Two
fierce gun-battles at Gandoh, Banihal
UDHAMPUR, Nov 30: Army and police today achieved a major success in the ongoing anti-militancy operations when they gunned down seven hardcore militants including two foreign mercenaries in two separate gun-battles at Trankhal in Gandoh and Dooligam in Banihal areas of Doda district. An Army jawan also lost his life in Banihal encounter. Four militants were killed in Trankhal while three others were shot dead at Dooligam. Troops recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition including seven assault rifles during the encounters, which were still going on till late this evening. DIG Udhampur-Doda Range Mr Ram Lubaya told EXCELSIOR here that Army and Special Operations Group (SOG) personnel launched a joint search operation in Trankhal in Kaunphol forest area of Gandoh-Thathri road in Doda district in the early hours of this morning. The full-fledged search and combing operation was launched on the basis of a specific information about the presence of militants in the forest area. The operation was launched by 12 Rashtriya Rifles with the active involvement of SOG and STF personnel. The security personnel noticed a group of militants moving in the forest areas this morning and challenged them. Sources said a fierce gun-battle ensued between the two sides which initially continued for more than two hours. Army and police jawans gunned down four militants while few others, unable to face the security personnel’s onslaught, managed to escape deep into the forest area and disappeared. Security forces recovered dead bodies of four slain militants but their identification couldn’t be established immediately. Four AK-47 and 56 rifles, with 12 magazines, six hand grenades and one Yashu radio set were recovered from the site of encounter. There was no casualty on Army side in this encounter. Sources said more troops have been rushed to the forest area to continue the search operation to track down the militants still hiding in the forest area. The operation was going on when the reports last were received at the district headquarters late tonight but no further success had been achieved so far, the sources said. They said another operation was launched by 12 Rashtriya Rifles and STF personnel at Dooligam in Banihal area of Doda district this afternoon. The operation was launched after a hideout of the militants was established. Again, a fierce gun-battle ensued as militants opened heavy firing on the security personnel from inside the hideout. Troops blasted the hideout when militants tried to escape during exchange of firing, the sources said, adding one militant was killed on spot while two others fled from the hideout. Security personnel chased the fleeing militants and engaged them in encounter at a distance of about a km. Both the militants were gunned down after heavy exchange of firing. An Army Havildar Bani Singh, who fought bravely with the militants, was also killed in the battle. Dead bodies of all three slain militants have been shifted to Banihal police station. They have been identified as Wahid son of Mohd Akbar Dar, Farooq Ahmed and Nasarullah, all residents of village Karhi in Banihal. The arms and ammunition recovered from the scene of encounter include three AK-56 rifle, one rocket launcher, four magazines, one RDX packet, one byonet. The hideout of the militants—a house of a local villager which had been taken over by the militants—was blown up in the encounter. Identity of house owner and his whereabouts were being ascertained by the police. |
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Cong
not to demand Govt’s resignation NEW DELHI, Nov 30: Despite being critical of the failure on the price front, allies of BJP, including AIADMK, today stood by it reaffirming their continued support to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee as Congress yet again made it clear that it would not take the initiative to destabilise the coalition Government or demand its resignation. As some opposition parties gave a stormy start to the winter session of Parliament demanding the Government’s resignation following BJP’s drubbing in the elections, the coordination committee of BJP and its allies met tonight and passed a resolution expressing unequivocal support to the Government. All designs at artificially destabi-lising the Government and creating uncertainty or spreading false alarm does not subserve national interest and these will be defeated, the resolution adopted at the meet at Vajpayee’s residence said. Despite trouncing BJP in the elections, Congress continued to play cool. We will not demand resignation of the Government or take any initiative to destabilise the BJP-led coalition. But it is upto the morality of the Government to step down on its own, party spokesman Ajit Jogi told reporters in reply to questions whether the party backed the demand of Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal in Parliament for the Government’s resignation. However, at the coordination committee meeting there was criticism of the Government for not taking timely action to check prices, an issue which cost the BJP dearly in the elections. Earlier, after a meeting of the parliamentary parties of BJP and allies, Trinamool Congress leader Ajit Panja said despite their warning in the coordination meeting in September the Government had failed to initiate action on the price front. We are giving them (Government) time and telling them to form a core committee. Another ally, Prem Singh Chandu-majra of Akali Dal, said the Government should implement only those that have the backing of a consensus. Committee convener and Defence Minister George Fernandes said the meeting expressed unity and solidarity and reiterated the view that the Government remained committed to providing a stable regime. Aiadmk leader Jayalalitha did not attend the meeting but sent a message of inability to participate and deputed Law Minister M Thambi Durai on her behalf. Trinamool Congress and BJD leaders also did not attend. TC leader Mamata Banerjee had already quit the committee on the issue of spiralling prices. (PTI) .Gehlot being sworn-in R’sthan CM today JAIPUR, Nov 30 :The new Congress Government headed by Mr Ashok Gehlot will be sworn-in tomorrow at 1130 hrs at Raj Bhavan. The decision was taken after several senior Congress leaders including party general secretary Madhav Rao Scindia, Working Committee member Balram Jakhar and Mr Gulam Nabi Azad met acting Governor N L Tibrewal this evening and staked claim to form the Government headed by the State Party president. Senior Congress leaders met the Governor after Mr Gehlot was unanimously chosen as the leader of the Congress legislature party. The CLP has a strength of 150 members in the 200-member Assembly. But elections were held for 197 seats only. Mr Gehlot is, however, not a member of the State Legislature and is at present a member of the Lok Sabha. Meanwhile,newly-elected Congress Legislature Party leader Ashok Gehlot, who is to head the new Ministry in Rajasthan, today said his Government would provide a transparent administration accountable to the people and responsive to their needs. Spelling out his priorities soon after his election as the CLP leader, Gehlot told reporters here that improving the law and order, and the water and power supply would be the main concerns of his Government. The 47-year-old Congress leader, who led his party to a resounding victory in the State, said the promises made in the party’s election manifesto would be earnestly implemented. Gehlot, picked by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi for the top job, said his Government would protect the rights of the downtrodden, the minorities and farmers in the State. He thanked the people for giving a massive mandate to the party and assured them that all their problems would be addressed to. (AGENCIES) Working paralyzed
in hospital Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Nov 30: Doctors and para-medical staff in the district hospital today struck work paralyzing the medicare facilities in protest against last night’s raid conducted by the Deputy Commissioner Mr Chaman Lal at the hospital. Local organisations of the district, however, hailed the administration’s action alleging that doctors and para-medical staff have created a mess in the hospital. According to reports, doctors and para-medical staff held a meeting in the hospital premises this morning and decided to proceed on a day’s strike to protest the raid followed by a statement issued by a Government spokesman ‘defaming’ the doctors and other staff. Work in the district hospital was badly affected due to the strike. Even emergency working was also paralyzed in the hospital causing inconvenience to the patients. Few patients, who had been admitted in the Wards, also deserted the hospital in the absence of any medicare facilities. The OPD was also closed down by the agitated doctors and para-medical staff, who were demanding an unconditional apology from the Deputy Commissioner and rebuttal of his statement issued to the press that doctors were absent from duty. The striking staff of the hospital also held a demonstration within the hospital premises shouting slogans against the administration. They said the things were going on smoothly in the hospital and there was no need for administration’s intervention. However, the official sources confirmed that doctors were not present on duty when the Deputy Commissioner raided the hospital while duty register was missing. Some of the para-medical staffers hadn’t reported to the duty for last three days without any prescribed leave, they said. A number of organisations including political, social and students today called on the Deputy Commissioner Mr Chaman Lal in his office and strongly appreciated the raids conducted by him in the hospital which has exposed the irregularities in the hospital. The organisations said people of the district have been suffering a lot due to mess created in the hospital by the hospital administration, doctors and para-medical staff. They demanded that such raids should be made a regular feature to keep a check on its functioning. Our Jammu correspondent adds: Meanwhile, Director Health Services Dr R K Goel, when contacted, said Dr Mukal was very much on duty in the hospital when Deputy Commissioner carried out the raid. He said Dr Mukal was moving in the lawn of the hospital. Another doctor, who was allegedly absent from the duty, was working in the Operation Theatre, Dr Goel said. He, however, admitted that some stray dogs had managed to sneak into the Emergency Ward since it was open. The Ward will be closed very soon to ensure that stray dogs couldn’t manage to enter the hospital premises, he said. The Director Health said he was also visiting the district Kathua hospital shortly to review its working . Army Chief for huge reform in defence structure NEW DELHI, Nov 30: Army Chief V P Malik has called for "huge reforms" in the defence structure and said an integrated Ministry of Defence should be set up to rectify the existing "dysfunction." Gen Malik said the Ministry of Defence, the service headquarters and other structures and mechanisms for higher direction of defence should be restructured, as it would not only improve management efficiency in financial, operational and administrative areas but also result in better exploitation of the country’s defence potential. It would also substantively improve returns on the resources being channeled into defence. The Army Chief made these remarks on reforms in the defence set-up in his address on "national security environment and defence planning" at the IAS Academy at Mussoorie on Saturday, a copy of which was made available here today. Gen Malik said the main objective of restructuring should be to create a more responsive and accountable system create an integrated policy and planning structure, which would evaluate proposals for long term force development and setting of inter-service priorities thereof and provide a single point professional military advice to the Defence Minister and the Prime Minister without compromising the right of service Chiefs to provide advice on single service issues, if required. He said the present Defence Minister had accepted this requirement in principle and expressed hope that it would come through soon. Gen Malik also regretted that the tape—did not allow "us" to spend even the meagre amount allocated. He exemplified his point by citing the case of last year, when the Army surrendered money due to procedural delays. "Some officials wanted me to spend this amount on non-priority projects but I refused and surrendered the funds," he said. He said there were many items that were urgently needed to fight the proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir, but this was not possible because people who processed these cases did not have to share his worry, urgency and accountability. The Army Chief also pointed out that for many years now, a case was being made out for higher fiscal allocation to support modernisation programmes but the budget (defence budget) had been dictated by the quantum of allocable resources rather than any rational study of the needs. He pointed out that there had only been a linear yearly increase to take care of inflation. In fact in some years there had been a negative growth, he said. All major armies in the world exercise a 70:30 ratio between maintenance and modernisation to retain a long term acceptable force capability and operational readiness. Our ratio, rising every year, stands at 88:12 today, he said. On the internal security situation, the Army Chief noted that more than 1,00,000 troops were employed on internal security duty and said excessive and continuous involvement of the Army in internal security was neither good for the Army nor for the nation. The erosion of combat deterrence and dissuasive posture, high casualties during peace time, which affects the morale of troops and the nation, depletion of Army budget on account of internal security deployment, alienation of local population, overdepen-dence on the Army or lack of faith in the capability of State and Central Police, concern about the sensitivity of our troops dealing with our own people and no adverse image abroad were cited as some of the reasons by the Army Chief for avoiding deployment of troops on internal security duty. He also pointed out that in internal security operations, military pressure alone could not resolve matters unless there was a strong thrust on socio-political and socio-economic issues. The civil administration has to support military operations and do its own job more actively. He was of the view that reduction in military deployment would be possible only if the para-military forces, Central and State Police forces particularly the Armed Police could be revamped. He said he was of the view that these forces needed to be organised, equipped and trained better, and acquire Army-like ethos particularly the functional leadership. In addition to more than 1,30,000 police personnel under the Home Ministry, which has the primary responsibility for internal security, more than 1,00,000 troops were also deployed for the same, he noted. Gen Malik said Pakistan’s proxy war was dangerous not only for India but for the entire region including Pakistan itself. "We have to maintain an effective nuclear as well as conventional deterrent against Pakistan while we respond to its initiative of proxy war," he said. He characterised the future geo-strategic security scenario in the broader context as under: 1.Geo-political uncertainties and unpredictability are likely to persist through out 1999 and the early part of the 21st century. 2. Substantively reduced threat of nuclear and an all out general war, significantly giving way to irregular, non-standard conflicts and wars. 3. Due to unequal NPT, CTBT and FMCT regimes and inability of the world to move towards total nuclear disarmament, risks and dangers of nuclear proliferation have increased. 4. An all out conventional war is less likely in future, but if and when it takes place, it would have many new features. Its outcome would be more crucial than that of past wars. He said the Taliban’s emergence, spread and now near total control of Afghanistan is a serious long term security threat in the region. If this experiment-conceived and supported by Pakistan-succeeds, the spread of fundamentalism accompanied by violence may soon reverbate across South, West and Central Asia. The Army Chief said security was not a uni-dimensional concept nor was the security environment a uni-linear phenomenon only in the military sense. (UNI) Winter session of parliament begins on stormy note NEW DELHI, Nov 30:The winter session of Parliament today began on a tumultuous note with a rejuvenated opposition rocking proceedings on the issue of price rise and demanding immediate resignation of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee following BJP’s rout in the Assembly polls. Slogan shouting members of the Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal demanding the Government’s resignation paralysed proceeding in the Lok Sabha forcing Speaker G M C Balayogi to adjourn the House for the day without transaction of any business. Fresh from impressive victories in Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the Congress was merely content with attempts to raise the price situation by seeking suspension of the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha as part of strategy to put the Government on the mat. In a change of tact, the Congress nearly sought to raise the issue as a special discussion than through a motion of adjournment that may necessitate voting. However, it was the SP and RJD members who seized the issue to make a political battle out of it and stormed the well. The Chair’s repeated pleas to the members to resume their seats fell on deaf ears. The issue found its echo in the Rajya Sabha also where the entire opposition led by Congress walked out protesting against Commerce Minister Ramakrishna Hedge’s remarks that Congress successfully exploited the shortage of onions in the elections. As Pawar sought to impress on the Speaker why the Question Hour should be suspended to take up an issue that affected vast masses in the country, members of the other two parties resorted to an agitational path. This led to adjournment of the House till lunch. When the House met again after the lunch recess, an apparently agitated SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav was heard telling the Congress benches that price rise was not the only issue in the country and that if the house did not function for a day, heavens would not fall. Congress chief whip P J Kurien’s attempt to persuade Mulayam not to persist with his approach was rebuffed by the SP leader, who said the Vajpayee Government had no moral right to continue in office as the electorate had roundly rejected BJP in the three States. With no signs of let up in the demonstration by SP and RJD members, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day. In the Rajya House, non-Congress opposition parties also demanded the Government’s resignation for its utter failure to control prices. The issue was raised by former Finance Minister and Congress leader Manmohan Singh through a special mention saying the price situation reflected the gross mismanagement of the economy and that the Government is lax to the point of criminality. He also charged the Government with being soft towards unscrupulous traders. (PTI) Major tragedy averted Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Nov 30: Acting cautiously, Army personnel tonight succeeded in driving out a group of eight to ten militants from the house of local people at village Khablan Behrot, about 18 kms from here under the jurisdiction of Thanna Mandi police station. Official sources said Army personnel of newly posted division launched a well-planned search operation at village Khablan Behrot at 1800 hours this evening after getting a report from reliable sources that militants have sneaked into villagers’ house to kill or kidnap civilian during the night hours. Troops acted cautiously to avoid civilian casualties in the area as all the militants—numbering between eight to 10—had taken shelter inside the people’s houses, the sources said, adding initially the Army personnel fired several rounds in air to scare the militants. As troops started laying a cordon in the area by surrounding it from all the four sides, the militants deserted the houses and fled towards higher reached from the village. This way, the sources said, troops succeeded in averting a major tragedy as militants had reportedly planned to strike during the night. Local people of the area appreciated the tactful handling of the situation by the Army personnel which averted casualties on the civilian side. People extended their full co-operation to the Army jawans in tracing the militants. Sources said by the time the militants came out of the house, it had started getting dark making it difficult for the Army personnel to chase the militants in the upper reaches. Troops were camping in the area and were expected to launch a full fledged operation in the area in the wee hours of this morning to eliminate the absconding militants. . Girl recovered from PYC activists room Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Nov 30: Nehru Park Police this evening conducted a raid on Hotel Sunshine Alley at Boulevard and recovered an unmarried girl from the room of Pradesh Youth Congress(I) activist. Informed sources said that at 2100 hours police party led by Sub Inspector Nisar Ahmed raided Room No. 107 at "Sunshine Alley" which has been allotted by Security Wing to a Pulwama-based Youth Congress(I) 'block president' namely Mohd Iqbal Lone. Lone offered no resistance as police lifted the young girl and began search for the politician's domestic help who was later lifted from a terrace. Sunshine Alley is one among a number of hotel complexes hired by Security Wing for the purpose of accommodating mainstream political activists. Local newspapers have been publishing stories about the alleged sex-ploitation by some politicians and defeated candidates who have also been extorting money from gullible young men and women with the promise of fetching them Government jobs. According to the allegations, when the victims demand the money back after realising that they had erred, they are allegedly being harrassed by the armed PSOs of the politicians at the instance of their 'VIPs.' Instances of sexual exploitation have surfaced in the past at a number of Security Wing's hotels but police have always restricted their action to simply conducting the raids, detaining the guilty for a day or two and then releasing them without any explanation. Goa Chief Minister inducts 12 Cabinet ministers PANAJI, Nov 30: Goa Chief Minister Luiznho Faleiro today expanded his Cabinet by inducting twelve Ministers, including two Independents, all of Cabinet rank. The five-day-old Congress Government won the vote of confidence at a specially called session of the Goa Assembly earlier in the day. With the induction of the twelve ministers, the strength of the Cabinet has risen to 14. Among the party legislators inducted today are ailing Deu Mandrekar, the Deputy Speaker and a Scheduled Caste representative from Dhargal reserve constituency in North Goa. The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Governor, Lt-Gen (retd) J F R Jacob and the warrant of appointment read out by Chief Secretary S R Sharma. The twelve ministers took oath in four different languages —Konkani Marathi, Hindi and English. The swearing-in ceremony held on the lawns of the Raj Bhavan was attended among others by party leaders and workers besides former Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane, Pradesh Congress president Shantaram Naik and Govindrao Adik, emissary of the Congress party. The Ministers who took oath today are Mr Subhash Shirodkar, Mr Somnath Zuarkar, Mr Dominic Fernandes, Mr Sanjay Bandekar, Mr Deu Mandrekar, Mr Luis Alex Cardozo, Mr Pandu Vassu Naik, Dr Wifred Mesqita, Mr Joquim Alemao, Mrs Sangeeta Parab and two independents, Mrs Victoria Fernandes and Mr John Manual Vaz. The entire opposition, including the Rajiv Congress, the Maharastrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and an independent — a total of 19 in the House of 40 boycotted the ceremony. (UNI) . BHUJ (GUJARAT), Nov 30:A Pakistani spy who masterminded the escape of five fellow prisoners from the high-security Joint Interrogation Centre here earlier this year, has been apprehended by the Border Security Force. Amba Hira Koli, a resident of Mirpur district in Pakistan’s Sindh province, was caught by the BSF personnel near Nir Vandh outpost in the district bordering Pakistan, official sources said today. Koli was trying to sneak across the border and was carrying Rs 600 in Pakistani currency. He could have made one or two trips to Pakistan after his escape from the JIC, the sources said. He had been instrumental in arranging his escape alongwith that of five accomplices from the JIC on August 31 night. Police and security forces have so far been unable to trace the other five. Security around the JIC where Koli has again been lodged has been tightened. Koli originally hails from
Banas-kantha district of Gujarat and later settled in
Zulo village of Mirpur district in Sindh, Pakistan. (UNI) NEW DELHI, Nov 30 : Shiela Dikshit will be the new Chief Minister of Delhi. Dikshit was nominated by Congress presi-dent Sonia Gandhi today to head the Legislature Party in Delhi Assembly, AICC observer Arjun Singh told reporters. Singh said the decision was taken in light of the resolution of Congress Legislature Party, which met earlier in the day, authorising Sonia Gandhi to choose their leader. Shiela Dikshit has all the quali-fications to serve the people of Delhi in an efficient manner, he said. Asked if there was division among the newly elected members on the leadership issue, he said there was no other contender for the post and all the members were happy about the choice. (PTI) |