School building collapse case
X-en, others acquitted from charges

Excelsior Legal Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 6: Special Judge Anti-corruption, Mr V K Phull has acquitted former Executive Engineer and other staff of PWD, R&B Division Bhaderwah in a case involving the collapse of school building in 1991.

Former X-En R C Kotwal, then Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) Pradeep Kumar Kotwal , then Technical Officer K K Razdan and Saleem-ul Saba, ex- JE PWD R&B Division Bhaderwah were charged with entering into conspiracy with one Daifdin of Thathri and had used sub-standard material in the construction of school building at Bhella. However, these charges were found false as the prosecution failed to prove the same beyond reasonable doubts. Accordingly, the challan presented by Vigilance Organisation was dismissed and accused acquitted.

In his 13 page judgment, Mr Phull observed that the evidence of the witnesses clearly transpired that the collection of the samples taken from three different portions of laboratory rooms, was highly doubtful. It was pointed out that the witnesses had categorically stated that neither the samples were collected nor collection memo prepared in their presence.

Further, the samples were collected after a period of four years from the date of registration of the case and collapsing of the building. " The explanation of the Investigating Officer that the delay in collecting samples was due to the prevailing militancy in the area, was not itself trust-worthy as it was a lame excuse "the Judge observed.

Further, Scientific Officer FSL Jammu, Mr H C Bhagat had mentioned that the samples collected were insufficient and due to the rains and weather conditions, the ingredients of the samples were also lost.

The Judge said that the evidence led by the prosecution to establish that sub-standard material was used in the construction of the building , was not cogent and reliable, adding that the the evidence led by the prosecution suffers from glaring contradictions and is not reliable and trust-worthy and cannot be acted upon to the record conviction of the accused.

As per the case, Principal Government higher Secondary School Bhella, P C Bhagat had lodged a complaint that two laboratory rooms constructed in March 1990 , collapsed during the night of June 10, 1991 due to the wind storm. The collapse had caused loss to the laboratory equipment and the material worth thousands of rupees.

On the basis of the complaint, a case was registered against PWD officials responsible for the construction of this building. The samples were also collected and sent to FSL Jammu for analysis. However, the charges could not be established and the accused were acquitted.

Advocates V R Wazir, K Chopra and D S Parivar pleaded for the accused persons, while as Deputy Director Prosecution K S Charak represented the Vigilance Organisation.

Kargil architect’ wants to meet Vajpayee
Delhi rejects Gen. Musharraf’s offer to visit India

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Nov 6: Differences between India and Pakistan have become somewhat serious, with New Delhi straightaway shooting down a proposal conveyed through informal channels by Pakistan’s military ruler, Gen. Parvez Musharraf, that he wants to visit India at an earlier date.

The track-two diplomatic channels, which carried the offer to the National Development Alliance (NDA) Government headed by Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, indicated that the offer was a result of Gen. Musharraf’s desire to reciprocate Indian Prime Minister’s trip to Lahore earlier this year.

And Pakistan was said to have explained that a return visit by Islamabad-based Chief Executive would carry the Lahore process to its logical end. But the South Block turned down the proposal, saying that was a clever ploy to convince the international community about the fair intentions of the military rulers in Pakistan – particularly of the "architect of Kargil conflict", Gen. Musharraf.

Even so, it was considered at the highest political levels before Islamabad was informed of the rejection of the move. Sources in the South Block told EXCELSIOR that the channels were told that the Government’s hands were full with preparations for celebrating the 50th anniversary of India’s emergence as a Republic on January 26 next, and so would not be free to entertain Gen. Musharraf.

The Prime Minister who was informed about the development , was understood to have been cool to entertain the idea. Mr Vajpayee asked how anyone could even contemplate dialogue with one who masterminded the Kargil intrusions. The Foreign Office and the Defence Ministry said that Gen. Musharraf would have to make some decisive move the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir before Indian can take any step towards restarting the Lahore process.

Three Indian rulers, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, Mr LK Advani and Mr George Fernandes, do not appear enthusiastic over Gen. Musharraf’s offer of talks with India on all bilateral matters. Each one of them has in the past three days voiced concern at "warm flirtations" between Gen. Parvez Musharraf and anti-India terrorist outfits. And these "warm flirtations", it is pointed out, resulted in "open encouragement" from Pak military rulers to the dreaded terrorist outfit, Lashkar-e-Toiba, to hold a three-day annual conference at Muridke near Lahore.

The Home Minister, Mr LK Advani, argued that if Gen. Musharraf were really anxious for friendly relations with India, then he would have acted differently, leaving little room for the anti-India militants and terrorists and subversives to gather at the conference of the Lashkar-e-Toiba. New Delhi, it was explained, had every reason to doubt the intentions of the other side, considering the uncontradicted reports from Lahore that regular updates on the Lashkar-e-Toiba’s raid on the Indian Army’s 15 Corps headquarters in Srinagar were broadcast through loudspeakers at the Muridke conference, which, according to one estimate, was attended by more than 2 lakh people including members and activists of other militants groups of Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Another development which has been strongly objected to by Delhi’s South Block and North Block is, what was officially termed as "most provocative ultimatum" by the Lashkar-e-Toiba star-hero, Mr Hafaz Mohammed Saeed, that his fighters know how and when to strike the office of the Indian Premier in New Delhi.

That the Lashkar-e-Toiba "fighters" are present not only in Jammu and Kashmir but elsewhere in India became clear with the pronouncement by Mr Saeed that his men could strike anywhere in India after the "successful" raid on the heavily-guraded Army complex in Srinagar on Wednesday.

Even as Gen. Musharraf has, in his latest interview, to CNN stated that Islamabad "is as sincere in settling the Kashmir issue as all other outstanding issues between Pakistan and India", the Vajpayee Government appears to have decided to pursue its "wait-and-watch" policy. In fact, Gen Musharraf’s decision to allow the congregation of the Lashkar-e-Toiba at Muridke has been interpreted in Delhi’s power corridors as a "clear indication" that he is not serious about a dialogue with India.

Attack on Army cantonment
Fernandes orders inquiry

NEW DELHI, Nov 6: Defence Minister George Fernandes today said a probe has been ordered into the recent attack at the Army cantonment in Srinagar to ascertain whether there was any security lapse.

A probe has been ordered to find out what led to such a serious development in which our officers were killed, he said after laying a wreath on the body of Public Relation officer Major Pramod Purushottam, who was killed by the militants in Srinagar on November 3.

Fernandes, however, said that necessary precautions had been taken to prevent recurrence of such mishaps. They cannot be announced in public... You know security risks, he said when asked about the measures.

Terming the attack by Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) as serious, the Defence Minister said, the 15 Corps is a very big thing and two terrorists entering and gunning down our officers and soldiers is a matter of grave concern.

He said the decade-old militancy had taken a toll of our Army and para-military personnel...Who have laid down their lives to maintain the national integrity of the country.

About the recent threat by let to intensify operations in Jammu and Kashmir, Fernandes said, this is not a new thing. They have been saying this for long.

Fernandes also consoled Major Vatsa V K, wife of Major Purushottam and their eight-year-old daughter, Pallavi.

Army Chief V P Malik paid tributes to the slain Army official and offered condolences to the family. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitly also laid a wreath on the body.

Earlier, amidst blowing of bugle and lowering of arms, the body was received with full military honours at 218 medium regiment ground.

Covered with the national flag, the body was flown to Major Purushottam’s native place Jabalpur for last rites. As the body of the brave soldier reached the regimental centre of the ground here, tears welled up in eyes of those present.

Little Pallavi was seen consoling her mother, Major Vatsa. Major Vatsa described her husband as a brave soldier who died for the country.

A large number of media personnel were present at the ground to pay their last respects to Major Purushottam.

The body of Havaldar P K Maharana, killed in the November 3 attack, was also brought here and will be taken to his home state, Orissa, for last rites. (PTI)

Jawan guns down jawan

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Nov 6: An army soldier gunned down his colleague in a camp of 12 Rashtriya Rifles in Doda district last night. The deceased has been identified as Naik Sat Pal and the accused as Grenadier Rajinder Singh.

Official reports reaching here said both Grenadier and Naik had a scuffle in the camp last night after which Rajinder Singh brought out his service SLR and pumped two shots on Sat Pal killing him on the spot.

The Grenadier was over-powered by his colleagues but not before he had gunned down his colleague. Both accused and deceased were posted in 12 Rashtriya Rifles and were working in militancy-infested areas.

The Grenadier has been arrested. Body of the deceased Naik was dispatched to his native village today after post-mortem in the hospital.

Meanwhile, a youth Vijay Kumar was injured when his own gun mis-fired at his house in Badar area of Dudu in this district today. The injured has been hospitalised.

An encounter took place between Special Operations Group (SOG) Arnas and militants in Udhampur district yesterday. Taking advantage of forest cover and heavy rains, militants managed to escape.

Our Jammu correspondent adds: Reports said an encounter took place between police, army and militants at Durgan heights under the jurisdiction of police post Bangalla in Poonch district. The encounter continued for two hours after which the militants fled from the spot leaving behind one Pika gun, one AK-56 rifle, one pistol, 276 rounds of Pika gun, 27 rounds of AK-56 and two pistol rounds.

Troops continued searches in the area to track down the absconding militant but no success had been made till the reports last came in.

Troops take control of Chilla Danga, other villages
Police failure to act timely leads to ultras infiltration

From Sanjeev Pargal & Neeraj Rohmetra

CHILLA DANGA (SAMBA), Nov 6: Army has been deployed in some sensitive areas of Samba especially along a new infiltration route of Pakistani militants passing through Utterbehni and Chilla Danga villages and reaching upto Doda via Mansar and Udhampur. An Army Platoon has taken control of this small village and was maintaining a round the clock vigil in the village alongwith Village Defence Committee (VDC) members.

Meanwhile, there were reports that a large number of militants had succeeded in reaching militancy-infested Udhampur and Doda districts through this village for the last about one year. The infiltration was possible due to ‘slackness" on the part of local police which, despite being briefed by the locals, didn’t act.

One militant was shot dead by the VDC members at Chilla Danga few days back while two others had managed to escape taking advantage of darkness and grown up ‘sarkanda’.

A senior Army officer Major K K Arun told EXCELSIOR while camping at this village today that a Platoon of army under the supervision of Subedar Khaliq has been deployed here to plug the infiltration route and thwart the possibility of any fresh infiltration by the militants.

About eight to 10 VDC members were also assisting the army by maintaining a strict vigil on the anti-national elements throughout the night.

With the killing of one militant, the army personnel with the help of VDCs have succeeded in detection a new infiltration route—which was infact a supply line of Pakistan to the militants operating in Doda district and upper reaches of Udhampur, Mr Arun said. The supply line has been blocked now by the troops and VDC members, he added.

The militants, accompanied by their guides, used to enter village Lovely (from Utterbehni) in Vijaypur area and through Chilla Danga alongside the Rui river, a subsidiary of Basantar, reached Mansar forests from where they moved towards hilly areas of Udhampur and Doda.

"It will take atleast six days for the militants to reach Udhampur or Doda after crossing the international border in Pakistan", observed a VDC member Rasal Singh, who has been performing his duties with most sincerity by waking throughout the night for last several days. He was part of the VDC which killed the militant.

Another VDC member Chain Singh said :"we had been watching the activities of militants for more than a year. Several militant groups crossed this village in front of our eyes on way to Udhampur and Doda but we couldn’t do much as the VDC hadn’t been constituted by then".

He said the local people repeatedly informed the Samba police about the activities of militants but they gave no response. "Had police acted swiftly on our reports and established a picket in this village, this infiltration route of the Pakistani militants would have been plugged much earlier", said Bansi Lal, a local of the area.

Infact even after the encounter, a police party only came for a stroll when their senior officers visited the spot on the day of encounter, disclosed another local of the area, Dhnaintar Singh. However, the locals were all praise for the army which has come to their rescue with the deployment of a Platoon.

According to another VDC member, Darshan Singh they had a face to face encounter with militants few months back at village Lovely in Utterbehni (a village from where the militants reach Chilla Danga) and recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition. But, militants had managed to escape. Darshan Singh said police parties from Samba and Vijaypur took away the arms and ammunition and gave no credit to VDCs.

"This is army which gave us the due credit of eliminating a militant early this week", quipped another VDC member Manu Ram. However, he regretted that the VDC had so far not received the Rs 15,000 award announced by the DIG Jammu-Kathua Range Dr S P Vaid.

Other VDC members Amar Singh, Krishan Singh, Sunit Kumar, Darshan Singh, Purshotam Singh and Baldev Singh said they had observed six militants crossing Chilla Danga through Mahoregarh nullah and reaching Mansar. Anticipating that three militants will return after leaving three to Mansar for their onward journey to Udhampur, the VDC members laid a naka with the help of army.

The villagers prediction came true. At 10.40 PM on Tuesday night, three militants were spotted by the VDC members one of whom was shot dead while two others escaped. The VDC members and locals of Chilla Danga were jubilant not over the fact that they had eliminated a militant but the reports that they had plugged an infiltration route of the militants, which was being used by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to push militants for a long time.

However, villagers had a sense of fear that ISI might send militants to the village to revenge the death of a top militant. However, Major K K Arun has assured the villagers that they won’t move their Platoon from the village till the intrusions route is completely sealed or till some alternative arrangements are made.

Major Arun said besides Chilla Danga, troops from Brigade Headquarters of Samba were also maintaining a strict vigil in other sensitive villages of the border from where the militants could infiltrate. "Army is fully alive to the situation. We will take all possible measures to ensure that infiltration is curbed to maximum possible extent", he added.

Most of casualties occur due to docs’ absence
21 killed, 26 injured in Bani bus accident

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, Nov 6: In a major tragedy on the eve of Diwali festival, atleast 21 persons were killed and 26 others were seriously injured when an over-loaded passenger bus met with an accident at village Jandrali on Bani-Poond road in this district this morning.

Of 26 injured, many were in critical condition. Most of the deaths occurred due to non-availability of any doctor in the sub district hospital at Basohli.

Official reports reaching at the district headquarters this evening said till late tonight 21 people had died and 26 others were injured, most of whom have been referred to district hospital Kathua and Medical College hospital, Jammu as not even a single doctor was present in the Basohli hospital.

Reports said the bus No. 8725 JKR had left Bani at 0930 hours for Jammu. The bus had reached Jandrali, about 10 kms ahead of Bani when it reportedly developed a mechanical fault. The driver failed to negotiate a blind curve, a result of which the bus rolled down over 200 feet deep into the nullah.

Local people rushed to the accident site on seeing the bus jumping down into the nullah and immediately started a rescue operation. A local police party also reached the spot and started shifting the injured to Basohli hospital.

Reports said that 10 persons were killed on the spot in the accident while 11 others succumbed to their injuries crying for treatment in the absence of even a single doctor in the Basohli hospital. Only a nurse was present in the hospital, who couldn’t do much.

Local people and attendants of the victims held a massive demonstration outside the hospital shouting slogans against the doctors and para-medical staff demanding their immediate dismissal from the services ‘for playing with the lives of accident victims’.

Of 26 injured, 12 have been referred to district hospital in Kathua and six to Medical College hospital in Jammu. Other injured with minor wounds were admitted in Basohli hospital. Condition of the injured admitted in Medical College hospital and Kathua hospital was stated to be serious.

Deputy Commissioner, Kathua Mr Chaman Lal and SSP Kathua, Mr R R Swain besides other senior police and civil officers rushed to the accident site. Sources said the DC Kathua has already ordered an inquiry into the absence of doctors on duty in Basohli hospital. The DC and SSP took with them a team of three doctors from here to attended the injured still admitted in Basohli hospital.

Of 21 killed, only four have been identified so far. They include two police constables Mohd Riaz and Mohd Din and two civilians Lalit Kumar and Ravi Kumar. Identity of other dead persons was being established. Their bodies have been kept in the local hospital.

The injured admitted in Kathua hospital have been identified as Shakti Kumar, Swaran Singh, Master Bitu, Dareeno, Master Sikander Ali, Rupinder Singh, Prem Singh, Mohinder Kumar and Virender Kumar.

Local police have registered a case in the accident. Fate of the driver wasn’t known. Police said the preliminary investigations revealed that accident occurred due to a mechanical fault. Further investigations were being carried out by the police.

Our Udhampur correspondent adds: Another mini-bus No.9679 JK02K collided with a Maruti car No. 3928 JK02G at Amar Chasma on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway this morning causing two injuries to Maruti occupants.

The injured have been identified as Wilson John of Moara Morh and Shehnaz Ahmed of Sailan Talab. Both have been admitted in the district hospital, Udhampur.

Chautala drops 2, inducts 10 new Ministers

CHANDIGARH, Nov 6 : Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala in a sudden reshuffle today dropped Industries Minister Brij Mohan Singla and Transport Minister Narbir Singh and inducted three Cabinet Ministers and seven ministers of state into his three-month-old Council of Ministers.

Governor Mahabir Prasad, who earlier had accepted the recommendation of the Chief Minister to drop Mr Singla and Rao Naribir Singh, later in the evening administered oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers at a swearing-in ceremony at Raj Bhavan here.

With the changing the strength of the Chautala Ministry has risen to 21, besides a Chief Parliamentary Secretary.

Mr Chautala did not not assign any reason for dropping the two ministers, telling uni "it is the prerogative of the Chief Minister whom to drop and whom to induct."

Mr Singla and Rao Narbir Singh were inducted in the July 29 first expansion of the Chautala Ministry.

Mr Jaswant Singh Narnaud, Mr Jagdish Yadav and independent Legislator Om Prakash Mahajan were sworn-in as Cabinet Ministers.

Mr Subhash Yadav, Mrs Kanta Devi, Mr Azad Mohammed, Mr Jagdish Nayyar, Mr Ram Sarup Rama, Mr Ram Bhaj and Mr Vinod Kumar were sworn-in as ministers of state.

Mr Narinder Sharma (Ind) and former Chairman of HAFED, was mentioned by the Chief Secretary among the Ministers of State who were to take oath. He,however did not turn up. According to Mr Chautala, Mr Sharma could not be contacted on time.

Mr Yadav, Mr Rama, Mr Subhash Chand and Mr Nayyar were among yet another batch of rebels from the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) led by erstwhile Chief Minister Bansi Lal. All the four had recently criticised Mr Bansi Lal for his style of functioning and extended unconditional support to Mr Chautala, lauding his leadership.

Later at an interaction with media persons, Mr Chautala said they had not been inducted in the Indian National Lok Dal and were his sympathisers. "It is for the Assembly Speaker to decide whether any one of them had violated the anti-defection laws, he added.

Mr Chautala in reply to a question said that he was not in favour of an early election to the state assembly. The present term of the Assembly ends in May, 2001.

The Chief Minister described the new expansion as a "Deepawali gift" and a mark of rejoicing to have fulfilled all the promises made to the people on the Haryana Day on November one.

Today’s exansion was the second since Mr Chautala assumed office on July 24 after Mr Bansi Lal resigned. He had expanded his Ministry on July 29 incluting seven Cabinet Ministers and six Ministers of State. However, Mr Jagan Nath, who was expelled from the HVP, quit as Agriculture Minister and joined the Congress Party. Later Mr Jaswinder Singh was sworn-in as Chief Parliamentary Secretary by the Chief Minister.

In the course of interaction with mediapersons, Mr Chautala maintained that those who were inducted today were either members of the Indian National Lok Dal or were supporters of his party.

To a question the Chief Minister did not rule out next expansion but said there could be no time frame for this.

In reply to a question, Mr Chautala said the BJP was welcome to join his ministry any time. "I had met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Union Home Minister and the BJP president to impress upon them the desirability of the BJP joining his ministry. I was given an assurance that decision to this effect will be taken during the BJP national executive meeting", he said.

Responding to another question Mr Chautala said "I have full faith in my old colleagues.They are committed party workers. They have given me full affection and respect. I owe my present position to them. I can never repay what they have given to me."

Surprisingly, Mr Chautala after the interaction with mediapersons did not not mention or gave an inkling that he had dropped Mr Singla and Rao Narbir Singh. It was only through reliable sources dropping of the two became public.(UNI)

Actresses dominate Amitabh’s list of beautiful women

NEW DELHI, Nov 6: Actresses Savitri Devi, Miss World Aishwarya Rai, and Madhuri Dixit along with his mother Teji and grand-daughter Navya-Naveli figure in superstar Amitabh Bachchan’s choice of the eleven most beautiful women of the past hundred years.

Amitabh says that Savitri Devi, who is the step-mother of actress Rekha and wife of Gemini Ganeshan, had looks that were similar to Meena Kumari and Suraiya’s, but she had "a certain kind of youthful bubble which lent her vivacity and exuberance. She was one of the first actresses with unbelievable spontaneity."

Other women who figure in the Big B’s list are Rajmata of Jaipur Gayatri Devi, former actress Naseem Bano (mother of Saira Bano), and actresses Waheeda Rehman, Suchitra Sen, Meena Kumari and Leela Naidu.

In the list drawn up for the millennium issue of ‘Outlook’, Amitabh says that Madhuri Dixit ‘by far has one of the most brilliant smiles that has ever been seen in any of the leading ladies. Her smile is so unique that she does not have to say anything after that. She has the most expressive smile and the eyes thereafter.’ about Aishwarya, he says ‘in today’s time, she has just about the most perfect face. It is difficult to find any defect in her face, her body.’ (UNI)

Musharraf ridicules Lahore declaration

ISLAMABAD, Nov 6: Pakistan’s strongman General Pervez Musharraf has ridiculed the Lahore declaration, saying that it had "no meaning" unless the Kashmir imbroglio was resolved.

In an interiew recorded by the Urdu service of the BBC last night, the General contemptuously referred the Lahore process as "Lahore process warocess".

Gen Musharraf said the desired thaw in Indo-Pak relations will come only if India resolves the Kashmir issue. "I am willing to go ten steps further, if India took the desired steps, but my country should not be taken for granted," he said.

Observers said that the General’s statement to the BBC sounded like his response to India’s repeated demand that Pakistan stop cross-border terrorism to pave the way for resumption of bilateral dislogue.

From the tone of his interview it appeared that he wanted to take a hawkish attitude towards India to endear himself with anti-India elements in his country. According to a report in the Urdu Daily Jang, Premier Nawaz Sharif was overthrown for the Lahore declaration and his efforts to befriend India.

At the same time chief of the Markaz-i-Dawaul Arshad declared in Muridke (near Lahore) at the end of a three-day conference of Lashkar-i-Toiba yesterday that Kashmir will be decided in the field of Jehad. "If the Lashkar-i-Toiba can attack India’s military positions in Srinagar, it can also attack Indian Prime Minister’s office", he said. (UNI)

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