3
mercenaries killed, SPO wounded Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Nov 20: Militants rained rockets on Surankote town in Poonch district last night targeting civilian areas, police station and a security camp but failed to hit the intended targets. Three militants were killed and an ex-serviceman was injured in the exchange of firing between security personnel and militants which followed the rocket attacks. According to official sources, militants fired nine rockets—one after another—aiming civilian areas in Surankote town and police station. The rockets were fired within a time gap of 15 minutes from 2000 hours to 2015 hours from a distance of about one km from atop a hill. Sources said six rockets bursted mid-air while three others landed in the isolated areas and exploded harmlessly. The rocket explosions triggered panic in the town as sound of the blasts was heard in several far off areas. Army personnel and local police including Special Task Force (STF) and Special Operation Group (SOG) sleuths immediately swung into action and combed the town and surrounding areas. No casualty or damage was reported from the rocket attacks. Sources said the rockets were fired from a distance of approximately one km from the south west direction because troops patrol parties, ambushes and the area domination had restrained them from coming closer to the township. Security personnel rushed towards the upper reached from where the rockets had been fired by the militants. Troops also launched seek and destroy operation in the area but the militants had slipped away under the cover of darkness. In the wee hours of this morning, militants fired another round of rockets—this time aiming police station, SP Operations office and a security camp in Surankote town. Besides rocket attacks, militants also opened heavy firing from automatic weapons towards their targets. Again, Army personnel took positions and returned the firing. This time an encounter ensued which lasted half an hour. Three militants—suspected to be a foreign mercenaries were killed and an ex-serviceman working as a Special Police Officer (SPO) was injured in the encounter. Identity of one of the slain militant has been established as Umar Bhai (code name). The injured SPO identified as Kala Khan has been admitted in the Surankote hospital in critical condition. Though police station survived the rocket attacks, splinters of one of the rocket fell on roof top of the Tehsil office—adjoining to the police station—causing damage to the building, the sources said. This was fourth major attempt by the militants to blow up police station in Surankote but all such attempts have failed. Reliable sources said the militants were targeting Surankote police station as a vital communication network has been set up inside the building, which was intercepting almost all the messages of the subversives. Based on the intercepted messages, security forces and police have carried out several successful operations in Surankote and adjoining areas of Poonch district and eliminated several hardcore militants, the sources said, adding this was the main reason that militants were targeting the police station again and again. However, they said, police and security forces have taken all precautionary measures to safeguard the communication network which has proved quite useful in containing the militant activities. The police station has been well protected, they added. A Defence spokesman said due to relentless operations being carried out by the battle hardy troops, which have recently been deployed in the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, the militants were now adopting lesser risk prone and cowardly path of targeting the innocent civil population. This was evident from last night’s rocket attacks by the militants targeting civilian areas, he pointed out. The spokesman said the recent IED blast at Madana village of Surankote which killed five people was also an indication of the perceivable change in the strategy adopted by the militants, who were possibly resorting to the stance of terrorism. Firstly, the militants have been outwitted and routed by the Army and security forces and secondly, youths of the area were also not joining the militants’ cadre, the spokesman said, adding the frustrated militants have started targeting civilians after having been failed in giving shape to the nefarious designs of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Meanwhile, a police spokesman said, identity of another militant killed in Chandi Marh in Surankote the other day has been established as Farooq Ahmed Parray son of Abdul Majid, a resident of Pulwama. Two other slain militants in the same encounter had already been identified as foreign mercenaries. A Universal Machine Gun (UMG) recovered from Chandi Marh has turned out to be a Pika gun, he said. Meanwhile, reports said that Pakistan Army resorted to heavy firing on Indian position on the Line of Control (LoC) at Digwar, Gulpur and Narkot in Poonch district. Indian Army retaliated. The intermittent exchange of firing continued till this morning but there was no report of any casualty on either side in the exchange of firing. |
||
People
cautioned against morning walk Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 20: A leopard attacked Wild Life Sanctuary at Manda last night and killed a spotted deer rendering all other wild animals in the sanctuary panic-stricken. The leopard was still roaming in the forest area adjoining the sanctuary threatening yet another strike at the sanctuary tonight. The Wild Life Department, responsible for manning the Manda sanctuary, has pressed its entire force into service to trap the leopard and bring it to the sanctuary. Guards have been deployed outside the sanctuary to protect the wild animals from any fresh attack by the leopard. Wild Life Department sources said the leopard struck around 2330 hours last night and sneaked inside the Manda sanctuary by scaling the boundary cover. Seeing the leopards, the panic stricken animals fled helter skelter and took safety cover behind bushes and trees. However, the sources said, one of the spotted deer, which was fast asleep was trapped by the leopard and killed. The leopard, which appeared hungry, killed half of the deer and then escaped from the sanctuary. The leopard’s strike was noticed by the sanctuary staff in the early hours of this morning when the spotted deer was found dead. The Wild Life guards also noticed the leopard moving in the adjoining area of sanctuary and then moved deep into forests. The guards informed senior officers of the Department, who also reached the sanctuary immediately. A general alert was sounded by the Department and all morning walkers were cautioned not to move around the sanctuary in apprehension of another fresh strike by the leopard. When contacted, a Wild Life Department officer Mr T P Singh said the leopard appeared to have reached the Manda sanctuary from a forest area. He said the Department has initiated measures to protect animals living in the sanctuary from another possible strike by the leopard. Department officers said the leopard was again sighted around 1700 hours this evening while roaming in the forest area of Manda. The guards were trying either to bring the leopard inside the sanctuary and keep it in the protected zone or ensure its escape towards forests so that it doesn’t harm the local people and animals in the sanctuary. The officers said that in the given circumstances only second option appeared feasible. The Departments guards have started drum beating outside the sanctuary to ensure that leopard don’t come close to sanctuary. The wild animals were still panicky in the sanctuary and were not coming out in the open due to the fear of any fresh strike by the leopard. The officers said under the existing rules, they can’t shoot the leopard unless it turns man-eater. So far, "we are keeping a strict vigil on the leopard to watch its activities before taking any further action", they added. This was for the second time during last few months that a leopard has been sighted in Jammu. Earlier, a leopard had attacked villagers in Samba and wounded six persons. The leopard had then escaped towards forest areas. The Department has warned the morning walkers not to venture towards Manda life sanctuary atleast till the leopard is either trapped or it returns to the forests from where it has come. Pak inducting
Afghans, foreigners CHENNAI, Nov 20: The Indian Army today dismissed as rumours that Taliban mercenaries had infiltrated into Jammu and Kashmir to sustain the proxy war being waged by Pakistan. Col P P Singh, who heads the eighth mountain division engaged in countering insurgency in the trouble-torn areas, told newsmen here that the Army had no reason to believe the involvement of Taliban mercenaries led by its leader Bin Laden. "At the moment, there are no Talibans engaged in the proxy war", he added. Col Singh who was here with his officers in connection with the nation-wide exhibition of weapons and communication equipment seized by the security forces from the militants, said Pakistan had resorted to inducting more and more Afghan and other foreign mercenaries to sustain the proxy war as local support for militancy was fast dwindling. The strength of mercenaries which was a meager seven per cent in 1995 had shot up to 43 per cent now. However, these mercenaries who were neither motivated nor committed, were no match to the Army and they shy away on seeing the security forces, he claimed. Giving details of the casualties inflicted on the mercenaries in the proxy war, Col Singh said since 1990, the Army had killed as many as 7485 mercenaries and apprehended nearly 24,000. So far, 1792 mercenaries have surrendered to the security forces. Some of them were very cooperative by giving information on the movements of mercenaries, while some others remained hard nuts to crack, he added. Col Singh said militancy had effectively been contained and the popularly elected Government was gaining more strength. This has dealt a severe blow to Pakistan’s designs to annex Kashmir through the proxy war, he claimed. He said Pakistan was sending the mercenaries paying them Rs two to Rs five lakh and supplying them with state-of-the art weapons. Pakistan’s ISI agency alone, was spending Rs four to Rs five crore a month to encourage insurgency. Though Pakistan was actively controlling and coordinating the proxy war, it did not cost them much as large funds were being generated through narcotics trade and the war was funded by other countries also. Col Singh said the local people were totally fed up with terrorism and some of them were even openly saying "enough is enough". The situation was quite normal and people were keen on starting their avocations. Giving details about the 26,000 seized arms to be exhibited for the public from November 22 to 25 here, Brig J S Sarai, Station Commander, Northern Command, said the highly sophisticated weapons included AK-47 rifles, machine guns, anti-personnel and anti-tank mines and rocket launchers. Even the Army did not possess some of the deadly weapons, he said adding that the four-day exhibition was aimed at highlighting the little known facets of the proxy war and designed to attract the youth and students in large numbers. The cache of arms would give the public an idea about the tremendous task undertaken by the Indian army in countering the proxy war. He regretted that people in the country especially those hailing from the South had very little knowledge of what was going on in Jammu and Kashmir. He said the nation-wide exhibition inaugurated by Prime Minister A B Vajpayee in Lucknow, was held in Mumbai and Bangalore. After Chennai, it would move on to Calcutta and Delhi. (UNI) Implementation in three
stages Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 20: The Government have ordered revision and rationalisation of electricity tariff of various categories of consumers in J&K State. The revision in the power tariff will be implemented in three stages spanning over the period from 1998-99 to 2000-2001. According to a Government order issued here today, the revised electricity tariff for the current fiscal year would be operative with effect from December 1, 1998. According to revised tariff for domestic supply the minimum tariff for the connected load upto 1 KW (Ist 50 units) has been revised from existing tariff of Rs. 0.41 paise per unit to Rs 0.60 per unit for the year 1998-99, Rs 0.85 paise per unit would be charged during 1999-2000 and Rs 1.25 paise per unit during the year 2000-2001. For connected load above 1 KW (Metered supply) the rates have been enhanced from existing 0.66 paise per unit to Rs 1.15 per unit for the year 1998-99, Rs 2 per unit for the year 1999-2000 and Rs 3 per unit for the year 2000-2001. Flat rates (unmetered supply) upto 1/4 KW load has also been enhanced from Rs 14.70 paise per month to Rs 30 per month for the year 1998-1999, Rs 40 per month for the year 1999-2000 and Rs 55 per month for the year 2000-20001. Similarly, for ½ KW load Rs 75 per month would be charged from existing Rs 14.70 paise per month, Rs 115 for the year 1999-2000 and Rs 170 per month for the year 2000-2001. Connected load upto 2 KW load Rs 450 per month would be charged during the year 1998-1999, Rs 635 per month for year 1999-2000 and Rs 800 per month for the year 2000-2001. Similarly the tariff rate for the installation with connected load above 2 KWs have also been enhanced to Rs 750 per KW during the year 1998-1999, Rs 1155 per KW for the year 1999-2000 and Rs 1580 per KW for the year 2000-2001. For LT Commercial rates for connected load upto 1/4 KW (metered supply) for the first 200 units has also been enhanced from Rs 0.74 paise per unit to Rs 1.10 paise per unit for the year 1998-1999, Rs 1.60 paise per unit for the year 1999-2000 and Rs 2.30 paise per unit for the year 2000-2001. Similarly above 200 unit, Rs 1.40 paise per unit, Rs 2.20 per unit and Rs 3 per unit from the existing Rs 0.88 paise per unit have been enhanced for the year 1998-1999, 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 respectively. For commercial loads above 10 KWs (metered supply) have been revised from Rs 0.88 paise per unit to Rs 1.60 paise per unit, for the year 1998-99, Rs 2.55 paise per unit for the year 1999-2000 and Rs 3 per unit for the year 2000-2001. Flat rate charges (unmetered supply) would be charged Rs 294.10 paise per KV per month. For industrial supply the electricity tariff has also been revised. It will now be charged Rs 0.90 paise per unit during the year 1998-1999, Rs 1.35 paise per unit during the year 1999-2000 and Rs 2 per unit during the year 2000-2001 from existing rate of Rs 0.59 paise per unit. For domestic supply (metered supply) under connected load upto 1 KW would be charged above 50units to 150 units at the rate of Rs 0.75 paise per unit for the year 1998-1999, Rs 1.15 paise per unit for the year 1999-2000 and Rs 1.70 paise per unit for the year 2000-2001 from the existing tariff of Rs 0.49 paise per unit. Similarly between 200 to 400 units, Rs 0.90 paise per unit, Rs 1.45 paise per unit and Rs 2.30 paise per unit would now be charged for the year 1998-1999, 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 against the existing rate of Rs 0.56 paise per unit. Above 400 units, Rs 1.15 paise per unit, Rs 2 per unit and Rs 3 per unit against the existing tariff of Rs 0.56 paise per unit for the 1998-1999, 1999-2000 and 2000-2001. The Government have also announced the additional terms and conditions for continuous power supply to industrial consumers as under peak load hours shall be the hours as notified by the State Government/Chief Engineer, M&RE concerned from time to time, not exceeding a total period of six hours in a twenty four hours cycle. The concerned authority shall notify the timings for peak hours, at the most twice in a calendar year. The industries which are permitted of having power during peak hours shall have to install "time of the day" meters at their own expense which are duly tested and approved by the Chief Engineer, M&RE concerned. The tariff for peak load hours shall be twice the normal tariff applicable to the unit. The continuous power supply shall be subject to a formal agreement between the department and the industrial unit subject to actual availability of power during the peak load hours. Top HM militant nabbed in Batote with RDX Excelsior Correspondent BATOTE, Nov 20: Batote Police today arrested a hardcore militant of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit and recovered eight kg RDX and other weaponry from his possession. Another militant was arrested by Doda police from Marmat area. DIG Udhampur-Doda Range Mr Ram Lubaya said a Batote police station party headed by SHO Mr D R Bhagat arrested a militant Zahoor Ahmed, an activist of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit from a house at village Jathi in Doda district during a search operation. The raid was conducted on a tip off received from some reliable quarters about the presence of militant. The militant tried to escape on seeing the police raiding the hideout but he was over-powered by the police personnel. He was brought to Batote police station where he was subjected to detailed interrogation. Sources said the militant disclosed that he had dumped a consignment of weaponry in remote village of Tanda in Samba sector. Police rushed to the spot and recovered eight kg RDX concealed in two packets—one weighing five kg and another three kg—one AK-56 rifle, two grenades, four magazines and 97 rounds of assault rifles, one wireless set of United States, five antennas, 34 pencil cells, an ammunition pouch belt and a pocket diary containing addresses and telephone numbers of his contacts in different places of Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). The consignment had been concealed into haver-sack (‘pithu bags’). The telephone numbers and addresses of his contacts could prove useful in containing the militant activities, the sources said, adding the numbers have been brought to the notice of senior police and security forces officers. Sources said the militants had infiltrated into Indian territory from Pakistan through Samba sector about 10 days back after undergoing advanced and rigorous training in handling sophisticated weapons in different training camps at Pakistan and PoK. He had dumped the consignment of arms at Samba border to pick it up at an opportune time. The militant disclosed that after infiltrating into Jammu, he had stayed at Jammu Bus Stand and Talab Khatikan. He said he had been directed by the ISI officials to start some business in Jammu and simultaneously engaged in militant activities to avoid being doubted by the police,. The DIG Udhampur-Doda Range had described the arrest of Zahoor Ahmed as "a major achievement" by the police. Zahoor son of Inayatullah, a clerk in DFO Batote’s office had gone into hiding soon after appearing in Class 12th exams at Batote in 1996. He was wanted by Batote police in some cases. Meanwhile, Doda police assisted by 4 JAK Li personnel today arrested another militant identified as Shah Baz Ahmed son of Ghulam Mohd, a resident of Roat during a search operation in Marmat area. Two grenades and one wireless set were recovered from the possession of arrested militant, the sources said, adding the militant is being interrogated. 10 accused escape,
identified Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 20: A college student and former president of MAM college Paramjit Singh son of Gurmukh Singh alias Jumbo was stabbed and critically wounded by a group of 10 miscreants near his house in Nanak Nagar last night. None of the accused has been arrested so far. Police said the miscreants, who had laid a naka for Jumbo, over-powered him when he was moving towards his house in Sector No. 10 at Nanak Nagar. Two miscreants inflicted deep stab wounds on the person of Jumbo after others over-powered him and gave him a severe thrashing. Presuming Jumbo dead, the miscreants fled from the spot and disappeared in a by lane. Local people who saw the murderous assault on the youth immediately informed police. A police party from Gandhi Nagar police station rushed to the spot and removed the injured to Medical College hospital from where he was referred to Post Graduate Institute (PGI) of Chandigarh in view of his critical condition. Police said all accused involved in the murderous assault have been identified. They include Parveen Singh, Nirmal Singh, Kirpal Singh alias Kirpali, Ved Kumar alias Veda, Sonu, and Bilu. Police was carrying out massive search operations in suspected hideouts of the miscreants but none of them had been arrested so far. Some suspects have been rounded up by the police to reach to the accused. Police said both the parties had old enmity having origin at MAM college where all of them were students last year. Jumbo had attacked a student and wounded him inside the college premises last year. Meanwhile, Satwari police today arrested a burglar Ramesh Lal of Bishnah and an absconder Ram Lal of Satwari during two separate search operations. The arrests were made by a police party headed by SHO Satwari Mr Showkat Khan. Our Kathua correspondent adds: A pedestrian Mansa Ram son of Thoru Ram of Barnoti was knocked to death by a Maruti Van No. 1121 JK02D at Barnoti near Hiranagar yesterday. The accused driver fled from the spot leaving behind his Van which has been seized by the police. Kathua police also arrested two drug peddlers Ajar Kumar and Angrez Singh and recovered opium from their possession. The arrests were made by a police team led by SI Mr Vijay Singh. 9 devotees wounded in grenade explosion near Hazratbal SRINAGAR, Nov 20 : At least nine devotees sustained splinter injuries when militants exploded a powerful grenade near the shrine of Hazratbal on the outskirts of Srinagar this afternoon, police said. Militants targeted the grenade at a security vehicle at Malbagh near the Hazratbal Shrine around 1515 hours, but it exploded on the road near a security forces Medical camp injuring the nine who were coming out of the shrine after offering Friday prayers, the police said. The explosion triggered panic among the people who ran helter-skelter. Police brought the situation under control and intensified patrolling in the area. The injured were given medical aid in a camp set up outside the shrine premises on the occasion of ‘Shab-e-Mehraj’. Thousands of devotees from all parts of Kashmir valley visit Hazratbal on the occasion and the Government had declared today a holiday.(PTI) J&K seeks Rs 100-cr grant for sick units Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Nov 18: Jammu & Kashmir has sought a special grant of Rs 100 crore to be used as a corpus fund for rehabilitation of sick units in the State which have potential for revival. The State Minister for Industries and Commerce, Mr Bodh Raj Bali, during an hour-long meeting with the Union Minister for Industrial Development, Mr Sikander Bakht, here today, took up certain outstanding issues concerning industrial development in the State. Mr Bali impressed upon the Union Minister to release Rs 14,87 crore to enable the State to pay outstanding claim on account of Central Outright Investment Subsidy (CDIS) to eligible investors in pursuance of the Supreme Court order of 5 December 1995. He also pleaded for providing Rs 9.5 crore payable as investment subsidy on an investment of Rs 53.47 crore made by entrepreneurs between 1988-95. The State Minister also sought the intervention of Mr Bakht for extension of central transport subsidy upto year 2007 as has been done in respect of North-Eastern States. He also sought extension of package announced for North Eastern States to the Jammu and Kashmir State as well. In this regard he raised the issues of funding the development of growth centres, Integrated Industrial Development Centres (IIDC), Export Promotion Industrial Parks (EPIP) and re-introduction of CDIS in respect of industries located in growth centres, IIDC and EPIP. The Union Minister agreed that in view of prolonged turmoil in the State, Jammu and Kashmir needed a special dispensation. He assured that all the issued raised by Mr Bali would be considered expeditiously. Urs of Sai Mitha Paji celebrated near LoC SRINAGAR, Nov 20 : Hundreds of devotees celebrated with religious fervour the Urs of Sai Mitha Paji at a small Army post near the Line of Control in Kashmir’s Kupwara district as they were unable to visit the tomb of the saint in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) due to restrictions put by Pakistan. The eight-day Urs which concluded yesterday was organised by the Army at the post to honour the religious sentiments and faith of locals who till 1988 used to pay obeisance but have been denied permission thereafter by Pakistani authorities following border tension and spurt in militancy in Kashmir. The Army since last year has started organising the festival near its post, at a place where the tomb of Fatima Bibi, sister of Sai Mitha Paji, existed. The Urs served as a unique example of national integration as troops from the Assam regiment turned out to be the benefactors of the local populace by facilitating their religious desire to offer obeisance to their revered saint and thereby seek his blessings. The Urs is being celebrated annually for the last 60 years in the third week of November with the locals believing that the blessings of Pir Baba cure diseases like deafness, dumbness, paralysis and contagious diseases like leprosy.(PTI) CVC bans post-tender negotiations NEW DELHI,Nov 20 : In a major step aimed at eliminating corruption, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has banned, with immediate effect all post-tender negotiations by Government departments and Public Sector Units (PSUs) except in case of deals with lowest tenders. In another significant move, the CVC also decided to allow junior officers to furnish copies of their observations concerning vigilance matters directly to CVC for follow up action. In a press note the Commission said that in its new incarnation as a statutory body it has prescribed certain other directions in addition to scrapping of the post-tender negotiations to all Government departments, PSUs, nationalised banks, insurance companies and other organisations. These significant measures would ensure creation of a culture of honesty among junior officers, greater transparency in all areas of administration and speedy and quick finalisation of departmental inquiries in corruption cases, it said. The ban on post-tender negotiations was the most far reaching direction issued to tackle the "monster of corruption" and effective system in the tendering process. On allowing junior officers to directly report to the CVC on any vigilance matter, Chief Vigilance Commissioner N Vittal said this would encourage junior officers, who would generally not be as corruption-minded as those who have been part of a corrupt system, to remain honest. Such a step would also help in checking whether the organisations were taking deterrent action against corrupt officials promptly, Vittal said, adding that such references made by the junior officers would not amount to an act of indiscipline. The information sent by junior officers would be computerised and followed up with concerned departments. However, frivolous complaints or references by junior officers would be viewed adversely, he added. Stating that almost 3,000 of the 5,300 cases were pending departmental enquiries for over six months, the note said the CVC had prescribed a time-limit for conducting of enquiries on a day-to-day basis and directed all organisations to immediately review the pending cases. All departments and PSUs have also been directed to appoint honest retired officers for conducting enquiries to be completed in six months, the note said. The names of retired officers would have to be cleared by the CVC, which will also issue advertisements for empanelling such officers on an all-India basis who could supplement the inquiry officers in the concerned departments or PSUs. Stating that one of major causes for delay in departmental probe was due to repeated adjournments, the CVC directed that not more than two adjournments should be given in any case so that the time-limit for six months for such probe could be observed. The investigating officers or the disciplinary authorities or the Chief Vigilance officers would be accountable for the strict compliance of the Commission’s instructions, the note said. On lack of transparency in administration, the CVC has directed that a practice must be adopted by all organisations to publicise on the notice board and in publications matters relating to award of contracts, exercise of discretion relating to out-of-turn facilities and privileges. This process of publicity would create greater transparency and provide an automatic check of corruption-induced decisions or undue favours, it said.(PTI) India, US talks fail to achieve any breakthrough BONN, Nov 20 : India and United States today failed to achieve any breakthrough in narrowing down their differences on disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation with New Delhi asserting that there was no change in its stand on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) issue. During the two-day talks in Rome held as part of the ongoing bilateral dialogue on nuclear issue, the US delegation led by Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott was categorically told that there was no change in India’s stand on CTBT as reflected by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s commitment for speedy conclusion of discussions towards signing the treaty. Prime Minister’s Special envoy Jaswant Singh, heading the Indian delegation, made New Delhi’s position clear on the issue when American side enquired as to what was his Government’s latest position on signing the CTBT, official sources told PTI over Ponefrm the Italian capital. The sources indicated that there was no fresh pressure from the US for signing the CTBT after it partially lifted sanctions against India. During the talks which lasted for eight hours spread over two days in a downtown hotel in Rome, the Indian side voiced serious concern over Washington’s decision to place on its entities list over 200 Indian private and Public Companies which will be subjected to export restrictions and embargoes and denied access to International Financial Institutions. According to a joint statement issued at the end of the talks, Washington described the circumstances that will enable the two countries to "transcend" such difficulties that currently exist. The two delegations agreed to meet for the eighth time in January next in New Delhi after India’s May nuclear tests as they described the Rome meeting as "constructive" hoping it will contribute to an atmosphere that will facilitate further progress in establishing the "positive environment" that the two sides seek to achieve. While reviewing issues relating to disarmament, non-proliferation, bilateral relations and international development, Talbott and Jaswant Singh received and discussed an "extensive" report on the recent meeting in New Delhi on nuclear export control mechanisms between officials of the countries. They were of the view that the export control talks were "deemed helpful" to the prospect of continuing cooperation in this area. These talks were billed as an exercise to fill the information gaps and to provide inputs for the ongoing bilateral political dialogue. Official sources said the Foreign Secretary K Raghunath briefed the American side in detail the full cycle of Indo-Pak talks on all issues including the Indian proposals on a package of confidence building measures in the conventional weapons, nuclear and missile field. The sources replied in the negative when asked if the US made any suggestion that India and Pakistan discuss a bilateral nuclear accord to ease tensions in the region. Raghunath, Joint Secretaries in the Americas and disarmament divisions in the External Affairs Ministry Aloke Prasad and Rakesh Sood and the Indian Ambassador to the US Naresh Chandra were also part of the Indian delegation. The US delegation included Assistant Secretary of State Karl Inderfurth and a member of the Security Council Bruce Riedel. It is for the second time that the ongoing dialogue is being held outside Washington and New Delhi. The two delegations once met at an undisclosed venue in Frankfurt for two days on July nine.(PTI) DB stays Single Bench order in Sahab Bandagi case Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 20: The Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Mr Justice T S Doabia and Mr Justice Arun Kumar Goel today stayed the order of the Single Bench by which Sahab Bandagi chief Girdhar Anand Paramhans was permitted to enter Akhnoor and the order of the District Magistrate was quashed. The order of the Single Judge Mr Justice R C Gandhi of November 6, 1998 was challenged by the State Government, Additional District Magistrate Jammu and Police authorities by way of an appeal through Advocate Rahul Pant. On October 3, 1998, the authorities had prohibited Madhu Paramhans from entering Akhnoor tehsil following certain controversy over the display of a banner and the clash thereof between two sects. The order was then challenged by one Rattan Singh, secretary of Swami Girdhar Anand Paramhans Sant Ashram and Mr Justice Gandhi had allowed the petition by setting the order of the Additional District Magistrate. The Justice had held that the curbs laced on the movement of Sahab Bandagi Guru was unwarranted, illegal and against the provisions of the law. The Division Bench today issued notice for admission of the appeal for November 27 and as no one appeared for the caveater (respondent) and after hearing the counsel for the appellant, stayed the order of the Single Bench. The appellants in their appeal had referred to the law and order situation created in tehsil Akhnoor over the objectionable banner which had the tendency to spread in other parts of Jammu province and as such, order of his ban was passed on the basis of the reports with the concerned authority. It was further mentioned that the situation can take ugly turn if Sahab Bandagi Guru was not restrained as Sanatani Hindus were already planning to revive their agitation and as such there was apprehension that the situation can take a reverse turn. Satish Chandra appointed JIC chairman NEW DELHI, Nov 20: India’s High Commissioner in Pakistan Satish Chandra was today appointed Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC), which will be the secretariat of the high-powered National Security Council (NSC) headed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. A day after the establishment of the Council, Government announced the appointment of Chandra, a 1965 batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service. JIC is one of the three wings of the NSC. The other two units are Strategic Policy Group and National Security Advisory Board. An official spokesman told reporters that the JIC would be suitably revamped to meet the demands of its new role. The NSC will undertake a strategic defence review which is part of the national agenda of the BJP-led Government and also recommend long-term policy options. The members of the NSC will be: Ministers for Home, Defence, External Affairs and Finance and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission. The National Security Advisory Board will consist of persons of eminence from outside the Government covering expertise in external security, strategic analysis, foreign affairs, defence, armed forces, internal security, science and technology and economics. The names of the Board members will be announced shortly, the spokesman said. (PTI) India, Pak to discuss power sale NEW DELHI, Nov 20: Sale of power from Pakistan to India will come up for discussion when experts from the two countries meet in Islamabad from November 24 to 27, it was officially announced here today. Another team of experts from India would visit Pakistan from December one to four to hold parleys for finalising an agreement as also commercial and operational details for the direct bus service from Delhi to Lahore and Lahore to Delhi, an External Affairs Ministry release said. During the recent second phase of the composite Indo-Pak dialogue on economic and commercial cooperation and friendly exchanges in various fields, it was agreed that technical level discussions will be held between the two sides on these issues. The decision to launch the two-way bus service was taken by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif when the two met in New York in September on the fringes of the UN general assembly session. Islamabad’s offer to sell 2000 MW surplus power to India, which was raised during the discussions here, is being viewed as a significant step forward in enhancing trade and economic ties between the two countries. (PTI) |