Harkat 'Div Commdr' among 4 militants killed at Pirbagh From Ahmed Ali Fayaz SRINAGAR, Nov 8: In a spectacular achievement for Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu & Kashmir Police and Rashtriya Rifles (RR), the top-wanted "divisional commander" of Harkat-ul-Ansaar Shariq Bakhshi got killed today alongwith another local militant and two Pakistani nationals in the capital city outskirts of Hyderpora here. Official sources told EXCELSIOR that on the basis of a specific information, suggesting the presence of 5 Harkat-ul-Ansaar militants at Pirbagh periphery of the capital city, SOG Budgam laid siege to the new colony situated on Srinagar-Airport Road early in the morning today.With the back-up support of 20 Bn CRPF, SOG launched the combing operation at 0730 hours. As the SOG and paramilitary personnel zeroed in on the plush house of an Assistant Executive Engineer Shahnawaz Malik, militants hiding inside the premises opened fire causing injuries to an Assistant Sub Inspector of SOG Budgam namely Kakaji. He was rescued and quickly rushed to hospital where doctors treated him and declared him out-of-danger. Within minutes, thick columns of the regular Army troops from Sector-12 RR appeared at the scene and they joined the operations while evacuating the entire civilian population safely. Later, back-up reinforcements from SOG Srinagar and CRPF 28 Bn also reached the spot and joined the major operation. Senior officials from Police and RR, including IGP Kashmir PS Gill, DIG Srinagar-Budgam, PL Gupta, Sector Commander of RR, Brigadier RS Ranawat, SSP Budgam, Gulzar Singh Salathia and SP Operations Budgam Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari supervised the operation which continued with heavy exchange of fire for seven hours. An Army jawan also sustained injuries who too was rushed to hospital for medical treatment. The 7-hour-long encounter, which took place in close vicinity of the Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani's residential house at Hyderpora, left 4 militants killed. They were identified as "divisional commander" of Harkat-ul-Ansaar Shariq Bakhshi son of Ghulam Mohd Bakhshi of Batmaloo, Mohd Iqbal Machroo of Safakadal as also two Pakistani nationals namely Mohd Sadiq Khan of NWFP and Mohd Raashid of Dera Ismail Khan. Four AK-56 rifles, 2 pistols, one disposable rocket-launcher, 3 damaged wireless sets as also some "important" documents were recovered from the site of operation. The house, used by militants as their hide-out, suffered extensive damage. IGP Kashmir Mr PS Gill described today's operation as the worst set-back of recent times for Harkat-ul-Ansaar in Kashmir valley as the dreaded "divisional commander" of the outfit Shariq Bakhshi was among the four militants eliminated by security forces. He said that it was Bakhshi who had launched a series of attacks on J&K Police officials in the capital city and killed about a dozen of police personnel at Rainawari, Lalbazar, Soura, Nowhatta, Parraypora and other places in the capital city. Gill said that Shariq Bakshi had recorded most of such actions of recent past in a diary which had also been recovered from the site of operation at Pirbagh today. He said that Bakhshi's "possible involvement" in the militants' attack on the house-guards of SSP Special Branch at Bemina Colony the other day was also being examined. Shariq Bakhshi happened to be younger brother of the detained JKLF commander Showkat Bakh-shi, involved in kidnapping of Rubia Sayeed and killing of several Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel, in 1990. His another brother Shakil Bakhshi is a middle-rung functionary of the separatist Hurriyat Conference who had earlier founded Islamic Students League (ISL) and gained prominence in the Valley's secessionist politics in 1987-92 period. As already reported, in their stepped-up offensive against the regrouping militants BSF have eliminated 5 foreigners--all of them believed to be Pakistani nationals -- in an encounter at Nilipora Babagund in Magam area of Handwara last evening. A BSF spokesman today said that all the five militants, killed by troops of 172 and 124 battalions at Babagund, were "foreign mercenaries". Constable Chander Prakash of 172 Bn BSF had got killed and Head Constable Puran Chand had got injured in the operation. A day before, BSF alongwith SOG Baramulla had killed a Pakistani militant at Bandipora and captured another Pakistani in seriously injured condition. Meanwhile, during last night an IED blast occurred in the second floor of Ellaquai Dehati Bank building at Ompora, Budgam which belongs to Farooq Ahmed Sheikh of the same village. One suspect has been picked up for questioning. The building suffered extensive damage in the explosion. The IED explosion, according to police, was "accidential". |
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Advani asks
Intelligence to crush NEW DELHI, Nov 9: Home Minister L K Advani today asked police and intelligence agencies to crush Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in India and said the case of Romesh Sharma, a suspected frontman of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, should be taken to its logical conclusion. Advani said that Sharma’s arrest in the capital should be taken as a test case and directed the intelligence agencies to ensure its logical conclusion to drive home the message that no one is above law. Inaugurating a conference of top officials of Intelligence Bureau, other security agencies and police forces here, the Home Minister said there was strong evidence of Pakistan sponsoring terrorism in India and all efforts would be made to neutralise both external as well as internal threats to national security. Advani exuded confidence that police and intelligence agencies were capable of tackling the problem areas, including those stemming from activities of anti-national elements in Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East and Left-wing extremism in certain other areas. He said some of the internal threats could have their roots in under-development, ethnic tension and even fundamentalist ideologies. The three-day conference, organised by the Intelligence Bureau to discuss a gamut of issues including attempts of foreign agencies to foment trouble in the country, is being attended by about 90 delegates including Directors General, Inspectors General and Chiefs of central and state police forces and security agencies. Civilian injured,
hideout blasted Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Nov 9: Troops gunned down four militants in two separate encounters at Lah and Darhal today. A civilian was seriously injured in the Lah encounter when he was trapped in exchange of firing while a hideout was blown up. A Defence spokesman said troops encircled village Lah, about six kms short of Thanna Mandi on Rajouri-Thanna Mandi road at 2300 hours last night. The operation was launched on the basis of a specific information about the presence of militants in the village. He said militants opened firing on the approaching troops from a hideout. Army personnel retaliated and an encounter ensued which continued for more than an hour. One militant was killed in the encounter while other managed to escape from the hideout and fled towards forest area, the spokesman said, adding a civilian was also caught in the cross-firing between the two sides and was seriously injured. The slain militant has been identified as Nissar Tantray, a resident of Shopian. The injured civilian has been identified as Maqsood. The house of Mohd Alam, from where the militants carried out their attack on Army personnel, was blown up and damaged in the firing. Army personnel continued search operations in the area to track down the absconding militants, who numbered between five to seven. Operation in the area was going on when the reports last came in tonight. The injured civilian was evacuated from the firing site by the Army personnel and has been shifted to district hospital here in critical condition. Dead body of the slain militant has also been recovered from the encounter site and handed over to police for post-mortem. One pistol with a magazine and a large quantity of live rounds were recovered from the possession of slain militant. Sources said local people had been complaining to Army about harassment being caused to them by the militants. Militants had become active at Behrot, Lah, Palangar and Nirojal areas of Thanna Mandi and were frequently forcing the people to prepare food for them. People have heaved a sigh of relief with the killing of militant. They hailed the deployment of new Army team in the area which has restored confidence among the civilians. Another encounter took place between Army and militants at village Shakarmarj in Kulian area of Darhal at 1130 hours today. The encounter followed when troops were fired upon by the militants while the latter were conducting search operations in the area. The encounter lasted an hour in which Army succeeded in eliminating three hardcore militants. Other militants, however, managed to escape taking advantage of forest cover. There was no casualty on Army side in both the encounters carried today, the spokesman said, adding Army continued searches in Kulian to trace the militants, who escaped during the encounter. Identity of the militants killed in this encounter has also not been established so far. Troops recovered four AK-47 rifles and four hand grenades from the encounter site. Some incriminating documents and letter heads of militant outfits were also recovered from the scene of encounter, which were being de-coded. Army have stepped-up search operations in the militancy-infested areas of Rajouri district. Several major successes have been achieved during the recent past. Operations in several areas were going on simultaneously to trap the militants and eliminate them. Indo-Pak talks on Sir Creek end in impasse NEW DELHI, Nov 9: India and Pakistan today failed to make any headway on the long-pending Sir Creek Maritime boundary dispute in the Rann of Kutch with New Delhi firmly rejecting Islama-bad’s proposal for third party arbitration and asserting that the issue be resolved only bilaterally. The second phase of the nine-day Indo-Pak talks have so far not yielded any positive results on three of the six outstanding identified issues. Negotiations on both Tulbul Navigation Project and Siachen held here last week had also ended in a deadlock. During the resumed composite dialogue process between the two neighbours, New Delhi asserted that the boundary in the Creek, said to be rich in oil and gas deposits, should be a notional mid channel as the contours there keep changing to shifting tidal movements, a proposal termed unacceptable by Islamabad. A bland joint statement issued after the parleys, the third since they began on November 5, said the discussions were held in a frank and cordial atmosphere. The two sides stated their respective positions. It was agreed to continue discussions during the next round of the dialogue process, it said. While the Indian side was led by Surveyor General Lt Gen A K Ahuja, the Pakistani team was headed by rear Admiral (retd) Jameer Akhtar. India proposed that pending formalisation of the Sir Creek boundary, the two sides could consider the delimitation of the Indo-Pak maritime boundary from Seawards, by commencing at Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) limit and proceeding landwards upto a mutually acceptable limit as per provisions under Technical Aspects of Law of Sea (TALOS), Gen Ahuja told newspersons. The Pakistani side proposed that a friendly way of settling the dispute is through arbitration and Islamabad is open to it. This was categorically turned down by the Indian side which stressed that all Indo-Pak issues should be settled bilaterally. Harping on a 1914 map titled ‘B-44’ and a so-called 196 tribunal award, Pakistan officials said Islamabad’s position was that the East bank of the Creek belonged to India while the Creek, which, it claimed, was non-navigable, was part of Pakistan. Gen Ahuja said the Seaward approach is based on internationally accepted principles and will benefit both countries for exploitation of resources in respective EEZ. The issue gains importance in view of the continental shelf claims, to be submitted by 2004 to the United Nations’’. Asked whether the UN would have to be ultimately involved in resolution of the Sir Creek issue, Joint Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry Vivek Katju expressed confidence that it would be resolved before the UN deadline. The Pakistan delegation told the Indian side that it would consider maritime boundary only after determination of land boundary in Sir Creek area and that both issues should not be de-linked and would need to be addressed in one package. Rejecting the Pakistani claim that the Creek was non-navigable and had no commercial interests involved, India asserted that the Channel was navigable during the entire year and particularly during high tide. The Pakistani officials admitted that while New Delhi had carried out a complete hydrographic survey of the region falling between Gujarat and Sindh, Islamabad was yet to complete the exercise. Gen Ahuja said the issue related to the demarcation of the boundary from (A) the mouth of the Sir Creek to its top and (B) from the top of the Creek eastwards to a point designated as the western terminus. The boundary thereafter has been demarcated. Our approach to the Sir Creek has been practical, realistic and consistent with historical data. There are well enunciated principles on the base of which the already settled and demarcated boundaries can be formalised, he said. Stating that demarcation and administration of the 1914 resolution was completed in 1925, he said since ten, the boundary in Sir Creek is depicted in the mid-channel by a proper boundary symbol. There was no need for erection of pillars in the middle of the Creek, since it is a natural fluid boundary. (PTI) Two gangsters
arrested Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Nov 9: Police have arrested two gangsters from a house in Lakhanpur and seized a large quantity of fake stamps, slips and letter heads of Excise Department from their possession. The arrested youths were part of a gang of fake agents operating in Lakhanpur causing heavy losses to the state exchequer. SSP Kathua Mr R R Swain said the gangsters were arrested from a rented house in Lakhanpur during a mid-night raid conducted by a police team led by Lakhanpur Police Post Incharge Mr R Khajuria. The arrested gangsters have been identified as Sunil Kumar son of Isher Dass, a resident of Hiranagar and Vishal Mehra of Ward No. 2, Kathua. Police said the raid was conducted after a fake slip of toll tax was recovered from operator of a truck No. HR07A 8655 which was on way from Punjab to Jammu Sunil Kumar had allegedly charged Rs 1600 of toll tax from the truck operator identified as Major Singh of Mehta Chowk, Amritsar and gave him fake slip of toll paid. Major Singh has also been taken into custody by the police for questioning. Police recovered a large quantity of similar fake slips of toll paid, fake stamps and letter heads were recovered from the rented house of Sunil Kumar, which he had been using for the past quite sometime causing heavy financial losses to the state exchequer. During interrogation, Sunil Kumar confessed that he had been doing this illegal business with the help of a local group of criminals, one of whom—Vishal Mehra—has also been arrested by the police. His further interrogation was still on. Police said they were trying to ascertain the involvement of some other persons including Govt officials in looting the exchequer. Meanwhile, Excise and Taxation Officer (ETO) Lakhanpur Mr S K Sharma said that Department has appointed only 10 authorised agents. He, however, said he had reports that several unauthorised agents were also operating at Lakhanpur and looting the exchequer. Process of talks shall
continue Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 9: Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah said here today that the Centre should take up the issue of cross-border firing with Pakistan during the ongoing bilateral talks. Talking to newspersons here after addressing the Government officers on the reopening of Durbar here in the Winter Capital, Dr Abdullah said that Pakistan was resorting to a proxy war during the bilateral talks which was on to resolve all contentious issues including that of Jammu and Kashmir. Dr Abdullah said Pakistan was maintaining double standards in its behaviour and they should show sincerity while having discussions with India. Regarding the demolition of a building belonging to Information, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Ajatshatru Singh, Dr Abdullah said that "I will look into the matter. If the building was illegally constructed, the authorities should have stopped the construction from the beginning." It may be recalled that a two-storeyed building had been demolished by the state authorities alleging that its construction was illegal. Asked about the Sales Tax Department raids on the premises of Urban Development Minister Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, the Chief Minister said that no body would be excused for evading tax. The Government will take proper action against tax defaulter irrespective of their position, he said. Dr Abdullah stressed the need for cordial relations between India and Pakistan and said "the process of talks should continue which will fruit some day." He said, good neighbourly relations are immensely beneficial for the two countries. Pakistan, he said, appreciates the futility of their abetting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir as they can't annex even an inch of its territory. He hoped that the neighbour will stop the proxy war in the State which has brought innumerable miseries to the people. He pointed to the unprovoked shelling from across the border on civilian areas which has caused colossal damage to the property in border areas, hampered harvesting and affected the studies of children. To a question, the Chief Minister said, there is no need of his joining the parleys with Pakistan as Jammu and Kashmir being an integral part of India is ably represented by the country. He said, though one should not expect too much from the talks as Pakistan is not sincere in her efforts in normalising relations with this country but "talks are beneficial in the long run." He referred to the issues like Tulbul Navigational lock, solution of whose was equally beneficial for the neighbouring country, Pakistan should accept the realities, he said. When asked about induction of aero models into the State, the Chief Minister said, the security forces and the police are capable of meeting any challenge posed by the enemy. He said, it is because of the vigilant forces and the police that the aero-model planes have been recovered. The police and other security agencies are doing a commendable job, he said. Spelling out the priorities of his Government in the coming six months, when the State administration would be headquartered at Jammu, the Chief Minister said, lot many things have to be done and the problems of the people are to be attended to on priority. He said the people have many expectations from the Government and every functionary has to work hard to meet their aspirations. Dr Abdullah hoped that the Centre would liberally assist the State in rebuilding infrastructure and accelerating development particularly in the backdrop of colossal damages it has suffered during the past about a decade due to militancy. He attached immense significance to the forthcoming meeting with the Planning Commission, scheduled in December in New Delhi, and said the release of funds would help in giving boost to the development effort. On the future of BJP led Government at the Centre, the Chief Minister said, frequent changes in Governments is not good for the country. Dr Abdullah said, the final report of Autonomy panel would be presented to the Centre. Farooq’s dig at Ansari, Ajatshatru, bureaucracy Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 9: Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today had a dig at his two cabinet colleagues including Housing and Urban Development Minister Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari and Sports and Information Minister Mr Ajatshatru Singh and a section of bureaucracy. Addressing a function organised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry here this evening, Dr Abdullah said "no one including Ministers were above the law and their business concerns will have to pay whatever arrears were pending". He was referring to Sales Tax arrears worth several crores pending by the Ansari Motors, a concern of Mr Ansari, who was also sitting in the function. He, however, also had a dig at the Sales Tax officers saying they proceeded with the recovery without serving any notice to the business concern. "The officers should have followed due procedure of serving notice and seeking concern’s reply without going ahead with raids", he asserted. Pointing towards Mr Ansari, the Chief Minister said :"I’ve told him that he will have to repay the arrears after assessment made by the Department". Regarding demolition of Sports and Information Minister Mr Ajatshatru Singh’s two-storey building at Dal Lake, the Chief Minister said :"the house of one of senior worker of the National Conference was demolished thrice on Dal Lake". "Law is equal for all", he declared. However, he wondered, as to what the concerned Department was doing when the two-storey building was being constructed. "If the construction was illegal why it wasn’t stopped at the very beginning. Afterall, a two-storey building can’t be constructed in a day", he observed having a dig at the concerned officers responsible for demolition. Referring to resentment among the industrialists over Government’s proposal to hike the power tariff, Dr Abdullah said any decision in this regard will be taken only after consultations with the industrialists. The Chief Minister regretted that there was no civic sense among the people as they were responsible for spreading insanitary conditions. Migrants to call off
stir during Excelsior Correspondent HIRANAGAR, Nov 9: An end to ongoing agitation here by the migrants of border areas appeared in sight following a meeting of the Border Action Committee (BAC) with Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah at Civil Secretariat. Action Committee leaders said the Chief Minister has agreed to visit Hiranagar on Wednesday to personally convey to the migrant families the decisions taken in today’s meeting. They said the agitation was likely to be called off in the presence of the Chief Minister and other Ministers who will also accompany Dr Farooq Abdullah during his Hiranagar visit. Sources said the Chief Minister announced a relief package for the migrants especially with regard to failure of crops in the forward areas due to continued firing by Pakistan Rangers. Besides, some other demands putforth by the migrants’ representatives were also conceded by the Government in principle. The senior officers of security forces including BSF and police, who were also present in the meeting, assured full protection to the people living in the forward areas from Pakistan firing. They said security arrangements have been stepped-up on the border to counter Pak firing and every possible measure would be taken to avoid civilian casualties. Sources said in view of the categoric assurance from the Government, the migrants agreed to call off their agitation and return to protected areas. It may be reported that over 500 families of Londi, Khwarha, Sade Chak, Regal and adjoining areas of Hiranagar sector had migrated to Tehsil office in Hiranagar and were camping there for last over 12 days. They had threatened to intensify their agitation by blocking Jammu-Pathankot National Highway if their demands were not conceded. Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 9: People took out a procession yesterday and shops owned by majority community remained closed in Kishtwar today in protest against the missing of one Manzoor Hussain son of Anwar Sheikh, a resident of Hullar, Kishtwar since November 2. People gathered outside the office of Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) in Kishtwar yesterday and marched in a procession demanding that administration ascertain the whereabouts of Manzoor Hussain. A police spokesman said an announcement was also made from Jamia Masjid, Kishtwar yesterday afternoon that all shops and establishments will remain closed as a protest against the missing of Manzoor Hussain. Shopkeepers downed their shutters today. Laloo influential enough to tamper with evidences: CBI PATNA, Nov 9: CBI today said RJD president Laloo Prasad Yadav was influential enough to tamper with vital evidences relating to the fodder scam. Contesting the counter affidavit filed by Yadav against the investigating agency’s affidavit, challenging Yadav’s stay in judicial custody in BMP guest house in a conspiracy angle case, in the Patna High Court, CBI standing counsel Rakesh Kumar alleged he (Yadav) was being bestowed with special favours. Kumar told the court of Justice M Y Iqbal that even former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was lodged in Tihar jail after emergency but an accused (Yadav) involved in larger conspiracy of the multi-crore scam was lodged in a guest house. Justice Iqbal said he would deliver an appropriate order on the matter. Earlier, Yadav through his counsel Chittranjan Sinha termed the CBI allegation as unfounded and baseless and said the State Government was well within its right to notify the BMP guest house as a sub-jail. Brushing aside the allegations that Yadav had attempted to influence some witnesses in the scam, Sinha said in the counter affidavit that CBI was making false allegations against his client. The counsel for another former Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra, who is also lodged along with Yadav in the sub-jail, said BJP leader L K Advani was lodged in a guest house after his arrest during the Rathayatra. CBI on Friday had filed an affidavit challenging the stay of Yadav and Mishra in the guest house. (PTI) NEW DELHI, Nov 9: India and the United States today held preliminary talks at the experts-level to explore various export control regimes to check nuclear proliferation in the wake of the Pokhran tests in May. The Indian side, led by Alok Prasad, Joint Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry, explained New Delhi’s position on export control mechanism while the US team, headed by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State John Barker, gave an overview of Washington’s export control regime. Issues including strategic management, equipment and technology figured during the talks which will continue tomorrow. Officials said the talks, which were mainly exploratory in nature, were part of the on-gogue on nuclear issues between New Delhi and Washington. The parleys were aimed at ending a common position on export controls, they said. The meeting assumes significance as it comes close on the heels of US President Bill Clinton’s announcement of waiver of some of the sanctions imposed on India soon after the Pokharan tests in May this year. The parleys also come a fortnight ahead of the next round of crucial talks on nuclear and non-proliferation issues including Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) between Prime Minister’s special envoy Jaswant Singh and US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott. The American team includes representatives from Commerce, Customs, Energy, Defence and Foreign Ministries. The Indian team comprises top officials from External Affairs Ministry, including Joint Secretary (Disarmament) Rakesh Sood and other departments. The team will fly to Islamabad at the end of its two-day parleys as the US put pressure on Pakistan to reach an economic stabilisation accord with the International Monetary Fund before Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visits the US next month. (PTI) Agarkar, Srinath win for India SHARJAH, Nov 9: Pacemen Ajit Agarkar and Javagal Srinath combined superbly to wreck the formidable Sri Lankan batting as India fashioned a thrilling 81-run win to storm into the final of the Coca Cola Cup Triangular Cricket Tournament at the Sharjah Stadium here tonight. The 20-year-old Agarkar and Srinath did a sensational job as India faced a tough defence on being skittled out for 179 in 49.5 overs and ran through the Sri Lankan top order to bundled them out for a paltry 98 in 39 overs. India posted their third straight victory to seal a berth for the November 13 final with a match against Zimbabwe left while Sri Lanka, after losing their third straight match, have to beat Zimbabwe and overhaul their net run rate tomorrow to stay in the reckoning. Agarkar, adjudged man of the match, yet again revealed his class by removing opener Avisha Gunawardene in his first over and then sending back Marvan Atapattu and Roshan Mahanama off successive balls to reduce Sri Lanka to a miserable 20 for four in the eighth over and return figures of 8-1-35-3. Srinath (8-1-20-2), who prised out the explosive Sanath Jayasuriya in first over to begin the slide, was equally charged up as the two fired 16 overs in tandem and saw Sri Lanka total at 50 for six in the 15th over. He claimed his 200th one-day victim when he dismissed skipper Arjuna Ranatunga to dent all Sri Lankan hopes, though Aravinda De Silva grimly held on to top score with 29. Srinath, in his 147th match, became the third Indian bowler to achieve the feat behind Kapil Dev (253 wickets in in 225 matches) and Anil Kumble (207-152). The Indian batting, barring Ajay Jadeja’s patient 64 (117 b, 1 x 4, 1 x 6) and Azharuddin’s 26, had nothing to shout about once Sachin Tendulkar (18) and Saurav Ganguly (0) were back without contributing much. With few runs to defend, Azharuddin went for an attacking field and both Srinath and Agarkar responded admirably on a slow pitch which made much demand on the batsmen. Sri Lanka, desperate for their first win to stay in the race for the final, were in a spot as Jayasuriya played an angled Srinath delivery on to his stumps without scoring. Agarkar, who was simply unplayable tonight, removed the other opener Gunawar (0) by trapping him leg before and then bowled Marvan Atapattu - who had shone as a fielder -with a slower ball and Mahanama (0) to be on a hattrick. The young bowler, who was the fastest to complete 50 wickets, was distinctly unlucky not to remove De Silva in the sixth over as New Zealand umpire Steve Dunne appealingly turned down a appeal after the batsman clearly edged to stumper Nayan Mongia, a fact reinforced by television replays. But the pacemen tied down batsmen and once Srinath had Ranatunga caught by an Alert Robin Singh at forward shortleg, the writing was on the wall. De Silva was seventh spinner Sunil Joshi, umpire David Orchard upholding the appeal for caught behind. Joshi gained appreciable turn and drift and finished with three for 17 runs off his full quota to hasten the end. Kumara Dharmasena (13 n.o) hung on, which only helped Sri Lanka cross 96, their lowest ever tally against India. (PTI) India: S Tendulkar c Atapattu b Wickremasinghe 18 S Ganguly run out 0 N Mongia c Atapattu b Wickremasinghe 1 A Jadeja run out 64 E Singh c Kaluwitharana b Dharmasena 3 M Azharuddin c Atapattu b Samarasena 26 N Chopra c Mahanama b Dharmasena 15 A Agarkar c and b Dharmasena 6 J Srinath b Vaas 15 S Joshi not out 3 A Kumble run out 12 Extras (lb-4, w-10, nb-2) 16 Total (all out in 49.5 overs) 179 Fall of Wickets: 1-1, 2-18, 3-29, 4-36, 5-88, 6-118, 7-134, 9-164. Bowling: Chamnda Vaas 10-1-37-1, Wickremasinghe, 8-1-27-2, Dharmasena 9-0-31-3, Samaraweera 10-0-35-1, Jayasuriya 10-0-34-0, De Silva 2-0-11-0. Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya b Srinath 0 Aviska Gunawardene LBW b Agarkar 0 Marvan Atapattu b Agarkar 10 Aravinda De Silva c Mongia b Joshi 29 Roshan Mahanama LBW b Agarkar 0 Arjuna Ranatunga c Robin b Srinath 9 Romesh Kaluwitharana run out 0 Thilan Samaraveera c Srinath b Joshi 16 Kumara Dharmasena not out 13 Chaminda Vaas b Joshi 4 Pramodaya Wickremasinghe b Kumble 3 Extras (b-4, lb-2, w-2, nb-6) 14 Total (all out in 39 overs) 98 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-2, 3-21, 4-21, 5-47, 6-47, 7-66, 8-79, 9-89. Bowling: Javagal Srinath 8-1-20-2, Ajit Agarkar 8-1-35-3, Sunil Joshi 10-1-17-3, Anil Kumble 9-3-11-1, Nikhil Chopra 4-1-9-0. (PTI) |