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Govt
admits irregularities, assures inquiry Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 3: Two Constitutional amendment Bills pertaining to hike in the salaries of Governor and Judges of the State High Court were approved by the State Assembly with two-third majority amidst walk-out by almost the entire Opposition and two adjournments of the House following heated debates on status of the Bills. Before the passage of Bills with 61 votes in favour in a House of 87, Finance Minister Mohd Shaffi admitted that it was a "financial irregularity" that Judges of the State High Court were drawing increased salary without approval of the House. He said the irregularities will be set right and Vigilance wing of the High Court would be approached for an inquiry into the matter. Shouting "rape of democracy" and "murder of Constitution" by the National Conference Government, almost the entire Opposition staged a walk-out in the Assembly when the amendment bill of hike in Judges salary was put to vote by the Speaker. The entire BJP group comprising Lala Shiv Charan Gupta, Mr Ashok Khajuria, Chowdhary Piara Singh, Chowdhary Chuni Lal, Mr Hans Raj Dogra and Mr Prithvi Chand, Panthers Party members Mr Harshdev Singh, Mr Ashok Sharma (Congress-I), Mohd Yusuf Tarigami (CPM) and Mr Som Nath (BSP) walked-out of the House. The Bill was passed with 61 votes in favour. Dillawar Mir (Janata Dal), who had objected to the Bill during debate and described it as a ‘money bill’,however voted in its favour. The second bill regarding hike in Governor’s salary was also passed with 61 votes in favour. Mr Harshdev opposed the Bill while Mr Ashok Sharma (Congress-I) staged a walk-out saying the Bill wasn’t discussed at all. The Bills, which were deferred till today on March 1 following objections raised by Mr Harshdev Singh (Panthers) and Mr G M Bawan (National Conference), were taken up today. Mr Harshdev and Mr Bawan had objected to the Bills on the ground that these were the ‘money bills’ and should have been introduced in the House alongwith a financial statement and consent of the Governor. Before resuming discussion on the bill regarding Judges salary increase, the Speaker Mr Abdul Ahad Vakil asked the members to debate only on whether the bills were ‘money bills’ or simple constitutional amendment bills. Through the Bill, the salary of Chief Justice of the State High Court was to be hiked from Rs 9,000 to Rs 30,000 and that of Judges from Rs 9,000 to Rs 26,000 Mr Harshdev Singh quoted several Sections of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir and Rules of Procedure of House to derive home his point that the bills were ‘money bills’ and should be annexed with financial memoranda and Governor’s consent."Otherwise, this is an invalid document and should be withdrawn", he observed. "It’s obligatory and mandatory for the Government to incorporate Governor’s assent and financial memoranda", Mr Harshdev asserted. Mr Ashok Sharma (Congress-I) also observed that the Bills lack basic requirements of financial statement and Governor’s assent. He also quoted the Constitution and Rules of the House and said the ‘money bills’ needs Governor’s assent and annexure of financial memoranda. Mr Dillawar Mir (Janata Dal) wanted to know under which authority and Government order the High Court Judges were drawing the increased salary as stated by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mr P L Handoo. He also observed that this is a money Bill. Mr G M Bawan (National Conference) was also of the view that this is a money bill. However, BJP member Mr Prithvi Chand said this wasn’t a money bill. In his reply, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr P L Handoo, who had introduced the Bill, however, maintained that the Bills weren’t money bills and were simple amendment bills. Mr Handoo said the Centre had increased salaries of all Governors and Judges. "We have to come to same terms to bring Governor and Judges of High Court at par", he said. He said there was no question of calling it a financial bill or money bill. The Bills was only creating an entitlement, he asserted. The Speaker intervened in Mr Handoo’s reply and said this House is custodian of Constitution and funds of Jammu and Kashmir. Money can be withdrawn only after approval of the House, he said and asked Mr Handoo "how do you reconcile to the fact that High Court Judges were drawing hiked salary without the approval of the House"? Mr Handoo replied that if an objection was filed by the Audit "we have to file a reply". Amidst claims and counter claims by Mr Handoo and opponents of the Bill over its status (whether it is a money bill or not) the Speaker adjourned the house for half an hour at 12 noon and announced that he will give his verdict on Bill’s status at 12.30. However, when House resumed at 12.30 PM, the Deputy Speaker Mr Ghulam Haider Malik again adjourned the House for 15 minutes. When the House resumed at 12.45 PM, the Finance Minister Mohd Shaffi came to the rescue of the Law Minister by announcing that grants and other concerned statements pertaining to salary hike bill will be reflected in budgetary grants. He said the Bill doesn’t fall in money bill definition. The Speaker Mr Abdul Ahad Vakil again pointed out that the Judges were already drawing the increased salary. At this, Mr Shaffi admitted that this was a financial irregularity and can be set right. The High Court has its own Vigilance wing which will be approached for an inquiry, he said. Mr Harshdev Singh, Mr Ashok Sharma and Chowdhary Piara Singh shouted that this was a grave financial as well as legal irregularity and Government must explain the circumstances under which the increased salary was being withdrawn by the Judges. Following Mr Shaffi’s explanation, the Speaker ruled that the Bill under consideration is a Constitution amendment bill and not a money bill. As soon as the Speaker gave his ruling, the entire opposition including the BJP group, Mr Harshdev, Mohd Yusuf Tarigami and Mr Som Nath staged a walk-out from the House shouting that Constitution was being raped by the Government. They said two-third majority was being misused by the Government. The Bill was put to vote by the Speaker and passed with two-third majority amidst empty opposition benches with 61 members voting in favour . The second Bill pertaining to increase in the salary of Governor from Rs 11,000 to Rs 36,000 per month was also passed by the House with two-third majority amidst walk-out by Mr Ashok Sharma for denying him the right to speak. Only Mr Harshdev opposed the Bill. BJP members remained neutral. |
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Two
civilians gunned down Excelsior Correspondent POONCH, Mar 3: Army personnel gunned down four militants during two separate encounter in Mendhar and Nar while militants killed two civilians. Police arrested a Pak-trained militant from Poonch Bus Stand this morning while another militant was apprehended from Thanna Mandi According to official sources, the Rashtriya Rifles jawans noticed a group of militants moving towards their hideout in Mendhar area and challenged them to surrender but they opened heavy firing. Troops retaliated. In the encounter, Army personnel gunned down both the militants on the spot. There was no casualty on Army side in the encounter. Troops handed over dead bodies of both the slain militants to Mendhar police. Identity of the slain militants hadn’t been established but both were foreign mercenaries. Two AK rifles with some ammunition and explosives were recovered from the possession of militants. Two more militants were shot dead by the Army personnel at Nar in Poonch today. Their identity has alson’t been established. The encounter lasted an hour. Two AK-47 rifles and a large quantity of ammunition and explosives were recovered from the scene of encounter. Searches were going on in the area. Militants gunned down a civilian identified as Mohd Akbar after kidnapping him in Hari Budha area. His dead body was recovered by the police from a nullah today. Another unidentified civilian was killed by the militants at Morha Bachai in Surankote. His body was lying with police for identification. Meanwhile, Poonch Police today arrested a top militant from Poonch Bus Stand this morning. He has been identified as Mohd Yasin son of Abdul Gani, a resident of Anantnag district in Kashmir valley. A Poonch police station party led by SHO Mr Vijay Khajuria nabbed the militant when he was moving at the Bus Stand under mysterious circumstances. One pistol with ammunition was recovered from the possession of militant. Police said the militant intended to cross the Line of Control (LoC) for sophisticated arms training in Pakistan. He had joined militancy two years back and was involved in series of subversive activities in Anantnag. His arrest was stated to be a prize cache by the police. Interrogation of the militant was on. Another militant was arrested from Thanna Mandi area of Rajouri district. Militants triggered an IED explosion at Madana on Surankote-Poonch road but there was no casualty as explosion occurred at an isolated area. Militants set ablaze the house of one Abdul Aziz son of Mohd Din at Hari Budha. Militants severely beat-up the family members of Abdul Aziz before torching his house. However, there was no casualty. Security forces recovered land mines from Topa Peri village in Poonch. |
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HC takes serious note
of examiners Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 3: In a much awaited judgment, Mr Justice A M Mir today dismissed all the seven petitions challenging the selection process for the coveted Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS) . While delivering the 34 page judgment in a jam packed court room, Mr Justice Mir said that there was " absolutely no merit in these petitions and dismissed accordingly". The interim direction issued earlier by which court had stayed not to announce the result, was also withdrawn and the Public Service Commission was allowed to finalise the selection list. However, while dismissing the seven petitions, the Justice took a serious note against the system and cautioned the Public Service Commission (PSC) to be very careful in future in selecting only those examiners who work with dedication. " The careless examiners should not be allowed to spoil the prestige of PSC in future", the Court observed. On the point of the relaxation of the age , the Court stated that this was out of the power of this court and accordingly rejected the plea. Mr Justice Mir further observed that after the overall analysis, " I find no substance in the grounds of the challenge raised in the petitions and all the steps taken by PSC seemed to be perfectly in accordance with law. No violation of the rules has been proved by the petitioners and the reflection made after checking and rechecking of answer scripts was quite genuine" Seven petitions were pending before the Court wherein the petitioners had challenged the process of the selection. The candidates had appeared in the combined examination vide Advertisement issued on September 14, 1997 and were not called for the interview. Aggrieved over it, they had moved the court. Advocate General M A Goni appeared for the State of J&K, whereas Mr D C Raina appeared for PSC. MLAs call for
prohibition in J&K Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 3: The liquor policy of the State Government came under sharp attack from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs in the Assembly during Zero Hour. Raising the issue, BJP MLA from Jammu East Mr Ashok Khajuria said the State Government was bent upon making the people of Jammu as drunkards by issuing several new liquor licences and wanted that a total prohibition be introduced in the State. "All existing shops of liquor be closed down and Government shall stop issuing fresh licences", he said. Mr Khajuria quoted from holy Quran to say that consuming and selling liquor was one of the most heinous crime. "All those concerned with liquor policy including Chief Minister, Finance Minister and Excise Commissioner are Muslims. Still they were encouraging the menace of liquor". Since Mr Khajuria was speaking loudly, the Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, who was also present in the House, asked "Ashok whether you want a liquor license"? "No" was the reply of Mr Khajuria, who said, "I am pleading for introduction of prohibition in the State and not for getting wine shop license". BJP Legislature Party leader Lala Shiv Charan Gupta and Chowdhary Piara Singh also joined the issue and supported the demand for prohibition in the State. Mr Khajuria also read out the names of 13 influential persons, who had recently been granted liquor licences. Most of them were kins of National Conference and Congress (I) leaders and bureaucrats. They include Mr Ajit Paul Singh son of National Conference leader Mr Harbans Singh, MLC, Mr Gautam Kotwal son of an IAS officer Mrs Vijay Kotwal, Mr Surinder Kumar, brother-in-law of Congress (I) leader and former MP Mr Dharampal Sharma, Mr Parmanand, father of another Congress (I) leader Mr Vinod Mishra., Mr Dalip Singh, Retired Director of Agriculture. Mrs Neelam Kumari wife of a defeated NC candidate from Jammu West Mr Chander Mohan Sharma, Mr Kunal Chib son of NC leader Mr R S Chib, Mr Sanjay Luthra son of NC MLA Ms Bimla Luthra, Mr Gurdeep Singh Sasan, an NC leader, Mr Harbir Singh Sidhu, brother-in-law of Excise Deputy Commissioner Mr T P Singh, Mr Harvinder Singh, son of Excise and Taxation Officer (ETO) Jammu Mr Bhagwant Singh Mastana, Mr Sukhvinder Singh son of a bureaucrat Mr S S Johar (now dead) and Mr Ashwani Goel. Mr Khajuria remarked "National Conference Ki Yahi Ishaa, Khuli Shraab Piye Jammu Ka Bacha Bacha" (NC’s dream to make Jammu’s people drunkards). |
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Cop gunned down in PHQ area Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, Feb 28: Even as police and paramilitary forces claimed to have eliminated three top-wanted militants of pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen in an encounter at Pokhribal in the capital city, militants shot back and gunned down a head constable of District Police Srinagar at Karan Nagar, yards away from the J&K Police Headquarters (PHQ). In another incident, police claimed to apprehended the "publicity-cum-financial chief" of Lashkar-e-Toiba. Official sources told EXCELSIOR that late last night, contingents of BSF 63 Bn and a police party headed by SDPO Khanyar Tanvir Jeelani, launched a search operation at Pokhribal area of Rainawari as they had received specific information regarding the presence of three dreaded militants of Hizbul Mujahideen. During the search operation, an exchange of fire took place between militants and the security forces in which all the three militants got killed. Sources said that two BSF soldiers and a police constable sustained injuries. One AK-56 rifle and two pistols were claimed to have been recovered from the spot. The three militants were identified as Hizbul Mujahideen’s "platoon commander" Manzoor Ahmed Dar alias Setha, "section commander" Imtiyaz Ahmed alias Imma, resident of Jabgari Mohalla Baha-ud-Din Sahib, and Jan Mohammad alias Jana of Kalashpora. While as police maintained that the three "militants" were killed in a fierce encounter, some people of the area insisted that they were "innocent civilians" who had been apprehended by police and later done to death in a "fake encounter". Interestingly, step sons of a Head Constable of District Police Srinagar, Manzoor Ahmed Dar and Imtiyaz Ahmed Dar were real brothers and Jan Mohammad was their maternal uncle. Asked for his comments regarding the allegations of fake encounter, IGP Kashmir Zone PS Gill claimed that they were most-wanted militants of Nowhatta-Rainawari area who were eliminated in a fierce encounter. He claimed that the three slain militants were responsible for a chain of subversive acts which included killing of several police personnel in Rainawari area, killing of a shopkeeper at Kathi Darwaza, firing upon a BSF sources at Baha-ud-Din Sahib, harrassment and firing on cable operators, firing on a girl at Lalbazar besides massive extortion for the last over one year. Mr Gill claimed that such was the degree of peoples’ hatred against the slain militants that none of the civilians came forward for taking the dead bodies for burial and funeral rites which was ultimately performed by police. The three militants, according to official sources, had been operating under the Hizb "district commander" Riyaz Ahmed Baba alias Gulzar who was eliminated by SOG Srinagar only the other day at Zainakadal. Hours after the Pokhribal incident, a militant appeared at Karan Nagar Crossing and shot dead Head Constable Azmat Ali of District Police Lines Srinagar. The mid-day shoot-out took place yards away from the PHQ complex. The militant managed to escape. Preliminary reports available with police said that it was the handiwork of a fugitive militant of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen hailing from Batmaloo locality. BSF, occupying a number of migrants’ houses in the locality and manning a number of pill-boxes, conducted a cordon-and-search operation which, however, yielded nothing. Reports available from Kangan said that Mohammad Lateef S/o Mir Zaman of Thune village escaped from the captivity of militants but they fired upon him and left him injured. He had been kidnapped from his house the other day. Reports available from Kupwara said that security forces recovered 15 RPG rockets, 15 boosters, 23 hand grenades, 8 kg of RDX and 2160 rounds of ammunition from Rang-Top area. Two AK-56 rifles were claimed recovered from Safapora. Hurriyat leader, SRTC official or LeT chief? Official sources claimed that SOG Srinagar assisted by Police Station Safakadal apprehended one Ali Mohammad Dar alias Shabir Khan R/o Asham Sonawari and recovered a loaded pistol from his possession. He was described as a self-styled "publicity-cum-financial chief" of Lashkar-e-Toiba. Sources said that the ‘chief’, also known as "Ali DC," had begun his career in militancy way back in 1988. He functioned as "deputy chief" of JKLF, later shifted to Hizbul Mujahideen and ultimately joined Lashkar-e-Toiba in recent past. Taking his salary regularly as a Senior Assistant of the State-owned Jammu & Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC), Dar had been simultaneously operating as a leader of the separatist Hurriyat Conference. Sources claimed that Dar had continued his militant actions and subversive activities for the last 9 years with full knowledge of SRTC MDs and other senior officials. Few months back, SOG had arrested yet another SRTC official from TRC complex and recovered from his drawer three sophisticated wireless sets. Interestingly, for the last one fortnight, Hurriyat Conference in its statements has been claiming that one of its leaders, namely Ali Mohammad Dar of Asham, had been arrested and that he had "disappeared" in custody of security forces. |
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Two explosions rock
Arnas Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Mar 3: Two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel including a Sub Inspector were killed while a Deputy Commandant of BSF and a civilian were injured in two powerful bomb blasts at village Tiranga in Arnas area of militancy-infested Mahore tehsil this morning. According to official sources, two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted by the militants went off simultaneously at 0800 hours today when a patrol party of the BSF crossed over it. The IEDs blasted with big bangs throwing the two BSF personnel several feet above the ground. Two BSF personnel were killed on the spot while Deputy Commandant Ranjit Singh, who was leading the patrol party and a civilian accompanying them were seriously injured. The deceased have been identified as constables Sub Inspector I D Mehta and constable Deepak Kumar, belonging to 108 battalion of BSF. The injured civilian was identified as Mohd Sadiq son of Abdul Gani, a resident of Tiranga. BSF officers and jawans and a police team from Arnas police station rushed to the spot and shifted the victims to sub district hospital in Reasi. Condition of the injured Deputy Commandant of BSF and a civilian was stated to be serious. Bodies of the deceased personnel have been handed over to their unit after post-mortem for transportation to their native villages. A BSF spokesman quoting the reports reached from the spot said that militants also opened heavy firing atop the hills on BSF personnel soon after the explosions. The civilian Mohd Sadiq was injured in militants’ firing, he said, adding the condition of injured Deputy Commandant Ranjit Singh was stated to be stable. Security forces and police sealed the entire Tiranga area immediately after the explosions and launched a massive search operation in the area to track down the militants responsible for the explosions. Several local suspects have been rounded up by the security forces for questioning but main accused remained untraced so far. Police and Special Task Force (STF) teams were also assisting the security personnel in the search operations to eliminate the militants. Searches were going on when the reports last came in. Meanwhile, the BSF jawans today recovered a hidden consignment of explosives during a search operation at village Kalthikote, about six kms south west of Dharmari in Arnas area. The consignment had been dumped by the militants at an isolated area to pick it up at an opportune time. The seizure include one grenade throwing gun and four rifle grenades. Security forces were conducting further searches in the area to nab the ‘sources’ of dumping explosives. No arrest had been made so far. |
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From top of skies to
bottom of the earth From Ahmed Ali Fayaz SRINAGAR, Mar 3: Top executive of the American business group Ethan Ellan, Farooq Kathwari, is not the only Kashmiri millionaire whose son divorced his mundane fortunes and laid down his life while fighting ‘Jihad’ in Afghanistan. Former Chief Engineer, and now a leading businessman, Inayatullah Khateeb has shared the anguish as his brilliant offspring relinquished the glamorous career of flying commercial planes in United States of America and chose to die a ‘martyr’ on the soil of his motherland. The tragedy is multifacetted as the Khateebs found their high flying scion burried as an ‘anonymous martyr’ when they were hours short of leaving for Haj. Unlike his elder brother Waseem -- who has grown as a promising contractor in the field of electric pylons and transmission lines, besides running a joinery mill -- Nadeem Ahmed Khateeb had a penchant of ‘Jihad’ even a decade ago. At the young age of 19, when his father was busy in constructing a huge mosque after many an attainment during his career, Nadeem fled his home for Pakistan and got himself trained in guerrilla warfare. When he returned after two years, his elderly parents tried their best to regain the bright and brilliant prospects of their son and offered him ‘anything you like on earth.’ He set the condition of making him a pilot in USA. Months later, the old Khateeb -- who has actually migrated to the posh peripheral environs of this capital city from Bhaderwah, over two decades ago -- managed young Nadeem’s admission at the South-Eastern School of Aeronautics in Georgia, USA. He qualified as a commercial pilot and, later, worked as an Instructor at the same institute. Even as he taught the Yankees flying aeroplanes and had over 700 flying hours to his credit, he failed to assimilate his personality in the occidental glitter and opted to work back home. But, not as a contractor, indeed. While maintaining his rapport with the Pan-Islamist Harkat-ul-Ansaar, Nadeem returned to Pakistan, only to download onto himself the instructions for Kashmir "Jihad". In the company of a well-indoctrinated contingent, he was pushed into his motherland. Rather than boasting of "our great sacrifices" like a many of his fellow militant functionaries in Kashmir valley, Nadeem maintained a low-key profile. He must have laughed over the senior Government functionaries’ trumpetting the recovery of two "aircraft" (which he had ignored as toys at the Drones and several American flying clubs). Yet, he allowed none to peep into his unmatched profile in Kashmir’s insurgency. As the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan were pondering over to the resolution of crisis and drafting the Lahore declaration, Nadeem remained oblivious of the new political developments and engaged the troops in a fierce encounter, in a remote hilly hamlet of Udhampur district. With two fellow militants, he got killed and was burried as a "Pakistani mercenary". After over a week, suddenly a phone call from a Western country, unleashed the pangs of tragedy on the Khateebs. The anonymous caller disclosed that their son Nadeem alias Hamza had attained "martyrdom" while fighting the Indian security forces in Gulabgarh terrain in Udhampur district. Nadeem’s dead body, which was exhumed days after his burial over the Pirpanjal hills, reached his home at Wanbal today, just 8 hours before his parents were to have left for the Haj. Hapless before the destiny, they postponed their spiritual odyssey by a day and performed the funeral rites under a pall of gloom and melancholly. |
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CI ‘nabs’ militant from Jammu City Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 3: The Counter Intelligence (CI) wing of the CID today claimed to have apprehended a militant and recovered arms and ammunition at his instance. A virtual drama was witnessed at the CI’s Canal Road office this afternoon when none of the CI officer was ready to address the press conference despite calling newsmen to their office at 1330 hours. First, the presspersons were asked to wait for few minutes by SP CI Mr Surinder Singh. Again, another senior officer turned up and asked the mediamen to wait for some more time. Additional DGP (CID) Mr Rajinder Tickoo, who was scheduled to address the press conference, made a brief appearance in the room and left within two minutes after distributing a written press statement. Mr Tickoo refused to entertain any query regarding the press note despite the fact that handout was full of contradictions. Majority of the journalists, who were annoyed with the ridiculous behaviour of senior CI officers walked out of the press conference. However, few journalists left for Jammu Club to have a lunch hosted by the CI officers. The handout said that CI sleuths arrested a militant from the outskirts of Jammu City and on the basis of disclosures made by him effected seizure of arms and ammunition. However, the handout didn’t state from which area and when the militant was arrested, what was his identity and outfit’s name. The CI officers refused to comment. The recovery made from his possession, according to the handout, include one AK rifle, two pistols, two grenades, three kgs RDX , two magazines and 20 rounds of AK, one magazine and eight rounds of pistol. The handout said that militant had planned to create disturbances in Jammu City. |
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Top militant held in
Poonch Excelsior Correspondent POONCH, Mar 3: The Rashtriya Rifles personnel gunned down two foreigner militants during an encounter in Mendhar while police arrested a Pak-trained militant from Poonch Bus Stand this morning. According to official sources, the Rashtriya Rifles jawans noticed a group of militants moving towards their hideout in Mendhar area and challenged them to surrender but they opened heavy firing. Troops retaliated. In the encounter, Army personnel gunned down both the militants on the spot. There was no casualty on Army side in the encounter. Troops handed over dead bodies of both the slain militants to Mendhar police. Identity of the slain militants hadn’t been established but both were foreign mercenaries. Two AK rifles with some ammunition and explosives were recovered from the possession of militants. Meanwhile, Poonch Police today arrested a top militant from Poonch Bus Stand this morning. He has been identified as Mohd Yasin son of Abdul Gani, a resident of Anantnag district in Kashmir valley. A Poonch police station party led by SHO Mr Vijay Khajuria nabbed the militant when he was moving at the Bus Stand under mysterious circumstances. One pistol with ammunition was recovered from the possession of militant. Police said the militant intended to cross the Line of Control (LoC) for sophisticated arms training in Pakistan. He had joined militancy two years back and was involved in series of subversive activities in Anantnag. His arrest was stated to be a prize cache by the police. Interrogation of the militant was on. Militants set ablaze the house of one Abdul Aziz son of Mohd Din at Hari Budha. Militants severely beat-up the family members of Abdul Aziz before torching his house. However, there was no casualty. |
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Foreign mercenaries waiting to sneak into this side SRINAGAR, Mar 3: Security forces along the Line of Actual Control in the Northern sector have stepped up vigil following intelligence reports that heavily armed militants, mostly foreigners, are waiting to cross the border into this side. Official sources, quoting intelligence reports, told UNI today that a large number of militants, mostly from Pakistan, Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Afghanistan and other Muslim countries were waiting for an opportunity to sneak into this side. Most of the routes for infiltrators are still closed due to snow, but as soon as the snow starts melting on higher reaches, militants will definitely try to cross into this side, the sources said. They said it was impossible to plug all the infiltration. However compared to previous years, last year saw very low infiltration because of tight security arrangements all along the border, he added. According to sources, every third of the 115 militants killed by Border Security Force (BSF) and Jammu and Kashmir Police Special Operation Group (SOG) during 1998 in border districts of Baramulla and Kupwara was a foreigner. The sources said security forces killed large number of infiltrators last year. About 100 youths who were being forcibly taken across the border for arms training, were also rescued by the forces and handed over to their parents. According to Inspector General of Border Security Force (BSF) Northern Frontier A S Mangat security forces were on the alert to thwart any infiltration attempt by militants. The situation has improved and people are now openly giving information to the forces about the hideouts of the militants. Mr Mangat said the BSF killed 60 militants and apprehended 70 others last year. Ten other militants surrendered along with their arms and ammunition. The BSF lost 29 of their jawans, while 59 were injured in action during the same period. He said forces also recovered 146 AK rifles, 19 universal machine guns, 37 pistols, 21 rocket launchers, two anti aircraft guns, 68 kg of explosives, 623 grenades, ten missile,212 mines and bombs during the year long operation in Baramulla and Kupwara. (UNI) |
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Hostage drama ends as SOG kills militant Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Mar. 3: While as the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police claimed to have rescued a hostage and eliminated his captor in the capital city, unconfirmed reports from Kupwara said that a fierce encounter was in progress between militants and security forces in Nagi forest cover near Kalaroos. Official sources said that SOG Srinagar swung into action within minutes of a tip-off and rescued the son of a well off family who had been held hostage by an armed militant inside his home at Onta Bhawan, Soura, late last evening. According to the specific information, an unidentified gunman had intruded into the house of a businessman, namely Ghulam Mohammad Wani S/o Wali Mohammad Wani and held his son hostage on gun point. His demand for ransom vassilated between Rs. 40 and 10 lakh. Finally, the family assured him payments of Rs. 4 lakh and a quantity of gold. As the deal for seeking the release was being negotiated, a contingent of SOG Srinagar swooped on the house and asked the inmates to explain as to what was wrong. Firstly the family members, fearing an encounter, told Police that the tip-off was not correct and there was no militant at their house. Suddenly, the SOG party began a thorough search of the house. As the militant, in a room on the first floor, found himself trapped, he opened fire in an abortive attempt to escape. The SOG party retaliated and eliminated the pistol wielding militant. One pistol and a hand grenade were recovered from him. While the captive was rescued safely, none of the family sustained injuries in the shoot-out. |
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