Ansari, Bali, Govind, Tariq, Beg, Rashid, Nissar dropped
Farooq prunes Ministry, reallocates portfolios
*Rather gets Finance; Mustafa Industries *Handoo, Sakina, Lone retain portfolios *Sadhotra given Independent charge

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 13: In what could be termed as the millennium’s last Cabinet reshuffle in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today announced much awaited pruning of his Ministry by dropping four Cabinet Minister and three Ministers of State and reallocated the portfolios amongst those who have been retained.

Those who have failed to make it to the millennium with their portfolios, include Industries and Commerce Minister, Mr Bodh Raj Bali, Agriculture and Horticulture Minister Mr Nissar Ahmad Khan, School Education Minister, Mr M S Tariq, controversial Urban and Housing Minister, Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari (all Cabinet Ministers), Revenue Minister, Mr Safdar Ali Beg, Health and Family Welfare Minister, Mr Govind Ram Sharma and Power Minister Syed Abdul Rashid.

Of the seven Ministers who have been dropped, four belong to Jammu while’s the remaining are from Kashmir region.

While the Chief Minister had been time and again hinting at a Cabinet reshuffle for reducing the State expenditure, the same was, however, necessitated following certain allegations of corruption and charges of inefficiency leveled against some of his Ministerial colleagues. These include Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari and Syed Abdul Rashid, who allegedly got involved in scams and misused their official positions,as a result, both of them were shown the exit door.

Consequent upon the dropping of his seven Ministers, Dr Abdullah today reallocated the portfolios amongst his retained Ministers .While some Ministers retained their earlier portfolios, the pruning turned out to be a boon for few others including Ch Mohd Ramzan who will now look after three departments.

Chief Minister’s trusted colleague, Mr Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Shah who was earlier holding the portfolio of Roads and Buildings and functioning as head of the Government in absence of Dr Abdullah, has now taken the portfolios of Housing and Urban Development which were with Moulvi Iftikhar Ansari.

Mr Mohd Shaffi Uri, who was holding Finance, has been given the charge of Education Ministry. The State’s new Finance Minister will now be Mr A R Rather, who earlier headed Panchayat, Cooperative and Rural Department.

Transport Minister, Mr Bashir Ahmad Kitchloo has been now given the Cabinet charge of Social Welfare Department, after taking away the same from Gujjar leader Mian Altaf Ahmad, who has now been given the charge of Health and Medical Education.

Chief Minister’s younger brother, Dr Mustafa Kamal will now look after Industries and Commerce Ministry which were being held by ousted Minister Bodh Raj Bali.

Science, Technology and Information Minister, Mr Ajat Shatru Singh, while retaining the portfolio of Information, has been also allocated Transport which was earlier held by Mr Kitchloo.

Mr Abdul Qayoom will be the new Revenue Minister. This portfolio was being held by Mr Ali Mohd Naik, who after making it to the Parliament, had recently quit the portfolio.

Irrigation, PHE and Flood Control Minister, Mr Ali Mohd Sagar will be now Works Minister. Mr S S Salathia, who was holding the charge of Sheep and Animal Husbandry, has been granted the portfolios of Tourism, Parks and Gardens.

The Parks, Gardens , Haj and Auqaf Minister, Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad Shah has been given Forest portfolio, earlier held by Ch Mohd Ramzan. Today’s Cabinet pruning turned out to be a boon for Ch Ramzan, who will now look after Agriculture, Rural Development and Cooperation Ministries, which were earlier with three different Ministers.

Amongst the Cabinet Ministers, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr P L Handoo is the only Minister, who has retained his portfolios.

Amongst the Ministers of State, while retaining his portfolios of Food and Supplies, Mr Ajay Sadhotra was, however, given the independent charge.

Mr B A Nengroo who was Minister of State for Transport, will be MOS Forests. Mr Kushak Togda Rinpoche has been given the charge of MOS Housing and Urban Development, while’s both Agha Syed Mehmood and Mr Qamar Ali Akhoon will be MOS Works.

Ministers of State, Mr Mushtaq Ahmad Lone and Ms Sakina Itto have retained their portfolios of Home and Social Welfare respectively.

Mr Tsetat Namgyal will be now MOS Agriculture. He was earlier holding the portfolio of Tourism.

Two Parliamentary Secretaries, Mr G H Bhat and Mr Ram Paul have also been granted the portfolios. They will be now looking after Power and Agriculture respectively.

The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah will, however, continue to be the incharge of Home, General Administration, Planning, Power and Ladakh Affairs.

Today’s much awaited Cabinet reshuffle was the second major reshuffle after Dr Abdullah took the reins of the power in October 1996. While in the earlier reshuffle, he had inducted new faces, however, this time seven Ministers were dropped in an effort to downsize the Government and reducing the expenditure.

Earlier, during the day, Dr Abdullah, after arriving at the Secretariat, talked to Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari telephonically and asked him to submit his resignation for his indictment by the Inquiry Committee headed by IG Jammu, R V Raju who was probing the Sidhra Housing scam . Mr Ansari was told that otherwise, he (Dr Farooq) will be forced to sack him. Following the telephonic conversation, Ansari later submitted his resignation which was forwarded alongwith other six resignations to the Governor Mr G C Saxena who accepted the Chief Minister’s recommendation.

Meanwhile, according to the circles close to the Chief Minister, there was no further scope of pruning the existing team of Ministers as the present strength was mandatory to carry on the Government work in efficient manner without much work-load. Further, the sources said that the Chief Minister considered it an unethical to drop some of the existing Ministers at this stage who are either elderly or ailing .

The sources said that National Conference rank and file has welcomed today’s Cabinet reshuffle as the same set at rest the controversies raised by Iftikhar Hussain Ansari who at one stage had reportedly tried to "black-mail" the party big wigs with a threat to expose them.

Delhi in touch with J&K Govt on KPs
Farooq Govt for return of migrants

Excelsior Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Dec 13: The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr Vidyasagar Rao, informed the Lok Sabha on Monday that the Jammu and Kashmir Government has conveyed to New Delhi that the return of Kashmiri Pandit migrants to the Valley "with honour and dignity" is among the topmost priorities of the State administration.

This information was given by Mr Rao during Question Hour. In fact, Mr Rao’s written reply to a question by Mr Amir Alam and Mr Ram Das Athawale brought to the fore the same old story that a sub-committee constituted by the J&K Government for preparing an action plan for return of the Pandit migrants to the Valley has submitted a draft interim report for the consideration of the State Government.

Mr Vidyasagar Rao stated that the J&K Government had initiated confidence building measures such as completion of inventorisation of immovable property left behind by Pandit migrants, initiation of social interaction programme and expediting follow-up action for eviction from migrant houses and land from illegal and unauthorised occupation.

Mr Rao informed the House that the cash relief to the migrants has been revised from Rs 450 per month to Rs 600 per month per head subject to a maximum of Rs 2400 per month per family with effect from April 1, 1999. In Jammu, where a number of migrants are staying in camps, they have been provided with one-room tenements. According to Mr Rao, there are 12 dispensaries in various camps with 28 qualified doctors and 111 para-medical staff to cater to the medical needs of the migrants.

He also informed the House that camp schools and camp colleges have been established to cater to the educational need of the migrant students. Other amenities such as community halls, sanitation, water, electricity etc. have also been provided in the migrant camps. This apart, an amount of Rs 2 crores had also been provided to the J&K Government for improving living conditions in the camps, Mr Rao stated.

Mr Vidyasagar Rao said in reply to a question by Mr Vishnu Datt Sharma that checking infiltration along the Line of Control(LoC) and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir was the responsibility of the Army and the Border Security Force. Village Defence Committees (VDCs),he claimed, had achieved considerable success in Jammu and Kashmir. This, Mr Rao said, can be gauged from the fact that they were being targeted more and more by the militants to discourage them for functioning as a ‘force’.

Mr Rao explained that the scheme of village defence committees is being implemented by the J&K Government as per requirements. Each VDC consists of a group of volunteers with a nucleus of up to three special police officers (SPOs). The Government of India, Mr Rao stated, had reimbursed expenditure incurred by the J&K Government on the honorarium, training, weaponry of SPOs, including those SPOs who are attached with VDCs. No funds, Mr Rao added, were reimbursed by the Central Government for the volunteer members of village defence committees.

Mr Mohan Rawale wanted to know if terrorist groups operation in Kashmir continued to receive men and material from Muslim religious network in Britain. In his reply, Mr Vidyasagar Rao said: "No concrete evidence about support being extended by Muslim religious network in Britain to terrorist groups operating in Kashmir has come to the notice of the Government. However, there has been some disclosure of such activities by representatives of the British Government in connection with the trial of one Shafiqur Rahman, a person of Pakistan origin, who is alleged to be an activist of the militant group Lashkar-e-Toiba and its political wing, MDI".

The Government of India, Mr Rao divulged, had taken up this matter with the British Government "at all levels, both in London and in New Delhi, and requested them to ensure that such activities are curbed". The British Government, Mr Rao informed the House, has responded favourably to New Delhi’s request and has assured full cooperation in the matter.

Dr Charan Das Mahant, who wanted to know if the Union Government had announced to provide Rs 1 lakh each to the members of the families of the persons who died of terrorist attacks in J&K, was told by Mr Vidyasagar Rao that no such announcement had been made. Mr Rao clarified that the J&K Government is making payment of ex-gratia at the rate of Rs 1 lakh per person to the next of kin in case of death.

During 1998-99, a sum of Rs 28. 20 crores and during the current year a sum of Rs 27. 40 crores had been released by the J&K Government as ex-gratia relief. No records, Mr Rao pointed out, about recipients was maintained by the Government of India.

Centre concerned over terrorism in J&K
BSF not to be withdrawn from borders: Advani

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Dec 13: The Government has no plans to withdraw Border Security Force (BSF) troops from the Indo-Pakistan border, the Minister for Home Affairs, Mr LK Advani, asserted on Monday.

Mr Advani informed the Lok Sabha during Question Hour that the question of withdrawing BSF personnel from the border does not arise. "No", was Mr Advani’s reply when Mr K Karunakaran wanted to know if there was any proposal to withdraw BSF from the Indo-Pak border.

Mr Advani also declined to dole out details on the number of BSF personnel deployed on the Indo-Pakistan border. His message was loud and clear: "Giving details of deployment on the border would not be in the public interest".

The Home Minister claimed that the law and order situation in the country "is under control". He, however, made a pointed reference to New Delhi’s concerns with regard to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. In his reply to a question by Mr SDNR Wadiyar and Mr Ajay Singh Chautala, Mr Advani stated that there was also concern at the externally supported subversive activities of militant groups.

Mr Advani’s written reply made a specific mention about the measures the Government had taken to improve the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and to raising of India Reserve Battalions, declaration of more seriously affected areas as ‘disturbed areas’ and notification of certain insurgent and militant groups as ‘unlawful associations. Curiously, however, Mr Advani did not elaborate on measures such as declaration of seriously affected areas as ‘disturbed areas’.

Mr Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi sought information on two specific issues – one, if there was lack of coordination between RAW, MI (Military Intelligence) and IB in respect of the recent Pakistani assault on Kargil in Ladakh region and, two, if the Government proposed to have a National Security Intelligence (NSI) for ensuring coordination among the various intelligence agencies in India and abroad. Mr LK Advani stated in his reply that the Government of India had constituted a committee headed by Mr K Subramaniyam to review the events leading up to the Pakistani aggression in the Kargil district and to recommend such measures necessary to safeguard national security against such armed intrusions. Mr Advani added that it was expected that the committee would also comment on the functioning of the intelligence agencies and recommend appropriate measures for bringing about improvements.

On militancy in J&K, the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr Vidyasagar Rao, informed Mr GS Basavaraj that the ongoing militancy in the State is being primarily carried on with the help of foreign militants. Mr Basavaraj wanted to know if 80 per cent of the militants active in J&K hailed from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sudan.

In his reply, Mr Vidyasagar Rao stated that it was difficult to precisely ascertain the exact percentage of foreign militants operating in J&K. And when asked if the Government had made any plan to face the wicked designs of Lashkar-e-Toiba, Mr Rao let it be known that a multi-pronged approach has been adopted. And the plan inter alia included strengthening border management, neutralising plans of the militants by pro-active action against them in the hinterland, gearing up intelligence machinery and improved technology, weapons and equipments for security forces.

Has the Government accepted the recommendations of the one-man enquiry committee for constituting Amarnath Yatra Trust on the lines of the Vaishno Devi Trust in Jammu and Kashmir ? Answering this question from Dr Nitish Sengupta, Mr Vidyasagar Rao said that arrangements for the Amarnath yatra as well as constitution of a Trust on the lines of Vaishno Devi Trust are primarily the concern of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Rao informed the House that the report of the one-man enquiry committee, constituted after the Amarnath yatra disaster in 1996, has been sent to the J&K Government for necessary follow-up action. According to Mr Rao, the J&K Government has been taking necessary steps to make adequate arrangements for yatra taking into account the recommendations made by the one-man committee to ensure smooth and safe pilgrimage.

CM trapped in traffic jam
Female Anganwari workers cane-charged at bridge

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 13: Police resorted to heavy lathicharge on protesting Anganwari workers and passers-by and damaged several slowly moving vehicles at Tawi bridge to clear the road for the movement of Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah this afternoon.

Several Anganwari workers and civilians, crossing the blocked Tawi bridge, were injured in heavy lathicharge by the police. This triggered a panic and confusion among the people, who ran for safety.

Reports said hundreds of Anganwari workers marched in a procession from Gandhi Nagar and blocked Tawi bridge at about 1300 hours. The Anganwari workers scattered on both tubes and staged a dharna in the middle of the busy Tawi bridge, disrupting traffic on either side of the bridge.

A large number of vehicles were stranded on both sides of the bridge creating a massive traffic jam. Police and Traffic police officers rushed to the spot alongwith a strong contingent of police and para-military personnel.

Initially, the police officers tried to persuade the Anganwari workers, all of whom were females, to lift the blockade of bridge by assuring them that their deputation will be taken to Civil Secretariat for a meeting with the concerned authorities.

However, the Anganwari workers refused to lift the dharna till concerned authorities visit the spot and concede their demands. In the meantime, the reports said, Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah was also trapped in the traffic jam when he was on way to Airport for flying to Srinagar.

The police officers present on the spot then gave an order to police and para-military personnel to cane-charge the demonstrators. Police personnel opened heavy lathicharge on the female Anganwari workers. However, in a bid to clear the road for Chief Minister, the police jawans also beat-up several passers-by and damaged the slowly moving vehicles.

A total chaos prevailed at the bridge with police personnel running amuck, at the instructions of their officers, and thrashing whosoever came their way. Police assault continued for more than 20 minutes till the road was cleared for Chief Minister’s cavalcade.

A number of persons including 15 Anganwari workers and passers-by were injured in the police lathicharge on the bridge. The agitationists later dispersed.

A delegation of Anganwari workers was taken to Civil Secretariat by SP Traffic Mr V K Ghai for dialogue with the concerned authorities. The protesting Anganwari workers were demanding release of their salaries which hadn’t been paid for the last eight months and their regularisation in Government services.

The delegationists were later assured by the authorities that their demands will be conceded by the Government.

Police post attacked in Bhalla
BSF guns down 2 militants

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 13: The Border Security Force (BSF) today gunned down another militant in Thandasu area of Chasana in Mahore tehsil of Udhampur district taking toll in the encounter during last two days to two. BSF also shot dead an intruder on the International Border in Pindi area of Arnia sub sector.

Meanwhile, militants attacked a police post in Bhalla area of Doda district.

BSF sources said the jawans of 105 battalion chased an injured militant, who had managed to escape during an encounter yesterday in which one militant was killed. The chase continued throughout the last night.

In the morning, BSF jawans noticed the injured militant moving in a forest area. The security personnel tried to capture the injured militant but he opened firing, which was retaliated. In the exchange of firing, the militant was shot dead.

Identity of the slain militant couldn’t be established immediately. His body was handed over to police by the BSF jawans for identification. One AK-47 rifle, four magazines, 87 rounds, two hand grenades and one radio set were recovered from his possession.

There was no casualty on BSF side during the encounter which continued for two full days. Security forces, however, remained deployed in the area following reports that some more militants might be hiding there.

Meanwhile, BSF jawans also killed an infiltrators in forward area of Pindi in Arnia sub-sector on the International Border last mid-night.

Sources said BSF jawans noticed the intruder, trying to breach the International Border in a bid to enter Indian territory from Pindi post. On being asked to halt, the intruder tried to escape back. The BSF men opened firing and killed the intruder on the spot.

His body was recovered from the spot but his identity couldn’t be established immediately. The body has been handed over to local police. No recovery was made from the possession of intruder.

Meanwhile, militants last night attacked police post Bhalla under the jurisdiction of Bhaderwah police station from three sides with heavy fire arms. The attack, which started at 2115 hours, continued till 2300 hours.

Police and CRPF personnel, deployed at the spot, retaliated the firing. After a fierce gun-battle, militants fled away in a forest area. No loss of life or property was reported in militants’ firing.

Police said a search operation has been launched in the area to get the militants involved in attack on the police picket.

Meanwhile, a Bhaderwah police party recovered a powerful hand made explosive device from Chinote Hallian nullah during a search operation last evening. The explosive device was made of a two-inch steel pipe fitted with explosive material and fuse wire. It was planted near the road on the bank of Chinote/Hallian nullah.

A major tragedy was averted with the timely detection of explosive device, police said.

Militants’ series of attacks in Civil Lines area
ASI among 7 cops killed, 16 injured in Srinagar

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 13: In a series of attacks on Jammu and Kashmir Police in Civil Lines areas of the capital city here, militants today killed as many as 5 police personnel, including an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) and 2 Beacon officials while as 30 people -- including 12 policemen and 4 Beacon officials -- sustained injuries. In other militancy-related incidents across Kashmir valley since last night, one soldier of Rashtriya Rifles got killed at Hadipora, near Sopore, one soldier got injured in an IED blast at Wahipora, near Tangmarg and one civilian sustained injuries in a grenade blast at Sopore.

In a major setback for Jammu and Kashmir Police -- unprecedented in last several years -- militants today left 7 police and Beacon personnel killed in a series of attacks which all took place in the relatively sanitised Civil Lines area of the capital city in broad daylight. The series of firing and grenade attacks was carried out at a time when police and security forces have set up nakas at several places and civilians are subjected to untold inconvenience by the so-called checking squads. Significantly, the bloodshed has come in the first week of the holy month of Ramazan and six of the seven people killed are Kashmiri Muslims.

Official sources told EXCELSIOR that militants began the series with an attack on constable Abdul Qayoom Khan (No: 3570/S) of District Police Lines (DPL) Srinagar who was gunned down at Koker Bazar, near Lal Chowk, at 1430 hours in the afternoon. He was in uniform but without any weapon. Within 10 minutes, militants struck on a column vehicle of SP (East), which was parked near Biscoe School at Lal Chowk. As the one-tonne vehicle suffered some damage, 4 constables of DPL Srinagar got injured. They were rushed to Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura and late this evening described as stable. The injured constables were identified as Ghulam Nabi, Mohammad Yusuf, Mohammad Maqbool Rather, and Zahoor Ahmed Mir.

At the same time, militants also used a pistol and targeted two personnel of Police Station Chadoura who had come to the city to attend a court case. Both of them were in uniform but neither of the two was carrying a weapon. While as the critically injured constable Abdul Jabbar Mir (No: 119/Bud) of Rampore Boniyar (Uri) later died at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura, his associate -- namely, SPO Bashir Ahmed of Nagam, Chadoura -- was battling for life at SKIMS late tonight.

At around the same time, militants fired pistol shots on constable Ghulam Nabi (No: 1430) of JKAP 6th Bn at the nearby Madina Chowk, Gawkadal. He too was in uniform but unarmed and not on duty. He sustained bullet injuries and was rushed to SMHS Hospital where doctors described him as stable.

With little fear of frisking or retaliation, militants continued their strikes on police and gunned down ASI Sonam Doorjay of Kothibagh Police Station at the end of Lambert Lane, on the Bund -- yards away from the spots of the four earlier attacks. Dotted with bunkers and patrols of paramilitary forces and police, the Bund is also at a stone’s throw from Kothibagh Police Station. Rather than escaping after the ASI’s murder, militants drew closer to Kothibagh Police Station and fired a hand grenade in front of Shakti Sweets in which one constable Abdul Hameed sustained injuries. With critical injuries, he was quickly rushed to SKIMS.

Thereafter, militants attacked a vehicle of 53 Beacon on the main road outside Batmaloo General Bus Stand with a hand grenade. Five officials of Border Roads Organisation (BRO), Project Beacon, got injured. Later, official sources confirmed that two of them -- namely Alla-ud-Din and Raghuwan -- succumbed to injuries. Over a dozen civilians and two police personnel also got injured at the crowded public place. Later, the critically injured selection grade constable, Naseer Ahmed of Police Division Batmaloo, succumbed at SMHS Hospital while as Constable Ghulam Hassan Shah (No: 956/S) of Police Division Nowgam (who had reportedly gone to buy medicines for his ailing wife) succumbed to injuries at SKIMS).

Advani reviews J&K situation

NEW DELHI, Dec 13: Union Home Minister L K Advani today reviewed the law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the light of killing of seven police personnel including an Assistant Sub-Inspector by the militants this afternoon.

After a detailed discussion with J and K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, Union Home Secretary and other senior officers in the ministry, Mr Advani deputed a high level team led by Special Secretary (J and K) T R Kakkar to go to the spot tomorrow to take stock of the situation.

The officials have been directed to discuss the law and order situation with the Chief Minister, Director General of state police and other state officials and suggest corrective measures, said an official spokesman here tonight.

The team also includes BSF Director General Ram Mohan and other senior ministry officials.

Meanwhile, the Centre is despatching a high-level team led by Special Secretary T R Kakkar, to discuss the law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir with the State Government in the wake of today’s killing of eight police personnel there, official sources said tonight.

A decision to this effect was taken by Home Minister L K Advani who reviewed the law and order situation in the militancy-hit state and held detailed discussions with state Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, Union Home Secretary Kamal Pande and other senior officers in the ministry, they said.

The high-level team has been deputed to go to the spot immediately and take immediate corrective action and make further recommendations after discussing the situation with the Chief Minister, Director General of Police and other state officials, the sources said.

The team, to be led by Special Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir affairs, Kakkar includes Border Security Force Director General E N Rammohan and other senior officials. (PTI)

Pak toughen stand on Kashmir

ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: Toughening its stand on Kashmir, Pakistan has adopted a five-point policy envisaging stepping up support to militants and has made resumption of dialogue with India conditional, by seeking a firm assurance from New Delhi that the parleys on the issue would be result -oriented, a leading newspaper here reported today.

Urdu daily ‘Jung’ quoting a top-level foreign office source said Pakistan wanted to hold talks with India in a respectable atmosphere and that there should be an assurance from New Delhi that the dialogue on the contentious Kashmir issue will be result-oriented.

Talks with India could not be held merely for the sake of dialogue as Islamabad wanted to hold parleys in a respectable atmosphere, the daily quoted the source as saying.

The foreign office source was reacting to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s remarks that there was no possibility of resumption of the dialogue until Pakistan stopped cross-border terrorism.

The Jung, quoting the source said that Pakistan had already conveyed its point of view to New Delhi through diplomatic channels that it has not refused to hold talks, but preconditions were unacceptable.

The daily said, in another report that according to the five-point policy adopted by the military regime would not hold dialogue with India for restoration of trade, economic and friendly relations till New Delhi agreed to meaningful and result-oriented talks.

The daily quoting official sources, said Pakistan would step up support for Kashmir militants and give a free hand to leaders of Pakistan occupied Kashmir to highlight the Kashmir issue at national and international levels. (PTI)

High-level central team to study Kashmir situation

NEW DELHI, Dec 13: The Centre is despatching a high-level team led by Special Secretary T R Kakkar, to discuss the law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir with the State Government in the wake of today’s killing of eight police personnel there, official sources said tonight.

A decision to this effect was taken by Home Minister L K Advani who reviewed the law and order situation in the militancy-hit state and held detailed discussions with state Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, Union Home Secretary Kamal Pande and other senior officers in the ministry, they said.

The high-level team has been deputed to go to the spot immediately and take immediate corrective action and make further recommendations after discussing the situation with the Chief Minister, Director General of Police and other state officials, the sources said.

The team, to be led by Special Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir affairs, Kakkar includes Border Security Force Director General E N Rammohan and other senior officials. (PTI)

Omar welcomes cabinet reshuffle

NEW DELHI, Dec 13: Minister of State for Commerce and Industries Omar Abdullah today welcomed the downsizing of the Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet and said the move would help the state in its efforts to tide over the financial crisis plaguing it for long.

Terming the move as a clear indication that Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah was concerned about the continuing financial crisis, Omar said this was among the austerity measures to provide some relief to the people of the state.

Omar, who is also the president of Youth National Conference, urged the party workers to stand like a rock behind the decision of party president Abdullah as some people with vested interests would try to disrupt the harmony of the state with frivolous allegations. (PTI)

Dave sworn in as Assam Governor with addl charge

GUWAHATI, Dec 13: Arunachal Pradesh Governor Arvind Dave was sworn in as Governor of Assam with additional charge today.

Guwahati High Court Chief Justice Mr Brijesh Kumar administered the oath of office to Mr Dave at a simple function at Raj Bhavan here.

Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, his Cabinet colleagues, senior civil, police and Army officicers attended the function.

Assam Governor Lt Gen (Rtd) S K Sinha went on leave. (UNI)

 

 

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