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civilians kidnapped Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 6: Rashtriya Rifles and Special Task Force (STF) jawans gunned down five hardcore militants in three separate encounters at village Batola in Gandoh, Beholi and Banihal in Doda district today. Meanwhile, militants kidnapped three civilians from village Taranwali in Loran Mandi area of Poonch district last night. One of the hostage managed to escape from the captivity today while whereabouts of two others remained uncertain. A Defence spokesman said two hardcore militants—one of them an activist of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit and other a Pakistani— were killed in a fierce encounter with the jawans of 17 Rashtriya Rifles at village Batola in Gandoh area of Doda district this morning. The encounter ensued during a search operation launched by the jawans of Rashtriya Rifles on the basis of a specific information that three top militants had been hiding at Batola with a view to strike in the civilian areas. Despite difficult terrain, troops sealed the area from all directions and challenged the militants, who opened firing. Troops retaliated and gunned down two militants on the spot during two hour long encounter. One of their associate managed to escape from the spot taking advantage of thick forest area. Troops recovered dead bodies of both the slain militants and handed them over to police. One of the slain militant has been identified as Maqsood Ahmed, an activist of Hizbul Mujahi-deen outfit while identity of his associate couldn’t be carried out immediately. He was suspected to be a Pakistani national. Troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, one 303 rifle and a large quantity of ammunition and explosives from the scene of encounter. There was no casualty on Army side during the encounter. Army jawans continued search operations to apprehend the absconding militant. Another militant was gunned down by the jawans of 10 Rashtriya Rifles at village Beholi in Doda area this morning. The spokesman said the militant was shot dead when he tried to escape during a search operation launched in the village by Army jawans. He has been identified as Ghulam Hussain. One pistol, two grenades and 10 rounds were recovered from his possession. Dead body of the militant has been handed over to local police, the spokesman said. The Special Task Force (STF) and 12 Rashtriya Rifles also carried out a search operation in Chushal area of Banihal tehsil in Doda district late this evening. During combing, militants attacked the STF jawans, who retaliated. A police spokesman said STF and RR sleuths gunned down two militants and recovered two AK-47 rifles, four hand grenades and one wireless set. Identity of the slain militant hasn’t been established so far. But they were code named as Rashik and Doctor. Two militants surrendered before Commandant 4 Sector Brig S C Sharma at Banihal today. They were identified as Feroz Din and Mohd Sharif. They handed over one pistol and two grenades at the time of surrender. Meanwhile, militants kidnapped three civilians from village Taranwali in Loran Mandi area of Poonch district last night. Reports said a group of six unidentified arms militants attacked the village and whisked away three civilians to an unknown place. They were identified as Ghulam Mohd son of Rehman, Mohd Ashraf and Nazir Hussain. However, Nazir Hussain managed to give a slip to the militants while whereabout of two others remained uncertain. Police and Army personnel were carrying out searches to rescue the two hostages. Nazir Hussain was being questioned by security forces and police to ascertain militants’ hideout, the reports said. |
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Both
nations express divergent views NEW DELHI, Nov 6 : India and Pakistan today failed to resolve the impasse over Siachen Glacier with Islamabad rejecting an Indian proposal for a ceasefire at the world’s highest battlefield and instead seeking to internationalise the issue. New Delhi, in turn, outrightly dismissed Islamabad’s suggestion that it could consider the Indian ceasefire proposal only if third party monitoring was accepted. Any intervention or participation by a third party is not acceptable to us. The issue should be resolved bilaterally under the 1972 Simla Agreement, Defence Secretary Ajit Kumar told reporters after three-hour long parleys with Pakistani delegation led by his counterpart Lt Gen (Retd) Iftikhar Ali Khan here. Pakistan insisted that the June 17, 1989 Agreement on redeployment of forces in Siachen be implemented by the two sides which India described was only a Joint press statement and not an accord. New Delhi regretted Islamabad’s adamant posture in not accepting the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) which were aimed at bringing about an amicable solution to end daily heavy artillery and mortar exchanges between the armies stationed at the 18,000 feet high glacier in Jammu and Kashmir. Besides the ceasefire proposal, the other CBMs offered by India were to work out modalities for implementation of the ceasefire in an agreed time-frame, setting up of a bilateral monitoring mechanism including meeting with formation commanders at periodic levels, establishment of a hot-line between divisional commanders and authentication of the existing ground position in the Saltoro Range region beyond cartographic point ‘NJ 9842’ in Siachen. Kumar, heading a 12-member Indian team, asserted that there should be total cessation of hostilities and a ceasefire which would be a major first step towards restoring peace and tranquility in the area. A bland official joint statement issued after the meeting merely said the two sides stated their respective positions on the issue. It was agreed to continue discussions on the issue during the next round of the dialogue process. Significantly, both sides met the Press separately to explain their respective stands with each blaming the other for failure of the present round of talks on Siachen. The Indian side categorically conveyed to the Pakistanis that New Delhi did not recognise the role of the United Nations’ Military Observers’ group in monitoring the Line of Control in light of the Simla Agreement. "It is a difficult and complex situation. It will take time, Pakistan Defence Secretary Lt Gen (retd) Iftikhar Ali Khan told reporters after three parleys here. Asked if any progress had been made on de-escalation of tension in the 18,000-feet high glacier in Jammu and Kashmir where artillery and mortar firing between Indian and Pakistani troops was almost a daily affair, Gen Khan said we are working towards everything. On whether there was convergence of views, he said hopefully this will happen in due course of time. This is the second successive day when the two countries have failed to make any progress on identified outstanding issues. The two countries had failed to achieve any breakthrough on the dispute over the Tulbul Navigation Project in Jammu and Kashmir. To a question if any understanding had been reached to stop heavy artillery exchanges in the 76-kilometer long glacier, Gen Khan said it is a very complicated matter and complex situation. It will take time to resolve it. Before the start of the talks, the 12-member Pakistani defence team called on Defence Minister George Fernandes and had a 40-minute meeting. The joint statement as part of the composite and integrated dialogue process between India and Pakistan on the basis of the agreed agenda of the joint statement of June 23, 1997, discussions were held on Siachen issue. The statement, which was almost a repeat of the one issued yesterday on the Tulbul Navigation Project, said discussions were held in a frank and cordial atmosphere. The parleys were held in the backdrop of about eight futile attempts during the past fortnight by Pakistan to capture Indian Army posts in the glacier flanked by the high mountain ranges of Saltoro and Karakoram. The Siachen issue figured in all major parleys between India and Pakistan since 1986. Specific talks on Siachen were last held in 1992. During the nine-day discussions, the other issues are Sir Creek Maritime Boundary dispute, terrorism and drug trafficking and cultural exchanges between the two nations. Besides Gen Khan, the Pakistani team included High Commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, Director General (military operations) Maj Gen Tanqir Zia, Additional Secretary in Foreign Ministry Tariq Altaf and Additional Secretary in Defence Ministry Maj Gen Jamshed Malik. The Indian side included Director General (military operations) Lt Gen Inder Verma and Joint Secretaries Vivek Katju, A K Jain, R S Jassal, Additional Director General (military operations) Maj Gen J J Singh, Deputy Directors General (military operations) Brig Rakesh Dass and Brig M C Bhandari and Deputy Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Sharat Sabharwal. The Siachen boundary dispute was added to the roster of major issues in Indo-Pak relations for the first time in April 1984 when India moved in to seal a historic access route in remote Jammu and Kashmir South of China following reports that Pakistan was shifting its troops to that area and positioning them. Between January 1986 and June 1989, India and Pakistan held five rounds of talks over the glacier. At the fifth round of talks in Rawalpindi in June 1989, India made a six-point offer while Pakistan made two essential points. However, an agreement on the issue remained elusive even in 1992. A fresh initiative was launched after the meetings between Prime Ministers Atal Behari Vajpayee and Nawaz Sharif at Colombo and New York, following which the composite talks were resumed. (PTI) 2 counter-insurgents
killed in Valley Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Nov 6: While as the Valley today observed a partial bandh in response to a call from the pro-Pakistan militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, unidentified gunmen shot dead two counter-insurgent cadres and torched a couple of residential houses of anti-militancy civilians. Official sources told EXCEL-SIOR that suspected separatist militants gunned down a Kashmiri counter-insurgent namely Bashir Ahmed Bhat son of Abdul Aziz Bhat at Ganiwan, Kunzar, (Tangmarg) last evening. Police confirmed that Bhat had been engaged as an SPO and had helped the security forces in conducting counter-insurgency operations in Tangmarg area. Sources said that the militants also torched the residential houses of the SPO's two brothers namely Wali Mohammad Bhat and Assadullah Bhat. Sources said that suspected separatist militants also shot dead Shabir Ahmed Dar son of Ghulam Qadir Dar, resident of Arabal, Dooru, in south Kashmir at his home late last evening. Associated with a pro-India militant outfit for some time, Dar was also a counter-insurgent helper of security forces in Anantnag district. Meanwhile, residents of Brindal Dooru disputed the claim of Police Headquarters that a young girl of that village namely Parveen had been rescued by police and security forces from the clutches of her militant captors and that the girl had later succumbed to injuries. They clarified that a group of militants had just beaten up the girl at her home. She was neither kidnapped, nor resuced by security forces and nor fired upon by militants. The girl was now in good health condition and the official report about her ‘death’ was totally incorrect. SSP Anantnag Farooq Khan confirmed it all and said that the girl was ‘‘very much at her home’’. Last evening, militants lobbed a hand grenade on a security forces vehicle at Kakasarai in the capital city which failed to explode. It was later remove and defused by experts. Sources said that security forces recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition from Andarnar, Khur-hama, in Kupwara district. The seizures included 1 UMG, 7 remote control devices, 6 IEDs, 2 disposable rocket-launchers, 7 rockets, 18 hand grenades and 3 stick grenades. Security forces also recovered 2 AK rifles, 1 pistol, 22 remote control devices, 17 detonators, 11 kg explosive and a binocular from Padou-das forest area of Kupwara. Partial Bandh in Valley: Several parts of Kashmir valley today observed a shutdown in response to a call from the pro-Pakistan guerrilla outfit Hizbul Mujahideen on occasion of the 51st anniversary of ‘‘mass killing of Muslims’’ in Jammu division. Civil Lines localities in the capital city obliged Hizbul Mujahideen by observing a total shutdown as almost all the shops and commercial establishments remained closed for the day. The bandh had a remarkable impact from Gupkar Road and Sonwar -- residential places of ministers and senior official functionaries -- to Batmaloo and Rambagh where even the Nawai Subh commercial complex of the ruling National Conference and the business establishments of ministers were seen closed. However, Divisional Commissioner Khursheed Ahmed Ganai asserted and ensured the attendance of a large number of Government employees in the Valley. Consequently, majority of the Government employees attended their places of work, Government offices and educational institutions functioned with little impact of the bandh. Skeleton passenger services, including those of State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) were seen in operation in defiance to the call for shutdown. Shops at several localities in the capital city were seen open while as private vehicular traffic plied, though only a section of it. Reports from Anantang, Budgam and Kupwara said that there was very little or absolutely no impact of the bandh in these districts while as partial response was observed in Bara-mulla and Pulwama districts. Absconders held
during raids Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 6: In a massive drive launched against militants and criminals especially the absconders evading arrests, Jammu City police arrested 166 persons including three militants in the night long operations. Police sources said all police stations and police posts were alerted in Jammu City by the district police and were directed to launch searches in their respective localities to apprehend the miscreants on the eve of Civil Secretariat re-opening. All police stations and posts launched crackdowns in their localities and arrested a total of 166 miscreants including three militants besides murder and attempt to murder accused, dacoits, extortionists and thieves. The operation was carried out under the supervision of SSP Jammu Mr Ashok Gupta. Three militants arrested during the searches have been identified as Kulwant Singh son of Kundan Singh of Batala, Partap Singh alias Bittu son of Ajit Singh of New Plot and Jagjit Singh alias Jagga son of Maan Singh of Malikpura in RS Pura. Kulwant Singh and Partap Singh were evading arrest since 1987 after looting a J&K Bank Branch at Shalamar. Cash worth Rs 1.60 lakh had been looted from the Bank. Jagjit Singh was also wanted in a TADA case since 1990 when he had fired at a public place causing injuries to civilians. Besides, the arrested persons include over two dozen absconders, who had been evading arrest in different cases pending against them in police stations and police posts. Sources said Bakshi Nagar police station topped the tally in terms of arrests followed by Anti-Goonda Squad. The crackdown was lifted in the morning. Police said the operation was necessitated on the eve of re-opening of Durbar Move on November 9. The miscreants were taken by surprise by sudden crackdown launched by the police and couldn’t get a chance to go underground, they said. Attempt to loot
J&K Bank branch Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Nov 6: An attempt by dacoits to loot Jammu and Kashmir Bank’s Extension Counter near Deputy Commissioner’s office failed last mid-night due to police movement in the area. Reports said the dacoits—suspected to be locals—broke exhaust fan of the Bank building located near the DC’s office and entered inside. However, they failed to break open the locker, which was having Rs five lakh cash. The locker had been double locked, a result of which the miscreant couldn’t succeed in breaking it. In the meantime, the police personnel, who were on routine patrolling of the area also passed from near the extension Counter. However, they couldn’t smell what was going inside the Bank branch. The jilted dacoits came out of the branch from the same route and fled away. The dacoity attempt was noticed by the Bank staff when they reached the office this morning. The Extension Counter Manager Mr Anil Khajuria lodged a report with Kathua police station. Sources said a Kathua police station party comprising SHO Mr Amanat Ali Shah, Additional SHO Mr Rajinder Khajuria besides DySP headquarters Mr J B Singh rushed to the Bank immediately and started investigations. Police said the exhaust fan was found broken. Blood stains were also noticed near the exhaust fan which indicates that one of the dacoit might have sustained minor injuries while breaking the fan to make way for intruding inside the Bank branch. However, dacoits failed in their plan as they couldn’t break the lockers. Police said some vital clues have been achieved during day long investigations in the case. It appeared that dacoits were locals who had the information that Rs five lakh cash had been stored in the locker for salaries of some Government employees. Police have rounded up two suspects for questioning in connection with the abortive dacoity attempt. Police was hopeful of arresting the accused shortly. Meanwhile, Kathua police today arrested two Government employees and a youth for their involvement in raping a housewife at village Suma under the jurisdiction of Nagri police post. The arrested persons have been identified as Jaswant Singh and Pardeep Kumar, both residents of Suma and Government employees and a local youth Omkar Singh. Jaswant and Pardeep were involved in rape while Omkar was charged with bringing the woman to their hideout. Police have also recorded the statement of the woman and conducted her medical examination. A case has been registered against the accused at Nagri police post for further investigations. Police said in her statement, the woman confirmed that she had been raped by Jaswant Singh and Pardeep Kumar. Attempt to trigger
blasts foiled Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 6: Police today seized a large quantity of explosive material and ammunition including 12 kgs of deadly RDX from village Haripur in RS Pura area and claimed to have foiled militants’ plot to strike here on the eve of Civil Secretariat re-opening. The recovery was made on the basis of an information given to RS Pura police station by the local people, who had noticed the bag carrying explosives, lying at an isolated place at village Rakh Haripur last mid-night. A police spokesman said a police party from RS Pura police station alongwith a Bomb Disposal Squad immediately rushed to Haripur in the wee hours of this morning after receiving an information from the people regarding a bag lying in the field. Police party picked up the bag and shifted it to a safer area where it was opened. Seizure made from the bag included 12 kgs RDX, two remote controls, two batteries of 9 volt, one electronic detonator, five cartridges of 303 rifle and 10 cartridges of AK-47 rifle. Police immediately sounded an alert after effecting recovery of RDX from the village and launched a search operation in the area to apprehend the militants responsible for smuggling the explosives into this side of the border. Police also alerted the Border Security Force (BSF) to step up vigil on the International Border in anticipation of the militants making attempt to escape back to Pakistan after smuggling the explosives into Indian territory. The spokesman said searches were going on in the area till late this evening but no arrest has been made so far. Two local suspects had, however, been rounded up by the police for questioning in connection with the recovery. The spokesman said investigations conducted by the police revealed that explosives had been smuggled into Indian territory by Pakistan saboteurs with the help of local people to trigger explosions in Jammu City on the eve of Civil Secretariat re-opening, scheduled for November 9. The RDX was smuggled for the purpose of explosions, he said, adding a major tragedy has been averted with the timely detection of explosives by local people of the area. Police have decided to reward the local people whose alertness resulted into the recovery. Meanwhile, Pakistani Rangers continued heavy firing on the International Border in RS Pura and Kanachak sector since last evening. The firing was intense in Sangral, Abdullian and Suchetgarh areas of RS Pura and Chargali and Rangore villages in Kanachak sub sector. The BSF personnel returned the firing. Exchange of firing between both the sides continued throughout the last night but there was no report of casualty on either side, the spokesman said. Minister involved in
criminal case Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 6 : Peerzada Ghulam Ahmed Minister for Haj Auqaf, Parks and Gardens today surrendered in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate against whom bailable arrest warrants had been issued in a criminal case for trespass and misappropriation of High Court property. The Minister personally appeared in the court and was also represented by Mr Sunil Sethi Advocate. In the application moved before the court, the accused submitted that he was responsible person and is a Minister in the Government as such should be enlarged on bail like other accused who have been granted bail in the case. He also undertook to abide by the terms and conditions imposed by the court in this regard. On this prayer, the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr B L Bhat directed that the accused be granted bail on furnishing bail bond and personal bond for Rs 5000/- each, failing which he shall be sent to judicial lockup till next date of hearing of the case. The court recalled the warrants against him. The warrants against the minister and four Estate officials were issued by the court following a criminal complaint by the Deputy Registrar of the High Court Mr D K Kapoor alleging criminal trespass and misappropriation of the High Court Property from the Government Bunglow No 6 at Residency Road Jammu which was under the occupation and disposal of the High Court under due allotment. The minister was alleged to have un-authorisedly and illegally forcebly entered into the possession of the same in connivance with Director, Deputy Director and other Estates officials without any permission from the High Court. The High Court property lying inside the bunglow was found missing and misappropriated. The court had held that prima facie offences U/S 120-B 447-A, 448, 454/380 RPC were made out against the Minister and others as well. However, the Estate officials accused had surrendered before the court and submitted that they were innocent in the matter since the Minister was alleged to have taken possession of the Bunglow at his own. They had also placed on record a copy of the letter addressed by the Minister himself to the Department of Estates in this regard. The case shall now come up on November 10 before the court of CJM Jammu. Mercenaries exploit
Muslims women From B L Kak JAMMU, Nov 6: Fresh instructions have been issued to the Army and the Border Security Force (BSF) to frustrate attempts by detachmens of the Pakistani ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) to push groups of trained militants and terrorists into Poonch, Rajouri, Samba, Hiranagar and Kathua sectors of the Jammu region. The Army would like the deployment of additional troops from the Border Security Force at several points along the Line of Control (LoC) for tackling infiltration from Pakistani side. However, in view of the stepped-up necessity to have the BSF personnel deployed in strength in as many as 35 ‘‘crucial’’ areas in Jammu and Kashmir, the Northern Command of Indian Army is under orders to immediately re-design its operational plan against Pakistan-sponsored insurgents along the LoC. In fact, it has been explained to the Army Headquarters, after certain sensational disclosures made by some captured infiltrators, that considering the unabated desperate attempts by Pakistan to send militants and terrorists into the Indian territory via the international border in Jammu region, any move seeking the reduction in the number of BSF personnel in certain areas along the border at this juncture can eventually prove counter-productive. One of these sensational disclosures is about the ‘‘costume drama’’ by the ISI strategists in Sialkot across Jammu's Suchetgarh section, which is intended to inject a new element into the anti-India scenario on this side of the border. First part of the reported ‘‘costume drama’’ has already been finalised with the creation of a group of 100-odd Muslim terrorists in Sialkot in the garb of Sikhs. Each one of them has been taught how to recite portions of the holy scriptures of Sikhs and how to dress himself as the average Sikh male in the event of his terrorist and subversive operations in Jammu and Kashmir. Another disclosure is about the frantic efforts of a new commander of the 3rd wing of Pakistani Rangers to have as many as 1000 to 1500 trained militants, now stationed in three places in Shakargarh tehsil across Hiranagar, pushed into the Indian territory as quickly as possible for engineering subversion and sabotage in parts of Jammu district, particularly in Jammu town. The new Pakistani commander who has been held responsible for his refusal to honour the recent agreement between the BSF and Pak Rangers calling for the stoppage of firing along the International Border, has also been found actively involved in attempts at arranging induction of groups of armed militants into the Doda region via the Kathua border. Third sensational piece of information is about the ‘‘feverish’’ activity by two Pakistani groups, based at Sialkot, to translate into action the infiltration plan of the ISI detachments. These detachments have been identified by intelligence sleuths at as many as eight places close to the International Border. One group headed by Major Umar Chaudhary has been assigned the task of reviving Sikh militancy in neighbouring Punjab, while the second group headed by Major Mukkaram Shah is to accomplish the task of enhancing the level of militancy and anti-India feeling in Jammu and Doda region. Fourth disclosure, while confirming the deployment of missiles in Chhamb by Pakistan for the first time, has brought to the fore broad contours of Islamabad's proposed offensive exercise, namely, the presence of Pakistani Army detachment in nearly 20 posts on the other side of the International Border. And if there was any doubt about it, it was set at rest by the ‘‘other side’’ with the use of regular Army's battle ammunition in recent days in Samba, Hiranagar and Kathua sections. BSF personnel, it was divulged, had collected some bullets fired by Pakistani Rangers on three Indian posts in Hiranagar section the other day. These bullets are strictly for the use of regular Army personnel and not for Paramilitary formation such as Rangers. EXCELSIOR was officially informed on Friday that the Union Home Ministry's decision not to disturb the present arrangement by rushing additional BSF troops to LoC to curb Pakistani infiltration has been the product of a new challenge, pretty serious of course, posed in areas south of Mandi, east of Surankot and northeast of Dera ki Gali (DKG). The BSF personnel have already begun the hazardous, risky operations to meet the challenge in Faisabad, Marha, Bafaliaz Hari Buddha and Mora Vichai sections where the presence of nearly 400 foreign mercenaries has been reported. These imported mercenaries belong to the three dreaded organisations, namely, Harkat-ul-Ansar (now known as Harkat-ul-Mujahideen), Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujahi-deen. That foreign mercenaries want moral and material aid for setting up additional concrete bunkers in parts of terrorist-infested Doda district has been borne out by the passage of repeated pleadings from them to a couple of Pakistani agencies seeking their instructions for locals in the district for making available mateial for the purpose. Even as Pakistani ‘‘partriots’’ have, in recent weeks, found themselves in a fix as a result of the unwillingness of large number of local Muslim youth in Poonch and Rajouri districts to get themselves recruited as new entrants to increase the number of anti-India extremists, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba are reportedly in a better position in Doda district where a number of young Muslims have in the past two months joined their ranks. The number of imported mercenaries in Poonch, Rajouri, Udham-pur and Doda districts, according to one intelligence agency's assessment, is between 900 and 1100. And although the Pakistani propaganda vehicle has been found pretty efficacious in Poonch and Rajouri districts, the local Muslim sympathy for Pakistan-sponsored militants has of late diminished. One of the principal reasons attributed to this phenomenon is said to be the product of ‘‘exploitation of Muslim women by sex-starved mercenaries’’ in several pockets of the two districts. Advani arriving in Jammu today Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 6: Union Home Minister Mr L K Advani is arriving here tomorrow on a day’s visit for darshan of Mata Vaishnodevi shrine. He will reach here tomorrow morning and will address a press conference at Raj Bhawan. Later he will fly to Sanji Chat on way to Mata Vaishnodevi Bhawan for darshan of the holy shrine. Mr Advani is scheduled to return to Union capital tomorrow evening. Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Nov 6: People of border areas in Hiranagar today sent back the truck loaded with ration items dispatched to their villages by the district administration. People of Kadyal, Bobiya, Regal and other adjoining villages returned the ration saying they want permanent settlement of their problems arising due to heavy Pak firing and not the ration. In Hiranagar, the migrant families continued dharna outside the Tehsil office. CBI registers 88 cases under PCA NEW DELHI, Nov 6: A total of 88 graft and other cases were registered against public servants by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) during September this year, the bureau said here today. The cases were registered under various sections of Prevention of Corruption Act and other laws for offences like abuse of official authority and criminal misconduct, CBI said. Those caught while allegedly demanding and accepting bribe include an executive engineer in Delhi Government’s Public Works Department, a Delhi Vidyut Board Inspector, a Delhi Jal Board Inspector, a telecommunication SDO in Ludhiana and a junior engineer of MTNL at Malad in Mumbai, it said. The public servants against whom cases of abuse of official authority and criminal misconduct have been registered include a Central Excise Superintendent at Surat, an official in the Telecommunication Department in Bhubaneswar and a senior manager of sail in Rourkela, it said. Such cases were also registered against Divisional Manager of Oriental Insurance Company Ltd in Indore, an Assistant Manager of ITDC in Delhi, an Assistant General Manager of State Bank of India in Delhi, a Central Excise Inspector and Director (finance) of Bongalgaon Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd, CBI said in a release. Prosecution was launched against a number of Government officials for various offences under PCA and other laws during September, it said. A Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Bank of Baroda was prosecuted for allegedly favouring a private firm by giving them credit facilities to the tune of Rs 3.85 crore in violation of banking norms, CBI said. Similarly, it said a Chief Marketing Manager of Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers Ltd in Mumbai was also prosecuted for allegedly favouring a private firm by providing unauthorised supply of sodium nitrate and other chemicals amounting to Rs 35,42,687. In other cases, an Assistant General Manager in Reserve Bank of India at Ahmedabad, Chief Engineer (E and M) of Western Coalfields Ltd in Nagpur, Branch Manager of Bank of Baroda at Raibarely and a Personnel Manager in project office at Kuju in Hazari district of Bihar have been prosecuted for allegedly demanding and accepting bribe, it said. (PTI) Delhi-Lahore bus service shortly NEW DELHI, Nov 6: Pakistan today made it clear that there would be no delay on its part to start the much-awaited direct bus service from Delhi to Lahore. There Delhi Transport Corporation had given final touches to an air-conditioned bus with video and stereo facilities for the 526-km run from Delhi to Lahore which was expected to run thrice a week. Officials said there had been an encouraging response from the public for utilising this service.(PTI) CBI registers 2 cases against Romesh Sharma NEW DELHI, Nov 6: CBI has registered two cases against suspected Dawood Ibrahim frontman Romesh Sharma for his alleged role in getting a passport for the Dubai-based don’s mother after the Mumbai serial bomb blasts and forcible acquisition of a helicopter, bureau sources said today. The CBI, which is heading the Inter-Departmental Group (IDP) formed for closely monitoring various aspects of the probe against Sharma, has also taken over all the documents, papers relating to the cases from Delhi Police, the sources said. It has been alleged that Sharma through his clout obtained a passport for Ameena Sheikh Kaskar, Dawood’s mother, in March 1993 in a very short time after she fled Mumbai in the wake of the serial blasts, they said. The controversial businessman and self-styled politician was also alleged to have forcibly acquired and grabbed a helicopter from Suresh Rao, an owner of a helicopter company, they said, adding the helicopter had initially been provided to Sharma on rent. The investigation into the two cases is being conducted by a team of the Special Task Force (STF) branch of the CBI under the supervision of Deputy Inspector General DIG Neeraj Kumar, they said. CBI sleuths are currently scrutinising the documents and other materials received from Delhi Police to ascertain the exact role of Sharma in the cases. (PTI) |