as sudden closure of roads to important locations in Ladakh, Doda and other forward areas elsewhere in the State. The previous Government, headed by Dr Farooq Abdullah, had purchased Beach-craft from a US firm in 1997 at a cost of about Rs 8 crores. It may be mentioned here that Jammu and Kashmir has its own service—in other words, the existence of the Civil Aviation Department. At present, a fleet of 2 helicopters, in addition to the Beach-craft, are available with the CAD. Use of these choppers will, according to one estimate, save around Rs 7 crores annually, which the State administration, in the past, would pay to the Indian Air Force (IAF) for use of its helicopter, which cost the State exchequer a sum of Rs 1.60 lakhs per hour. The IAF had invariably made available to the State administration M-17 helicopter in emergency situations. The Government, sources clarified, had now decided to make use of the choppers available with the Civil Aviation Department in far-off sectors, including Zanskar, Dras and Tangdhar during winter months. |
|
US befooling world over war against terror Handover J&K to army: Singhal Excelsior Special Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 29: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) International working president, Mr Ashok Singhal, has warned that peace in Jammu region will remain a distant dream as long as the region is not granted separate Statehood. "Hindus are being victimized and attacked for the last more than 1,000 years", he said and cited instances of the role, in this regard, by the Muslim rulers such as Mohammed Ghaznavi and Aurangzeb. Militants in Jammu and Kashmir, he told mediapersons here on Friday, were virtually pursuing the tactics of despots like Ghaznavi and Aurangzeb. "Temples are being attacked and idols broken by terrorists". It was, precisely, in this context that the VHP supremo vehemently defended the demand for a separate State of Jammu, stating that such a political entity would lead to peace, protection of life and property and justice. Mr Singhal, who was in the city on a fact-finding mission after the fidayeen attack on the Raghunath Mandir, said that the strike, which was second after March last, showed that there were inadequate security arrangements. He charged the Government with not being serious in dealing with the menace of terrorism. He, in fact, urged the Government to stop looking towards the United States of America or other foreign powers. Mr Singhal launched a blistering attack on America and opined that it wasn’t fighting war against the terrorism. America, he cryptically remarked, was befooling India and the world as such. He pronounced: "America will never fight India’s war against terror. The US Government has no interest in this mission and its motive is to capture Afghanistan and to maintain its supremacy over some countries in Asia". According to the VHP leader, the US wants to keep India and Pakistan in ‘good humour’ to serve its own interests. He took strong exception to the US moves to sheild its "stalwart ally" (Pakistan) and said that Pakitan had already become the "known breeding ground for the terrorists today". Mr Singhal, at the same time, strongly criticised the Central and State Governments, saying: "It is very unfortunate that those at the helm of affairs are only interested in power and pelf, and not bothered for the people’s welfare and protection". His verdict: "Such people have no right to stay in power, if they fail to protect the people". Without openly demanding ouster of the new Government in J&K headed by Mufti Sayeed, Mr Ashok Singhal demanded that the troubled State be handed over to the Armed forces, as the police and paramilitary personnel had failed to ensure people’s safety against the terrorist attacks and violence. He reiterated that the troops should be given free hand to crush militancy in J&K. He lambasted the coalition partners in the Mufti Government from Jammu region for their non-seriousness on the protection of people and claimed that people will not spare them and they have breached the trust. Replying to yet another question the VHP leader said that ethnical cleansing has been witnessed in the Valley since long now and the Centre has failed to stop it. He alleged that Union Home Minister who had claimed that he will not allow to happen such thing in J&K, has failed to come up to the expectations of the people and speciallly to protect the minorities. Referring to the Gujarat violence, Mr Sighal said that he did not see any link to the Raghunath temple attack but it is very clear that whatever happened in the entire State, was a strong reaction of the public over Godhra incident. He claimed that while ‘Godhra Kand’ was pre-planned. There seems to be no organisation behind Gujarat violence and it was strong public reaction. Such things should not happen in the civilised society but the fundamentalist forces should also understand that they will achieve nothing from their misdeeds. Responding to another question, the VHP leader said the NDA Government displayed the cowardness during the release of hardcore terrorists like Azhar Masood and Latram in Kandhar. That act was very unfortunate and wrong and the Government showed its weakness in handling situation. He also warned the coalition Government in J&K not to release the ultras and said that it will prove counterproductive and the youth of the country will not remain mere spectator. He also opposed the suggestion of providing arms to the priests in the temples and said that it was not their job. When forces will prove total failure the people themselves will come out for their safety. However, he suggested to form defence committees equipped with weapons, not only in the villages but in every city and town.’’ He also criticised the so called Human Right activists and maintained that Human rights are only for humans and not the animals or the terrorists. Terrorists are worst than animals and have no religion. The VHP leader referred to the attacks in Bali, Kenya, Indonesia and Philippines and said that terrorism has become the world phenomenon and its reach and operation has widened. A united and sincere effort is needed to curb this problem. Opposing the talks with militant leaders, Mr Singhal said that criminals only deserve punishment as per the law of the land and there is no question of setting them free or rewarding them. The VHP was never in favour of talks with such people who are responsible for several killings and anti-national activities. He condemned the Mufti Government for releasing militants and warned that such acts would only invite trouble for the nation and the people and especially the youth will lose their patience. The state Government should not act in haste and must take such decisions taking in consideration the public sentiments. Earlier, at Raghunath temple the VHP president handed over the ‘holy pot’ (Kalash) containing waters from various major rivers of the country and handed it over to the priests for the purification of the temple. |
|
Mufti embarrasses Hurriyat, Pak Suicide bombers kill over 180 in J&K By B L Kak JAMMU, Nov 29: A significant piece of information: Britain has a new crop of inquisitive watchers of human casualties in Jammu and Kashmir as a result of suicide bombers. Most of these watchers,it has been found, belong to the Asia Pacific Fundation, an independent think-thank. According to a message received here, Britain’s International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism has, in recent times, built data vis-a-vis terrorist activities across Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the number of deaths caused by suicide bombers. The message, in fact, made a pointed reference to the recent meeting in London, where it was publicly stated that over 180 persons in J&K, including 13 in the Raghunath temple,were killed by suicide attackers since 1999. While furnishing these and other details at the meeting on ‘Militant Islam in Asia’, Erric Herren of the International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism had a thought-provoking finding: Stopping suicide attackers is not impossible. But Kashmir presented a particularly difficult problem in stopping the suicide bomber. Last year alone there were as many as 50 suicide attacks in J&K. Erric Herren, in fact, was quoted as saying: "It is becoming something of a mass movement among terrorists. Almost every mission is a success". Considered a leading authority on suicide bombings, Herren has found that while the suicide bomber often uses a truck or some vehicle, a suicide attack by foot is most difficult to counter. Erric Herren has also been quoted as saying: "A suicide bomber is between 15 and 25 years of age, male, and may be Kashmiri but is most likely to be Pakistani, Afghan, Arab or a European-born Muslim". Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Government headed by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed seems determined to conduct an experiment on the political scene, almost similar to the one which was carried out in 1964 by then Chief Minister, Mr Ghulam Mohammed Sadiq. It was the policy of liberalisation which Mr Sadiq pursued. The Mufti hasn’t given any specific name to his Government’s experiment. He has chosen to call it political process for restoration of peace and normalcy. Mufti Sayeed’s think-tank has reasons to argue that if Mr Sadiq’s policy of liberalisation inter alia led to the "massive" improvement in Delhi’s image among the Kashmiri masses as a result of the restoration of civil liberties after years of the denial of freedom of speech, one shouldn’t doubt the bona fides of Mufti Sayeed and his team in their efforts to draw more and more people from the disgruntled and disillusioned segment of society into the national mainstream. What is important to take due cognizance of is a measure of panic and uneasiness caused in the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) by the marked acceptance of Mufti Sayeed as a leader by a sizeable section of the Kashmiri masses. The Hurriyat leadership may, for obvious political and strategic reasons, find it necessary to propagate, through its carriers and couriers, the "undisputed representatrive character" of the 23-party conglomerate.But the altering scenario has a message of the Mufti’s popularity, growing gradually, over the Hurriyat Conference. Since this phenomenon seems to have triggered spasms of restlessness in the most powerful anti-India lobby across the border in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), possibility of more and more incidents of terrorist violence on this side of the border in the coming days and weeks cannot be ruled out. True, a substantial section of the local militants may not openly come out in aid of Pakistan. But the availability of hundreds of foreign militants now-a-days in a number of areas in the State cannot be taken lightly. They will, as strongly felt by the security forces and intelligence community, keep the terror pot boiling. The Chief Minister himself is conscious of this reality. That is why he has reiterated that the police and other security agencies in J&K have to make a difference between the local and foreign militants. |
|
BSF completes 40-km fencing in Jammu NEW DELHI, Nov 29: Braving persistent shelling and firing from Pakistani side, BSF has fenced 40 km of the border in Jammu after completing the process in Punjab and Rajasthan, its Director General Ajai Raj Sharma said here today. He told reporters that further work on fencing was continuing and the BSF had devised a mechanism to avoid casualties. Stating that the Pakistani firing had created a lot of difficulties in the fencing work, Sharma said an organisation entrusted with the job had refused because of the dangers involved in it and so the task was taken up by the BSF itself. He said the fencing would help significantly in checking infiltration and smuggling from Jammu sector as it did after fencing of Punjab and Rajasthan. "Moreover, the personnel of the BSF can be relieved from there and redeployed along mountain passes in Kashmir sector," he said. On the eastern front, the BSF DG said 900 out of 4000 kms along Bangladesh border had been fenced. He said the BSF had also introduced deployment of "floating border outposts (BOP)" in creek and riverine areas along Gujarat and Suderbans border to check infiltration. As many as 14 BOPs have been deployed which comprise ships along with four speed-boats each, he said. Meanwhile, notwithstanding denials by Dhaka, BSF Director General Ajai Raj Sharma today insisted that Al Qaeda presence in Bangladesh had been reported and ISI activities there were on the rise as he said that "things on eastern border are hotting up". He also apprehended increase in infiltration of terrorists from Pakistan and said that the force had reshaped its training curriculum to meet the challenges posed by the new tactics adopted by the terrorists. "We have no facility of our own to see happenings inside Bangladesh. However, we have received reports from intelligence agencies saying that ISI activities along with those of Islamic fundamentalists in that country are growing and Al Qaeda men have been noticed coming there, staying there and assuring support to fundamentalists there," Sharma said addressing the annual press conference ahead of BSF’s 37th Raising Day on Sunday. "We have to believe intelligence reports and we cannot ignore these," he said when referred to denials by Dhaka even as recently as yesterday. Pointing to Bangladesh’s assertions that it would not allow its soil to be used for anti-India activities, Sharma said "we would like to believe them. But we know militants come here from that side after training and we have caught many of such men." He said it was for Bangladesh to frame serious policies to check such activities. "On the eastern border, things are hotting up and are going to be tough. So vigilance has to be increased in many ways," the BSF chief said. Sharma said though India had good relations with Bangladesh and it had assured cooperation in dealing with terrorism, the implementation has to be seen on the ground. On the western border, he said Pakistan is continuously making efforts to push infiltrators and raise the pitch of terrorist activities here. "We apprehend infiltration to go up further after the month of Ramzan," he said. To a question, he said banning of Pakistan-based terrorist organisations like Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) by the US and other western nations was having no impact on their activities. "More important is that the country (Pakistan) where these are brought up, trained and funded acts against them but they (Pakistan) are not serious to do so," he said. He said terrorists were increasingly using Bangladesh and Nepal to enter India after fencing of border in Punjab and Rajasthan made infiltration difficult. (PTI) |
|
|
Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 29: A terrorist and a woman were killed while a civilian was injured in an IED explosion in separate incidents across Udhampur and Rajouri districts today. Official sources said the troops gunned down a terrorist of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit in Mahore tehsil in Udhampur this evening. Identity of the slain terrorist hasn’t been ascertained so far but he was believed to be a Pakistani. One AK-56 rifle, one magazine, 32 rounds and a grenade were recovered from him. Body of an unidentified woman was recovered by police from village Panihad in Darhal area of Rajouri district. The woman appeared to have been killed by some unidentified persons. Police was investigating the case. Meanwhile, a civilian Amjad Ali son of Mohd Shabir R/o Rajdhani was injured in an IED explosion near Rajdhani school in Thanna Mandi area of Rajouri. Injured has been admitted to the district hospital Rajouri. |
|
Pillai goes to IMPA,Khan to Tribunal Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 29: The Government have transferred Mr. K. B. Pillai, Financial Commissioner, Industries and Commerce and posted him as Director General, IMPA . Mr. Jalil Ahmad Khan, Financial Commissioner, Finance who was earlier posted as Director General, IMPA will now be Chairman, J&K Special Tribunal. |
|
I'm not Mr Absentee: Shatrughan PATNA, Nov 29: Health Minister Shatrughan Sinha today brushed aside allegations that he remains absent in Parliament and does not give ample time to his ministry, saying some vested interests were working against him to tarnish his image. "The prefix ‘Mr Absentee’ attached to my name is baseless...It’s the work of vested interests within the party and doctors to spread this canard against me," Sinha told reporters here. One could check the records with the presiding officers of Parliament or ask officials in the ministry to verify if he was attending to work or not, Sinha said. "Today is only the third day since assuming ministerial charge in July that I am away from Parliament...And this absence is also after informing the Speaker and the Prime Minister." Some career politicians, caste lobbies and vested interests could not digest his becoming a minister and therefore were circulating rumours against him, he alleged. Sinha was talking to reporters at the BJP’s headquarters where he took the membership of the party in front of the Bihar BJP president, Nand Kishore Yadav, and others. Asked if people, close to his predecessor, C P Thakur, were behind this sinister campaign, Sinha said, "I personally enjoy a good relationship with Thakur. I seek his advice on ministry work...I have time and again said that my becoming minister is the prerogative of the Prime Minister and hence nobody should have grudge against me on this ground. Shatrughan Sinha cannot be identified with a particular caste or creed." Replying to another charge that he was not accessible to doctors, common people and officials of the ministry, the minister said, "go and check the record...Nobody is complaining." "First of all I have curtailed making foreign trips after assuming the responsibility of the ministry and even when I fly out of the country with some official work it is only after seeking permission from the Prime Minister and informing the Speaker," he said. "It’s strange that on one hand people like the Nationalist Congress Party chief, Sharad Pawar, and senior BJP leader, Sunderlal Patwa, are congratulating me on my performance in Parliament while on the other the vested interests are calling me Mr Absentee," Sinha said. (PTI) |
|
Hurriyat favours peaceful solution of Kashmir issue SRINAGAR, Nov 29: Reiterating that the Kashmir issue could be resolved peacefully only through tripartite talks, the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) today said a visit to Pakistan by amalgam leaders would have helped to make the atmosphere conducive for the amicable resolution of the vexed-issue. A six-point resolution, adopted at the historic Jamia Masjid on the occasion of Jamait-ul-Vida, the last Friday of the holy month of Ramzan, said, "the amalgam wanted to clarify that the people of Jammu and Kashmir were peace loving and wanted the resolution of the 53-year-vexed issue peacefully." "We are fighting a war for freedom and it could not be described as terrorism", the resolution said, adding that the people of the State will continue their struggle till the goal is achieved. The congregation, expressing concern over the tension between India and Pakistan, urged the neighbours to resume a dialogue. "For lasting peace in the South Asian region, a dialogue between India and Pakistan is necessary. For this we made a proposal that amalgam leaders should be allowed to visit Pakistan for holding talks with Government officials and leaders of different separatist organisations there so that a positive initiative is initiated for peaceful resolution of the issue." The resolution said the Hurriyat Conference was ready to cooperate with any initiative to find a honourable solution to the issue. "This is the reason why we are cooperating with the Kashmir committee headed by former Union Minister Ram Jethmalani. We appeal to India and Pakistan to come forward and help resolve the issue peacefully," it added. The congregation condemned attacks on religious gatherings, saying,"we respect the worship places of all religions." (UNI) |
|
|
NEW DELHI, Nov 29: State-run oil companies will pass on the fall in international crude oil prices to domestic consumers with cut in petrol and diesel prices this weekend, Petroleum Minister Ram Naik said today. "I am happy that international (crude) prices have fallen. Oil companies will pass on the relief to consumers in the fortnightly review tomorrow," Naik told reporters here. The Indian basket of crude oil has averaged 23.76 dollars a barrel in the second fortnight of November as opposed to 23.72 dollars a barrel average procurement price in the first half of the month. Sources said though the average crude price has remained almost unchanged, the November 16 price cut of 68-81 paise per litre on petrol and diesel did not take into account the actual fall in crude oil prices in the first half of November when compared with October average. While the average cost of procurement of crude oil in October was 26.89 dollars a barrel, the Indian basket of crude averaged 26.65 dollars a barrel in the second half of October. "Fall in prices will be good news for consumers," Naik said. As per the mechanism evolved after dismantling of Administered Pricing Mechanism (APM) this fiscal, oil companies are to fix consumer retail price for petrol and diesel on 1st and 16th of every month based on the average procurement cost of crude during the fortnight. (PTI) |
|
|
Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU,Nov 29: The Government has promoted Ms Sushma Choudhary, IAS officer of 1969 batch, to the fixed pay-scale of Rs 26,000 on proforma basis. It will have effect from August 2 this year. This is the pay-scale of the post of Financial Commissioner. Ms Sushma Choudhary is currently in New Delhi, associated with the Ministry of Environment and Forests as Additional Secretary. She was sent on deputation to the Central Government in March last year. According to official information, her return to the State is slated for February 28, 2005. Meanwhile, the Government has ordered that Mr Asif Hamid Khan, Deputy Secretary to Government, Revenue Department, shall hold the charge of the post of Special Officer, Auqaf, in addition to his own duties, till further orders. |
|
Pro-Taliban leader elected NWFP CM ISLAMABAD, Nov 29: A provincial leader of the pro-Taliban six-party Islamic alliance, Akram Durrani, was today elected Chief Minister of Pakistan’s sensitive North West Frontier Province bordering with Afghanistan. Durrani, a close confidant of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the leader of the pro-Taliban Muttahida Majalis-e-Amal (MMA), defeated the combined opposition candidate Qalandar Lodhi by a margin of 37 votes. Lodhi - jointly fielded by pro-military Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q), former Premier Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party and Awami National Party - bagged only 41 votes against Durrani’s 78 in the 124-member provincial assembly. The MMA won most of national and provincial assembly seats in the NEFP raising anti-American slogans during the Oct 10 general elections. The alliance was also making a strong bid to win the Chief Ministership in the neighbouring Baluchistan province in tomorrow’s election there. The prospects of MMA Governments in the two key provinces could trouble the US as the American forces along with Pakistan and Afghan security personnel conducted massive search operations in the Pak-Afghan border to hunt Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants. Prior to his election, Durrani had been widely quoted as saying that his Government would halt any crackdown on the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. However, he later retracted his statement and said he would not permit his province to be taken over by either militants or by foreign forces. (PTI) |
|
|
Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 29: Bakshi Nagar police have rescued a teen-aged girl from Uttar Pardesh and arrested her kidnapper, who was demanding ransom from the girl’s family. Police said 19-year old Anju Devi, a Part-II student had been kidnapped by one Qadir Ansari son of Rehmat Ali R/o Khushi Nagar, Uttar Pardesh, presently putting up in Puran Nagar, Talab Tillo. Qadir was living in Puran Nagar using a fake name of Sanju. According to police, Qadir made two telephone calls to the girl’s family demanding Rs three lakh ransom for release of the girl. However, a Bakshi Nagar police party led by SDPO Bhupinder Singh and comprising Selection Grade Constable Balkar and ex-serviceman Romesh rescued the girl from Khushi Nagar. She was brought here last night and restored to her family. Accused has been arrested by police and a case of kidnaping registered against him. |
|
|
| home | state | national | business| editorial | advertisement | sports | |