 |
LoC turns
into battlefield From Ahmed Ali Fayaz SRINAGAR, May 11: Under the 4-day-long cover of Pakistani security forces’ heavy mortar and artillery fire on Kargil, a thick and heavily-armed group of foreign militants has infiltrated into the Indian territory and the same is now engaged into a full-fledged battle near Line of Actual Control (LoC) with a full brigade of Army. Highly-placed official sources, quoting sensational reports from Kargil, disclosed to EXCELSIOR late this evening that early this morning an Army patrol spotted a group of 200 to 300 foreign militants which seemed to have infiltrated into this side for the last three days. Almost the entire brigade strength of 121-Infantry was immediately mobilised for what could possibly be the largest counter-insurgency operation of the last 10 years in Jammu & Kashmir. Field intelligence inputs, according to sources, described the infiltrators as "Pakhtoons, wearing typical Pakistani Khan dresses". Sources said that in the backdrop of artillery and mortar fire from both sides, Indian Army troops launched the tactical operation while laying a wide cordon around the border locality. By this evening, an area of around five square kilometre had turned into a battle-field and heavy casualties were feared from both sides. Sources said that at least 500 artillery and mortar rounds have been fired by Pakistani troops on Kargil and its adjoining villages for the last three days. However, the damage has been quite insignificant as only person has got killed and four others wounded. One ammunition dump of Army has also perished in the outskirts of capital town. Like on the last three days, Indian troops retaliated the fire but it could not be ascertained if any damage had been caused across the LoC. While the IGP Kashmir P S Gill and other senior officials declined to comment, Brigadier General Staff at the 15 Corps headquarters here said that he would share details of the Kargil incidents with the Press tomorrow. He, however, confirmed the reports of heavy encounter between Army and infiltrators at the LoC saying that Kargil township was safe. Senior authorities here were restless over the apprehensions of a bloody conflict between the Indian and Pakistani troops, informed sources said. |
||
‘Sanctions
fail to frighten us’ NEW DELHI, May 11: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today said last year’s Pokhran nuclear tests infused India with strength and self-confidence, and declared that the country will never make compromises on its national security and defence or be browbeaten and pressurised by any power. Pokhran reiterated our commitment to the goal of peace. But it declared to the world that India would from now on pursue peace from a position of strength, not weakness, Vajpayee told a large gathering of scientists assembled here to celebrate the first anniversary of the nuclear tests. This peaceful policy of India has been vindicated by the developments of the past year. We now have a better atmosphere of peace and cooperation in the region than ever before. Describing Pokhran as a symbol of resurgent India, he said the country is ready to take on any challenge, external or internal, on the basis of self-reliance. We have passed through this year of trial and test with our head held high. Economic sanctions failed to frighten us. Technology denials failed to threaten us, Vajpayee said. For this, he thanked all sections of Indian society, especially scientists who made progress in science and technology despite the ups and downs in politics. He told Indian scientists to act faster and work better. National security and national development are inseparable from each other, Vajpayee said, adding it is only when a nation is free from all external and internal threats that it can successfully pursue its development goals. Exactly a year ago, India made an important tryst with destiny in the desert sands of Rajasthan, Vajpayee reminded. Reiterating support to the Indian scientists, he said there cannot be any intervals and interruptions in science and technology. He, however, cautioned that the Technology Day is a reminder of many of our glaring failures in achieving our development goals. Citing examples of various paradoxes in India, Vajpayee said while scientists talk of a knowledge-driven society, millions in India are illiterate. While the new century is expected to witness spectacular progress in genetic engineering and biotechnology that creates new foods and drinks, many in India suffer from hunger. Similarly, Information Technology is expected to shrink the world into a global village, and yet tens of thousands in India have no proper connectivity to the nearest town. Vajpayee said his Government gave a major thrust to Information Technology, brought in important patents legislations, and unveiled a new telecom policy. He also released three new health care related technologies and presented the National Technology Day award to M/s Shanta Biotech of Hyderabad for successful commercialisation of indigenous Hepatitis-B vaccine. (PTI) |
|
Rajiv Gandhi
assassination case NEW DELHI, May 11: Eight years after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was felled by a LTTE human bomb, the Supreme Court today confirmed the death sentence awarded by trial court to four, including Nalini, commuted death sentence of three to life imprisonment and acquitted 19 others. All 26 accused were awarded death sentence by the trial court for participating in the conspiracy which led to the assassination of Gandhi on May 21, 1991, when he was about to address an election rally at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu. Those, who will face the gallows, were Nalini, T Suthenthiraja alias Santhan, Sriharan alias Murugan and Perarivalan. All the three except Nalini were LTTE activists. The three judge bench comprising Justice K T Thomas, Justice D P Wadhwa and Justice S S M Quadri gave three separate judgements on the sentence with different reasoning. While Justice Thomas and Justice Quadri agreed on death sentence to three of the above, there was difference among them on the sentence to be awarded to Nalini. However, both Justice Wadhwa and Justice Quadri concurred on awarding death sentence to Nalini not adopting the reasoning of Justice Thomas who observed that as the father of a little child, Murugan, who had married Nalini in prison, was awarded death sentence, the mother (Nalini) should be saved not to make the child an orphan. Those whose death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment were Robert Payas, Jayakumar and P Ravichandran. The court also set aside charges against the rest of the accused under various sections of TADA but upheld the charges under various sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC), Telegraph Act, Passport Act, Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act. The bench, in its common order, said if these accused have already undergone the sentence awarded to them by the trial court under these acts, the jail authorities would release them forthwith. Apart from Nalini, four other women Athirai, Shanti, S Selvalakshmi and Padma, who were sentenced to death by the trial court, were also acquitted by the Supreme Court. Sentence on Nalini was a much debatable point for both Justice Thomas and Justice Quadri who held diametrically opposite views. Justice Thomas, adopting a lenient view, said Nalini was an educated woman and was an obedient participant in the conspiracy but played no dominant role. She was indoctrined and brainwashed by Murugan and others to believe the horrific stories about IPKF excesses in Sri Lanka, the judge said and pointed out that she had confided in her brother that she never realised the gravity and dangerous nature of the conspiracy till it was too late for her to withdraw from the group. However, Justice Quadri said if death sentence was not awarded to Nalini, who was a willing participant in the conspiracy to kill a bright leader of the country, then justice would be stunted. Justice Thomas categorised the accused into four groups and held that LTTE supremo Vellupillai Prabhakaran, his Deputy and Intelligence Chief Pottu Amman and women wing leader Akila formed part of the hardcore nucleus of the group which took the decision to assassinate Rajiv. However, he refused to make any further observations against these three as they were not tried. The trial court had declared them as proclaimed offenders. Though 41 people, including Prabhakaran, Pottu Amman and Akila were arraigned as accused in the chargesheet filed by the SIT, only 26 were tried. Of the 41 accused, 12 others including the alleged assassins were killed later. Belt-bomb assassin Dhanu blew herself up killing Rajiv while her accomplice Subha and one-eyed Jack Sivarasan committed suicide. The chargesheet was filed in a record one-year time on May 20, 1992, a day before the first anniversary of Rajiv assassination. Pre-trial in the designated court at the high security prison at Suburban Poonamalle which began on May 5, 1992 ended on November 2, 1993. After the charges were framed against the accused, in-camera trial and examination of witnesses began on January 19, 1994 and ended on November 5, 1997. (PTI) Financial crisis may
force GMC to stop diet to patients By: Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, May 11: The financial crunch prevailing in the State has also made the patients to suffer as bankrupt Medical College was finding it difficult to keep the premier health institution of Jammu working due to severe resource crunch. Due to non-payments of last financial year, the suppliers have stopped supply of drugs including the life saving medicines, lift suppliers have refused to repair the lifts which were out of order for the last over one month and several equipments were lying defunct. "The situation will deteriorate if grants weren’t made available to the Medical College immediately. Even we may be forced to stop the supply of diet to patients", a Medical College functionary said on the condition of anonymity. He said the hospital authorities couldn’t make payments to ECE, a company whose lifts have been installed in the Medical College, due to financial crunch. As a result, the company has refused to repair the lifts which were out of order for more than a month. "The sufferers (due to non working of lifts) are patients and their attendants who had to trek to reach the Wards, some of which are located on sixth and seventh floor", he admitted but said the authorities were helpless as despite repeated requests to the Government, the grants aren’t coming. Medical College authorities said they have repeatedly requested the ECE company to repair the lifts with the assurance that payment will be made to them when the grants are released by the Government. However, the Company didn’t respond as a result both the lifts meant for patients and their attendants were lying defunct. An EXCELSIOR correspondent saw several patients trekking six floors to reach the Ward allotted to them due to non-functioning of lifts. The patients and their attendants cursed the Medical College authorities, who, in turn, shifted the blame on Government which was unconcerned about the plight of patients. According to sources, the supply of drugs including the life saving ones was also running short in Medical College and its associated hospitals as suppliers have categorically turned down the authorities’ request to supply the drugs as their payments pertaining to last year have alson’t been released so far. "How can we supply the drugs without any payment. There is a limit to which we can go", a supplier of medicines said, adding he had told the College authorities in clear cut terms that he will supply the drugs only when his earlier payment is cleared. The College authorities feared that any further delay in the release of grants could result into a serious crisis in the hospitals, which will run short of even the life saving drugs within the next few days. "If such a situation persists, we may have to ask the patients reporting in emergency to bring even the Disposable Syringes and pain killers from the private market", a College functionary remarked. He said the authorities will also be forced to stop the supply of diet to poor patients very soon in the absence of financial help from the Government. "It’s becoming extremely difficult for us to continue with the supply of diet. The contractor may stop the supply any moment due to non-payment", he added. Reliable sources said the Government had deducted 10 per cent grants in the non-plan gap as a result the payments couldn’t be made to several suppliers. The grants, which were sanctioned, had been far below from the requirement. They said at the end of financial year, the authorities persuaded the suppliers to continue the supply on the ground that payments will be made to them from next year’s budget. However, since no payment has come so far from the Government side, the contractors have stopped all kind of supplies. |
|
54 exfiltrators
arrested Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 11: Troops gunned down a Pakistani infiltrator on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jourain area of Akhnoor sector last night while security forces arrested 54 Bangladeshi nationals when they were trying to exfiltrate to Pakistan from RS Pura sector today. A Defence spokesman said, an ambush party of Army belonging to Mahar battalion noticed suspicious movement in the dead of last night in the forward area of Jaurian. Troops challenged the intruder and opened firing killing him on the spot. He said as the dead body of the intruder was lying on other side of the border, the Indian Army repeatedly asked Pak troops to lift the dead body. However, instead of responding, the Pak troops opened heavy firing on Indian positions. All calls from Indian side to Pak troops to take away the dead body were acknowledged with heavy volume of firing from Pak troops, he said. Indian Army returned the firing and amid exchange of firing brought the body of infiltrator to this side. The last rites of the infiltrator were performed with due respect by the Army on the Line of Control. Identity of the intruder couldn’t be established but he was stated to be a Pakistani national. The motive of his infiltration also couldn’t be established. Meanwhile, the Border security Force (BSF) today arrested 54 Bangladeshi nationals when they were trying to exfiltrate to Pakistan from Allah Mai Di Kothi (AMK) post in RS Pura sector at 1715 hours today. Of them, 29 were male, 13 female and 12 children. After preliminary questioning, security forces handed over the infiltrators to RS Pura police station. |
|
Land encroachers clash at Paloura; 5 arrested Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 11: Two groups related to each other, clashed at Paloura under the jurisdiction of Domana police station this morning. Five of them were later arrested by the police. Police sources said the clash pertained to about 10 kanals of land at Paloura on which both the groups one led by Congress (I) leader Vijay Laxmi Dutta and other by her mother-in-law Mrs Swaran Kumari Dutta had been registering claims and counter claims. A retired Additional Director General of police (ADGP) was also siding with Mrs Swaran Kumari Dutta as he happened to be her relative. Police said the dispute was going on since 1975 and both the sides had obtained stays in their favour. This morning, about a dozen people led by one Jai Singh Rathore of Doda, in whose favour Mrs Swaran Kumari Dutta had reportedly given a power of attorney came to the land site and started removing the poles, laid by Mrs Vijay Laxmi Dutta. The group of Mrs Dutta also rushed to the spot and both parties clashed. A Domana police station party led by SHO Mr Diwakar Singh rushed to the spot and arrested five persons of both the groups. Police said a major law and order problem was averted with its timely action as both the groups were about to indulge in a big clash. The arrested persons include three miscreants of Nanak Nagar, who had been hired by Jai Singh and son of retired ADGP. They were booked under Section 107 and 151 but were bailed out in the evening. Police said there had been complaints of land encroachments against both the groups, who were close relatives but had fallen apart after the land disputes. Police have warned both the groups to refrain from encroachments otherwise stern action will be taken against them under law despite the fact that both the groups comprised of influential persons. |
|
DB stays selection of 352 Junior Enggs Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 11: A Division Bench of High Court comprising Mr Justice RC Gandhi and Mr Justice Arun Kumar Goel today stayed the selection of 352 selected candidates for the posts of Junior Engineers, Grade-II Electrical, till next date. The Court also issued notice to the respondents and directed the Registrry to list case immediately after three weeks for final hearing. The Court direction came on a Latters Patent Appeal (LPA) filed by Narinder Verma and seven others through Advocate DC Raina against the judgement of Single Judge passed on April 30 last whereby Mr Justice TS Doabia had dismissed ten (10) writ petitions challenging the selection of Junior Engineers Grade-II Electricals in the Power Development Department. In the LPA, it was stated that the selection of candidates from Degree holders and Diploma holders were equal and pointed out that the Degree holders being a higher qualification be given preference. It was pointed out that the basic eligibility qualification for the post of Junior Engineer is the Diploma in the discipline and the Degree holder having higher qualification should have been given preference by earmarking some marks for them. Advocate Raina submitted that in other selections, the Board had prescribed such criteria, which has not been followed in this selection. He also relied upon a judgement of Supreme Court on the premises that in some of the Universities, the marks of all the sessions are accounted for the purpose of declaring a candidate passed; whereas in some of the other Universities only marks of last year are taken into consideration for such a declaration. The Division Bench admitted this appeal to hearing and issued notice. In the meantime, till next date of hearing, the selection of selected candidates was stayed. |
|
Blast rocks Banihal, arms dump unearthed in Doda Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 11: A powerful explosion rocked a Government school in Banihal this evening while troops destroyed a militants hideout and unearthed an arms dump at Kastigarh in Doda district. Official reports reaching here said an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by the militants in the Government school at Banihal exploded in the evening causing damage to a portion of the school building. However, there was no casualty in the explosion as the school was closed at the time of blast. Police and security forces reached the spot and cordoned off the school building. Search was conducted in and outside the school premises but no other explosive device was seized. Splinters were seized by police from the blast site which showed that device was an IED. No arrest has been made so far in connection with the explosions. However, police was questioning local suspects but no breakthrough has been made. Meanwhile, Army and Special Task Force (STF) today destroyed a major hideout of the militants at Kastigarh in Doda district. An arms dump of the militants was also unearthed. The recovery made from the hideout include two AK-47 rifles with 243 rounds, nine hand grenades, 15 kgs explosive material, 150 kgs rice besides other ammunition and belongings of the militants. Some documents and letter heads of the militant outfit were also recovered from inside the hideout. Troops and STF have jointly launched a search operation in Kastigarh and adjoining areas to apprehend the militants, who had dumped arms in the hideout, but no arrest has been made so far. Searches continued when the reports last came in. |
|
Farooq refutes mother’s charges of corruption NEW DELHI, May 11: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today said his Government was determined to weed out corruption from the administration and sought to refute corruption charges against his Ministers reported in a section of the press. Ministers of my cabinet are working for the betterment of the state and restoring its glory damaged by militancy, Abdullah told PTI over phone from London. Referring to some media reports about allegations of corruption levelled by his mother Begum Akbar Jehan, Abdullah said he regretted that his mother’s statement had come at a time when the arsenal of opposition parties was empty against the State Government. We have given a corruption-free Government in the state, he said and accused the opposition of carrying on a misinformation campaign. A national daily had quoted the octogenarian Begum Jehan as saying that she would step into active politics if corruption was not weeded out of the state administration. Abdullah said the attack by his mother on the State Government was contradictory as on one hand she claimed the Government was inefficient in countering militancy and on the other she claimed the administration was harsh on militants and their sympathisers. (PTI) |
|
Security beefed up on
JK-HP border Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 11: To keep a strict vigil on the activities of the pro- Pakistani militants, a joint operation group comprising police forces of both Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir has been formed and security have been intensified on the entire Himachal-J&K border. In an informal chat with media-men, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal said the Himachal Pradesh Government has formulated a comprehensive action plan after pro- Pak militants’ executed gruesome massacre at Chamba and returned Doda after commissioning of crime. "It was difficult rather an impossible task to seal entire 216 kilometers stretch bordering Jammu and Kashmir State but we have deployed adequate forces at the strategic important points to frustrate any nefarious designs of the Jammu and Kashmir militants", Prof Dhumal said and disclosed that Himachal Pradesh Government seeking help of the army and security forces in this regard. "We have deployed even security forces at some vital points", he said and asserted that local police have been strengthened to face threats of the militancy. "After Chamba carnage, Himachal Pradesh and J&K Police have formed joint operation groups to keep vigil on the activities of the militants in the areas bordering both the states", he said, adding, "our Government is committed to stop infiltration of militants in our peaceful state". Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister further added that besides forming joint operation group, Governments of both the neighbouring states have decided to cooperate each other in containing militancy. "We have decided to hold periodical meetings of the senior police officers of the border districts of both the states", he said and disclosed that HP and J&K Police have been sharing information regarding activities of militants with each other. Regarding action plan of the Himachal Pradesh, Prof Dhumal said that besides strengthening local police, Village Defence Committees (VDCs) and Special Police Officers (SPOs) have been appointed, entirely on the pattern of J&K, in the villages bordering Jammu and Kashmir State to frustrate evil designs of the militants. Favouring opening of the Chamba-Doda Road, Prof Dhumal said that road from Himachal Pradesh side has been completed. Earlier addressing a public meeting organised by the State BJP to commemorate first anniversary of the Pokhran-II tests, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, smelt an international conspiracy behind fall of BJP Government. "As Vajpayee Government took some bold steps in the interest of the security and integration of the nation, some international powers, who want to disintegrate India, could not digest these steps and have hatched a conspiracy and ultimately achieved success in toppling most patriotic Government India ever had", he said and raised apprehension that these powers now want to grab power at any cost. Launching a scathing attack on Opposition for dislodging Vajpayee Government without providing any alternative, Prof Dhumal said entire 10 days long drama has unmasked various ‘fair-skin’ faces which have been befooling the country in the name of dynasty. Without naming Sonia Gandhi, Prof Dhumal said that those who were claiming themselves to be contender for the post of Prime Minister have told lie before President what they can do with general public if they grabbed power. Dubbing Communists as ‘traitors’, Prof Dhumal narrated many incidents when Leftists supported anti-people regimes. "At the time of Quit-India movement in 1942 when the whole country was behind Mahatma Gandhi the Communist at that time opposed the movement and supported Colonial power. And, in Indo-China war in 1962 Communists whole heartily supported Chinese Government" he said. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, termed CPM, general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet as eighth ‘Ajuba’ and said that he was an ominous politician. Expressing their full solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister said that during the last 10 years of turmoil their State has sacrificed maximum number of army men in J&K while fighting militancy. "You are not alone in this era of bloodshed, the whole country is with you", he said and added that whole country was with people of Jammu and Kashmir at this crucial juncture. Highlighting achievements of the BJP, Prof Dhumal said apart from showing nuclear muscles, the Vajpayee Government has also initiated friendship with our arch rival. Senior BJP leader, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, Vaid Vaisho Dutt, Mr Daya Krishan Kotwal, Lala Shiv Charan Gupta, Ashok Khajuria, Ch. Piara Singh, Hans Raj Dogra, Dr Nirmal Singh, Chander Mohan Sharma, Bashir Ahmed Naz and others were present in the function. 4 criminals of Billo gang held Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 11: City police today arrested four more criminals of Billo gang including notorious criminal Deepak Dogra alias Minta during a raid conducted at their hideout. Besides, Minta three other criminals arrested by a joint party of Pacca Danga police station and Chowk Chabutra police post include Rakesh Kumar alias Kesha, Ajay Kumar and Purshotam Singh. A country made pistol, swords, daggers and rounds of .303 gun were recovered from their possession. The arrested criminals were involved in a series of crimes under the jurisdiction of different City police stations and were evading arrest for the past quite sometime. Police said the arrest of Minta was a major setback to Billo gang. Separate cases against them have been registered at Pacca danga police station for further investigations. The raid were made by a joint police party led by SHO Pacca Danga Mr Nirmal Singh and PP Chowk Chabutra Incharge Mr Ashok Singh. |
|
| home | state | national | business| editorial | advertisement | sports | |