1330 perform darshan of Ice Lingam
Security enroute Amarnath Shrine further tightened

Excelsior Correspondent

PAHALGAM, Aug 12: As the Amarnath Yatra is considerably picking up, the authorities have further strengthened the security measures enroute the Cave Shrine to deal with any eventuality.

According to an official spokesman a heavy contingent of J&K police and CRPF have been deployed right from Khanabal in Anantnag district to the Holy Cave for maintaining a round the clock vigil. Tight security measures have been taken at all haltage points of Yatra including Mattan, Seer, Ashmuqam, Langan Bal, Batkoot, Sadhu Padav, Achnar and Sislan.

Besides this the deployment of police and CRPF personnel have also been made at the vital bridges from Anantnag to Pahalgam. All these bridges are guarded round the clock by the police personnel, he added.

Giving further details, he said in addition to Jawans of J&K Police one Platoon of CRPF has been engaged at Khanabal alone. In addition to this, a big contingent of Police and CRPF have been deployed at Base Camp Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Sheshnag, Panchtarni and Holy Cave, he said.

The spokesman said the other haltage points were the deployment of police and CRPF jawans have been necessitated include Mahaguns Top, Peesu Top, Posh Pathri and Zojebal.

Meanwhile, he said with the arrival of a fresh batch of 2778 Yatris here from Jammu today the total number of pilgrims reaching Kashmir valley has touched 66,000.

Out of this 51,750 Yatris have performed the darshan of Icy Lingam at the Holy Cave situated at an altitude of 1350 feet, he said, adding 39,000 pilgrims returned to their homes upto today’s morning after performing the darshan.

He said a batch of 3015 Yatris left Base Camp for the Chandanwari early in the morning today. This batch after a night haltage at Chandanwari will leave for the Sheshnag early tomorrow.

He said another batch of 2063 pilgrims left Chandanwari to Sheshnag while 3341 yatris left Sheshnag to Panchtarni. A group of 745 who had reached Chandanwari after performing darshan left for Pahalgam today, the spokesman added.

He said as per the latest reports 1330 Yatris had performed darshan upto 2pm today, while 3373 pilgrims had darshan of Icy Lingam yesterday.

The Spokesman said one Yatri namely Sublesh Narain, 26, son of Narain Bayer of Posha Bai-Alora, Daroda in Gujarat died following acute cardiac arrest at Panchtarni yesterday. He was cremated there in presence of his wife who later was sent back to her home by authorities.

He said it was drizzling both at Sheshnag and Holy Cave today while the weather was overcast by clouds at Pahalgam and Chandanwari.

Our Jammu Correspondent adds: 17th batch of 2778 Yatris comprising of 2443 males, 318 females and 17 children left the M A Stadium Jammu early in the morning today despite a heavy downpour.

The Yatris who left in a cavalcade of 161 vehicles under a tight security reached the Base Camp late in the evening.

This batch according to an official spokesman will leave for the next destination early in the morning tomorrow provided the track from Pahalgam to Holy Cave will be clear.

Appointment of 180 Class-IV employees
Vigilance produces challan against 12 doctors

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 12: Vigilance Organisation today presented a challan before the Court of Special Judge Anti-corruption Srinagar against 12 doctors for making illegal appointments of 180 Class-IV employees besides promoting various in-eligible employees in violation of the rules and the regulations.

These doctors include Chief Medical Officer ,Block Medical Officers and a District hospital Superintendent.

The case owes its origin to a complaint received by the Vigilance, alleging therein that the then Chief Medical Officer Baramulla, in conspiracy with various BMOs had appointed 180 persons as Class-IV employees against the monetary benefits . Some officials, considered to be in-eligible, were also promoted by flouting the rules on the subject.

The doctors have been identified as then CMO Baramulla, Saif-ud-Din Khan, Dr Farooq Ahmad Malik, then BMO Bandipora, Dr Mohd Sultan Wani, then Superintendent Baramulla District Hospital, Dr Mohd Ashraf Bhat, former BMO Pattan, Dr Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Wani, then BMO Hajan, Dr Abdul Rashid Wani, ex-BMO Danbgiwacha, Dr Alim-ud-Din Bhat, then BMO Tangmarg, Dr Joginder Singh Wazir, then BMO Kreeri, Dr Ghulam Jeelani Kababi,then BMO Kreeri, Dr Ghulam Hassan Malik, former BMO Sopore,Dr Ghulam Nabi Lone ,then Block Officer Sopore and then Block Officer Uri, Dr Nazir-ud-Din Shwal .

The investigation conducted by the Vigilance revealed that Dr Saif-ud-Din Khan ,the then CMO Baramulla had hatched a criminal conspiracy with BMOs of Bandipora, Pattan, Hajan, Danbgiwacha, Tangmarg, Kreeri, Sopore and other officers and in pursuance of criminal conspiracy issued appointment orders to 180 persons. It was revealed that the appointment and promotion orders were issued in violation and the accused persons had allowed the beneficiaries to join the department and drew their salaries knowing that the orders were illegal and in violation of the rules governing appointments of various categories of the posts.

The investigation prima facie established a case of conspiracy under the Corruption Act. The Government agreeing with the investigation, accorded the prosecution sanction in respect of all the 12 accused doctors, on receipt of which challan before the Court of Special -Judge Anti-Corruption Srinagar was presented against them for judicial determination.

ASI’s kin, shopkeeper injured
Two blasts rock Banihal

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 12: Two powerful explosions rocked Banihal tehsil in Doda district today wounding a shopkeepers and a child and causing extensive damage to a shop in Banihal’s main market.

According to a police spokesman, a blast rocked the shop of one Tariq Ahmed son of Asad-ullah in main market of Banihal town at 0845 hours. A major portion of the shop was blown up with the impact of blast. The shopkeeper, Tariq and a kid of ASI Ghulam Mohd, posted in ministerial staff of SDPO office Banihal were seriously injured in the explosion.

A police party from Banihal police station accompanied by para-military personnel rushed to the site of explosion and sealed the entire area on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway from where Amarnath yatra was also scheduled to pass later in the day. The injured were admitted in the sub district hospital of Banihal.

The spokesman said during searches carried out in the area, police recovered one ball-type IED cover with a thick plastic cover with coil ignition from the shop of Tariq Ahmed. Some material of crackers and splinters were also seized from the spot.

Police immediately took injured Tariq Ahmed into custody at the hospital itself and questioned him soon after he regained consciousness. The spokesman said Tariq couldn’t give any satisfactory reply about the recovery of a live bomb from his shop and, as such, has been formally arrested.

Since the convoy of Amarnath pilgrimage passes through Banihal, falling on the National Highway, police suspects that Tariq might have kept two IEDs at his shop for planting them on the highway at the time of yatra convoy. However, one IED exploded prematurely in his shop and the second one was recovered by the police.

A case has been registered in this connection and further investigations were on. Security has been further beefed up on the National Highway to protect Amarnath yatra convoy.

Another explosion occurred at 0730 hours at an isolated area between Manjoos and Kathari in Banihal tehsil. But, no loss of life or property was reported in these two explosions. Police reached the spot for investigations.

Meanwhile, in another militancy-related incident in Doda district, militants fired upon a post of Special Police Officer (SPO) at Hariana in Thanda Pani area of Assar. The SPOs retaliated. The exchange of firing between the two sides continued for over two hours after which the militants fled leaving behind some arms and ammunition.

No casualty was reported on SPOs side. In the morning, additional reinforcement of police and army was dispatched to the spot to conduct searches for the absconding militants. However, reports said, the militants had managed to escape deep into the forest area and remained untraced.

A truck No. 4411 JK02A on way to Srinagar rolled down into Digdol nullah at Ramban today killing conductor Farooq Ahmed on the spot and wounding driver Bachan Singh of Gala Chasana.

India ready to face any problem
No chances of war : George

NEW DELHI, Aug 12: Defence Minister George Fernandes today discounted the possibility of a war between India and Pakistan but maintained if there is any problem, we are prepared to face it.

We are not on the brink of a war and I don’t feel there is any type of threat (from Pakistan), Fernandes told reporters here when asked if a war could break out between the two countries as both possessed nuclear weapons.

On the reported statement of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that the shooting down of their naval aircraft by Indian Air Force was highly barbaric, he said instead of passing such remarks, Sharif should have reined in his own people. We have done only what is provided for as per international laws.

Fernandes did not agree to a suggestion that the situation was getting out of control. Everything is in control. After Kargil, why Pakistan intruded into our airspace is for them to explain. But it is not a new situation.... Let us face it, he said.

On the possibility of resumption of Indo-Pak talks, Fernandes made it clear that it would be possible only when aggression stopped. It is not that talks are being pushed back. Talks can’t start till the situation improves, he said.

The Defence Minister explained that when one speaks of respecting the Line of Control (LoC), it does not mean verbal respect.

When Pakistan was forced to withdraw from Kargil and go beyond the LoC, we did not mean the LoC only in Kargil sector, but the entire Line of Control. That LoC is transgressed everyday by Pakistan....Many lives are being lost. This is being done everyday, he said.

Stating that Pakistani infiltrators and mercenaries were creating disturbances in India, he said Pakistan should stop this.

He charged Islamabad with violating the country’s air space many times. They have escaped in the past. This time they have been caught, he remarked.

Asked to comment on Pakistan’s warning that they would create ten Kargils, the Defence Minister said the point is we should be prepared to tackle it.

To another question, he said the developments on the Indo-Pak border would not have a bearing on the country’s parliamentary elections. (PTI)

No facilities despite hectic duty
Continued deployment telling on BSF jawans' health

BARAMULLA, Aug 12: Continued deployment of Border Security Force (BSF) personnel on Internal Security Duty (ISD) in the Valley without rest for upto three years, lack of basic facilities and prolonged separation from their families are telling upon their health, say force officials.

Units of BSF, operating in the Valley since early 1989-90, have been shifting from one place to another to plug the gaps as well as voids created by the shifting of Army and Rashtriya Rifle units from one place to another.

Besides being engaged in counter-insurgency operations, it is the personnel of the force who are primarily responsible for sanitising and maintaining a vigil on the roads which link the state’s sensitive districts including Srinagar, Baramulla, Badgam and Kupwara.

No proper accommodation is available. In most places we have improvised accommodation while at some places houses of Kashmiri Pandits who have migrated from the Valley have been taken over to house company headquarters and battalion headquarters but they are all scattered which is a security hazard, A S Mangat, Inspector General, BSF, Baramulla told visiting journalists from Delhi recently.

What is worse, even in cities like Srinagar, the Johnnies as the jawans are called, are living in bunkers which are most uncomfortable and where even hygiene and sanitation cannot be ensured, he said.

Even then, our officers and men have been braving all odds and have done very well in the discharge of their day to day duties without caring for their personal comforts, Mangat said.

Road vigilance, duties sometime extending upto 18 hours a day, take the maximum toll on the men who do not get rest or time for even washing their uniforms.

According to an official in Uri, a jawan was drowned in the Jhelum last week when he stole some time during duty hours to take a bath, which he did not have for days together.

Another major factor contributing to the physical and psychological fatigue of the force is the prolonged separation from their families, sometimes extending upto three years.

Officers and men cannot live with their family and children because of the tense situation and bad living conditions, Mangat said.

He said unlike in the Army, no separation allowance is admissible in the BSF.

The Union Government, he said, had sometime back decided to compensate Central Government staff in Kashmir by extending certain pay and allowances as admissible to their counterparts in North-East, but while applying it to Kashmir its scope was confined to all India service officials, IAS and IPS.

Thereby the very purpose of extending these facilities has not been achieved, Mangat added. (PTI)

Nissar Khan’s house attacked in Mendhar

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 12: Militants opened firing on the house of Agriculture Minister Mr Nissar Ahmed Khan at Mendhar late last night but their attack was repulsed by the alert sentries.

Police sources, confirming the attacks, said at about 2210 hours last night, a group of unidentified militants were noticed moving around the house of Mr Khan, who was not present in the house. Militants also fired some shots aiming the Minister’s house.

However, the alert sentries deployed in Minister’s house took positions and returned the firing forcing militants to flee. Police and security officers also rushed to the spot after getting a message of militants’ movement.

Security was tightened in the area and searches were intensified to look for the suspected militants. No arrest was made from the spot though some local suspects were being questioned to ascertain facts.

It may be recalled that militants had earlier also made an attempt on the house of Nissar Ahmed Khan but their attempt was foiled by the sentries.

Meanwhile, reports said, a group of 17 militants have managed to infiltrate into Indian side from across the Line of Control (LoC) through Sawjian area of Mandi in Poonch district. Militant groups have also reportedly crossed over to civilians areas of Lohran, Satarban and adjoining dhokes, a police spokesman said.

He said army and SOG challenged a group of militants at village Hari Marhata. Militants fired on the patrol party, which retaliated. In the ensuing encounter, two militants were injured but they managed to escape.

Another encounter took place between troops and militants at Naka Manjri but no casualty was reported on either side, the reports said.

Aziz rules out chances of war ‘at the moment’

ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: Pakistan today said it was seeking to avoid a further escalation of tensions with India and ruled out chances of a war at the moment but cautioned that border patrols have been stepped up with F-16 fighters.

Not at the moment ... Unless India escalates .... I think that people on both sides want peace, but they also must realise that peace involves certain difficult decisions, Foreign Minister Sartaz Aziz said in an interview to AP.

Aircraft were recently deployed in Pakistan’s Southern border, where one of its Naval recconaissance aircraft was shot down by India on Tuesday, Aziz said.

Pakistan Army has also been put on alert, with troops beefing up border positions with mortars and anti-aircraft guns, the minister said.

He called India’s downing of the Pakistani aircraft as unprovoked aggression and what I would call a trigger-happy attitude which is not conducive to peace and stability in this area.

But, he added that Pakistan would certainly not like to initiate any (incidents) and we hope India won’t. (AP)

Drass reverberates to sound other than booms of artillery

DRASS, Aug 12: For once, the battle ravaged Drass Valley of Kargil sector reverberated to sounds, other than the usual booms of enemy artillery.

The sounds emanated from ghungroos, pakhawaj, khanjira and sitar with the gushing waters of Drass river providing background music.

The first ever performing artistes group to visit the Drass-Kargil sector for the entertainment of soldiers the "Odissi" dance troupe of world renowned danseuse Kiran Segal received a standing ovation from the over 600 soliders and officers who sat through the one-hour programme.

The troupe comprising young talented dancers Mrinmoiye, Namita and Sukanya and their guru Kiran Segal enthralled the audience 11,000 feet above sea level.

Lack of high altitude acclimitasation was overcome by the dancers motivation and determination to pay tribute to the solider of the Indian Army.

The backdrop for the dance performance was provided by the Tiger Hill, Tololing and Point 5140 features which says bloody battles being fought and won in recent days by Indian soldiers during "Operation Vijay."

No other group had ever before performed at Drass, which is the worlds second coldest inhabited place with lowest recorded temperature of minus 60 degrees in 1995.

The performance which began with the much liked Shiva Vandana and items like the "Dus Avatar" which drew regular applause.

Mrs Kiran Segal while introducing the invocation "Taalangiya" to the soldiers said that the dance presentation was a tribute to the Indian Army soldiers who laid down their lives and also a tribute to the soldiers who continued to guard the nations vast frontiers.

The group later performed Chinar Kali Theatre in Kargil on the same day requests for autographs and group photographs by soldiers were willingly granted. (UNI)

Fake currency racket busted, 3 arrested

NEW DELHI, Aug 12: Delhi Police today claimed to have busted a major racket of counterfeit currency notes with the arrest of three persons, including a city police constable and a Haryana Government employee.

Fake currencies in the denominations of Rs 100 and Rs 500 amounting to Rs 2,08,600, a latest model computer, laser printer and a scanner were seized from a house in the neighbouring Faridabad district of Haryana, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) S K Jain told reporters here.

Acting on a tip-off, sleuths of the Crime Branch apprehended one Ram Mehar yesterday as he allegedly handed over a fake Rs 500 note to a shopkeeper in Bhogal market in South Delhi, Jain said.

His interrogation led to the arrest of constable Shaji Thomas posted at the Delhi Police Training College and Roop Chand Azad, working as a master foreman in a thermal power plant of Haryana State Electricity Board, he said.

Ninetysix fake notes of Rs 500 denomination and 1,606 fake notes of Rs 100 denomination, besides a computer with cpu, monitor, keyboard, laser printer and scanner have been seized, he said.

The accused had allegedly started their illegal activity in May 1999, Jain said adding efforts were being made to recover fake notes totalling Rs 1.90 lakh, which were allegedly circulated by them.

Azad had allegedly got into this racket after incurring considerable financial loss, he said. (PTI)

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