RTO,
another officer flee during raids Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 25: Vigilance Organisation today raided the office of RTO at Ware House this afternoon and arrested six persons—three officials and three agents—red handed while taking graft from the people for issuing them driving licenses and registration numbers. The Vigilance sleuths seized a large quantity of incriminating documents from the office and residential premises of the arrested officials and agents, which were also raided late this evening. The Organisation has seized over Rs 35,000 cash from the possession of arrested persons. RTO Mr Krishan Lal Sharma fled from the office anticipating his arrest when the raid was being conducted, a spokesman of Vigilance Organisation said. The arrested persons have been identified as Kewal Krishan and Mohd Salim, both Senior Assistants and Rajiv Kumar Gupta, a Junior Assistant in the RTO office, Harvinder Singh, Tarlochan Singh and Som Dutt, all private agents. Kewal Krishan was son-in-law of a former RTO while Rajiv Gupta was son of a Private Secretary of a Cabinet Minister. The spokesman said a high level team of Vigilance Organisation carried out a full-fledged raid at RTO’s office this afternoon in the presence of a Magistrate and witnesses. The raid was planned on the basis of countless complaints being received at Organisation’s office that RTO staff was openly demanding graft for issuing licenses, registration numbers of choice and other office work pertaining to transport. He said the Vigilance sleuths verified the allegations on their own and found them true as it was a ‘free-for-all’ situation in the RTO office as far as gratification was concerned as the entire brass of senior officers was also involved in the corrupt practices. After confirming the allegations, the Vigilance raided the RTO office and arrested three officials and three private agents red-handed while taking gratification from the local people for issuing them driving licenses (without completing the required formalities) and registration numbers of their choice. The entire record pertaining to issuance of licenses, registration numbers and other transport related work has been seized by the Vigilance Organisation. The spokesman said when the Vigilance sleuths arrested the officials and private agents and seized the record, the RTO Mr Krishan Lal Sharma fled from his office anticipating his arrest also. Another senior officer posted in RTO office also managed to give a slip to the raiding officials and fled away. The entire operation, which was described as ‘very successful’, lasted two and a half hour, the spokesman said, adding the arrested persons have been shifted to police station of the Vigilance Organisation for interrogation. The seized record has also been brought to Vigilance office for verifications. The spokesman said immediately after the arrest of officials and private agents, the Vigilance Organisation raided their residences at different places within the City limits and seized a large quantity of incriminating documents, which will go a long way in establishing the "syndicate of corrupt officials and officers" in the RTO Department. Sources said the arrested persons during their preliminary interrogation revealed that some senior officers of the Department were also directly involved in encouraging corruption in the RTO office. They also named the officers whom they used to pay a part of gratification amount daily for getting the illegal works done without any delay. The Organisations sources declined to name these officers on the ground that it might hamper their further investigations in the case. However, they said, the Organisation was collecting all evidence before laying their hands on these officers. "We are on the job. Each and every accused will be booked and case against him taken to logical conclusion. There is no question of any officer, whatever high position he may be holding, to go scot free", the sources said, adding a high level team has already started hectic investigations in the case. About Rs 35,000 seized from the arrested persons was corruption of just a day which was self-explanatory of the working of RTO office. The amount collected through gratification used to be disbursed among all the concerned officers and staff daily in the evening, the sources said. He said the documents seized from the office revealed that staff of RTO office was issuing driving licenses without taking trial of the license holder after charging a fixed sum. The Vigilance sleuths recovered a large number of blank licenses which were ready for issuance but names of the bearers hadn’t been filled. Besides, some blank medical forms attested by the doctors were also seized from the office. "This was a height of illegal and corrupt practices which were going on in the RTO office with the active connivance of RTO. Infact, such grave irregularities and bunglings can’t take place without direct involvement of higher ups", they said, adding the Vigilance has decided to write to Transport Minister and other concerned officers to take Departmental action also against these officers. Sources said the officials had also left registration numbers from one to 50 of new registration number JK02K open and started registration from 50 onwards. These registration numbers had to be allotted after charging a specific amount. In fact, the Department officials used to charge a fixed amount for all important registration numbers. Other seized record was still being studied in the Organisation’s office and more irregularities and bunglings were likely to be unearthed, the sources said, adding some more arrests were expected on the basis of continued investigations and interrogation of the arrested officers. |
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Pak terms Jammu border as disputed From B L Kak NEW DELHI, Nov 25: Pakistan is reported to have directed its troops stationed across the International Border in Jammu region not to permit Indian Army and Border Security Force (BSF) to undertake any "defensive" construction activity anywhere close to the border, which will not be in accordance with Islamabad's standpoint refusing to accept the Jammu border as the International Border. The directive obviously has been occassioned by the allegation from the intelligence wing of Pakistan Rangers about the secret activity by Indian Army and BSF personnel aimed at making available at several places close to the International Border "defensive" structures. Even as the Indian delegation, during its meeting at Lahore with the Pakistan team, made it abundantly clear that Indians were free to operate in their own territory on this side of the International Border at their own will, Islamabad, barely a day after the conclusion of the talks, reminded its troops that the Jammu border was a disputed line of control dividing the two countries in this area. And hardly had the ink dried on the agreement between the two countries not to fire on the civilian population across the borders in the Jammu sector when Pakistan was reported by intelligence specialists to have instructed its troops stationed across Jammu's International Border not to hesitate to use force in the event of Indians being noticed in activities that are to run counter to Islamabad's stand that the Jammu border "is not an International Border." Pakistan-watchers, though satisfied by the India-Pakistan agreement, seem hesitant to attach much importance to it, considering the fact that the Pakistani delegation, which was led by Major General Samiullah, Director-General of Pak Rangers, merely held out an assurance that the Pak forces will not fire on the civilian population and will share information with the Indian side on trans-border drug trafficking. It was for obvious strategic reasons that the Pakistani team as the Lahore talks pursued the path of least resistance, even as, on more than one occasion, Pakistani officials were found somewhat displeased by call-a-spade-a-spade choice of operations adopted by the head of the Indian delegation, Mr Avtar Singh, Punjab Frontier Inspector-General of BSF, and Mr VC Chhabra, Jammu Frontier Inspector-General of BSF. Both these officials, who had fully equipped themselves with the data with regard to the "provocative" activities of Pakistanis close to the International Border in Jammu region, came across little difficulty while effectively countering Pakistani team's objections to certain incidents of Indian firing in the area in recent months. In fact, at one stage, as the talks progressed, Mr VC Chhabra cited a few instances to substantate his objections to the firing by the Pak Rangers on BSF flag parties along the border. The Pakistani team also yielded ground when the Indian delegation expressed itself against the use of certain "hot" expressions by Pakistan in the original text of the agreement. This was immediately followed by the preparation of the new text of the agreement. The Pakistani side also avoided entering into any heated arguments when Indian officials let it be known that the BSF jawans were invariably provoked by Pakistani soldiers to fire in retaliation. The Indian team also had a strategic move as it avoided tit-for-tat exercise when Pakistani officials expressed themselves against the question of erecting barbed-wire fence by India along the International Border in Jammu region. India's reference to the question obviously was meant only to convey to Pakistan that New Delhi had not completely abondoned its plan to have the barbed-wire fence in the Jammu sector. And the Pak team also got the opportunity to convey to the Indian side Islamabad's unabated opposition to the idea of sealing the Jammu border to suit the requirements of the forces on this side. The Lahore meeting, though held in a "cordial" atmosphere, has not placed any specific restrictions on the Pak Army and Rangers. Hence, all the more reason for Pakistan-watchers to point out that the prevailing lull along Jammu's International Border is quite unlikely to last long. One sided SHRC report on Sailan massacre Excelsior Special Correspondent Jammu, Nov 26: The report of State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) regarding the much published Sailan massacre, which implicated three Special Police Officials working with Army's 9 Para unit seems to be only a one-sided version of the carnage. Defence sources said, "that the Commission has not presented the fact in the right perspective and the 19 pages 'highly confidential' report was only one side of the story". Discounting the claims of the Commission, sources said that while the report had blamed three Special Police Officers (SPOs) for carrying out the carnage, it didn't investigate into the details of the SPOs and their whereabouts. "The fact remains that on the fateful day 9 Para party, which was then located at Bafliaz had no SPOs present in its camp. Out of the three SPOs, who were supposed to be with the army unit, Zakir Hussain was killed by a group of militants near Sailan bridge on August 3 and two others were out of station", the sources said. Dwelling further on the subject, sources said, "that the said report claims to have served notices to the Army unit through Superintendent of Police (SP) regarding the incident and even alleges that troops refused to accept the notices. But, the fact was that the Commission didn't make any effort to contact any army officer through summons or notices. Sources said that curfew was in vogue on the ill - fated night and therefore, there was little possibility of eye - witnesses present at the place of the incident. But, the Commission claimed that it examined approximately eight eye witnesses. "Even, the Chief Minister during his visit to the site of carnage had admitted that there was no eyewitness except for the boy, who was the lone survivor of the killing," the sources said. While the report castigates the Army for not coming for help despite being located at a short distance of 200 metres, source remarked, "that the nearest Army post was located at Said Babker, approximtely 700 metres away from Sailan and it takes about 45 minutes to cover this distance. The persons stationed there could not hear the sound of gun shots because the militants had killed all persons inside a room probably using muffled weapon. "The next camp which was near the place of incident was Bafliaz which is nearly 3 Kms and it takes atleast two hours for anyone from Bafliaz to reach Sailan". Sources pointed out that the Commission had also failed to take into consideration the inter - militant group rivalry, which was prevailing in these militancy - prone areas. "There were clear reports that inter- group rivalry between Lashkar - e - Toiba (LET) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) groups and Imtiyaz, who had reportedly changed his loyalty from LET to HM and was even ready to surrender was not liked by the former", sources said adding, "this was also substantiated by the leaflet seized from the site". As for the allegations that security forces assisting the SPOs to avenge the killings, sources said, "there was even no record of Indian Army having gone on rampage to avenge any killings of own persons, leaving aside the SPOs in carrying out these killing to avenge Zakir's death". The Commission also didn't examine and take any cognizance of the records and seizure made by the police from the place of incident, which included 15 fired cases with Pak marking and the leaflets of LET, sources maintained. They said that the Commission probably overlooked certain important facts before drawing out its conclusion. These included the existing order on imposition of night curfew, prevailing law and order situation in Surankote tehsil, the track record of Army's conduct in Counter Insurgency (CI) operations and the seizures made by the local police from the place of incident". Giving recap of the incident, sources maintained, "that the logic behind the killing of Zakir Hussain and subsequently elimination of Imtiaz's family members by the militants was probably the fact that Zakir was arranging for Imtiaz to surrender and Imtiaz willing to do so. The LET leaders somehow got wind of this, hence they killed Zakir and subsequently eliminated the family members of Imtiaz with an aim to dissuade him from surrendering". It may be recalled here that 19 civilians in Surankote town in Poonch were killed during fag end of August.The victims included14 children and mostly were close relatives of Imtiyaz. First Zakir Hussain was killed by militants, and then Imtiyaz was killed. Soon after the incident, the State Government ordered the inquiry into the incident. This was the first incident of massacre in which State Government had ordered the inquiry. Mr Justice (Retd) Kuchai, the Chairman of the State Human Rights Commission was entrusted with the job to submit the report on the incident. LUCKNOW, Nov 25 : Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today hinted at the possibility of mid-term elections in the country as exit polls indicated a rout for BJP in the crucial states of Delhi and Rajasthan in the Assembly polls. The present political situation is pregnant with many possibilities and the coordination committee of BJP and its allies will meet immediately after the results of Assembly elections are announced to assess the post-poll scenario, he told a press conference here. Vajpayee was replying to a question on the possibility of a snap poll in the wake of BJP’s drubbing projected in the exit polls. The Prime Minister said the results of Assembly elections in Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram were not going to affect his Government. Even if the results go against us, this is not going to affect the Government at the centre, he said. Vajpayee asserted his Government enjoyed majority support in Lok Sabha and there was no threat to it. On exit polls’ projections, he said it is premature to comment at this stage. Let the results be out. The coordination committee will meet to decide the future course of action. Vajpayee said spiraling prices of essential commodities was not the major issue in the Assembly polls. This was one of the issues, but not the only one, he said when asked to comment whether the price spiral affected BJP’s prospects at the hustings. Charging the opposition parties with giving a political colour to Saraswati Vandana issue, Vajpayee said he was not in favour of making recitation of Vande Mataram and Saraswati Vandana compulsory in Government-run schools. We cannot impose these, but political parties are trying to give a political colour to the controversy for vested interest. On raids at the Rae Bareli residence of noted Islamic scholar Ali Mian, the Prime Minister said the Uttar Pradesh Government had ordered a high-level inquiry and the guilty would be brought to book. Asserting that the central or state agencies had no role to play in this incident as alleged by the opposition, he said I see a conspiracy to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the country just before the Assembly polls. On Bihar, Vajpayee said the issue of imposition of President’s rule in the state was very much alive. This issue is certainly not in the cold storage. It is still very much alive. All the options are open but we need to deliberate on them further, he said. On Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray’s remarks on Pakistan Cricket team’s coming visit to India, Vajpayee said this was not going to pose any threat to the Shiv Sena-BJP Government in Maharashtra. I have spoken to Thackeray and the issue will be sorted out amicably. (PTI) Three die in poll violence, 55 per cent turnout NEW DELHI, Nov 25: Poll violence claimed three lives even as a moderate 55 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the elections to four state Assemblies today with early exit polls indicating that the Congress is set to wrest Delhi and Rajasthan from BJP, which is slightly ahead of the ruling Congress in Madhya Pradesh. In Mizoram, the opposition combine of Mizo National Front and Mizo Peoples Congress is poised to dislodge the ruling Congress, according to the exit poll conducted by Development and Research Services (DRS) covering a representative cross-section sample of 12,000 voters in 110 Assembly constituencies in four states. Barring a few incidents of voice and booth capturing in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the 10-hour polling in the four states was by and large peaceful. Three persons were killed and 16 others injured as supporters of BJP and Congress exchanged fire at six places in four constituencies in the dacoit-infested Bhi district of Madhya Pradesh. Following attempted booth capturing in Amakheda village in Sironj constituency and Dudma in Kota constituency, repolling was recommended in two booths, Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Ashok Kumar Vijayvargia said. Polling which began on a listless note everywhere picked up as the day wore on with about 50 per cent of the 83.64 lakhs voters registering their preferences in Delhi to elect 69 members. In Mizoram 60 per cent of the 4.45 lakh voters turned out to elect 40-member house, while nearly 55 per cent of the 2.9 crore voters exercised their franchise to choose the 200 members to the Rajashtan Assembly. In Madhya Pradesh out of a total electorate of 4.47 crore 50 per cent cast their votes for the 320-member Assembly. In a poll-related development in Mizoram, Samata Party candidate from Suanpuilawn Assembly constituency A Siama was allegedly abducted by some unidentified persons last night, police said. Incidents of snatching and tearing of ballot papers in attempted booth capturing were reported in three Assembly constituencies in Rajasthan. The incidents were reported in two polling stations at Rupas and Bangore in Laxmangarh constituency, two in Nadbai constituency and four in Jaipur rural constituency, Inspector General of state police H N Meena said. Stray incidents of violence were also reported from several constituencies of Madhya Pradesh. Hari Singh Narwaria, Congress candidate from Mehgaon constituency, was arrested after he opened fire in the air near a polling booth to scare away voters. Polling was, however, not disturbed, state Chief Electoral Officer Ashok Kumar Vijayvargia said. In Gopalpalli village in Bastar area, Naxalites took away a ballot box from Dudma polling station. The ballot box was replaced and polling resumed, he said. In Broach, the lone Lok Sabha seat where a by-election was held today, polling was suspended in Rajgadh polling station in Valia Taluka following bogus voting. Polling for Assembly by-elections were also held for Baruipur, Nandanpur and Mayuraswar in West Bengal, Agra east in Uttar Pradesh, Adampur in Punjab, Baijnath in Himachal Pradesh, Udharbund and Bhahanipur in Assam, and Adapur, Sheohar, Purnea and Koderma in Bihar. According to reports polling was by and large peaceful except for stray incidents of clashes. The three constituencies of West Bengal recorded an average 70 per cent polling, two constituencies in Assam 62.5 per cent, four in Bihar nearly 45 per cent, Agra east in Uttar Pradesh 41 per cent, Adampur in Punjab and Baijnath in Himachal Pradesh 70 per cent each. (PTI) People hold
anti-police demonstration Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Nov 25: A Forest guard was crushed to death by a rashly driven truck at Palli Morh, near here on Jammu-Pathankot National Highway late last night. A Government teacher was knocked down by a speeding bus in the town this evening. The victim has been identified as Kewal Krishan, a resident of village Barnoti and posted at Basohli Morh naka of the Forest Department. Reports said the guard was on way to his house at Barnoti after completing official duty at 2100 hours last night when a rashly driven unidentified truck, trying to overtake another truck, crushed him to death. Truck driver drove the vehicle towards Lakhanpur and fled to Punjab as there was no police naka or patrol party in the area at that time. Reports said dead body of the victim kept lying on the road throughout the last night. It was only in the morning that some passers-by noticed the body lying on the roadside and informed the police. A police party from Kathua police station reached the spot only after getting an information from the people and shifted the dead body to district hospital here where the victim was declared ‘brought dead’. His body was handed over to his family members after post-mortem this afternoon. Reports said over 200 people of Barnoti and adjoining villages today held a demonstration shouting anti-police slogans for alleged negligence of the Police Department due to which dead body kept lying on the road throughout the night and accused driver escaped to Punjab. They were demanding an inquiry into the negligence. SP Kathua Mr R R Swain, when contacted, said it seems the victim had died in the wee hours of the morning. However, Forest officers said the victim had completed his duty at 2100 hours and was crushed to death immediately thereafter. A Government teacher identified as Master Jia Lal son of Shanker Dass of Krishna Colony was knocked to death by a rashly driven bus at PWD Colony on College road here this evening. He was walking on roadside when he was hit from behind by the bus. Bus driver fled from the spot. Local police have registered a case in the accident and was hunting the bus driver. Body of the victim has been shifted to district hospital for post-mortem. Our Jammu correspondent adds: A couple sustained serious burns under mysterious circumstance in their house at Nanak Nagar here today. Reports said a couple identified as Parshotam Lal and Suresh Kumari of Nanak Nagar were shifted to Government Medical College Hospital with serious burn injuries here this morning. Doctors said the man had received 30 percent while his wife sustained 95 percent burns. Condition of Suresh Kumari was reported to be critical. According to Parshotam, his wife sustained serious injuries when her clothes accidentally caught fire while working at home. He said he received injuries while rescuing her. The actual cause behind these injuries is yet to be established. Meanwhile, a 35 years old woman received serious injuries when she was hit by speeding matador bearing number JK02H-8647 at Shastri Nagar. She was immediately shifted to hospital. She has been identified as Sneh Jamwal wife of S S Jamwal of Shastri Nagar. Pak militant killed in Lolab Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Nov 25: While as security forces eliminated a foreign militant in Lolab Valley and an ITBP jawan got injured in a militant offensive near Kokernag, as many as 14 civilians sustained injuries in two different incidents of terrorist violence in Kashmir since last evening. Official sources told EXCELSIOR that troops of Gorkha Rifles eliminated a foreign militant in an encounter in Lolab area of Kupwara district today. One AK-56 rifle was recovered from the site of encounter. Even as the identity of the militant killed was still being ascertained, circumstantial evidence suggested that he was a Pakistani national. Sources said that in an exchange of fire between militants and paramilitary forces near Kokernag at 1500 hours today, one ITBP jawan got injured. While he was rushed to hospital, all the militants -- possibly from Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit -- managed to escape without suffering any damage. Deputy Commissioner of Kupwara Mohammad Yaseen Shah told EXCELSIOR that at 2100 hours last evening, someone threw a hand grenade when a marriage ceremony was being performed at the house of Abdul Khaliq Dar son of Hassan Dar at Jagarpora village near Handwara. The grenade exploded within premises when dinner was being served to the guests. As many as 11 civilians, including the host Khaliq Dar and three cooks, sustained multiple splinter injuries. Immediately after the explosion, troops from the nearby BSF camp rushed to the spot and managed to send all the injured civilians to Sub District Hospital (SDH) Handwara. Four of the critically injured civilians, who were referred to Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura, were identified as Ghulam Hassan Bhat, Abdul Gani Bhat, Abdul Khaliq Dar (host) -- all residents of Jagarpora -- and Ghulam Rasool Gojri of Lolab. SKIMS doctors described Ghulam Hassan Bhat’s condition as "not stable". An injured boy namely Ishfaq Ahmed Sheikh son of Bashir Ahmed Sheikh of Adbug as also Abdul Karim Gujri son of Mohammad Jamal Gujri of Lolab were referred to SMHS Hospital. While as a teacher namely Mohammad Shafi of Wudar was still under treatment at SDH Handwara, Ali Mohammad, Mohammad Sultan Dar and Mohammad Amin Bhat of Jagarpora were discharged from Handwara hospital after necessary medical treatment. Unconfirmed reports said that the host Khaliq Dar was a Block president of the ruling National Conference (NC). DC Kupwara, however, said that he had no information to that effect. He also denied agency reports that militants had again struck at the marriage ceremony with a grenade attack this afternoon. In another incident, militants last evening resorted to indiscriminate firing on a small group of local gamblers at Karfali Mohalla interior in the capital city here. Even as the gamblers managed to escape, three civilians sustained injuries. Two of the injured admitted at SMHS Hospital were identified as Minu, daughter of Abdul Gani and Jan Mohammad. Last evening, militants also hurled a hand grenade towards a Public Call Office (PCO) of Mohammad Amin Shah at Gojwara which exploded and caused damage to the shop. Meanwhile, security forces have recovered 2 HE missiles, 5 remote control devices, 4 detonators and 2 IEDs from Det bridge in Keran sector. Sources said that troops observed the movement of some militants and challenged them to halt. However, all the militants managed to escape, while leaving behind a quantity of explosives which was seized. Security forces also recovered 1 AK-56 rifle, 32 grenades, 20 kg explosive, 1 flame-thrower and 14 batteries at Kundnaar and Pabat forest cover of Kupwara district. One Hizbul Mujahideen militant was captured alongwith an AK-56 rifle at Kalaroos. Militants this evening hurled an explosive device towards the CRPF personnel guarding the concrete bridge at Baramulla town which caused an explosion but failed to harm the paramilitary personnel or the bridge. Re-surfaced Srinagar
Airstrip inaugurated Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, Nov 25: Union Defence Minister George Fernandes today said the results of elections in four states will not be considered as referendum on the Government at the Centre. Elections to the four states and the results could not be a referendum on the Union Government as I think that is stretching any political imagination far too much, he told reporters here after inaugurating the newly re-surfaced 12000 feet long runway at Srinagar Airport. Asked about the impact of the elections on the Central Government, he said, it will have no impact whatsoever, nor can it have any significance in so far as the Government at Delhi is concerned. To a question whether it will be a verdict on his performance, he shot back, not at all, how can something happening in Mizoram be a verdict on Government in Delhi? The Defence Minister said his Samata Party has no alliance with BJP. We don’t have any alliance with BJP we are only a part of seat adjustment between the two parties in two states primarily in Bihar and to some extent in Uttar Pradesh. Elsewhere, we are fighting elections against each other. About the Assembly elections in the four states, he said, Samata Party had been fighting as a nationally recognised party and had candidates fighting against BJP also. Replying to a question regarding holding of talks with separatist leaders over Kashmir, Mr Fernandes said that he has always wanted to have talks but no one has come forward till date for dialogue. He sought to remind that talks are already on in the North East for peace and prosperity of the region and efforts on the same lines have been made in Kashmir but without any success. When told that the Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah has totally ruled out talks with separatists in kashmir, Mr Fernandes stated that the Chief Minister has his own point of view but it was the endeavour of everyone to seek peace and prosperity for the State. When questioned about Pakistan’s objection to India’s Military exercises along the border, the Defence Minister said that he was unaware of it. He revealed that Military exercises are held regularly and Pakistani delegation alongwith their Defence Secretary had recently visited New Delhi but nobody mentioned this type of objection. The strategically important re-surfaced airport has been made traffic worthy for bigger aircrafts including Jumbo jets. After inaugurating the runway the defence Minister lauded the commendable work done by Border Roads Organisation and Air Force personnel to complete the project, which was accomplished within five months at a cost of Rs 12 crore. Mr Fernandes specifically hailed the cooperation extended by the Union Civil Aviation Minister Mr Ananth Kumar and J&K Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, who was also present, for help, cooperation and personal interest in getting the runway upgraded. He expressed satisfaction over quality of work and said "Farooq Abdullah could feel the change in the runway as the aircrafts landed at the resurfaced runway. The airport was closed for air traffic on June 7 this year and temporarily shifted to Awantipora Airbase. Senior Air Force personnel present on the occasion mentioned that before handing over the airport to Airport Authority of India for commercial planes, the IAF Pilots will conduct series of test flight from the renovated runway. They further disclosed that the 150 feet wide runway has been given 6 inch Bituminous and Jumbo Jets including Boeing 474s alongwith fighter planes like Sukhois can easily take off and land on runway. Station Commander, Air Commodore P V Nair while speaking termed the inauguration of resurfaced runway as a proud moment for IAF. Initially constructed by the late Maharaja Hari Singh, Srinagar air-field was taken over from the State Government by Air Force authorities in 1949. The renovated airport is likely to be thrown open for commercial flights by the first week of December. Dozen houses looted
in Poonch Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 25: A civilian was killed in exchange of firing between militants and Army at Mahore in Udhampur district this morning. Militants looted over a dozen houses after attacking Dhanore and Lohavan in Rathal area of Poonch district. Reports received here said that an encounter took place between Army and militants at a village, located about two kms from Mahore. The encounter took place when militants opened firing on an Army patrol party. Reports said the encounter continued for half an hour after which the militants fled from the spot. A civilian was caught in the exchange of firing and was killed. However, there was no casualty on Army side in the encounter. Body of the civilian was evacuated from the encounter site and has been shifted to local hospital for post-mortem. Troops have launched a search operation in the area to trace the militants, who escaped from the scene of encounter. Searches were going on in the area when the last reports came in but no arrest had been made so far. Meanwhile, a police spokesman said, a group of militants attacked Dhanore and Lohavan villages in Rathal area of Poonch district last mid-night and looted over a dozen houses at gun point. The militants took the house inmates at gun point, beat-up some of them and looted their cash, jewellery and other costlier items. Militants fled from the village after over one and a half hour long operation. A police party visited the village this morning and recorded statements of the people. Details of the looted goods were being worked out. Police have registered a case and started searches to trace the accused but no arrest has been made so far. The Vigilance sleuths late tonight raided the house of RTO Mr Krishan Lal Sharma at EP 268 Mohalla Dalpatian but he had gone underground. A top official of Vigilance Organisation told EXCELSIOR that family members of the RTO said he hadn’t reached the house from office so far. Efforts were on to apprehend the RTO who was absconding, he said. He said during investigations it has been established that RTO has amassed huge wealth. He was having three buses including two video coach buses and was running a private finance company. His two kins were studying in Medical colleges at Bangalore where he had paid huge donations for their admissions. He said the Vigilance was also looking for another employee of RTO office identified as Madan Lal and posted in Permit section. The Vigilance official said the RTO escaped from the office by scaling down the wall of his room and disappeared before the sleuths could lay hands on him. 2 Pak soldiers killed in firing JAMMU, Nov 25: Two Pakistani soldiers were killed across the Line of Control (LoC) opposite Kathi area of the Baramulla sector in Kashmir Valley during an exchange of fire with Indian troops last evening, defence sources said here today. Pakistani troops, using light and medium machine guns, opened unprovoked fire on Indian positions in the sector forcing Indian troops to retaliate, the sources said. During the exchange of fire, which continued intermittently between the two sides for several hours, two Pakistani soldiers were killed at a post opposite Kathi area, they said. Exchange of firing between Indian and Pakistani troops also took place at Sarla, Noushera and Kalal areas of Rajouri and Poonch sectors of Jammu division last night. Pakistani troops fired around 7,500 rounds at these places and Indian Army retailated by firing 3,500 rounds, the sources said, adding that no causality had been reported from the Indian side in these areas. Pakistani troops also fired around 18 artillery shells and 30 mortar shells in Kaksar and Batallick areas respectively in Kargil sector on Monday evening without causing any loss to the Indian side, the sources said. (PTI) 300 hospitalised for food poisoning NEW DELHI, Nov 25: At least 300 people, mostly women and children, were hospitalised for food poisoning after they consumed salted snacks distributed at their slum in a South Delhi area early today as police claimed to have got definite clues about the culprits. Congress and BJP blamed each other for distributing the ‘namkeen’ in the Gautam Nagar slum and demanded a thorough probe into the incident. The Congress also demanded a repoll for Hauz Khas Assembly seat under which the slum falls, saying the incident was ‘engineered’ to prevent their supporters in the area from voting in the constituency where Chief Minister Sushma Swaraj is contesting. While most of the affected taken to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Safdarjung Hospital were discharged after regular check up and necessary treatment, some of them were still being treated. Claiming definite clues about those who distributed the snacks, Joint Commissioner of Police (Southern range) Amod Kanth said the culprits are likely to be nabbed soon. A special team has been formed to probe the incident. (PTI) Sharif for US mediation to solve Kashmir issue ISLAMABAD, Nov 25: Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today said he would urge the U.S to play a mediatory role between India and Pakistan for resolving the Kashmir issue, which he termed as the root cause of economic and political problems in the region. U.S can play key role in the resolution of Kashmir issue, Sharif, who is due to meet US President Bill Clinton in Washington on December two, told reporters here. Besides Kashmir, Sharif is also likely to discuss nuclear non-proliferation and peace and security in the South Asia with President Clinton. I had also discussed the issue (Kashmir) with the US President during my last meeting on the sidelines of general Assembly session, Sharif said. India has firmly rejected Pakistani demand for a third party mediation and stressed that all issues will be solved only bilaterally by New Delhi and Islamabad. Both the countries resumed their bilateral dialogue process in mid-October after a gap of 13 months. Though no significant progress has been made so far, the two sides will meet again in February next year. (PTI) Counterfeit currency factory unearthed ALLAHABAD, Nov 25: An inter-state gang’s illegal factory engaged in printing fake currency notes was today unearthed with the arrest of three members of the gang, a top police official said here. Police also recovered finished and unfinished counterfeit notes in the denominations of Rs 100 and Rs 500 along with costly dyes, different kind of colours, a huge quantity of costly papers and silvery thread used for printing such notes, area Police Chief Promod Kumar Tewari told reporters. He said with the recovered materials, at least five crore fake notes could be made. The seized notes resembled real notes, he said, adding the modus operandi of the gang was that they used to change the place of operation to escape from police trap. Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh Police were searching for this gang and conducted many raids, including in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, he added. (PTI) |