‘Lt
Gen Musa’ among fatalities Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Dec 25: Continuing anti-militancy operations, the newly inducted Army division today achieved more successes in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri by eliminating four more dreaded foreign mercenaries and capturing alive another. A huge quantity of weaponry was recovered in the two encounters. An Army Subedar also lost his life fighting bravely with the militants. A Defence spokesman said two militants were eliminated by Army jawans at Mahalla Lamberi in Nowshera sector in Rajouri district while two others were liquidated at Dafaili in Surankote area of Poonch. Meanwhile, of three militants eliminated yesterday by Army in Surankote one of them has been identified as dreaded militant ‘Lt General Musa’ of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit. The spokesman said troops and police surrounded a house in village Mahalla Lamberi in Nowshera sector at 0900 hours where militants had taken shelter. Militants fired heavily on the approaching joint team of Army and police, who fired back. A fierce gun-battle continued for an hour in which Army personnel gunned down two hardcore militants and captured another alive in injured condition. The fourth militant managed to escape during the exchange of firing. Army Subedar Om Parkash, who fought bravely in the encounter and eliminated the militants, also died in the encounter. His body has been shifted to an Army camp. The slain militants were identified as Abu Zaheer and Abu Sariya while the captured militant was Abu Jeera alias Saleem, all Pakistanis. The militants’ hideout was smashed. Army recovered three AK-56 rifles, nine magazines, six grenades, one pistol, one wireless set, one binocular and Rs 6350 in Indian currency from the possession of slain and captured militants. Identity of the slain militants couldn’t be established immediately but both of them were suspected to be foreign mercenaries. Troops were hunting the absconding militants in the forest areas but he remained untraced till late tonight. Meanwhile, another successful operation was carried out by the militants at village Dafaili in Surankote area of Poonch district in which troops gunned down two dreaded foreign mercenaries. The spokesman said the encounter ensued in the early hours of this morning when troops raided a militants’ hideout in the forest areas of Dafaili. In the fierce gun-battle which followed and lasted two hours, Army eliminated two dreaded militants while their associates fled deep in the forest areas. A huge quantity of weaponry was recovered by the militants from the hideout. The seizure include assault rifles, mousers, magazines, grenades, wireless sets and explosive material. Exact details of the seizure were being worked out. The operation was going on and jawans were hunting the absconding militants in the forest areas. No further success had been reported till late tonight. Meanwhile, the spokesman said ‘Lt Gen Musa’ was among three militants who were killed yesterday by the Army at Sangla area in Surankote. ‘Lt Gen Musa’, a hardcore Pakistani was operating as ‘sector commander’ of Hizbul Mujahideen group. Two other militants killed in the encounter were also foreigners. He said the newly inducted division of Army has eliminated majority of top brass of militants in Surankote including hardcore militants Major Gul and Dinga Khan, who had let loose a reign of terror in the area. |
||
Fog
paralyses normal life JAMMU, Dec 25: Thick fog paralysed normal life in the entire Jammu region today and badly disrupting air, train and road traffic. However, the enthusiasm of Christmas celebrations couldn’t be affected by the fog. People were forced to stay indoors as cold wave swept through the entire region. The cold wave was intense in the upper reaches of the region. Jammu remained cut off by air from New Delhi today. According to Airport sources, no flight arrived today from the Union capital. The poor visibility at Jammu and New Delhi Airports forced cancellation of the flights, they said. Passengers with confirmed tickets for New Delhi and Srinagar kept on waiting at Jammu Airport till late this afternoon till authorities announced cancellation of the flights. All incoming and outgoing trains to and fro Jammu Railway Station were also running behind schedule. Majority of trains were running with delay ranging between two to 10 hours, Railways sources said. Thick fog in the entire Northern region which reduced visibility to negligible during the night was the main reason behind delay in the trains arrival, the sources said, adding the situation was worse in Punjab where trains had to be halted during night hours. The Shalimar Express reached here with a delay of over seven hours while Sealdah Express reached here this morning with a delay of over four hours. Jammu Mail arrived five hours beyond schedule and Madras Janata reached five hours late. The departure of all trains from Jammu Railway Station was also badly affected due to delayed arrival of trains. The Super Fast scheduled to leave Jammu Station at 1100 hours departed at 1425 hours while Jammu Mail departed with a delay of two hours. Sources said all outgoing night trains will also leave with delay of several hours. A large number of passengers remained stranded at Railway Station here due to delay in departure of trains. Sources said the similar situation was expected to continue till the blanket of thick fog was over. The vehicular movement on Jammu-Pathankot, Jammu-Srinagar and Jammu-Kishtwar National Highways was also hit by the fog. In the morning and evening hours, the vehicular movement either remained suspended or plied at snail’s pace. The inter-state and inter-district buses were also running late. The night services were the worse hit by the fog as visibility remained virtually negligible during the night hours. Normal life in Jammu City and other areas was paralysed by fog and cold wave forcing the people to sit indoors. Vehicles in the City plied with head-lights on even during the day time. The day’s temperature declined to 11.4 degree celsius as against 14.5 degree celsius recorded yesterday. Reports said intense cold wave gripped the higher reaches of Doda, Udhampur, Rajouri and Poonch. Life was also hit in place and hilly areas of Kathua district. PSU employees hold
demonstration JAMMU, Dec 25; Though there was no impact of employees strike today due to Christmas holiday, yet the work in Government Medical College Hospital (GMC) and its associated hospitals remained paralysed for the seventh day today. As the Safai Karamcharis and paramedical staff have already joined the strike the pathetic conditions continued to prevail in all the city hospitals with more and more patients deserting them. The rush of patients in private hospitals and nursing homes has also increased manifold due to the strike of para medical, nursing staff and safai karamcharis. This Correspondent who made round of all City hospitals today saw patients leaving along with their bag and luggage from both SMGS and GMC Hospitals without even seeking a discharge certificate from the doctors. The heaps of garbage and filth lying in the corridors, wards and stairs has created hellish condition in the Hospital and there is every apprehension that our newly born baby will fall a prey to serious infection said one Yog Raj Singh of Smailpur who was taking his sister-in-law from the Postnatal Ward of SMGS Hospital. He said the situation is totally grave here and at whose mercy we will leave the patients. The garbage and other infectious matter lying scattered in the wards here will harm us all instead of doing any good to the patient. He said over a dozen patients have left the hospital since yesterday due to prevailing unhygienic conditions. Showing the same concern another attendant Mr Rishpal Sharma of Chowki Chouran said that he is totally concerned for the welfare of his wife and child who delivered a baby one day back after undergoing the major operation. He said I have no money to shift her to the private nursing home and the conditions prevailing here are also so pathatic that one can not pass even a minute in the stinking wards here. Same conditions prevail in the GMC and Chest Disease hospitals. In some wards of GMC Hospital the attendants are cleaning the floor themselves. However, some safaiwalas and nurses who showed their full solidarity with the Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) which is spearheading the present agitation said that they will continue to boycott the work till the demands are met. Meanwhile, the General House of EJAC met here in the morning today to review situation. The meeting while reiterating its resolve to continue strike took Government to task for its rigid stand on what they called employees genuine demands. The meeting while regretting the inconvenience caused to general pubic due to the strike blamed the Government for the present situation. EJAC leaders warned the Government to desist from confrontationist approach and hold meaningful dialogue with the employees to end present impasse. The public sector employees who are on indefinite strike since December 21 continued their protest today also.The workers of the silk factories took out a procession here from Silk Factory Resham Garh to Shalimar Chowk in support of their demands. They shouted slogans against the Government and demanded immediate release of COLA from January last year. The protestants were led by Mr Karan Singh and Nar Singh. To show solidarity with their striking counterparts the Himachal, Punjab and Haryana Roadways buses plying on J&K route did not board any passenger today and returned empty. This was stated in a PSEJAC handout issued here today. Mr Suresh Sharma, chairman PSEJAC and senior leader Mr Swarna Singh have blamed Government for forcing workers to become violent. He said that it was due to the rigid and confrontationist stand of the Government that ‘hapless’ PSU employees were forced to come on roads. Meanwhile various organisations have extended their full support to struggle launched by the State Government and Public Sector Employees. Extending its full support to PSU employees ongoing strike the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) State Committee in a meeting today criticised the State and Central Government policies towards public sector. The meeting which was held under the chairmanship of Mr Mohammad Maqbool its State president urged the Government to solve all the genuine demands of the employees immediately. Jammu and Kashmir Trade Union Congress in a meeting here today held under the chairmanship of Mr Sewa Ram Sharma its president has sought the intervention of all legislatures and MPs for settling the genuine demands of Public Sector Employees. Mr Subash Shastri, president National Mazdoor Conference has urged the Government to take the cognisance of ongoing employee strike and hold meaningful negotiations with their leaders. Mr Shastri has also submitted a memorandum to Government in which the demands were highlighted. Bahujan Employees Federation in its meeting today expressed concern over the prolonged strike of State Government and Public Sector Employees. The Federation while criticising the attitude of the Government demanded that the demands of employees be conceded immediately. The work remained also paralysed in all the district and subdistrict hospitals of Jammu Province today in response to employees strike call an EJAC handout claimed. The PHE Welfare Association Udhampur in a statement while extending its full support to EJAC strike call said the employees will continue strike till the demands are met. The Association leaders Messrs Gopal Bakshi, Vipan Dubey, Sudesh Kumar and Sat Paul have appealed the employees to maintain unity among their rank and file to take the present struggle to a logical conclusion. Meanwhile the State Centre Labour Union (SCLU) while terming the demands of the public sector employees genuine, however, criticised the tough attitude taken by some persons by giving an indefinite strike call. The SCLU Working Committee which met here today under the chairmanship of Mr Masood Andrabi its state president said none of its affiliated wings has participated in present strike. The meeting said the Government headed by Dr Farooq Abdullah is aworse to problems of the public sector employees but due to the prevailing financial crunch it could not fulfill its commitment regarding release of DA and COLA installments. The meeting said despite the crisis being faced by the state the Chief Minister implemented the Fifth Pay Commission report in the state with a view to ameliorate the lot of the working class. Philosophic PM terms premiership as night halt NEW DELHI, Dec 25: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today described the high office he held as a temporary night halt and said he valued love and affection of the people above everything else. Addressing a ‘Swabhiman March’ at his residence organised on the occasion of his 75th birthday, the poet Prime Minister, who seemed to be in a philosophical mood, said his effort was to light a lamp and remove darkness during the temporary night halt. Reciting one of his favourite poems Aao Phir Se Diya Jalaye (come let us light the lamp again), Vajpayee regretted that some people mistook a temporary halt (Padav) for the destination (Manzil). Stating that the nuclear tests were carried out as a deterrent against any foreign aggression on the country’s sovereignty and not as a weapon of offence, the Prime Minister said it was equally important to ensure internal security, food, clothing, shelter, education and primary medicare for all. Earlier, Vajpayee released a dove and accepted bouquets and greeting cards from tiny-tots, who marched down from Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate, shouting slogans such as long live the Prime Minister. Two children dressed as ‘Santa Claus’, presentation of a kite with ‘India’ written on it by two Muslim boys and playing of patriotic numbers by school bands drew loud cheers from one and all. Former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma, cricketer turned BJP leader Kirti Azad and Delhi MP Vijay Goel, who organised the march, were present on the occasion. Dressed in cream colour silk kurta and dhoti and sporting a ‘tilak’(vermillon) on his forehead, Vajpayee looked cheerful but tired as he exchanged greetings with the people. Men, women and children thronged the 7, Race Course road residence of Vajpayee with bouquets, sweets and gifts since early morning much to the harassment of security personnel. Many people had to return disappointed as officials manning the reception turned them away. I have been waiting to meet the Prime Minister for the last four hours, but these people are not allowing me in as I do not have a pre-appointment, a visibly annoyed Bula Devi said. The historic and muslim majority Chandni Chowk was turned into a floral city to mark Vajpayee’s birthday. Cultural pageants including gaily decorated horses, camels and elephants enthralled thousands on the road from Chandni Chowk to Town Hall. Delhi Lt Governor Vijai Kapoor and Mayor Y D Ahuja were present on the occasion. (PTI) 4 security pickets
set up Excelsior Correspondent REASI, Dec 25: A large number of migrants from higher reaches of Reasi including Narkote, Prankote and Dhakki Kote have returned to the native villages from Reasi and adjoining areas where they had been putting up after 29 civilians’ massacre at Dhakki Kote early this year. Only those families, whose houses had been torched by the militants after their migration, were still living at Reasi, Salal, Talwara and adjoining areas, official sources said. The migrants returned following an assurance given by the Reasi administration that elaborate security arrangements have been made for their protection from any possible attack by the militants. The administration was also trying to ensure the return of left out migrants by providing them financial assistance to re-construct their houses, gutted or damaged in militancy-related incidents. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Reasi Mr Rohit Kansal, when contacted, said four additional security pickets have been set up in the higher reaches of Reasi. Of them two pickets were set-up by the Indian Reserve Police (IRP) and one each by the Border Security Force (BSF) and Special Task Force (STF). Mr Kansal accompanied by 105 BSF battalion Assistant Commander Mr U S Mehta and BMO Pouni Dr T S Charak visited higher reaches, trekking 40 km distance on foot, to review the security arrangements for the migrants. The villagers expressed satisfaction with the security arrangements but complained lack of medicare facilities and educational institutions, which have been torched by the militants. Mr Kansal said he has written to Deputy Commissioner Udhampur for providing financial aid to people to re-construct damaged houses and educational institutions. Mr Kansal said that administration also organised a free medical camp at Chakalwala village where hundreds of patients were examined free of cost. Drugs worth Rs 7000 were also distributed free to the patients. Katra lock-up escapee
again dodges police KATRA, Dec 25: One of the two accused in Katra lock-up break case again managed to give a slip to the police near Chopra Shop in Udhampur town yesterday. He was nearly caught but due for the delay in action by police personnel on duty, a police officer said. He said the accused identified as Gulzar Ahmed son of Sattar Ahmed, a notorious thief and a resident of Sudh Mahadev in Udhampur, was sighted by a police party at Chopra Shop in Udhampur town last evening. The police party belonging to Katra police station which was chasing the accused alerted itself and followed the escapee. However, Gulzar Ahmed who had reportedly noted the presence of police personnel following boarded a mini-bus. As the area was busy, the policemen misunderstood that thief has boarded a nearby parked bus and started following the bus. When the cops intercepted the bus, they realised that escapee has managed to dodge them and fled in the mini-bus. By the time, the policemen reached to the mini-bus, the thief had boarded off and fled towards a rural area, the police said, adding the police personnel started house to house searches in a number of surrounding villages but couldn’t get Gulzar Ahmed. Police said they have reports that both the escapees—Gulzar Ahmed and Rakesh Kumar of Sailan Talab, Udhampur were hiding within the Udhampur district but were regularly changing their hideout. A number of police teams have been deputed to different areas to capture them, police said and added that they were hopeful of re-arresting both the accused shortly. It may be recalled that Gulzar Ahmed, a thief and Rakesh Kumar, a rapist had escaped from the custody of Katra police station on the intervening night of December 15 and 16 by breaking the lock-up with a sharp-edged weapon. . VATICAN CITY, Dec 25: Pope John Paul today called for a ban on the death penalty around the world and said that senseless violence and abuse of human dignity had blurred the joy of the Christmas season for many people. The Pope’s specific appeal in his Urbi Et Orbi (to the city and the world) Christmas message for the abolishment of capital punishment was significant because it came a month before a trip to the United States, where the death penalty is practiced regularly. The 78-year-old Pope also voiced concern about the tormented situation in the middle East and denounced those responsible for war crimes and genocide. He then wished the world a happy Christmas in 58 languages, including Hebrew, Arabic, Albanian and other tongues spoken in some of the world’s trouble spots. Leading this one-billion-member Church in the 21st Christmas season of his historic pontificate, the Roman Catholic leader said the serenity expressed in Christmas Carols was in strident contrast with the world’s many problems. Addressing a crowd of tens of thousands of people from the Central Balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, he spoke of tragic situations, which often involve human guilt and even malice, soaked in fratricidal hate and senseless violence. (REUTERS) NEW DELHI, Dec 25:A clear sky over the capital today not only brought the much-needed respite to Delhiites confined to indoors over the last week but also provided relief to thousands of stranded air and rail passengers. The fog-free Christmas morning was a welcome change for the metro’s denizens who had to drive to and from their offices during last week in near zero visibility conditions. Several airlines were able to clear some of the backlog following improvement in the weather. Even most of the trains left for their destinations on schedule. Flight movement was normal since morning with improvement in the weather and visibility although the chain reaction of past week’s changes and delays would continue for a day or two, airport sources said, adding the crowd is still slightly more than normal. Indian Airlines too operated four flights in a span of half an hour each from Mumbai to clear Delhi-bound passengers. However, authorities kept their fingers crossed on resumption of normal traffic with the Met office forecasting a mist or fog tomorrow with the fall in the night temperature. The capital recorded a maximum temperature of 17.2 degrees celsius and minimum of 8.4 degrees. (PTI) SGPC appeals to Akal Takht to intervene in Akali feud AMRITSAR, Dec 25:The Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), whose president G S Tohra is embroiled in a feud with Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, today appealed to Akal Takht, the supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs, to intervene immediately in the stand off between the two Akali Dal leaders and resolve the differences. The SGPC appeal comes a day after Badal, in a toughening of his stand, declared yesterday that Akali Dal was supreme while the SGPC was an integral part. Tohra, meanwhile, declined comment on Badal’s assertion saying that he would prefer to remain silent. In a press release issued here, the SGPC termed the dispute between the two leaders as most unfortunate, and appealed to Jathedar of Akal Takht Bhai Ranjit Singh to intervene immediately in order to hammer out the differences and remove the misunderstanding between the two Akali leaders. The SGPC expressed its serious concern over the infighting in the Akali Dal as it came at a time when the Sikhs all over the world are preparing themselves to participate in the tercentenary celebrations of Khalsa. The SGPC recalled that a large number of Sikh organisations, institutions and prominent Sikh personalities the world over had already urged the Jathedar to intervene in the dispute to iron out the differences in the interest of Sikh Panth. Meanwhile, Tohra told reporters near Moga that he would not like to comment on Badal’s statement that Akali Dal was supreme while SGPC was an integral part. He confirmed having received the showcause notice issued to him by Akali Dal Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC) for his allegedly anti-Badal statements and said he would reply to it at the appropriate time. Senior Akali Dal leader and Finance Minister told reporters that Tohra and Badal would share the platform at the Jor Mela conference at Fatehgarh Sahib tomorrow being held to mark the martyrdom of the two sons of Guru Gobind Singh. (PTI) Sena Govt trying to implicate me, says Pawar PUNE, Dec 25: The leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sharad Pawar today said the Shiv Sena-BJP Government was trying to implicate him "deliberately" in the Dani Commission report. Pawar told newspersons here though he was absolved of all the charges, the State Government was trying its best to implicate him one way or the other. "It was surprising that while the Government did not think twice in outright rejecting the Srikrishna Commission report which indicted the Sena chief Bal Thackeray and Chief Minister Manohar Joshi, the Government was trying to pick on me even though I have been cleared by Dani Commission", he said. The Dani Commission report which investigated the death of over 100 Gowari tribals following a stampede in Nagpur on November 2, 1994 is slated to be tabled in the current session of the State Assembly in Nagpur. The report is believed to have absolved the then Chief Minister Sharad Pawar and other members of the cabinet of any responsibility for the tribals death. (PTI) Militant killed in
Kupwara, surrenderee in Anantnag SRINAGAR, Dec. 25: While as the 36-hour-long encounter between militants and security forces ended up with the death of one civilian and two members of the "Gulshan Group" of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen at Goso village in Pulwama district, at least three young children sustained injuries when they took home an unexploded shell which went off at the nearby Ashmendar hamlet. In other militancy-related incidents across Kashmir valley since last evening, one militant got killed in an encounter in Kuhwara and body of a surrendered militant of Hizb-ul- Mujahideen was recovered in Dooru area of Anantnag district while as a pro-India Ikhwan member was attacked at Nayidkhai in Sumbal area. Meanwhile, security forces have launched a massive search operation to trace the dead bodies of two top commanders of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, who according to the official circles have got killed on Monday last, in Safapora locality of north Kashmir. Official sources told EXCELSIOR that in all two militants of the "Gulshan Group" of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, including a Pakistani national, got killed in the 36-hour-long operation of security forces at Goso in Pulwama district. Searches continued till forenoon today. As already reported, a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant, namely Showkat Ahmed Bhat alias Basharat of Konzpora as also a driver plying a tipper - - who was later identified as Mohammad Amin Allai -- had got killed in exchange of fire till last evening. Later, at 2230 hours, troops of 13-Punjab gunned down another militant who was identified as none other than the renowned Javed Bhai -- a Pakistani national and close associate of the Hizb "battalion commander" Gulshan. He was known for his subversive activity in Chrar-e-Shareef--Pulwama belt for the last two years. During the fierce encounter at Goso, an Army jawan Daljit Singh as also a counter-insurgent SPO, namely Fayaz Ahmed Rather, sustained injuries. They were both rushed to two Srinagar hospitals for medical treatment. Mohammad Akbar Lone's house -- wherefrom the militants operated -- as also the residential houses of Ghulam Mohammad Dar and Ghulam Nabi Dar suffered extensive damage. Three suspected militants, namely Farooq Dar, Ghulam Mohammad Dar and Mohammad Yusuf Magray, were picked up for sustained interrogation. Two AK-56 rifles as also a quantity of accessories and ammunition was also recovered from the site of operation. This afternoon, when the search operation was called called off, a group of children from the nearby Ashmendar village appeared at the spot and returned to home with some unexploded shells. One of the same exploded at Ashmendar causing splinter injuries to three young children. They were all rushed to hospital for treatment.
Reports available from Anantnag said that the dead body of a surrendered militant of Hizbul Mujahideen was recovered today at Panzwa village near Dooru in south Kashmir. The slain individual, who had earlier been kidnapped from his house, was identified as Ghulam Nabi Bhat son of Abdul Khaliq Bhat, resident of Baaghwanpora, Verinag. As usual, unidentified gunmen were stated to be his killers. Reports from Kupwara said that security forces eliminated a pro-Pakistan militant at Goi-Tengo in Kupwara district during the course of a search operation last night. Two of his associates managed to escape, official sources added. One AK-56 rifle was recovered from the site of operaton. At Nayidkhai near Sumbal, unidentifed gunmen today fired several shots on the counter-insurgent Ikhwan member Abdul Ahad Lone son of Ghulam Nabi Lone. He sus-tained critical injuries and was rushed to hospital for medical treatment. Later, this evening, he was battling for life at SMHS hospital. Militants hurled a hand grenade at BSF picket at Bohrikadal in the capital city interior which missed the intended target and exploded on road. Sources said that two paramilitary jawans as also a woman, namely Hajira, sustained injuries. Yet another grenade was thrown by militants towards a CRPF bunker near General Bus Stand of Anantnag which too missed the intended target and exploded in a surface drain. Meanwhile, troops from Rashtriya Rifles and SOG Ganderbal have launched a massive search operation to trace the dead body of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen chief Shahbaz Khan alias Qaharman alias Ustaad Jihaadi. Shahbaz, according to IGP Kashmir PG Gill, had got killed alongwith yet another unidentified foreigner, during the course of an operation at Safapora on Monday last. He, according to senior Government officials, was the "chief commander" of his outfit as also the "architect of Wandhama massacre". With Shahbaz Khan's death, as many as 17 of the 18-member group of foreigners have been killed. Reports from Bandipora, Gand-erbal and Sumbal said that security forces were busy in conducting the house-to-house searches in several Safapora hamlets. People were being quizzed about the tomb in which Shahbaz Khan and his fellow Pakistani commander had been buried. A number of civilians have been interrogated who have all expressed their ignorance with regard to the burial spot of the Harkat chief. Reports said that troops dug up several spots but failed to get any clue. Meanwhile, a Police hand-out today identified the two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, killed in a search operation of Army and SOG Bandipora, at Aloosa forest area as Nooran Shah alias Janbaz son of Ghulam Hassan resident of Kachhan and Mohammad Hussain Khan alias Shamshad Khan son of Lal Khan, resident of Kadoora. While as the former was described as HM's "launching chief" and arms supplier to north Kashmir, the latter was stated to be the outfit's "battalion commander". A large quantity of arms and ammunition, including 5 AK-56 rifles, one Pika Gun, two Sniper rifles, one rocket launcher, 25 mortar bombs, 30 grenades, two binoculars, 29 IEDs with remote control and 32 electric detonators have been recovered from the two slain militants. As already reported, the two Hizb functionaries had been apprehended by security forces and SOG Bandipora. Both of them according to official circles, had got killed on Thursday when they hurled two grenades towards the security forces and made an abortive attempt to escape. RSS, BJP separate organisations, says Thakre NEW DELHI, Dec 25: BJP president Kushabhau Thakre today sought to underplay the criticism of Vajpayee Government’s economic policy and said it was not necessary that both should have similar views on all policy matters. BJP is not a part of RSS nor is RSS a part of BJP and minor differences in approach were due to their stands as two separate organisations...But this hardly matters, he told a private TV channel. Regarding RSS criticism of BJP’s economic policy at its brain-storming session at Nagpur, he said the issue figured only briefly during discussions over the situation prevailing in the country. RSS never believed that Government alone could bring about a change in the society and, therefore, its reference to politics was only brief, he said. Thakre said BJP members’ reservations on the Insurance Regulatory Bill and Patents Bill was due to communication gap. He said that some mechanism should be evolved to ensure better coordination between the party and the Government. (PTI) Army Chief visits border areas of Arunachal GUWAHATI, Dec 25:The Chief of the Army Staff Gen V P Malik today visited Taang and border areas of Arunachal Pradesh. He also went to difficult forward area base in high altitudes to meet and interact with the troops. Later, he visited the Dinjan base near Dibrugarh where he was briefed by Divisional Commander Major General Ashok Chaki. (UNI) I&B, CBFC lock horns
over 'Fire' NEW DELHI Dec 25: Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting (I&B), Mr Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, has triggered a bitter controversy, resulting in the emergence of serious differences between the Government and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). In fact, as the war of attrition between Mr Naqvi and the CBFC chairperson, Ms Asha Parekh, took a different turn with the latter’s threat to resign , the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, had a quiet meeting with top functionaries of the I&B Ministry as part of his plan to resolve the "dispute" over the controversial film, Fire. Mr Vajpayee’s intervention was studied in the context of the fact that the veteran actress, Ms Asha Parekh, was appointed the CBFC chairperson by the current BJP-led coalition Government at the Centre. According to sources in the PMO(Prime Minister’s Office), Mr Vajpayee as well as some of his Ministerial colleagues, including Mr LK Advani, Mr Jagmohan and Mr Pramod Mahajan (all patriots of the Sangh Parivar), felt embarrassed with the Shiv Sena describing the veteran actor, Dilip Kumar, as a "Pakistani". And before the conclusion of the winter session of Parliament, the Vajpayee Government had to witness stormy scenes following the description of Dilip Kumar, thespian of Indian cinema, as a "Pakistani" and the Shiv Sena demonstration in front of his residence in Mumbai. Quite embarrassing for the BJP-led coalition Government was the Supreme Court’s notices to the Union and Maharashtra Governments, the Shiv Sena and others seeking details of the probe into violent protests by alleged Sena activists against screening of film, Fire, both in Mumbai and Delhi as pointed out by a petition. This resulted in commotion in both Houses of Parliament, forcing Mr LK Advani to make a statement in the Lok Sabha on December 15, when he let it be known that the Supreme Court’s direction for providing adequate security and protection to Dilip Kumar, Fire director, Ms Deepa Mehta and other respondents was being complied with. The Shiv Sena MP, Mr Sanjay Nirupam, who had accused the thespian of being a Pakistani, provoked Dilip Kumar to place himself on record in the course of a media interview: "Yes, I was born in Pakistan, in the city of Peshawar. This is not a secret, it doesn’t need to be. The man calling me a Pakistani is portraying himself as a fool". Two days before Ms Asha Parekh threatened to quit the CBFC, the BJP leader and former I&B Minister, Ms Sushma Swaraj, had a tough time while convincing people and politicians that the controversial film, Fire, was not cleared by the Censor Board at her behest. In fact, she was forced to talk to the Shiv Sena supremo, Mr Bal Thackeray, only to convince him that he had been misled on this matter. Mr Thackeray had claimed that the Deepa Mehta film was cleared in a hurry by the Censor Board at the behest of Ms Sushma Swaraj, a close friend of actress Shabana Azmi. Shabana Azmi plays the lead role in the film. Even as Mr Advani, at the same time, said that films which deal with subjects like lesbianism should not be made in India, he had political compulsions as he condemned the violence (in theatres showing the film) . "I may not like the film, but vandalism and indecency have no place in democracy", Mr Advani told the Lok Sabha and asked : "How can they protest on the street wearing just a kachha (underwear) ?" Mr Advani was forced to berate Shiv Sainiks who had vandalised theatres in Mumbai and Delhi showing Fire and later demonstrated outside Dilip Kumar’s residence wearing only underwear. On the other hand, Prime Minister was compelled to authorise his Ministerial colleague, Mr Pramod Mahajan, to handle the situation arising from the bitter rift between the CBFC chairperson and the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting. And hardly had Mr Pramod Mahajan decided to get into touch with Ms Asha Parekh when his junior Ministerial colleague, Mr Naqvi, declared that if action was to be taken under the laws and rules of the country in reaction to certain public complaints, then he was duty bound to do so. Obviously, Mr Naqvi was provoked to make use of such an expression after Ms Asha Parekh alleged that he tried to unduly interfere in the affairs of the Censor Board. Whatever the attitude adopted by Mr Naqvi and Ms Asha Parekh towards each other, there is no denying that the film, Fire, would have died a natural death had some organisations, particularly Shiv Sena, not vandalised cinema houses in Delhi and Mumbai which were screening the film. Shiv Sainiks’ protest made the film controversial. And since controversy sells, the film has become , much against the wishes of hardliners within the Sangh Parivar, a box office hit. The picture portrays a lesbian relationship between two women. Of course, the theme is alien to Indian culture as most Indians are unused to public expression of their sexual preferences. However, loud protests against the film would only serve as free publicity for the film. According to insiders, even as the Minister of State for I&B has, for obvious strategic reasons, chosen to justify protests against the Deepa Mehta film, he has just been directed by his senior Ministerial colleague, Mr Pramod Mahajan, to avoid making his contribution to the ongoing controversy over the controversial film. Significantly, however, Mr Naqvi, who has of late been found somewhat publicity hungry, triggered yet another controversy over the emotive issue of the usage of Vande Mataram and Saraswati Vandana. Muslim clergy’s fatwa against the usage of these two songs notwithstanding, Mr Naqvi had his own fatwa on the matter: "Saraswati Vandana and Vande Mataram are not religious songs, but are national songs. Opposition to these songs is condemnable". Insiders are of the view that Mr Naqvi had not consulted his Prime Minister before he made public his vehement opposition to those who opposed the usage of the national songs, Vande Mataram and Saraswati Vandana. Mr Naqvi’s opposition
to the Muslim clergy’s fatwa against the usage of
these two songs,particularly in educational institutions,
surfaced at a time when a section of the BJP leadership
had advocated the need for "appropriate"
measures to woo Muslims in the context of the
party’s humiliating defeat in the recent Assembly
elections in Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Mr
Naqvi’s fatwa against the Muslim clergy’s fatwa
on the two emotive songs, competent political analysts
point out, is bound to further antagonise Muslim
electorate in parts of the country. |