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‘ No
coalition with BJP or Cong’ Excelsior Team SRINAGAR, Sept 30 : Ruling out any alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or the Congress, National Conference (NC) president Omar Abdullah today said his party will not stake claim to form the Government in case it falls short of majority. "There is no question of forming a coalition Government. I will be either a leader of the opposition or the Chief Minister. The NC has no desire to form the Government with the support of the BJP or the Congress," he told a news conference here. Mr Abdullah, who extensively campaigned for his party’s candidates in all the three regions of the State, expressed confidence that the NC will return to power. "We will definitely cross the half way mark. We will not require the support of any political party to form the Government," he added. However, the Union Minister admitted that his party will not repeat its 1996 performance. "In wildest dreams we cannot get two-third majority...Forget about that. This should not be attributed to any wave against the Government but it reflects anger over certain policies of the party or with individuals," he said. About BJP spokesman Arun Jaitley’s statement on Autonomy in Jammu yesterday, Mr Abdullah said the NC’s demand on the issue was based on the resolution passed by the State Assembly. "Our demand stems from that resolution. That is the basis of our dialogue with the Government of India and will continue to be so. All the political parties, except the BJP, the Shiv Sena and the Panthers Party, have agreed that Autonomy must be restored to the State." "We are not asking for pre-1947 but demanding pre-1953. I do not want to pre-judge the conclusion of our dialogue with the Centre," the NC president said. Launching a scathing attack on Pakistan, the Union Minister said the neighbouring country was the root cause of the problems in the State. "Terrorism is coming from there. Pakistan tries to take advantage of the problems faced by the State which are not unique." However, he said dialogue with Pakistan was necessary but for that the neighbouring country has to make conditions conducive for the talks. Mr Abdullah said Pakistan had made attempts to disrupt the elections but these were foiled by the people of the State through their participation in the poll process. Mr Omar urged the Election Commission to debar Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh from campaigning in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, saying that his electioneering would influence more than 2000 poll officials from his State brought here for election duty. He said that Commission should direct Mr Amarinder Singh not to campaign for his party in the State as his presence will send a political message to poll officials from his State to take a particular political line. He said his party would not have objected to his campaigning if the polling officials were not from his State. The Punjab Chief Minister was deputed by the Congress high command to Jammu to campaign for the party’s candidates. The Jammu region has large number of Sikh voters who could be a deciding factor in the elections. Stopping short of snapping ties with the NDA,the National Conference president said that he has decided to pull out from the Vajpayee Ministry after the completion of the elections in Jammu and Kashmir. "The NC will not have any Ministerial representative in the NDA Government after I submit my resignation in the next few days,’’ Mr Omar who is also the Union Minister of State for External Affairs said. However, he said the party high command will take a final decision on the future relationship with the NDA."We have to see what is beneficial for the party." Mr Abdullah said the relationship had further worsened after a number of BJP leaders, including Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushama Swaraj and her Ministerial colleague Chaman Lal Gupta, accused the NC of harbouring terrorism and misuse of funds. "Even our friends have launched a vicious campaign against the NC. This left a bitterness in our relations with the NDA,"he added. The NC president said not withstanding the outcome of the Assembly election results, he will not remain a member of the Union Council of Ministers. "Whether I will be CM or leader of the opposition, I will continue to work here," he said. Lauding the role of the Special Operation Group (SOG) and the Special Task Force (STF) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police in tackling militancy in the State, Mr Omar asserted that the State Government will not disband the two anti-insurgency groups if returned to power. "There is no question of disbanding the SOG or the STF...This simply is not possible. These are playing a significant role in the fight against militancy," NC Chief Ministerial candidate Omar Abdullah said. The NC president, however, said the functioning of the two anti-insurgency groups will be reviewed. "At the most their functioning will be reviewed to bring about a greater accountability and transparency in their operations," Mr Abdullah said. On Saturday, the Election Commission (EC), in a major decision aimed at rebuilding the confidence of opposition parties, had directed the SOG and the STF to remain confined to the police lines till the third phase of elections were completed. The decision had come after a high-level secret EC inquiry-report on complaints that the SOG and the STF had worked prejudicially for NC candidates in the first two phases of the assembly elections. Several opposition parties, including the Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party had threatened to withdraw from the electoral fray if the EC did not rein in the two operation groups of the State police. |
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Hold Pak accountable for
terrorism: PM to world NEW DELHI, Sept 30: Asking the world to hold Pakistan accountable for sponsoring terrorism, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today said India would intensify diplomatic initiatives to press the international coalition to combat the menace everywhere. "Which means, that Pakistan must be held accountable for its continued sponsorship of terrorism in India," he said addressing the annual conference of Directors General and Inspectors General of Police and intelligence officers here. While security forces would have to continue their "good work" on the ground, "we will intensify our diplomatic initiatives to remind the leading nations of the international coalition against terrorism that they must redeem their pledge to combat and defeat terrorism everywhere, irrespective of the cause it espouses," he said. Declaring that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir "is at a turning point", the Prime Minister said he was confident that the State would leave the "nightmare of militancy behind and return to peace, normalcy and development". "Cross border terrorism fueled by religious extremists -draws its ideological sustenance, organisational patronage and operational support from outside our borders," the Prime Minister said. To overcome this challenge, Vajpayee said "we have to fight our battle at various levels with multiple means -diplomatically, politically, ideologically and, of course, on the ground with intelligence and firepower". Maintaining that India had made steady advances on all these fronts in the past years, he said this has made "our adversary grow desperate. And desperation is leading it to become more and more dastardly in its losing war of terrorism against India." He said terrorist attack on Parliament, Jammu and Kashmir Assembly building, the carnage of innocent men, women and children in Kaluchak and Kasim Nagar and most recently the bloody sacrilege at Akshardham Temple "all these are signs of our enemy’s desperation." Stating that the police and security agencies had made "signal contribution" in anti-terrorist operations, he said "a good part of this desperation owes to the growing success gained by our security forces in turning the heat on terrorist outfits and infiltration from across the border". On the insurgency situation in the northeast, Vajpayee said while peace efforts with NSCN(I-M) had "made headway", similar efforts were also on with Bodos and negotiations with a militant outfit from Karbi Anglong district of Assam had been initiated. "On a parallel track, we are trying to speed up all-round economic and infrastructural development in the Northeast." Referring to left-wing extremism which was "spreading tentacles in many parts of Central and Eastern States", Vajpayee asked the police and security agencies of the affected states to "pool their intelligence and experience and undertake coordinated operations on a sustained basis". Asking the police and security personnel to remain "apolitical, neutral and free of sectarian, regional or any other kind of bias", the Prime Minister asked the police leadership to "spare no pains" in inculcating a sense of duty for protecting communal harmony among the personnel. Intelligence Bureau Director K P Singh, chairing the conference, sought Government help to overcome "chronic shortage" of staff, equipment and funds saying "the long arm of law should be made the strong arm also". The IB chief said the SAARC proposal to set up a police mechanism to share information on terrorism, drug trafficking, counterfeit currency and other issues, besides police training, be given effect to. Asking the police personnel to ensure communal amity and social harmony at all costs, Singh said the "recent holocaust" in Gujarat stressed that there was no room for complacency in this regard. "We have to strictly maintain professional objectivity and function without bias towards any community," the IB chief said, adding that "objectivity of approach devoid of bias towards any community" should be ensured. He also listed the achievements of the security and police forces in fighting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere. The Prime Minister also presented President's Police Medal for distinguished service to IB Joint Director R Bagchi. (PTI) |
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Pakistan army shells
Mendhar town Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Sept 30: An Army Major and four terrorists including a ‘group commander’ of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit were killed in separate incidents across Jammu region overnight while Pakistan army resorted to shelling in Mendhar town this afternoon, creating panic among the people. Official sources said an army patrol party was ambushed by a group of terrorists at village Morha Bachai in Surankote tehsil of Poonch district late last night. The patrol led by Major Rajiv Dahiya was heavily fired upon with AK rifles and grenade launchers by the terrorists. Army personnel retaliated. In the exchange of firing, Major Dahiya was killed. The terrorists, two or three of whom were suspected to be injured in the cross-firing, managed to escape to an adjoining forest area taking cover of darkness. Body of Major Dahiya, posted with the Rashtriya Rifles, was shifted to an army camp for further transportation to his residence with full military honours. Meanwhile, enforcement of army was rushed to Morha Bachai this morning to carry out a search operation for the terrorists especially the injured ones. However, a fresh contact with the ultras hadn’t been established so far. Another encounter took place between a patrol party of Special Police Officers (SPOs) and the terrorists at Kundwagi hills in Dachchan area of Kishtwar tehsil in Doda district in wee hours of this morning. The terrorists, belonging to LeT outfit, were holding an important meeting when their hideout was raided by the SPOs. Taken by surprise, the ultras opened heavy firing on the SPOs, which was effectively replied. In the hour long exchange of firing, two terrorists were killed on spot and another was injured. The injured ultra also died enroute the hospital. No casualties were reports on SPOs side in the encounter, the sources said. They identified slain terrorists as Abu Umar Saif ‘group commander’ and Abu Maneeb Allah, both foreign mercenaries and Abu Sohail, a local ultra. Recoveries made from them included three AK rifles, eight AK magazines, two grenades, one wireless set and one map. Seized map pertained to some important locations of Doda district, they said. According to sources, police had some specific inputs regarding movement of the terrorists in Kundwagi villages. A strict vigil was being maintained on all dhoks by the SPOs in plainclothes. Finally, the SPOs identified the terrorists’ hideout this morning and launched the operation early today. Only three terrorists were present in the hideout and all of them were killed in the operation. Authorities in Doda have lauded the highly successful operation executed by the SPOs all alone. Another terrorists was gunned down by Special Operations Group (SOG) at Palma in Nagrota area of Rajouri district this afternoon. The ultra was killed in about 40 minutes operation. One Chinese pistol with one magazine and 120 rounds, two hand grenades, one diary, one Natrix chart, one bag, a radio set and six pencil cells were recovered from the hideout where the ultra was eliminated in a swift operation by SOG Rajouri, which didn’t suffer any loss of life. Meanwhile, Pakistan army resorted to heavy shelling and firing in Mendhar, Balakote and Mankote sectors in Poonch district at 1400 hours today. Four shells landed at Dhakki in Mendhar town. But, all the shells landed in isolated areas and exploded harmlessly. Shelling and firing was replied by army at all places. No casualties or damage was reported on either side. The sources said no reasons could be ascertained behind sudden unprovoked shelling by Pakistan army especially after a gap of more than a month and that too targeting Mendhar town. |
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3 militants killed,
12 trapped Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Sept 30: While as security forces have eliminated at least three militants in Kashmir valley since last evening, a group of about 12 militants has been trapped by security forces in Nasrallapura village of Budgam district, late this evening. Militants have launched half-a-dozen grenade and rocket attacks on security forces and polling stations in south Kashmir where polling is scheduled to take place tomorrow. With the third phase of polling being conducted in Anantnag and Pulwama districts, in south Kashmir, on Tuesday, militants lauched a number of rocket and grenade attacks on security forces and polling stations. Late this evening, militants lobbed a hand grenade on a polling station at Government Primary School Ariguthan in Damhal Hanjipora area of Noorabad constituency. It exploded inside the protected premises, causing splinter injuries to Constable Ram Prakash of BSF and Constable Abdul Aziz of JKAP. Within five minutes of the blast, militants hurled another grenade on the polling station at Middle School Awdora in the adjacent Kulgam constituency. It exploded inside the protected premises, causing injuries to two BSF personnel. A polling station situated in Government Primary School at Halan, Kokernag, has been set on fire. Militants had planted an IED at a polling station situated in Government Primary School at Narapora, Kokernag. It was spotted and defused by security forces. Another IED has been defused by security forces at Narimarg, Kokernag. Militants had planted an IED at Watlab, Sopore. It was spotted by security forces. When the security forces tried to defuse the same, it went off accidentally, causing death of two soldiers. Earlier today, militants hurled a grenade near Telephone Exchange at Awantipora, on Jammu-Srinagar national highway. it exploded on road, causing injuries to two civilians. They have been identified as Imtiyaz Ahmed Bhat of Awantipora and Farooq Ahmed Khanday of Barsoo. Militants also launched a rocket attack on a formation of BSF 120 Bn at Satoora, Tral. One soldier sustained injuries in the blast. Official sources said that, militants and security forces clashed at Monglora, in Kunzar belt of Tangmarg. During the exchange of gunfire, one Hizbul Mujahideen militant, Irshad Ahmed Bhat alias Shaheen, got killed. Last evening, militants had launched minor attacks on NC’s candidate Bashir Ahmed Nengroo and an Independent candidate Mohammad Yusuf Baghwan in Pulwama area of south Kashmir. However, there was no major damage. Reports from north Kashmir said that two unidentified militants got killed in an encounter with security forces in Machhil sector. Reports said that a thick group of about 12 militants has been trapped by security forces and SOG Budgam at Pathanpora mohalla of south Kashmir. Troops have tightened the noose around the spot. However, till late tonight, there were no reports of any encounter. |
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160 additional CRPF companies deployed for polls in J&K SRINAGAR, Sept 30: Security forces have been put on maximum alert in the twin districts of south Kashmir and Udhampur and Kathua districts in Jammu region where an estimated 1.7 million voters will exercise their franchise in the third phase of elections tomorrow amid a high degree of threat perception and poll boycott call by separatist organisations. "After having almost peaceful first two phases of Assembly elections, we want to make sure that tomorrow’s third phase passes off incident-free," officials said. What has been worrying the officials is the definite intelligence information that militants might attempt to disrupt the poll process tomorrow. However, they said, all preventive measures have been taken to thwart the militants’ designs. Besides security forces already deployed for counter insurgency, about 400 additional companies of paramilitary forces and other security agencies have been deployed to counter any militant attack in all the 27 Assembly constituencies spread over the militancy-infested districts of Anantnag and Pulwama in the Kashmir valley and Udhampur and Kathua in Jammu region. "We have intercepted messages, probably from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) to militants operating in the districts where polling will be held tomorrow, to disrupt the balloting," they said. Going by the militant attacks on contesting candidates and election rallies during the three-week-long electioneering, more attacks could not be ruled out, they said. Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Minister Sakina Itoo, who is seeking re-election from Noorabad Assembly constituency had two close encounters with death when militants attempted to blow up her bullet-proof car in south Kashmir. Each time, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officer guarding her was killed and scores were wounded. Sources said that militants had clear cut instructions to target contesting candidates so that elections could be countermanded. For this reason, militants blew up the vehicle of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate Khalida Mushtaq contesting from Devsar constituency. However, she escaped with serious wounds but her father and three others were killed in the blast. Nearly six candidates survived attempts on their lives on the last day of campaigning yesterday in Pulwama and Anantnag districts, they said. According to sources, a group of heavily-armed and trained militants had sneaked into south Kashmir from the Pir Wanjal range side to cause disturbances during polling. They said Border Security Force (BSF) men averted a major tragedy when they detected and defused a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by militants in a polling booth set up in a school at Watnar in Kokernag Assembly constituency today. However, sources said, a polling officer and three others were wounded after militants targetted a polling station at Pampore last night. All the polling booths and nearby localities were sanitised and foot and night patrolling had been intensified, they said. Besides, security forces had fanned out into the woods to prevent militants from coming to the plains during the polling. Though the possibility of Fidayeen attacks during the polling could not be ruled out, the officials assured the people of full security cover during the polling process. Meanwhile, Election Commission Consultant K G Rao said that security forces have been directed to extend every assistance to the voters so that they could freely exercise their franchise. He also made it clear that security personnel deployed on poll duty shall perform their duty impartially. The Election Commission has imposed a ban on the movements of the Special Operation Group (SOG) and State Task Force (STF) till the completion of third phase of election following their alleged role in masterminding rigging of polls. The move follows recommendations to this effect by a high-level official team sent here by the EC to probe complaints that the forces worked for ensuring victory of the ruling National Conference candidates in the first two rounds of polling. A secret team of officials landed here to probe the alleged misuse of the SOG and the STF. It was found that some of the complaints by opposition parties were justified, official sources said. The team submitted its report to the Chief Election Commission, which directed the two police groups, engaged in counter-insurgency operations in the Kashmir valley, to stay confined to the "police lines" till the crucial phase of elections was over. Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh along with two Commissioners and senior officials visited the State to personally monitor arrangements for the third phase of polling. He met representatives of various political parties and issued necessary directions to the Chief Electoral Officer for ensuring smooth conduct of elections. The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Anantnag said that no "Ikhwani" (surrendered militant) would be allowed to intimidate voters tomorrow. He said all the Ikhwanis will be kept in barracks till the polling was over. (UNI) |
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Mourning declared,
educational institutions closed today Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Sept 30: The Government has ordered that all its offices and educational institutions will remain closed in the entire State tomorrow, October 1, as a mark of respect to Ch Mohammad Hussain, Minister of State for Revenue who passed away today. The National and State flags would fly at half-mast and there will be no official entertainment during the three day-day mourning that has been announced by the Government. However, the polling for the third phase of elections in four districts of Pulwama, Anantnag, Kathua and Udhampur, as well as repolling at nine polling stations in the constituencies of Mendhar, Surankote, Gandhinagar and Budgam announced earlier, will be held tomorrow as per the schedule, an official spokesman said. Choudhary Mohammad Hussain, Minister of State for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation breathed his last this afternoon at his native village Tarala in Budhal of Rajouri district. He was suffering from cancer for last one year and was under treatment at Jammu. He was air-lifted today to his native village where he passed away. Hussain, 73, a prominent Gujjar leader, is survived by his wife, three sons and three daughters. His burial will take place at Tarala village near Rajouri at noon on Tuesday. His death has been widely condoled in the political and social circles. Earlier in the day, after Choudhary Mohd Hussain’s condition deteriorated, he was airlifted to Rajouri and was taken to his native village Tarala, when he breathed his last. Mr Hussain had resigned as MOS, Revenue and Relief as his son was denied mandate for the ongoing Assembly election but the resignation had not been accepted. Born in January, 1929 at Tarala village, he studied in Lahore and did Diploma in Rural Development and joined as Block Development Officer in 1951. Hussain came into active politics in 1966 quitting Government service as BDO. He was first elected to the Assembly as a Congress MLA from Darhal constituency in Rajouri district in 1967. Hussain, after Indira Sheikh Accord switched over to National Conference in 1975. After getting re-elected from Darhal in 1977, this time on NC ticket and was also a Deputy Minister in Sheikh Abdullah Government. It was during 1983 that from Darhal constituency, he was defeated by Mian Bashir but in the subsequent Assembly election in 1987, he was elected. He was again elected from this constituency in 1996 and was this year inducted as a Minister of State. A condolence meeting of Gojri writers and poets was held at Jammu to mourn the death of Mr Hussain. Mr Raved Rahi, secretary, Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation recalled the contribution of this Gujjar leader to the State in the people in general and the Gujjar community in particular. Various speakers including Shahnawaz, Sajjad Rana, Mushtaq Alam Qadri, Ch Abdul Gani paid him rich tributes for his qualities of head and heart. |
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11 foreign diplomats to witness third phase of polling SRINAGAR, Sept 30: Eleven officials from Delhi-based foreign missions have arrived here to witness the third phase of polling for Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections even as 20 special observers have been deployed to supervise the balloting. A host of foreign mediapersons have also descended onto the Valley to report on the crucial elections being held under militant threats and unprecedented security arrangements. Among the foreign missions officials are two from the US, three from France, two from Britain and one each from Greece, Germany, Spain and Luxembourg, official sources told PTI here. While four officials arrived in Srinagar yesterday, the rest came today, they said. The officials were Vaugier Charteerji Annie, Guerend Vincent and Brunstein Annie (of France), Antonatos Panayotis of Greece, Jutierrez Javier of Spain, Stainmeez Paul of Luxembourg, Kuarruiey David and Taylor Eric of Britain, Reiffenst Uel of Germany and Sheetal Patel and Kailash Jha of the US Embassy. Besides, 20 special observers have been deputed by the Election Commission to oversee the polling tomorrow in four districts covering 27 constituencies, Chief Electoral Officer Pramod Jain said. The foreign media has been allowed free access to witness the polling, he said. (PTI) |
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BJP reacts cautiously to
Omar’s announcement NEW DELHI, Sept 30: The BJP today reacted cautiously to National Conference president and Union Minister Omar Abdullah’s announcement that he would resign from Vajpayee Government after the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls, indicating fresh strains in his party’s relationship with the NDA. "As far as BJP is concerned, we are in total disagreement with NC’s point of view as regards Jammu and Kashmir is concerned. With regard to national level, let elections be over, we can review the situation at that time", BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu said when asked to comment on Abdullah’s announcement in Srinagar. Congress spokesman S Jaipal Reddy, asked to comment on Abdullah’s statement at the AICC media briefing, did not attach much significance to the announcement. He said the statement was "hypothetical" and given the fact that the NC had made "flip-flop so many times" about its relationship with NDA that no one could be aware of its final position. (PTI) |
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Fernandes reviews election security JAMMU, Sept 30: On the eve of the third round of polling in Jammu and Kashmir, Defence Minister George Fernandes today held extensive discussions with top military and security officials of the State here on ways to ensure violence free voting. Fernandes, who flew to Jammu and Doda districts, reviewed the security situation in these areas which have been labelled as extra sensitive by the Election Commission in view of presence of large number of foreign mercenaries. The Defence Minister chaired a high-level meeting attended by the Northern Army Commander, Corps Commander, senior police and paramilitary officers and directed that extra precautions should be taken in the worst affected Mahore region of Udhampur district and Ramban and Doda regions. (PTI) |
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Centre meets states’ demand
half-way after NEW DELHI, Sept 30: After rejecting the demand for an increase in Minimum Support Price (MSP) last week, the Centre today announced a Rs 400 crore relief package that will hike the procurement price by Rs 5 to Rs 20 per quintal over and above the MSPs for kharif crops. In case of paddy, the MSP of which has been frozen at previous year’s Rs 530 and Rs 560 for ordinary and grade ‘A’ respectively, the relief is Rs 20 per quintal each for the two categories. The relief is Rs 5-10 a quintal for coarse grains and soyabean for which too the MSP has been frozen. "This is not a hike in MSP, it is not a bonus but a special drought relief support decided by the Prime Minister for the ensuing procurement of crops beginning tomorrow," Agriculture Minster Ajit Singh told reporters after a meeting Vajpayee had with leaders of NDA allies from Punjab, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh. Significantly 80 per cent of the procurement of foodgrains for the central pool is in these three states. Government had decided not to hike the MSP for paddy last week hours after the Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and senior Congress leaders staged a dharna before the Prime Minister’s residence to press for their demand. Singh said the MSPs had been recommended by the CACP in May anticipating a normal monsoon, but after the prolonged dry spell in July-August, the Commission was asked to look into the matter afresh. In its second report submitted last week, it recommended additional relief over and above the MSP to enable the farmers to invest on various farm inputs and prepare for the upcoming rabi season, he added. (PTI) |
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High level probe into Salman's rash driving MUMBAI, Sept 30: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal today instituted a high-level probe in the accident case involving popular film star Salman Khan. Joint Commissioner (Law and Order) Javed Ahmed will conduct the probe into the entire matter and submit his report within a week, Bhujbal, who also holds the Home portfolio, told reporters here. Bhujbal had convened a high-level meeting with police officials this afternoon to examine the details of the star being granted bail by the police in the accident case. Salman, who had allegedly rammed his car into a bakery, killing one person and injuring four others, had been granted bail by the police few hours after the incident, after furnishing a bond of Rs 950 and a surety. Bhujbal, however, ruled out any political pressure during the course of investigation. The result of the alcohol test, which the actor had been subjected to after the accident, would be available in a day or two, the Deputy Chief Minister said. Bhujbal, however, gave a clean chit to Ravindra Patil, the police bodyguard of Salman, who had escorted the star on the day of the accident. Patil’s first priority was rushing the injured persons to hospital. Hence, he could not be blamed for failing to pursue the actor after the mishap, Bhujbal added. (PTI) |
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NEW DELHI, Sept 30: Government-owned oil companies today announced a 25 paise per litre increase in the retail selling price of petrol and diesel, effective from midnight tonight. Petrol would cost Rs 29.91 a litre in Delhi as against the prevailing Rs 29.66 per litre, while diesel price will increase to Rs 18.91 per litre from Rs 18.68, a spokesperson of Indian Oil Corporation told PTI here. In Kolkatta, petrol prices have been hiked by 25 paise to Rs 31.35 per litre while in Mumbai petrol prices would go up from Rs 33.15 per litre to Rs 34.42 a litre. Chennai would see a hike of 26 paise in petrol selling price to Rs 32.42 a litre. Similarly, diesel prices in Kolkata have been increased by 24 paise per litre to Rs 20.30 a litre, 28 paise in Mumbai to Rs 23.97 and by 26 paise in Chennai to Rs 20.81 per litre. In accordance with the mechanism evolved by oil companies to review prices of petroleum products every fortnight after dismantling of the Administered Pricing Mechanism (APM), officials of Indian Oil Corporation, IBP, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum met today to match retail price of Motor Spirit (MS) and High Speed Diesel (HSD) with import parity price. Retail selling price of petrol and diesel was short by 50-60 paise per litre when matched with import parity price. Oil companies have decided to stagger the price increase. Indian basket of crude has jumped to 27.61 dollars a barrel during the second half of September as opposed to averaging 27 dollars per barrel in the last fortnight. (PTI) |
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Excelsior Correspondent PULWAMA,Sept 30: The District Election Officer, Pulwama has placed under suspension with immediate effect Mr. M.A. Qawoosa, Principal, Government Degree College, Pulwama for non-compliance of election duty assigned to him in the capacity of Zonal Magistrate in Tral constituency till pending enquiry into the matter. |
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