NC responsible for death & destruction : Azad

Excelsior Correspondent

PADDAR (DODA), Oct 5: PCC (I) president Ghulam Nabi Azad today held the National Conference responsible for over a decade long period of death and destruction in Jammu and Kashmir and called upon the people to throw out Farooq Government for restoration of peace in the State.

Addressing election meetings at Paddar, Marwah and Dachan today, Azad said it was due to ‘wrong policies’ of the National Conference Government that many youths were forced to take to gun. "The youths with MA and LLB degrees couldn’t get even a Class-IV job under NC regime while the Ministers recruited primary pass youths taking corruption", he alleged.

"If you want to live a peaceful life and get rid of the gun culture, you have to vote Congress to power. It was only Congress which can tackle the problem of militancy and restore peace in the State", he told the gathering.

The PCC (I) president said the National Conference wants militancy to stay to serve its vested interest of corruption. "Funds worth crores of rupees given by the Centre for water, power, industries, schools and hospitals have been swindled by the Government", he alleged and said "this practice will continue if the NC returns to power".

Azad said it was during Congress Government in the State about 27 years back that a series of development works were initiated ‘but all these works were left unfinished by the subsequent NC Government in the State’. He assured the people that all abandoned development works will be completed by the Congress (I), if it was voted to power.

Declaring that formation of a Congress Government in the State was a certainty, he said ‘it was due to grave mistakes and irregularities committed by the National Conference during last six years of governance that it has been rejected outrightly by the people’.

Describing Farooq Government as ‘most corrupt, insensitive and inefficient’, he said the Government betrayed confidence imposed on it by people of all three regions of the State. "Such was the situation today that Farooq and Omar Abdullah were not allowed by the people to land in Leh and Kargil and people of Jammu and Kashmir regions have also rejected it", he added.

The Congress leader charged Abdullah family with misleading people of the State on the name of plebiscite, independence, Rawalpindi road and autonomy. "All these promises by Abdullah family were made when they were in opposition. And, when they came to power, they forgot all promises", he alleged.

Azad reiterated his allegation that Farooq Abdullah has admitted his defeat even before declaration of the results and fled to Johnnesburg in South Africa.

He also criticised the BJP-Jammu State Morcha leadership for misleading the people on the name of Village Defence Committees (VDCs). "The VDCs were established by the Congress Government and not the BJP", he said and asked the people not to waste their votes by casting them in favour of the BJP or the BSP as both these parties can’t even think of forming a Government.

LeT, JeM foster culture of death
Advani to discuss J&K situation tomorrow

By B L Kak

JAMMU, Oct. 5: With reports clearly suggesting the possibility of further rise in the level of terrorist violence in Jammu and Kashmir in the coming days and weeks, the Centre is initiating a new set of measures against the militants and foreign mercenaries in the troubled State.

Deputy Prime Minister, Mr LK Advani,will hold consultations, in this regard, with top intelligence officials in his North Block office on Monday, October 7. Highly-placed sources told EXCELSIOR that these officials will, among others, include the Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Mr KP Singh, and the chief of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Mr Bikram Sood.

These sources said that although the main item on Mr Advani’s agenda for October 7 meeting is how to go about in Gujarat after the recent terrorist attack on a Hindu temple, the Deputy Prime Minister had provided ample indications of his intention to discuss with the top brass of the intelligence agencies the J&K situation in the context of the unabated threats from jihadi outfits to continue with their hit-and-run operations even after the conclusion of the fourth and last phase of Assembly poll in J&K, slated for October 8.

Confirming that Mr Advani was briefed on certain aspects of the Kashmir situation by Mr KP Singh and Mr Bikram Sood on more than one occasion between the first and third phase of polling in J&K, sources said that in view of a set of sensational revelations from a captured terrorist,the Deputy Prime Minister seemed keen on drawing up a fresh strategy to effectively take on insurgents and militants.

The terrorist, identified as Tariq Mehmood of the dreaded Al-Badr outfit, had, in the course of sustained grilling by his interrogators, divulged that hundreds of jihadis already present in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir will not easily abandon the gun. In the initial stages after his arrest, Tariq proved to be a hard nut to crack. He relented only after he found no escape route for himself.

It was before the commencement of the third phase of polling that Tariq had told his interrogators that things in different places in the State would hot up as a result of fresh assaults by fidayeen (suicide squads). During the questioning he left none in doubt about his commitment and role and responsibility as one of the anti-India jihadis. One of the security officers, who also interrogated Tariq Mehmood, was taken aback when the latter let it be known: "No, I am not haunted by feelings of guilt. I have no regrets".

Hardly had the security officer completed his second question when Tariq interrupted him only to highlight his message: "I am happy since I have come to Kashmir to fight for the path of Allah". Tariq is one among the hardcore activists of Jamaat-e-Islami from Pakistan’s Gujrat district. He was a registered medical practitioner before getting himself trained as one of the J&K-bound jihadis.

Tariq’s yet another revelation: "Before the soldiers of Allah start for Kashmir to intensify jihad against India, each one knows that to be arrested is certain death. Yet, each Muslim fighter declares that he will follow the orders of his Amir(chief), if he is given another chance".

If Tariq’s answers to various other queries by his interrogators were any guide,Pakistan-aided ultras, particularly foreign mercenaries, have already established camps in the high mountain ranges as well as in the thick forests of northern and south-western Kashmir. According to sources, Tariq had doled out significant details vis-a-vis the establishment of room-size hideouts underground in some areas in J&K, particularly in Kupwara sector of Kashmir valley and Doda district in Jammu region.

On the ultras’ operational plans, the captured Pakistani attacker had this information: They undertake military action only on specific orders from across the border. How are these orders passed on from the other side to this side? Tariq’s reported reply: "Mainly through radio sets in Pakistan".

Equally significant disclosure by Tariq: "Every jihadi in Kashmir has learnt the important lesson to accept the special culture of death that terrorist groups foster". This culture is visible in the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

Rebels, Cong, PDP make going tough for Minister, sitting MLAs
NC, BJP find it hard to retain seats

From Sanjeev Pargal

DODA, Oct 5: The National Conference, which holds five out of six Assembly segments in this sensitive district, was finding it difficult to retain its bastion with two party rebels and increasing influence of the Congress (I) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over NC’s traditional vote bank affecting prospects of ruling party candidates. The BJP, which represents the remaining seat in Doda, too appeared to be a ‘divided house’ facing dissensions as well as ‘public resentment’ in the segments, where it had ‘good prospects’.

Most crucial and interesting battle of ballots was being witnessed in key Assembly segment of Bhaderwah where two presidents of state parties—Daya Krishan Kotwal (BJP) and Sheikh Abdul Rehman (BSP), the sitting MLA of the constituency, former Advocate General Aslam Goni and Mohd Sharief Niaz, cousin of PCC (I) president Ghulam Nabi Azad were in the fray.

In 1996, Rehman, supported by the NC, had won Bhaderwah seat in a one-to-one contest defeating Kotwal with 4355 votes. "Situation was totally different in 2002 election. Now three strong Muslim candidates are in fray from Bhaderwah as against only one in 1996 and their votes were likely to split", asserts a shopkeeper, Sher Singh in Bhaderwah town, who foresees ‘bright prospects’ of Kotwal winning the seat this time.

"While the NC has its strong cadre in Bhaderwah, which was collectively working day and night for the success of Aslam Goni, Rehman was taking the credit of having nursed the constituency very well and Mohd Sharief Niaz was banking on the Congress vote bank as well as ‘son of the soil’ slogan in favour of his cousin and newly appointed PCC (I) president Ghulam Nabi Azad", observes a local journalist in Bhaderwah. With all these factors clubbed together, he says, all three candidates looked to be evenly poised and adds that ‘this could be a greater advantage to the BJP candidate, who still holds sway over his minority vote bank’.

Rehman had authored Chenab valley Development Council Bill and tabled it in the Assembly. This issue was being exploited by both Congress and BJP in Bhaderwah segment, which had majority of literate population.

But, Kotwal too had his problems. First, according to a local BJP leader (who didn’t want to be named), Kotwal didn’t maintain a rapport with the voters during last six years and second, he was facing a party rebel Dalip Parihar, who had the potential of cutting into Kotwal’s vote bank. Moreover, the minorities, who voted en-block for the BJP in 1996 election hoping an end to the militancy, weren’t showing that kind of enthusiasm for the party this time.

Spread over 107 polling stations, 55 of which are hyper sensitive and 52 sensitive, Bhaderwah Assembly segment has a total of 84,185 electorate—an increase of about 20,000 in comparison to 1996 poll. A total of 13 candidates were in fray in Bhaderwah.

Another interesting electoral battle was being fought in Doda Assembly segment where Minister of State for Home Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardhy was facing a tough fight from a party rebel and prominent Forest contractor Abdul Majeed Wani besides PDP candidate and 1977 MLA Ghulam Qadir Wani and BJP nominee Swami Raj.

NC strongman and religious leader Moulana Attaullah Suhrawardhy had represented Doda constituency in 1987 and 1996 election but he died just few months after his election. His son Khalid Najib had won the seat in the by-election held in 1997 defeating BJP’s Ajay Kumar with 15775 votes in a straight contest.

However, with prominent Forest contractor Abdul Majeed Wani, who is also known for his social works, jumping into the electoral fray, an otherwise smooth affair for the engineer-turned-politician has become a tough battle.

"Khalid lacks the charisma like his father, who was a popular figure among the majority community. Moreover, he couldn’t do much for his constituency in the last five years. And, the general complaints of ‘excesses’ against security forces and police have left Suhrawardhy, who was Incharge of security forces in his capacity as Minister of State for Home, unanswerable before the people", opines a prominent NC activist Sheikh Rashid Ahmed in Doda, who was now actively convassing for Majeed Wani. Infact, there were several NC workers like Rashid Ahmed, who had been wooed by Majeed Wani, whose writ runs large from Doda town to remote villages of the constituency.

In one of the remote villages of Mahala, falling under Doda segment, Majeed Wani hadn’t paid a single visit so far but entire Muslim population of the area had already decided to vote for him. "Suhrawardhy came here twice and we asked him why he couldn’t connect our village to road as we have to trek a distance of seven kms on foot from Prem Nagar to reach the village. He had no answer", says Mohd Rashid, a youth in Mahala.

But, according to a senior NC leader, Suhrawardhy and PDP’s Ghulam Qadir Wani had their pockets of influence in the constituency. For the PDP candidate, Mufti Syed and Mehbooba Mufti have addressed a series of public meetings even in the farthest villages, where no political leader has reached so far.

BJP’s Swami Raj was banking upon the minority vote bank. Swami Raj says he too had his chances as majority community votes were getting divided among three strong candidates. However, Majeed Wani’s supporters were confident that they too would get ‘some share’ of Hindu votes.

Doda constituency has a total of 63,810 electorate and 92 polling stations. A total of 10 candidates are in fray from the seat.

Strong campaigning for Congress candidate Ghulam Haider Sheikh by Ghulam Nabi Azad has activated a virtual ‘dead Congress’ in Kishtwar where late NC leader Bashir Ahmed Kitchloo’s son Sajjad Kitchloo to follow his father’s footsteps. BJP leader Rajinder Singh, who had polled 10,900 votes in 1996 election and lost to Kitchloo with 6989 votes, is this time a candidate of Jammu State Morcha (JSM).

"We have started from zero and we are hopeful of a positive result", maintains Ghulam Hyder Sheikh. In 1996, Congress candidate and former MLA Ghulam Hassan Arman had polled just 1294 votes and finished fifth.

With Sheikh being a new face and Rajinder Singh in disarray in the absence of BJP’s symbol as well as strong groupism within the party, junior Kitchloo was hopeful of maintaining the performance of his father, who had won the seat in 1977, 1987 and 1996.

However, Hyder Sheikh and Rajinder Singh were also equally confident. According to Sheikh, the people of Kishtwar want to get rid of NC rule and they will side with the Congress while Rajinder was hopeful of getting the maximum chunk of minority votes. Rajinder doesn’t attach much significance to the dissidents but going by the ‘strength’ at a public rally addressed by a BJP leader in Kishtwar town on Thursday, it was clear that the dissidents were out to mar his prospects.

Ghulam Mohammed Saroori, the Congress candidate from Inderwal Assembly segment was riding high on anti-incumbency factor against the sitting MLA of NC Qazi Jalal-ud-Din and the works done by him. Saroori had contested 1996 poll from Inderwal as an independent candidate after being denied mandate by the NC and lost with a narrow margin of 1095 votes.

"Dariya Ke Kinare Hokar Bhi Pani Naheen", remarks an employee of a Government Guest House at Thathri located on the banks of Chenab when asked to comment on the performance of Jalal-ud-Din. Chatru, an important town of Inderwal segment, too hadn’t seen any change in last six years. "No roads, no water, no power and no employment. Why should we repeat the Qazi"? laments Sheikh Din, a resident of Chatru.

Qazi’s supporters counter the allegations of ‘non-performance’ being levelled against their candidate saying that going by topography of the constituency and militancy factor, Qazi has done what he could do for the people of Inderwal segment.

The BJP has fielded Choudhary Salam Din, a Gujjar leader from Inderwal, where a total of nine candidate are in fray. Spread over 86 polling stations, Inderwal has 63,810 electorate. However, the people in Inderwal believe that there would be direct contest among Jalal-ud-Din and Ghulam Mohd Saroori. A number of minority leaders were also supporting Saroori, a contractor and a social worker in a bid to oust Jalal-ud-Din.

BJP-held Ramban (reserve) Assembly segment was witnessing a triangular contest among sitting MLA Bali Bhagat, Master Ashok Kumar of Congress (I) and Dr Chaman Lal of National Conference. In 1996, Bali Bhagat had defeated NC’s Suram Chand with 2236 votes. This time, NC has changed Suram Chand with a young research scholar of Jammu University Dr Chaman Lal while the Congress has fielded Ashok Kumar, who resigned the job of a Government teacher about 13 years before his retirement to join the electoral fray.

In 1996 also, the Congress was a big zero with its candidate Amrit Barsha getting just 1197 votes. However, Congress MLA Ashok Sharma, campaigning in Ramban, observed :"the situation is quite different this time. People were fed up with both and NC and BJP and were siding with the Congress".

"Undoubtedly, Bali has failed on all accounts—be it development of the constituency or generating employment opportunities but the minorities will side with the BJP", says a shopkeeper, Ranjit Singh in Assar town, falling under Ramban segment. "Establishment of the Village Defence Committees (VDCs), a big asset for Hindus in Doda district, goes to credit of the BJP", adds Ram Kumar, another shopkeeper in Chanderkoot.

NC candidate Dr Chaman Lal was dubbing Bali Bhagat as an ‘outsider’ in his election rallies. Chaman Lal has also created a dent into the BJP’s vote bank besides enjoying the support of NC’s own vote bank.

A total of six candidate are in fray in Ramban which had 61,742 electorate and 86 polling stations.

Banihal was the only segment in Doda district, where not a single civilian was ready to talk to the press. "We are still undecided. We will see whether we had to vote or not. And, if we had to vote, to whom", was stark reply of most of the people including the shopkeepers to whom this correspondent tried to speak.

Sitting MLA and NC candidate Mohd Farooq Mir had created an upset in 1996 defeating Deputy Speaker and NC strongman Moulvi Abdul Rashid with 3147 votes. Later, Mir had joined the NC.

This time, besides Moulvi Rashid and Farooq Mir, Congress candidate Mohd Ayub Khan and Jammu State Morcha’s Abdul Aziz Katoch were also in the fray. Banihal has 70 polling stations—18 hyper sensitive and 52 sensitive for an electorate of 49,590—the minimum in Doda district. A total of nine candidate are in fray from Banihal.

Fake stamps worth Rs 216 cr seized

NEW DELHI, Oct 5: In the biggest ever haul, the Delhi Police today claimed to have seized fake postal, revenue and foreign bill stamps and non-judicial stamp papers worth over Rs 216 crore and exposed a major syndicate involved in the supply of these judicial material to major Government and private companies, mostly from the insurance sector.

Crores of rupees of such counterfeit material could already be in circulation and used for documentation of court papers. The actual quantity of the fake stamps and stamp papers supplied by the inter-state gang was being assessed.

The kingpin of the racket is said to be Abdul Kareem Telagi, who was running the illegal business from the Bangalore jail where he is serving a term after being convicted for a similar offence.

The gang was supplying stamps and stamp papers to companies like United India Insurance Company, Life Insurance Corporation, New India Insurance, National Insurance, Oriental Insurance, Max New York Life Insurance, Reliance Insurance Company Ltd. and IFFCO Tokio General Insurance.

Besides, several nationalised, multinational and scheduled banks and multinational firms and companies were also on the list of clients of the gang which was operating in the name of "City Enterprises" and "Sharp Enterprises" in Green Park, Kotla Mubarakpur and Bikaji Cama Palace in South Delhi.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) U K Katna told reporters that the Economic Offences Wing of the Crime Branch this morning arrested four persons — Mohammed Asif, Mohsin, Mohammed Mansoor alias Manoj and Deepak — on charges of manufacturing and supplying these stamps and stamp papers in various parts of the country.

He said the police were looking for another suspect Sidharth alias Siddhu who was managing the show for Telagi in Delhi.

Mr Katna said investigation revealed that Mansoor alias Manoj, a Proclaimed Offender in a case of selling counterfeit non-judicial stamp papers, was running "City Enterprises" and "Sharp Enterprises" from their various offices in South Delhi. Fake foreign bill stamps, revenue stamps, share transfer stamps, postal stamps, special adhesive stamps, insurance policy stamps alongwith non-judicial stamp papers of Rs 216 crores and a cash of Rs four lakh were recovered from a godown in Munirka Vihar in South Delhi.

The senior Delhi Police official said it was being investigated how the gang succeeded in selling these fake stamps and stamp papers to Government companies when it was a common knowledge that these documents could be procured from the registry only.

He said the role of the senior officials of the Government and private firms in placing bulk orders from the fake firms was under scrutiny. The two fake firms run by Telagi was offering a commission upto five per cent of the ordered amount to clients, he added.

Mr Katna did not rule out that the racket could be run in connivance with the senior officials of the Government and private companies and the gang being a part of a countrywide larger syndicate.

"There have been certain other such gangs also who have been detected in places like Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and certain other cities. It needs to be seen if they were all connected," he added.

Mr Katna said a team of the Economic Offences Wing laid a trap and sent a decoy customer to purchase fake revenue stamps of Rs 1,000 of Re one denomination.

After the decoy customer, Sub-Inspector Sanjeev Kumar, succeeded in obtaining the fake stamps, from Mansoor alias Manoj and Mohammed Asif at their Green Park office, the team apprehended the two.

The team recovered couterfeit court fee stamps of Rs ten denomination, postal stamps of Rs 20 denomination, share transfer stamps of Re one, Rs two, Rs five, Rs 100, and Rs 200 denominations, foreign bill stamps of Rs ten, Rs 50 and Rs 100 denomination alongwith 73 non-judicial stamp papers in the denomination of Rs 10,000.

The total seizure valed at Rs 5,20,888.

Preliminary interrogation of the two revealed that they have been involved in the illegal business for the last two years and had been operating in Delhi on the directions of Telagi, who is commanding them from the jail.

On an average, the gang had been selling counterfeit Government and foreign bill stamps worth Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 every day with the help of young graduate marketing executives, four of them having MBA degrees, who were employed through placement agencies.

The two said they have been changing their offices frequently to avoid detection and named Mohsin and Deepak as their other two associates in Delhi.

Deepak and Mohsin were arrested from the godown at Munirka Vihar. A Hero Honda motorcycle, one computer and four mobile phones have also been recovered from them.

Investigation and interrogation of the arrested persons revealed that they were maintaining accounts in the name of City Enterprises and Sharp Enterprises at ‘HDFC Bank’ in Vasant Vihar and Safdarjung Enclave respectively where the defrauded amount were being deposited. A scrutiny of the two bank accounts revealed a deposits of Rs seven lakh.

Mr Katna said police are trying to ascertain the place of printing of these stamps and stamp papers, other members of the gang, if any, and the inter-state ramifications of the seizure.

The Delhi Police has informed the Bangalore and Pune police where similar seizure were made earlier and have sought their assistance in smashing the racket which was causing huge loss to the exchequer. (UNI)

Only PDP can fulfill regional aspirations: Mufti

Excelsior Correspondent

DODA/BHADERWAH, Oct. 5 : Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) supremo and former Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayed along with his daughter and fire-brand party leader has intensified campaign for party candidates in Doda district where elections are scheduled to be held on October 8.

PDP chief today addressed public meetings at Bhalessa in support of party candidate Sheikh Mujeeb Ali for Bhaderwah seat while Mehbooba Mufti conducted whirlwind tour of Doda and adjoining areas to canvassing for party candidate Ghulam Qadir Wani for Doda seat.

Addressing public meetings, Mufti asked the people to give PDP a chance as his party was committed to mitigate woes of the masses. "PDP is not just for power but to change fate of the inhabitants of this violence plagued state", he said and reminded the people that he has constituted PDP only to fulfill aspirations of the people. "Only a regional party can accommodate aspirations and wishes of the people", he argued and appealed to the people to cast their votes in favour of PDP candidates to bring radical change in all sphere of lives.

"Our policies and programmes are guided by the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and our sole aim to heal wounds of the residents of this State, who have been witnessing death and destruction for the last 13 years", he said and assured that first priority of the PDP, if voted to power, will be restoration of peace in the region.

Mufti predicted victory for his party at the hustings and exuded confidence that his party will get a decisive verdict to form new Government in this violence-plagued State".

Mufti Sayed reiterated that there was a "strong wave" against the National Conference (NC). "People of J&K have decided to dethrone the Abdullah dynasty. People of this State have ultimately realized that the Abdullah dynasty is responsible for all their woes. And removal of this autocratic rule is a must for bringing peace and tranquillity in the violence-plagued State", he said.

While highlighting the need to restore peace in Jammu and Kashmir for ensuring normalcy in the Indian subcontinent, the PDP chief and former Union Home Minister lambasted the National Conference, charging it with creating mess in the State. Mufti was of the view that Farooq Abdullah Government’s "wrong policies" had increased the people’s "alienation".

Speaking in series of public meetings at Doda, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, vice-president of the party, charged the Farooq regime with inflicting "more injuries on the mind and hearts of the people, instead of healing wounds of the masses’’ . Ms Mufti exhorted the people to throw out worst ever corrupt National Conference Government and this regime was responsible for miseries of the masses. "This election is an opportunity to settle scores with those (an obvious reference to the Farooq Government) who have inflicted injuries on your hearts", she exhorted the people.

General secretary of the PDP, Mr Ved Mahajan, highlighted discrimination with hilly backward areas of Jammu region. He said that it was due to the wrong policies of NC Government that Doda district was totally neglected in development and other spheres of life.

PDP candidates Sheikh Mujib Ali and Ghulam Qadir Wani also addressed the public meetings and assured the people that they will work with sincerity and dedication to mitigate their miseries.

However, in a meeting held today under the chairmanship of Mr Baldev Slathia, president PDP Jammu rural, the party strongly condemned attack on the life of party vice-president Ms Mehbooba Mufti at Doda. Mr Slathia condemned the attack and flayed State Government for not providing security to opposition leaders.

Vaid to supervise Lolab poll
SP Kupwara transferred

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 5: Acting on complaints by some candidates in Lolab Assembly constituency going to polls on Tuesday, the Election Commission today transferred the Superintendent of Police of Kupwara district, G M Dar.

Dar, asked to report to Director General of Police A K Suri for further posting, has been replaced by Leh SP S D Singh, who has been asked to join on duty immediately, official sources said.

The EC’s order came after independent candidate Abdul Haq Khan, believed to be a proxy candidate of Hurriyat Conference constituent Peoples Conference, alleged that the SP was "behaving in a biased manner in favour of the ruling National Conference" and was harassing his supporters.

Haq had also demanded transfer of Naib Tehsildar of Sogam levelling similar allegations against him.

Station House Officers of police stations at Sogam and Lalpora in the constituency were transferred two days ago following similar allegations.

Polling in Lolab, originally scheduled for first phase on September 16, was countermanded in the wake of assassination of NC candidate and Law Minister Mushtaq Ahmed Lone on September 11 and will now go to polls on October 8 along with six constituencies in Doda district.

To ensure free, fair and transparent elections, Deputy Inspector General of Police S P Vaid has been asked to personally supervise the conduct of polls in the highly sensitive and militancy-infested constituency, the sources said.

Besides, three special central observers would monitor the polls, they said.

A senior official said the transfers had been made to remove apprehensions of some candidates and to demonstrate that all steps would be taken to ensure free and fair polls.

"We do not want to give a chance to anybody to complain regarding freeness and fairness of elections," he said.

Meanwhile, a day after militants triggered an IED at a polling booth in the constituency killing four BSF personnel, Inspector General of Police K Rajindra toured the area today to take stock of the situation.

He later said that adequate security arrangements have been made to ensure peaceful polling and area-domination operations launched by the security forces and local police to sanitise the constituency.

Rajindra said the blast was caused at the compound gate of a college to be used as polling station when the BSF personnel were setting up a bunker there.

No damage has been caused to the polling booth and voting will take place there, he said.

EC orders repoll in Pahalgam, Anantnag, Kathua

SRINAGAR, Oct 5: The Election Commission today ordered repoll in four polling stations in Pahalgam segment in south Kashmir, Anantnag district and one in Kathua constituency in Jammu region following complaints of malpractices on the polling day, official sources said here.

The decision was taken after some of the contesting candidates complained of malpractices, which were verified by returning officers in the two segments that went to poll on October 1 in the third phase of elections.

The repoll will take place at two polling stations in Baktoot, one each in Hadrukuthal-Sofiapora and Wullerhama in Pahalgam segment, and Taraf Sanji in Katua segment, they said.

The repolling will take place from 7 am to 4 pm on October 8 when six segments of militancy-infested Doda district and Lolab segment in Kupwara district go to polls, the sources said.

Polling in Lolab segment was earlier scheduled on September 16 in the first round of polls but were countermanded due to the killing of National Conference candidate Mushtaq Ahmad Lone by militants on September 11 during an election rally. (PTI)

Jawan killed, 2 hurt in Nowshera

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 5: An army jawan was killed and two others were injured in Pakistan firing in Janghar sector of Nowshera tehsil in Rajouri district this morning.

Official sources said Pakistan troops started heavy firing in six villages of Janghar. An army post in a forward area became target of the firing in which one jawan was killed and two others were injured. The injured jawans have been hospitalised.

About a dozen cattle also perished in the firing while three houses were damaged. However, no civilian casualties were reported. Firing was replied by the Indian side effectively.

Woman arrested alongwith charas

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 5: City police today arrested a woman alongwith about one and a half kg charas from new Tawi bridge.

Arrested woman has been identified as Naseem Akhter wife of Sikander Ali, a resident of Qasim Nagar near Bahu Fort. Police seized a bag from her possession which carried 1.5 kg charas. A case against her has been registered at Gujjar Nagar police post.

Arrest was made by a Gujjar Nagar police post party headed by PP Incharge Abdul Aziz Bhatti and SHO Peer Mitha Sohail Rashid under the supervision of DySP City Rupinder Kumar Chalotra.

J&K voters were confused: Naidu

RAIPUR, Oct 5: Bharatiya Janata Party president M Venkaiah Naidu today denied the charge that his party did not participate seriously in the Jammu and Kashmir elections, admitting, however, that the voters were confused because the National Conference (NC) was the BJP’s ally at the Centre.

Addressing mediapersons here, Mr Naidu said that his party tried its best to clear this confusion and he himself had taken part in the electioneering. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee could not campaign but this did not mean that the BJP was non-serious about the polls.

A large voter turnout had clearly exposed Pakistan’s propaganda before the international community, the BJP leader said adding that the courage of Kashmir’s voters had proved India’s stand.

Mr Naidu, however, evaded a direct reply to a query whether the BJP would extend support to the NC in case of a hung Assembly. (UNI)

CCS satisfiedwith response to J&K polls

NEW DELHI, Oct 5: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) today reviewed the security scenario in the region and expressed "great satisfaction" over the "splendid" response of the people in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls.

"We used the opportunity to discuss the overall security scenario in the region. No decisions have been taken but an overall review has been carried out", External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha told reporters after a 90-minute meeting here.

Stating that three rounds of Assembly polls in J and K were over, Sinha said that CCS noted with "great satisfaction the fact that despite all efforts to the contrary, people of the State responded splendidly to the democratic process. The large turnout of voters in the first three of the four phases has been noted with great satisfaction by the Government."

The meeting presided by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, Defence Minister George Fernandes, Finance Minister Jaswant Singh, National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra, Cabinet Secretary designate Kamal Pande and the three service chiefs. (PTI)

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