Finance Ministry asked to work out ST arrears
Govt orders judicial probe in Ansari’s kickbacks

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 22: Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today announced constitution of a Judicial Commission to probe the allegations of Rs 60.25 lakhs kickbacks against former Housing and Urban Development Minister Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari.

"The Commission, to be headed by a Retired High Court Judge, will be named within the next couple of days", Dr Abdullah told a press conference soon after his arrival from New Delhi this afternoon.

He said the Commission will be asked to give its report shortly, he said, adding Mr Ansari will be given full chance to defend himself before the Commission.

The formation of Judicial Commission will in no way obstruct the investigations of Crime Branch, which will go ahead with its separate inquiry, the Chief Minister said.

He said the Government has asked the Finance Ministry to work out the Sales Tax arrears pending against Ansari’s business concern Ansari Motors. "There was a confusion over the arrears as Sales Tax Department says that Ansari’s arrears have mounted to Rs 34 crore while Ansari says that he has to pay nothing", Dr Abdullah said, adding the Finance Ministry has been asked to make the things clear.

"If the arrears are pending against Ansari, they will be recovered. Law will take its own course", the Chief Minister remarked.

Replying to a question regarding transfer of a Sales Tax officer, who had recently given a statement that arrears worth Rs 34 crores were pending against Ansari, Dr Abdullah said ‘the transfer has nothing to do with the statement’. "Not one but 90 officers have been transferred", he asserted.

He said the state police will be equipped with helicopters to launch intensified operations against the militants. The Centre has finally agreed to the proposal, he added.

Referring to proposed visit of United States President Mr Bill Clinton to India early next year, Dr Abdullah said "we will like Clinton to personally seek the Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in the state". The US President should prevail upon Pakistan and advise it to stop fomenting trouble in Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

The Chief Minister said he will have no objections if a dialogue is held with the militants under the Constitution. He charged the Hurriyat Conference leaders with having received crores of rupees from Pakistan for subversive activities in the Valley.

"Hurriyat leaders moved freely for three years but when they started giving physical threats, we put them behind the bars", he said, adding the Government have evidence of Hurriyat leaders having received crores from Pakistan. Charges against Hurriyat leaders will be framed shortly, he said.

About employees strike, the Chief Minister said the Centre has been approached for placement of adequate funds for meeting the expenditure on account of implementation of Fifth Pay Commission recommendations in the State. About Rs 400 crores are needed to clear the dearness allowance and arrears due to the employees.

He hoped that employees would appreciate the financial difficulty the State is facing and would not resort to strike. "I will meet the Prime Minister about the assistance for meeting the demands of the employees", he said while expressing hope that the State’s requirements would be conceded to.

Hoping liberal assistance from the Centre for speedy development of the State, the CM said: "they do realise our needs."

To a question about the report of the Central team, which recently visited Srinagar on security scenario, he said, it is not based on facts. He said the State is witnessing a proxy war and strengthening of the security grid and liberal funding is needed to meet the challenges.

Spelling out the challenges of the next millennium, he said that Pak thrust would be on increasing militancy. "We have to be more stronger to face the challenges." Enough is enough; Pakistan must realise that no development is possible in the region unless the two neighbours live in peace.

Auto-driver killed as ‘Lashkar militant’
BSF cop, 3 militants killed

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 22: Even as a Deputy Commandant and two others sustained injuries, one civilian got killed and two residential houses of civilians gutted, Border Security Force (BSF) eliminated a group of 3 Al-Badr militants in a daylong encounter at Yekwanpora, Diver, near Pattan today. In other militancy-related incidents across Kashmir valley since last evening, militants killed a civilian and left 17 persons wounded at Anantnag while as a police party gunned down an auto-driver, describing him a militant, at Bemina Colony in the capital city.

Official sources told EXCELSIOR that, on the basis of a specific information, troops of BSF 30 Bn conducted a cordon-and-search operation at Yekwanpora, in Pattan-Sumbal belt of Baramulla district today. During the search operation, a fierce exchange of fire took place between the militants and security forces in which three militants, one civilian and a head constable of BSF got killed while as the Deputy Commandant PC Sharma, constable Rajpal and a civilian, namely Mohammad Ibrahim S/o Ali Mohammad R/o Ranbel, sustained injuries. Residential houses of Mohammad Qasim Malla S/o Ghulam Rasool Malla and Ali Mohammad Sofi S/o Mohammad Ramzan Sofi got destroyed in the encounter.

The militants killed in the 7-hour-long daytime encounter were believed to be Pakistani cadres of Mujahideen-e-Al Badr. Official bulletin identified two of them as Sher Khan and Mohammad Ahmed of Pakistan. While as the head constable killed in action was identified as Rajpat Ram, the civilian Ghulam Hassan Bhat S/o Ghulam Rasool Bhat was the resident of the adjoining Udina village. Three AK-56 rifles, 3 hand grenades, one pistol and two wireless sets were claimed to have been recovered from the site of encounter which occurred in close vicinity of Maulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari’s farmhouse at Divar, Parihaspora.

Reports available from south Kashmir said that during last night, unidentified gunmen kidnapped a civilian, namely Ghulam Mohammad S/o Ali Mohammad, from his house at Hassanpora Bagh. This morning his dead body was recovered from Jablipora village across the river. Official reports described him as a contractor.

This afternoon, militants hurled a hand grenade on a BSF vehicle near DC’s office at Anantnag which exploded on road causing injuries to 7 BSF personnel and 10 civilians. The injured were rushed to District Hospital Anantnag wherefrom three of the critically injured civilians were referred to a Srinagar hospital.

Here in the capital city, a police party fired upon the driver of a 3-wheeler at Gousiya Colony, outside the premises of Degree College Bemina at 1400 hours today. Identified as Riyaz Ahmed Wani S/o Ghulam Rasool Wani R/o Malik Angan, Fateh Kadal, he died on spot. Residents of Bemina Colony assembled at the spot and put up a demonstration against the killing of the auto-driver, who according to him was an innocent civilian. Officials said that an SOG party from Kupwara had gunned down the driver and lodged an FIR according to which the driver was signalled to stop which he ignored and lobbed a grenade. As per the FIR, he was killed in an encounter and one pistol, 3 grenades and a wireless set were claimed recovered from his possession.

However, incharge SP Operations Kupwara RC Manotra told EXCELSIOR that none of the SOG parties had gone to Srinagar today in connection with any operation or official work.

Zonal Police Headquarters has reportedly issued a statement which has been delivered on some local newspapers but not made available to this newspaper.

Meanwhile, militants fired a bust of AK-56 rifle on a Maruti car at Hassanabad, on Lalchowk-Hazratbal road in the capital city outskirts this afternoon. While as the intended target -- Tanvir Ali son of the National Conference MLA Mr Sadiq Ali -- had a narrow escape, his driver-friend Muneeb and PSO Bashir Ahmed sustained injuries. With critical injuries in his left leg, Muneeb was admitted at Bone & Joint Hospital Barzulla. Reports described him as the son of the prominent industrialist and owner of Neelam Cinema.

Unconfirmed reports said that an encounter took place in Safapora area today. However, officials maintained that they had no knowledge of any encounter in that area.

Protest over Sena MP's remark against Shabana
Rajya Sabha abruptly adjourned for the day

NEW DELHI, Dec 22: The Rajya Sabha was abruptly adjourned for the day over an alleged remark made by a ruling member in a wordy duel with a fellow member following heated exchanges over the murder of a Shiv Sena activist in Rajasthan.

In the morning, Chairman Krishan Kant had adjourned the House till 1400 hrs when several attempts to restore order proved futile as treasury and opposition members engaged in a war of words.

The opposition raised the issue again after the House reassembled demanding explusion of Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Nirupam for his alleged remark against nominated member Shabana Azmi. While the opposition wanted the House to take action against the member for his ‘persistant defiance’ of the chair, the ruling party benches insisted on taking action after going through the records.

Deputy chairperson Dr Najma Heptulla who was in the chair ruled that the demand for taking action after going through records could not be relevant because there would be no reference as the chair had ruled that nothing would go on record. The House had to be adjourned because of unruly scenes. It was for the House to take a decision one way or the other.

When nearly half and hour wrangling seemed to lead to nowhere, the chair adjourned the House for the day saying that it could not be settled in this manner.

Mr Biplab Dasgupta (CPI-M) sought the expulsion of the member for atleast one week from the House for the ‘expression’ used against a fellow member. Mr Venkaiah Naidu, BJP contended that the chair could take action against the member after going through the records, expunge the remark and treat the matter as closed and the member could withdraw his remark if it was unparliamentary, derogatory or defamatory. He said a section of the House was targetting the member just because he belonged to a political party.

The chair remarked that the action should have been taken when the House was disrupted by the wordy duel and it was for the House to resolve the issue.

Mr Gurudas Dasgupta, CPI, said what was unfortunate was that the leader of the House or treasury benches did not intervene when one of the MPs on their side persistently defied the chair’s ruling. He said Rajya Sabha was a National Democratic Forum where the political differences of various political parties should be resolved though there was no meeting point on certain issues. "If we as a forum fail, the people will lose faith in the system, which is not in the interest of the country", he said.

He said treasury benches should be more responsible because the running of the House was in the interest of their Government.

Congress member Mr Peter Alfons’s remark that he was in the House as an ‘unadulterated Indian’ angered Mr Adhik Shirodkar, BJP, who protested saying that was true of every member in the House. While Mr Alfons said that members in the House as well as the media had heard the remark made by Mr Nirupam, Mr Shirodkar said he was very much present when the incident took place and there was an attempt to ‘put the words into Mr Nirupam’s mouth’. Nothing of such sort was uttered, he averred.

Mr Mohammad Salim, CPI-M, countered Mr Shirodkar who said that the opposition was not condemning the behaviour of the member who had rushed towards Nirupam, by saying that Mrs Azmi was going towards Mr Pritish Nandy, seated next to Mr Nirupam to complain about the expression used by his Shiv Sena colleague. He said he was more ‘aghast’ at the defence put up by the treasury benches than the use of words by Mr Nirupam. He said the House had the powers to take action against the member even if his behaviour was ‘unbecoming and undignified’ outside the House. The whole incident had taken place in the House.

Amidst wrangle which lasted half an hour, Dr Heptulla adjourned the House for the day.

The trouble began immediately after Question Hour when Mr Nirupam wanted to make a special mention and the chair ruled that he would be allowed to raise the issue after nine others who had given their notices for special mentions. But Mr Nirupam persisted that his issue conerning the killing of Rajasthan Shiv Sena chief Murlidhar Bohra be given higher priority because it was of utmost concern and he was supported by ruling party benches. Mr Nirupam even rushed to the well of the House and at this stage there was an argument between him, Shabana Azmi and Mr Jayant Malhotra (Ind) and pandemonium persisted in the House and nothing could be heard in the House. At this stage, the chair adjourned the house till 1400 hrs. (UNI)

3 guides of militants held
Explosives haul in Kalakote

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Dec 22: Security forces recovered a huge quantity of explosives from Gondna area of Kalakot and arrested three guides of the militants while suspected ultras torched three houses in Sangla area of Surankote.

Official sources said the BSF personnel engaged a group of militants in the encounter at Gondna in Kalakote area this morning. The encounter lasted an hour but the militants managed to escape. Security forces, however, apprehended three guides of the militants.

A huge quantity of explosive devices were recovered from the scene of encounter which include 22 hand grenades, 21 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), 115 kg explosives, 400 rounds of assault rifles, a radio set, one rocket launcher vision and five rounds of pistol.

Security forces continued a manhunt to eliminate the absconding militants. The arrested guides were being questioned. Their identity wasn’t disclosed immediately by the sources but they were suspected to be locals.

Troops of 16 Dogra apprehended a top militant of Zaki group during a search operation in Panehar area of this district. He was identified as Gulzar Hussain son of Ghulam Mohammad. Two IEDs with 15 hand grenades and 10 detonators were recovered from his possession.

Sources said Ghulam Mohammad was a front ranking militant of Zaki group and was involved in a series of subversive activities across Rajouri district. He was being interrogated by the army personnel.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Gulzar Hussain was planning to carry out explosions in Rajouri City during the next few days.

Meanwhile, militants set ablaze three houses at village Sangla in Surankote tehsil of Poonch district.

Mata Vaishnodevi shrine goes on Internet
Talks only under Constitution : Saxena

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 22: The holy shrine of Mata Vaishnodevi went on Internet this morning when Governor Mr Girish Chander Saxena, who also happens to be Chairman of Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board, launched the website in Raj Bhawan.

The website, designed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), will go a long way in providing every necessary information related to the shrine to the people world over, Mr Saxena said after launching the website.

The website is accessible at

the universal research location www.maavaishnodevi.org. The website carries introduction of Mata Vaishnodevi, history and mythology of shrine, location details with map and yatra arrangements with status including current pilgrimage and waiting. The site will be updated regularly and, for the purpose, Shrine Board has established necessary infrastructure at Katra, the base camp of the shrine.

The website will also have on-line Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) by the devotees and answers thereof. The facilities available at and around the shrine, tourism spots around the shrine, facilities provided by Shrine Board to pilgrims and general information about Katra and Jammu will also be provided on the website.

The website will also have video and audio clippings of pilgrimage including scenes of Katra, Ban Ganga, Adhkuwari, Garabjoon, Sanji Chat and Mata Vaishnodevi Bhawan. The audio clippings will have bhajans of Mata Vaishnodevi sung by famous singer Pt Bhimsen Joshi. ‘Aarti’ inside the shrine has also been clipped on the website. There was a proposal to present the ‘Aarti’ live on the website very shortly, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shrine Board, Mr B B Vyas said.

Mr Vyas said 44.64 lakh pilgrims have visited the shrine till December 19 this year. The pilgrimage of last year was likely to be surpassed, though marginally, he said, adding the record pilgrimage was possible despite the Kargil tensions this year.

Mrs Rajni Saxena, Shrine Board member Mr D N Kotwal, NIC Technical Director Mr A K Agarwal, Prof J R Rathore and senior functionaries of the Board were present at the launching of website.

Talking to reporters after launching the website, Mr Saxena said the doors of Government were always open for dialogue with militants ‘but talks can take place only within the framework of Indian Constitution and certain parameters set by the Government’. "No one can hold talks with the militants without following the Constitution", he remarked.

"No parallels can be drawn between Jammu and Kashmir and North East situation", Mr Saxena said. Maintaining that situation in the state was well within the Government control despite some recent attacks by the militants, he said Pakistan was trying to inject new dimensions to the situation after Kargil defeat.

Asked about a militant outfit’s threat of creating more Kargils, Mr Saxena observed that Pakistan will meet the same fate as it did in Kargil. "We are fully prepared to meet with any eventuality from Pakistan side. We have to be one step ahead", he said.

"We will have to be more careful", he said to a question on possible spurt in militancy after Army takeover in Pakistan. "We will have to keep a very careful watch on Pakistan", he added.

Regarding Pakistan Army ruler Gen Musharraf’s threat that Kashmir could become a nuclear flashpoint, the Governor said :"such talks merely appears to be threats".

Regarding working of the National Conference Government, he said an elected Government was always better as it could reach to the people directly. However, he said, there is always a scope of improvement including on security front.

Quoting figures, he said, the graph of militant activities has risen very marginally. The Centre and State Governments were fully alive to the situation and were taking all possible steps to counter Pakistan-sponsored militancy, he added.

"Situation in the state can’t be assessed in a day", the Governor said referring to a Central team deputed by the Home Ministry to study the situation following killings of police constables. "Indeed, some disturbing incidents have taken place but that doesn’t mean that situation was out of control", he asserted.

Replying to a question on fencing of border, Mr Saxena said going by the mountainous terrain, it wasn’t possible to fence the Line of Control (LoC) or even the International Border. However, the security forces were being asked to take all possible measures to curb infiltration like imaginative patterns, electronic gadgets and invisible rays besides mounted surveillance on the borders.

Saying that it wasn’t possible to plug the LoC and International Borders, he said even United States couldn’t stop migration from Mexico.

LET playing key role in militant activities
Various countries pump money into J&K: Rao

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Dec. 22: The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr Vidyasagar Rao, has stated that the Government has received inputs to suggest that money is pumped into Jammu and Kashmir from various countries to fund militancy. Money is sent through different channels, including hawala transactions.

The Lashkar-e-Toiba, the militant wing of Markaz-Dawat-ul-Irshad, headquartered in Pakistan, has been charged with playing a key role in engineering terrorist violence in Jammu and Kashmir. In fact, Mr Vidyasagar Rao said in reply to a question by Mr C Ramachandraiah and Mr Ramachandriah Rumandla that the Lashkar-e-Toiba's cadres, consisting mostly of foreign militants, "are actually involved in the on-going militancy in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.''

Mr Rao said that the Government was aware of the "sinister'' designs of the Pakistan-sponsored militant organisations as well as of Pak ISI to destabilise India by sponsoring terrorism and subversive activities in different parts of India. Their designs, he added, also included efforts to infiltrate terrorists and to target and train misguised youth for engineering violence.

A close aid continuous watch, Mr Rao asserted, was being kept on the situation and all necessary efforts, including improved border management and sustained operations on subversive elements, were being made to ensure that such designs were not allowed to succeed. He reiterated that the Government had taken several steps which included sensitising and gearing up of the intelligence machinery, sharing of intelligence and coordinated action by concerned. Central and State agencies, upgrading of technical equipment with the security forces and increasing the number of check posts.

While admitting that the Government's attention had been drawn to the reported warning to Pakistan by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, not to repeat Kargil, Mr Vidyasagar Rao emphasised: "The State of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.'' A part of the territory of the State, he said, continued to be under the forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan.

India, Mr Rao said in reply to a question by Mr Ramdass Agarwal, was committed to resolve all outstanding issues with Pakistan in accordance with the Shimla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration. "We expect Pakistan to demonstrate its adherence to these agreements through its abandonment of cross-border terrorism and hostile propaganda,'' he said.

Answering a question by Ms Veena Verma, Mr Rao stated the number of militants killed in Jammu and Kashmir between July 15 and November 30 this year was of the order of 525. He put the number of security personnel killed during the period at 169. According to Mr Rao 384 civilians including women and children, were killed by the militants in the State.

Mr Rao told the House that the J&K Government had intimated that six terrorist outfits, namely, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, Harkat-ul-Mujahiden, Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen, Harkat-e-Jehad-Islami and Al-Badr "are presently active in J&K and all are enjoying support from Pakistan.'' According to Mr Rao, no outfit owing allegiance to international fundamentalist leader, Osama bin Laden, has come to the notice in Jammu and Kashmir so far.

On the alleged role of a J&K Minister in shielding a Pakistani, Mr Rao informed Mr Satishchandra Sitaram Pradhan that the J&K Government has informed that no Minister in the State protected and helped and Pak National.

Employees to announce future course of action today
Work remains paralyses in Govt offices, Sectt, High Court

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 22: Working in all State Government departments, educational institutions, Public Sector Undertaking (PSUs) and Civil Secretariat remained crippled for the third consecutive day today as four days Kam Chhor Hartal of State Government employees entered into third day.

The call of the Hartal has been given by the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC), a conglomeration of various trade unions, to force the State Government to accept their demands. Functioning of all Government departments, except essential services, remained halted on the third successive day as majority of the employees observed Kam Chhor Hartal.

Working in State High Court also remained paralysed as J&K High Court Staff Welfare Association has also extended their agitation for their long pending demands.

High Court employees today held a massive demonstration at Administrative Hall in support of their demands. Addressing the employees, general secretary of the Association, Mr Aftab Chowhan thanked the J&K High Court Bar Association Jammu for their full support to the employees.

A massive employees rally was held today in the premises of the Civil Secretariat to highlight demands of the employees. Addressing the rally, employees leaders declared that the struggle will be intensified if their demands were not fulfilled forthwith. Mr Nazir Ahmed Mir, president Sectt Employees Union and convenor J&K EJAC, Mohammed Shafi Khan, Chand Ji Bhat, Mushtaq Hussain Khan, Ram Dass, S K Sharma, Bansi Lal Sharma, Walli Mohammed, Abdul Ahad Najar, Mehraj-uddin, Chaman Lal Chaman ( J&K Civil Secretariat Non Gazetted Union) Farooq Ahmed Loan, Ali Mohammed Baba (J&K Civil Secretariat Lower Grade Employees Union), Mushtaq Ahmed Bhat, Farooq Ahmad Sanaie, Abdul Rashid Mir and other addressed the employees.

The response of the strike was total and none of the offices in the Secretariat complex functioned for the third consecutive day today. A team of union leaders visited various offices outside the Secretariat where the striking employees gave reception to the leaders with unity and solidarity.

Leaders of the EJAC, spearheading the agitation, addressed striking employees at Government Medical College and associate hospitals, Directorate Health Services, Sarwal and Gandhi Nagar Hospitals, D C Office Complex, Old Secretariat Complex, Forest, Irrigation, Horticulture, Agriculture, Rural Development, Command Area Development, Government Press, Geology and Mining, JDA Complex Nirman Bhawan, Sheep Husbandry Complex and all the complexes of PHE and PDD.

While addressing the striking employees at various places, EJAC leaders Pardeep Kumar Sharma, Girdhari Lal Chanda, Mohammed Gafoor Dar, Lekh Raj Khajuria, Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, Subash Chander, Vishwa Rattan Baru, Satish Sharma, Mohammed Maqbool, Anwar Beg warned the State Government against adopting adamant attitude towards the just and genuine demands of the employees. They regretted that instead of solving woes of the poor employees, State Government has maintained a criminal silence over their demands.

Other leaders of EJAC namely Ghulam Nabi, Kavi Raj, Khem Raj Bali, Kanwal Kishore Bhardwaj, Amrik Singh, Yoginder Singh, Darshan Mangotra, Dharam Vir Choudhary, Dass Ram Kandlay, Yash Pal, Tilak Raj, Rakesh Bhan, Ashok Kumar, Swantar Bakshi, Chaman Lal Sangotra, Darshan Angurana, A R Moja, Sushil Sudan, K S Chowhan, Marks Gill and others addressed striking employees at Jammu city and out-skirts.

However, employees’ Kam Chhor Hartal has put great affect on the normal life of the people. As majority of the patients have already deserted the Government Medical College Hospital, remaining have been facing lots of hardship due to the strike of the para-medical staff.

Except Emergency all other department including O.P.D, Surgery, C T Scan, X-rays and other wings remained closed for the third successive day today. ICU and CCU functioned normally as these units have been exempted from strike. Employees of the Government Medical College staged a protest dharna in front of the Administrative Block in support of their demands.

Work in SMGS Hospital, CD Hospital, Gandhi Nagar, Sarwal and other hospitals also remained paralysed for the third successive day.

Students of all Government schools in general and colleges in particular, are bearing maximum brunt of the on-going agitation as they have already lost their precious time in their agitation last month. Due to employees strike, there was no class works in colleges for the last three days.

It is worthwhile to mention here that more than 3 lakhs Government employees of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions have been demanding two installments of Dearness Allowance of 10 percent and 5 percent respectively due in January and July, second installment of the 5th Pay Commission arrears, regularisation of all daily wagers who have completed seven years in service, restoration of SRO-43, authentication of G P Fund Pass Books, implementation of all previous agreement including Time Bound Promotion and COLA for Public Sectors employees.

EJAC has decided to organise big rallies tomorrow in all over the State in which future course of action would be decided.

However, there are reports that differences have cropped up among employees on the issue of increasing retirement age to 60 years. Large number of young employees have expressed their reservation on the issue of increasing retirement age.

CM leaving for Umra today

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 22: Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah will leave for Saudia Arabia tomorrow to perform Umra there.

According to the informed sources, the Chief Minister, after the pilgrimage, will return to India on December 25 and will later visit Pune on some engagement there.

Dr Abdullah will be back here on December 27.

Laden playing major role in Kashmir terrorism: US

WASHINGTON, Dec 22: United States has warned that international terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden is increasingly playing a role in abetting terrorism in Kashmir threatening stability in South Asia.

His (Bin Laden’s) operations and operatives are worldwide in scope and increasingly play a role in areas such as Kashmir, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Chechnya and Dagestan..., Assistant Secretary of State Karl F Inderfurth has said yesterday.

Stating that there is no question that terrorism is a growing threat to stability in South Asia, Inderfurth asserted that we are working hard to end these threats.

We are confident we can bring him (Bin Laden) to justice and it is only a matter of time. We are going to work very hard at it, he told Indian and Pakistani reporters here.

The Assistant Secretary of State also said that Bin Laden was not the only terrorist operating in South Asia and referred to the recent attack on Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumar-atunga by a suspected LTTE suicide bomber.

It is our strongly held view that Bin Laden is not the only one in South Asia and we know the countries of the region recognise this threat and we want to seek expanded cooperation with them in addressing it, he opined.

Expressing grave concern over the growing terrorists activities, Inderfurth said we are also working in cooperation with the international community, and we believe that in the end the terrorists will not win. But it is a fight we and others have, including South Asia.

Giving a stern warning to the Islamic militia in Afghanistan which is sheltering the Saudi dissident, Inderfurth said, our concern...has been expressed about the Taliban and its support for Bin Laden, we are hopeful that the Taliban will try to understand the international community’s concerns about Bin Laden.

This is hurting the Taliban in Afghanistan...unless this issue (handing over of Bin Laden) is addressed there will be rigorous enforcement of sanctions without affecting humanitarian or medical assistance, the Assistant Secretary of state warned. (PTI)

Farooq bereaved

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 22: Mrs Pitcher, the mother-in-law of Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah passed away in London yesterday.

She was 75.

Meanwhile, large number of people here offered their condolences to the Chief Minister over the passing away of his mother-in-law.

Her funeral procession will take place on January 4, 2000.

Dr Abdullah is scheduled to attend the funeral procession . He will leave for London on January 1 and will return here on January 7 next year.

Non-bailable arrest warrant against suspended Judge

MUMBAI, Dec 22: In an unprecedented order, non-bailable arrest warrant was issued today against suspended Sessions Judge J W Singh, who is reportedly absconding, in an extortion case in which underworld don Chhota Shakeel and one of his associates are also accused.

Designated Judge A N Bhangale, presiding over the special court set up under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), also issued similar warrants against Chhota Shakeel and his associate Pydhonie.

Police had filed an FIR on November one, alleging that in exchange of judicial favours, Singh urged the Karachi-based don on telephone through a conduit to recover Rs 40 lakh due to his family as chit fund amount from one Sardarsingh Abrol alias Dara.

The suspended Judge had challenged the police decision to book him under MCOCA by filing a petition in Mumbai High Court which was rejected on December 17 on the ground that it was devoid of substance.

Special public prosecutor, Ujjwal Nikam, contended that the accused had committed cognizable offence and were not traceable. Singh, he said, had amassed substantial wealth through alleged corrupt means and was reportedly absconding.

Police had raided Singh’s residence and kept a close watch on his relatives and friends but all efforts to arrest him had turned futile, he said. As regards offence committed by Karachi-based don, the police would alert Interpol after the warrant was issued against him. (PTI)

 

 

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