Advani meets Ministers, BJP leaders for J&K elections

NEW DELHI, Sept 9: In a major exercise to review the arrangements for Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today briefed his cabinet colleagues and BJP leaders about Government’s preparations for the crucial polls.

The high-level meeting was attended among others by Union Ministers George Fernandes, Sushma Swaraj, Pramod Mahajan, Arun Shourie, Sharad Yadav, Shahnawaz Hussain, T R Baalu, Digvijay Singh, Uma Bharati, Vijay Goel and BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu.

"This was neither a formal cabinet meeting, nor an informal one. It was an informal gathering," Swaraj told reporters after the 90-minute meeting at North Block.

Stating that Government was making efforts to ensure that the elections were "free, fair, credible and participatory", she said officials of External Affairs, Home and Defence Ministries briefed the meeting about the poll preparations in Jammu and Kashmir.

While sources said that the meeting was also called to ensure that the Government spoke "in one voice" on the J and K polls which were being keenly monitored by the world community, Swaraj undermined this view saying elections to the State were "no different from any other State in the country".

The arrangements by the Election Commission and security agencies were reviewed at the meeting.

To a question how could the Government ensure free and fair elections in the State, Swaraj said "it is heartening to know that eight to ten thousand people were attending election rallies".

"What more participation do you want. It is people’s participation which is a guarantee for free and fair polls. Keeping the crowds participating at these rallies in mind, I don’t think we require any other benchmark for fairness of the polls," the Information and Broadcasting Minister said.

There were many people who were earlier queueing up outside party offices to seek tickets to contest the polls. "This showed there was lot of enthusiasm among the people over these elections".

Earlier, the sources said several ministers exchanged their views over the elections at the meeting, with many of them wanting to know the Government’s position on different aspects of the election process.

They said today’s exercise was meant to educate the ministers and other leaders about the Government’s positions on various issues relating to the J and K polls in order to ensure that everyone spoke in "one voice". (PTI)

Hurriyat has no base in Kashmir: Omar

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Sept 9: National Conference president Mr Omar Abdullah has claimed that Hurriyat has no gross root following in Kashmir.

Addressing a massive rally in Ganderbal constituency, Mr Omar said Hurriyat leaders are answerable to the people of Kashmir for the hardship and violence thrust by them and their friends across the border on the people of this State. He said while the Hurriyat leaders made money and lived a luxurious life, they brought miseries to the people of Kashmir.

Mr Omar said he really wanted them to come forward because then they would have been exposed before the entire world. He said if Hurriyat had participated in elections their tally of seats would not have been reached the double figure mark.

The NC leader said that the killings of innocents to thwart the poll process are a heinous crime and all right thinking people should come together to condemn such dastardly acts of violence. He said the electoral understanding of PDP and Congress is sheer opportunism and they have no agenda for the welfare of the people. Mufti Sayeed did nothing for the people of the State and was a mute spectator to the plight of the people.

Mr Omar said Ganderbal constituency has been well taken care of by his father and grandfather and he shall work to further develop it. He assured the people that Ganderbal will be a model constituency and further promised to start work on the Ganderbal Power House, which will generate new avenues of employment in the constituency.

NC terrorising people to boycott polls: Mufti

Excelsior Correspondent

DABLEHAR (R S PURA), Sept 9: Accusing ruling National Conference of adopting foul means to terrorise voters to boycott polls, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mufti Mohammed Sayeed today asserted that his party will get majority in the forthcoming Assembly elections.

Addressing a public meeting in support of PDP candidate, Trilok Singh Bajwa, Mufti alleged that surrendered militants at the behest of ruling National Conference have been pasting posters at various places in support of boycott. "Boycott posters are pasted only in those constituencies which are considered weak for National Conference", he alleged and further added that National Conference leaders have been creating hurdles in free and fair elections.

"National Conference leaders are very much aware that they will lose power in the forthcoming elections that is why they are desperate to win elections by any means", Mufti said but asserted that despite desperate attempts of the ruling party, PDP will get majority in the elections.

"One thing is very much clear that National Conference is not going to form Government after the elections", he predicted and said that the forthcoming elections will prove a debacle for National Conference. Pointing towards statement of National Conference president and Union Minister of State for External Affair, Omar Abdullah in which he has stated that PDP was hatching a conspiracy for hung Assembly after forthcoming elections, Mufti said, "NC president is wrong. We are not working for hung Assembly but to get absolute majority on our own".

"Not only common masses but even National Conference leaders, who have served the party for decades, are facing humiliation in this autocratic regime", he said and narrated examples how senior National Conference leader and ex- Minister of State for Revenue, Mr Mohammed Hussan was humiliated by denying ticket to his son. "The way large number of National Conference leaders have been contesting elections as rebel candidates is a clear indication that every thing is not good in the party", he said and hoped that National Conference leaders will soon realise that they have to leave this out-fit to protect their dignity and honour.

"People are fed with wrong policies of the ruling National Conference so they want to teach a lesson to those who are responsible for their woes’’, he said and claimed that there was strong under current in favour of PDP in Kashmir valley. "Neither Congress nor any other political party can provide alternative to the National Conference so there is feeling among people to cast vote in favour of PDP to dethrone this regime", he said. "Except promises National Conference Government led by Dr Farooq Abdullah has done nothing for the betterment and upliftment of the inhabitants of this militancy plagued State", he regretted, adding, "only achievement of this Government is legitimisation of corruption".

Charging Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah with shielding corrupt elements, Mufti said that for the last six years Farooq Abdullah and his Ministers have been looting the state exchequers. "Farooq Government has spent crores and crores of rupees to provide luxuries to the Ministers but on the other hand State Government has expressed its helplessness in giving pensions to the widows and handicapped", he lamented.

"What to say of pocketing money meant for the development and betterment of the people, National Conference leaders have even sold party tickets for the forthcoming elections ", he alleged, adding, "it is talk of the town in Srinagar that National Conference leaders have sold party mandates", he alleged.

Terming National Conference as ‘sinking- ship’, Mufti claimed that his party has been getting over-whelming response all over the State. "People of this State have now realised that PDP is the only alternative of National Conference.

Party candidate for Suchetgarh Trilok Singh Bajwa also addressed the meeting.

US will press Pak not to interfere in J&K polls

WASHINGTON, Sept 9: US Secretary of State Colin Powell tonight assured India that Washington will continue to press Pakistan to stop cross-border infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir and not to interfere in any way with the elections in the state.

Powell spoke at a joint appearance with External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha after their talks at the State Department and a lunch hosted in his honour.

Sinha said "I am satisfied with the discussion."

"We discussed the situation across the border," said Powell when asked whether they discussed India’s perceptions on cross-border terrorism.

"We have reaffirmed to the minister we would continue to press the Pakistani Government to do everything possible to stop cross-border infiltration, and to remind them of the commitment they have made not only to the United States but to the international community that they do not support such activity and would work actively to stop it."

Powell said he and Sinha also talked about the upcoming elections in Jammu and Kashmir and "I reaffirmed to the minister we spoke to the Pakistanis about not interfering in any way with these elections." (PTI)

162 Bangladeshis held in R S Pura
Pak soldier, intruder killed

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 9: A Pakistani soldier and an intruder was killed and three Pakistani bunkers destroyed in retaliatory action by Indian troops across the border today.

Pakistani troops from across the Line of Control (LoC) fired with heavy calibre machine guns on Bimbat, Yaldor and Hadabork areas and followed it with artillery fire in Kargil and Mushkoh sectors last evening, a Defence spokesman of Northern Command said.

Apart from machine guns fire, Pakistani troops fired 540 artillery rounds from 1700 hours to 1845 hours yesterday on Indian positions which was retaliated by the troops, he said, adding in the counter offensive one Pakistani jawan was killed and three of their bunkers destroyed.

Pakistani troops had also targeted civilian areas in Kaksar, Sando, Mushko of Kargil and Drass sectors and fired about 4500 artillery shells between 0500 hours to 1100 hours yesterday.

In the firing lasting six hours, one civilian was killed and two others were wounded, besides 11 houses and a higher secondary school were damaged on Indian side, the spokesman said.

One intruder was killed during an exchange of firing between Pakistan rangers and Border Security Force troops at border out post Abdullian in R S Pura sector.

A civilian sustained bullet wounds in the firing resorted to by Pakistan rangers at Londi village in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district last evening, the sources said, adding he was later rushed to hospital.

Meanwhile, intermittent exchange of small arm firing along the International Border between the two sides continued at Akhnoor, Kanachak, Khour, Regal and Pargwal sub-sectors yesterday, the sources said.

Reports from Rajouri district said exchange of fire between Indian and Pakistani troops along Line of Control also took place in Bhawani sector yesterday.

However, there was no loss of life or damage on Indian side, the reports said.

Meanwhile, the Border Security Force (BSF) today apprehended 162 Bangladeshi nationals when they were trying to exfiltrate to Pakistan from two forward posts of Alla Mai Di Kothi (AMK) and Badyal in RS Pura sector.

While 143 Bangladeshis were arrested from AMK, 19 others were apprehended from Badyal. Of them, 39 were women and 64 children, the reports said.

13 civilians injured in Batmaloo blast
4 militants killed in Anantnag, Sopore

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Sept 9: While as security forces today eliminated four militants in two gunbattles in Anantnag and Sopore, as many as 13 civilians sustained injuries in a grenade blast at Batmaloo this evening.

Informed sources in south Kashmir told EXCELSIOR that, on a specific information, troops of Rashtriya Rifles 03 Bn and 73 Bn raided a militant hideout at Dangarpora, Aeshmuqam, in Anantnag district. According to the tip-off, a group of militants was present at the house of one Ghulam Nabi Dar. This evening, a fierce gunbattle took place in the village in which the target house was destroyed and two militants killed. They were identified as Hilal Ahmed Dar alias Machloo S/o Ghulam Rasool Dar R/o Zirpora Bijbehara and Ghulam Hassan Khan alias Iqbal S/o Fakeer Khan R/o Sirchan Batkote, Pahalgam.

While as Hilal was described as the "district commander" of Hizbul Mujahideen, Hassan was reportedly a "battalion commander" of Jaish-e-Mohammad.

Earlier today, two unidentified militants were eliminated by troops of RR 47 Bn at Zalora in Sopore area of Baramulla district. Several houses suffered damage in the gunbattle.

This evening, militants lobbed a hand grenade towards a BSF bunker at Batmaloo. Sources said that 13 civilians, including two doctors of SMHS Hospital, sustained injuries. They were all rushed to hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, the dead body of the SPO, who had gone missing in last evening’s militant attack on Police at Nasrallapora, Budgam, has been recovered. As already reported in this newspaper exclusively, two constables of Soibug Police Division and a militant had died in the chance encounter on Budgam-Soibug road late last evening.

Those killed in the clash have been identified as constable Mohammad Shafi of Koil Pulwama, constable Mushtaq Ahmed of Khimber Tailbal, SPO Kadeer Dar S/o Abdul Khaliq R/o Farash Gund Soibug and the Hizbul Mujahideen militant Bashir Ahmed Malik S/o Abdul Ahad Malik R/o Soibug.

Hurriyat seeks Pak help for meeting of two Kashmir Comms

NEW DELHI, Sept 9 : In the backdrop of a "successful" meeting with the Kashmir Committee led by Ram Jethmalani, Hurriyat Conference delegation led by its chairman Abdul Gani Bhat today visted Pakistan High Commission to seek its assistance in arranging a meeting with Pakistan’s Kashmir Committee headed by Sardar Abdul Qayyum.

"The meeting with Jethmalani’s Kashmir Committee has been successful and we will seek assistance from the Pakistan Government in formalising a meeting between the two committees," Bhat told PTI here.

During his luncheon meeting with Pakistan High Commission officials, Bhat apprised them of the Hurriyat’s discussion with the Kashmir Committee.

Asked whether he was hopeful that efforts of the committee would help in finding a solution to the Kashmir issue, Bhat said "undoubtedly, the task is difficult and we have miles to go, but one thing is there that we have made an auspicious beginning."

Drawing his attention to the comments from Qayyum that any meeting between the two committees could be fixed only after the outcome of Hurriyat-Kashmir Committee meeting, the Hurriyat Conference chairman said the joint declaration was in itself indicative that the talks were a success.

He lauded the efforts of the Jethmalani committee but expressed the fear that "hawks within the Government will try hard to sabotage the process of finding a peaceful resolution to the problem."

Stating that it would not be meeting any other political leader in the Government or opposition on the lines similar to that adopted by Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah, Bhat said "we have the mandate of the general council of the amalgam to meet only Kashmir Committee and no one else."

Stating that the 23-party conglomerate was not averse to meeting anyone to find a lasting solution to Kashmir issue, Bhat said "we have always maintained that we will be meeting the central leadership but on a condition that the amalgam leadership would be allowed to visit Pakistan for meeting separatist leaders there and (representatives of) the Musharraf regime."

Bhat refused to be drawn into any controversy over suggestions from certain quarters about converting the Line of Control to the International Border saying "I dont answer hypothetical question."

Asked about the recent controversy with one of its constituents, People’s Conference, Bhat said "it is over for now is all that I can say."

To a question about the charges by Shabir Shah that Hurriyat’s arrogant attitude had blocked the way to forming a unified platform for holding talks with the Kashmir Committee, Bhat, while confirming that a letter from Shah had been received, said "we don’t reply to such communications which have been written in haste." (PTI)

To NC’s disadvantage, massive turnout expected
Kupwara gripped by anti-incumbency wave

From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

LOLAB (Kupwara), Sept 9: If conducting the elections is a taboo, reporting the elections is no less different. Just 100 yards short of the residential house of the Minister of State for Law, Mushtaq Ahmed Lone, there are five hand-written posters pasted on the wooden shutters of a butcher’s shop. And the text reads: "Democracy is forbidden in holy Quran. It’s a totally heretic activity. Everybody thinking of participating in elections must think of the blood of 80,000 martyrs. We warn on time, lest anybody should later complain of excess". The explicit threat begins with Iqbal’s famous couplet, lambasting democracy.

But, in the entire Lolab constituency, the biggest problem for journalists is that you can’t find a single person, beyond Mushtaq Lone’s Sogam village, to utter a word in his favour. Hence, the apprehension of getting only an "imbalance" story. Having contested and won the elections from Kupwara and Lolab in 1987 and 1996 respectively, Mushtaq Lone has been, once again, fielded in his home segment of Lolab by the ruling National Conference (NC).

In contrast to several villages in Lolab, there is not a single banner, flag or poster of any candidate in the Lone’s village. The five leaves of paper, carrying the seals of five Jehadi groups — Jaish-e-Mohammad, Al-Badar Mujahideen, Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Tehreek-e-Jihad-e-Islami — are the only posters found here.

Suddenly a column of Rashtriya Rifles 32 Bn descends on the spot and begins interrogating the shopkeepers why they had not removed the threatening posters. It is revealed that the shopkeepers, fearing action, had not opened the shutters for the last three days. None had spine to remove the posters, even after the military’s direction a day earlier. The butcher begins to remove the same with his knife. It is the same spot where militants of Al-Badar group had chopped off the head of a civilian earlier this year, revealed the butcher.

Leader of the RR column admits candidly that there was "tremendous fear" among the civilian population. Does that mean no polling in the NC candidate’s and the Law Minister’s village? "No, there’ll be over 80% turnout here", says a group of people who had gathered to talk to journalists. "Militants’ writ runs large in everything. They can come down even during daytime", says a young Sogam resident, pointing towards the uphill jungle. He adds quickly: "But, on the day of polling, we’ll all come out and vote for Mushatq Sahib.

Shopkeepers and residents speak high of Mushtaq Lone, saying that he had brought "tremendous development" to Sogam. They all assert that Lone would get 95% of votes in Sogam and "not less than 60% in the constituency". As we proceeded ahead, one of the Sogam group almost whispers:"We said that under fear. They are all Lone’s relatives and supporters. Actually, Haq Sahib (an Independent candidate, Abdul Haq Khan) is poised for a landslide victory. He’ll take 5o% even in Sogam".

The moment one emerges out of Sogam, two things disappear abruptly—macadamised road and sympathies for the NC candidate. Farmer Bashir Ahmed Mir of Lalpora, busy in harvesting of paddy crop, swears that the NC candidate would take just one-third of the votes polled in favour of Haq. "Whatever he did, he did for the people of his village and for his relatives", comments he about Mushtaq Lone. He points towards the road and claims that no road in Lolab, other than that of Sogam, had been blacktopped. "All roads have this damn condition, and even far worse".

"Hurriyat people are thugs. They helped NC by their anti-election campaign in 1996. This time they can’t come here. Even if militants will rain bullets, we’ll all come out and cast our vote against Mushtaq Lone", says shopkeeper Ghulam Rasool Wani at Lalpora. Everybody echoes the same in a vast locality. They make one after another interesting revelation and allegation: That 37 of the 48 NC delegates were warmly active in Haq’s campaign; that they wanted Azadi but the short-term Jehad in Lolab was defeating Mushtaq Lone; that Lone had earned Crores and become owner of 24 tippers, several houses, petrol pumps and land.

The angry residents of the sprawling Lalpora belt are determined to defeat Lone. "We know that he has purchased a vote machine (EVM) and he has already cast 6000 votes in it. But, we’ll still defeat him", says 70-year-old Haji Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh. He gives an incredulous look when one tries to bring him home that purchasing of EVMs and storing votes in these machines was just a wild belief.

"I have given my vote to National (NC) 10 times. More than 3,000 peoples went to Sheikh Nazir’s home and demanded mandate for Sogami Sahib’s son (youth NC leader Nasir Sogami). We were asked to wait. And, you know what happened at last? Lone’s brother threatened us that he would buy the mandate for Rs 2 Crore. He announced next day that he had purchased it for Rs 80 Lakh. Shafi Uri and Sheikh Nazir have betrayed us. God will betray them soon", lamented an emotional Haji. He said that there was "the bigger Jehad" around the corner—fighting against "exploiters".

21-year-old Mohammad Ismail Bhat reveals that a "front" off all parties, including 34 of the 48 NC delegates, was assiduously campaigning for the "consensus candidate" Abdul Haq. An influential Gujjar leader and long time associate of late Abdul Gani Lone, Haq is widely described as a "proxy candidate" of the separatist J&K Peoples Conference. The PC chief has been repeatedly denying it. Bhat alleges that Sogam’s Naib Tehsildar, Pir Abdur Rasheed, was not only running the NC candidate’s "dead campaign" but he was also listing the names of unemployed youth, promising them jobs.

Others complain that Lone had distributed all jobs among his relatives and residents of Sogam. "We have 500 unemployed graduates in Lalpora", says 45-year shopkeeper Ghulam Mohammad of Krusan. He alleged that Lone had got a 60-year-old, Abdul Ahad Mir, recruited as a driver in Sub District Hospital of Sogam, though the upper age limit was 35 years.

There are similar sentiments in Divar, Kalaroos, Haihama and Varnow as one fails to find a single individual in favour of the NC candidate. In addition to his residential village of Sogam, Mr Lone is expected to get 50% of votes in the traditional NC vote-belt of Machhil. Haq being a Gujjar is expected to bag all votes of that community in areas close to LoC. However, in the plains of Lolab, this polarisation is not evident.

As Azadi seems to have taken back seat in this border segment, which is dotted with the martyrs’ graveyards, people are vociferously concerned about their mundane problems. "The Kashmir problem shall be solved by Musharraf and George Bush. For that, we have Gani Bhat and Geelani Sahib. We have to find a representative who’ll bring us relief; who’ll give us metalled roads; who’ll give us water; who’ll give us jobs; and, who’ll get our boys released from the clutches of military", argues Mohammad Sultan of Gund-e-Machhar.

Sajjad Nazki, Haq’s Chief Election Agent, claims that Mr Haq was the "consensus candidate" of NC, PC, Jamaat-e-Islami, PDP and all others. "It’s a fight against Mushtaq Lone’s exploitation in Lolab for the last six years", he explains, saying that everybody had been a victim equally. He reminds that even in 1987 "rigged elections", Haq had lost in Lolab with a tiny margin of 950 votes. While as then NC candidate Pir Abdul Gani had polled 34% of the votes polled, PC’s Haq and MUF’s Ashraf Sehrai had polled 33% each.

"You can put me on record. If Lone gets 40% votes even in his Sogam village, we’ll never again contest the elections", claims Sajjad.

One time "deputy chief commander" in Hizbul Mujahideen and now an Independent candidate, Ghulam Rasool Shah alias Imran Rahi of Divar Inderbug says that, despite the militant threat, large number of people would turn up for voting. He says that there are three divisions in the militant reaction to polling: those who are totally indifferent and unconcerned; those who want that the people should vote and defeat the NC; and those who are out to eliminate anybody participating in the elections. The last category, he explains, is that of foreigners who have no local stakes, no local afflictions.

No need for intermediaries, says Advani

NEW DELHI, Sept 9: Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today rejected the Hurriyat Conference’s role in facilitating a dialogue between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, saying the Government did not need any intermediaries.

He was reacting to the Hurriyat’s request for permission to go to Islamabad for talks on the Kashmir issue.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, before emplaning for a week-long visit to the United States, said there was no proposal before the Government from the Hurriyat in this regard.

But Mr Advani was categorical that the Hurriyat’s role was ruled out.

"The day we decide to hold talks with Pakistan, the Government will do so on its own. There is no need for intermediaries."

About the demand from some quarters that the Line of Control (LoC) should be converted into an International Border, Mr Vajpayee’s cryptic reply was: "Maine Bhi Aisa Suna Hai." (UNI)

Bin Laden claims 9/11: Al-Jazeera

DOHA, Sept 9: Suspected terror mastermind Osama bin Laden was heard claiming responsibility for the September 11 attacks on the United States in a video aired by Qatar’s Al-Jazeera satellite television today.

Al-Jazeera broadcast footage of militants described as Al-Qaeda members pouring over aerial maps of the Pentagon, one of the targets of the 9/11 hijackers who also crashed planes into New York’s World Trade Center.

Bin Laden was heard naming some of the attackers, including Mohammad Atta who he said "led the group which destroyed the first tower" of the World Trade Center last September 11.(AFP)

Unified Hqrs review situation

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 9: The Unified Headquarters met today at Nagrota to review security scenario in Jammu region. The meeting was chaired by Lt Gen TPS Brar, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 16 Corps.

The meeting also discussed steps required for further improving law and order situation in the region. The meeting decided that no efforts should be spared to eliminate the menace of terrorism and create a conducive environment for conduct of free and fair elections.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary Home C Phunsog, DGP A K Suri, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Anil Goswami and senior officers of police, Intelligence, CRPF, BSF and army.

Kuldeep NC candidate in Udhampur

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 9: The National Conference has fielded Kuldeep Khajuria, Advocate as its candidate for Udhampur Assembly segment.

In today’s issue of EXCELSIOR, the name of NC nominee from Udhampur had been wrongly reported as Legislative Council Deputy Chairman Chuni Lal Khajuria.

Two MiG aircrafts crash

NEW DELHI, Sept 9: Two fighter planes of MiG 21 variant, which had recently been cleared for flying after being grounded for weeks, crashed today in Haryana and Rajasthan, but the pilots bailed out safely raising fresh questions over the safety of these aircraft.

A MiG 21 crashed in the fields on the outskirts of Chaurmaspur village, 30 kms from Ambala Cantonment while another of these fighter planes crashed mid-air in Shivpur in Pali district in Rajasthan, 300 kms from Jaipur, according to IAF and Police here.

The MiG-21 type 75 aircraft of which IAF has about 12 squadrons were grounded in May this year after two of these aircraft crashed on successive days due to sudden engine flame-out.

The Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy had ordered the temporary grounding of the fighters.

The aircraft were only cleared for flying after top air force officials claimed that extreme checks of both the R-25 engines as well as air-frame were undertaken by both Indian and Russian engineers and that too only for operational flying because of the military stand-off on the Indo-Pak border.

IAF officials said there was no casualties on the ground and the cause of the twin mishaps was not immediately known. They said a court of inquiry had been orderded into the accidents.

The pilot, who ejected safely in Rajasthan, was taken to Jodhpur by an IAF chopper.

A report from Ambala said the pilot flying officer Rajat Nangra was injured after a suspected engine failure, police and IAF sources in Ambala said.

The pilot bailed out after the fighter crashed while he was flying over village Panjora.

The fighter flew for another eight kms before crashing in the fields outside Chaurmaspur village.

The pilot, who bailed out when he was over Panjora, sustained fractures in the backbone as his parachute got entangled in electric wires.

With today’s twin crashes, the Air Force has lost 11 fighter aircraft this year alone with as many as eight being of various MiG-21 variants.

According to official inquiry reports, four of these 11 accidents have been fatal. The reports also reveal that while four of the crashes took place due to technical faults, two were due to pilot error and one because of a bird hit.

The cause of crash of four other MiG 21s is yet to be ascertained.

The crashes come in the wake of recent calls by various parliamentary committees attached to the Defence Ministry for grounding of the MiG 21 fleet in the wake of as many as 60 crashes of these aircraft since 1996 leading to deaths of over 18 pilots and loss to the exchequer to the tune of about Rs 200 crores.

The crash of the two MiG type 75 variant would also raise questions about the safety of the upgraded MiG-21-93, which are also powered by R-25 engines. The first squadron of the upgraded MiG’s is to be inaugrated by the Air Chief next week.

The crashes of the two MiGs could also now lead to greater urgency being accorded to speed up the country’s indigenious light combat aircraft, which is running almost three years behind schedule. The LCA is slated to replace the ageing MiGs, as the mainstay of the IAF. (PTI)

Mirwaiz meets US, German officials

NEW DELHI, Sept 9: Former Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq today met the officials of the United States and German Embassy here to apprise them of the discussions with the Kashmir Committee led by Ram Jethmalani.

"We discussed the present situation in the Valley and apprised them of the discussion that the Hurriyat delegation had with the Kashmir Committee," the Mirwaiz told PTI here after the meetings.

Rejecting the reports that the United States was unhappy with the Hurriyat Conference for its poll boycott call, he said "the issue of polls did not come up during our discussions as it is a closed chapter for us."

The Mirwaiz claimed that the Embassy officials were happy that the "channel of communications" were open between the Kashmiri separatist leaders and the political leadership.

Farooq, who is the religious head of Kashmir valley, however, did not attend the luncheon meeting with the officials of the Pakistan High Commission, which was attended by Hurriyat chairman Abdul Gani Bhat and others. (PTI)

Ultras determined to undermine polls

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 9: All out efforts are being made by the militants to disrupt the elections in Jammu and Kashmir by terrorising voters through threats and causing explosions, according to an intercepted conversation between the militant leaders.

Defence sources quoted one of the messages which said "...We have told them not to take part in the election. I think only 20 per cent people will take part in the elections... I have already sent letters to those who are taking part in the elections".

"Okay. Make a good plan to carry out explosions during the election," the message said.

In an earlier intercepted message between two ultras of Lashker-e-Toiba, instruction were given to carry out IED blasts at polling stations during the elections, the sources said.

Coded messages between the ultras of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) had also revealed that militants in their attempt to disrupt the coming elections had issued warnings to people against collecting voter identity cards and threatened to take it away from those who have already collected it, they said.

CM assesses damage

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Sept 9: Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah visited Drass this morning and took stock of the damages caused by the shelling from across the border.

Six houses and a school were directly hit by the shells in Zargar Mohalla and Bimhat in Drass yesterday causing heavy damages.

The locals apprised the Chief Minister about the unprovoked shelling and appreciated the assistance rendered by the police particularly Const. Nazir Ahmed Zargar.

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