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SPO,
woman among 10 killed in Valley Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, Nov 13: While as the death toll of the 2-day-long encounter at Aragam-Gailbal-Gali in Bandipore-Ganderbal belt has risen to six with the killing of three more militants and a solider of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), an SPO and two civilians have been killed by unidentified gunmen in Kashmir valley. One Pakistani miltant has also been killed by security foces in Rajwar area of Handwara in Kupwara district. Meanwhile, Valley today observed a bandh in protest against the alleged excesses and troublesome restrictions of the security forces on the civilian population. Informed sources told EXCELSIOR that troops of the Kilo Forc's RR 13 Bn launched a major counter-insurgency operation in Gailbal Gali area, near Aragam, in Bandipore-Ganderbal belt, on Friday. At a hilly terrain over Safapora heights, troops engaged the militants of Hizbul Mujahideen in a fierce encounter which lasted for several hours and continued overnight. Two local militants, namely Omar-ud-Din Khan S/o Kala Khan of Tangpathri, Ajas, and Sadiq Khan S/o Baro Khan of Bazipora got killed in the first clash while as three more unidentified militants were eliminated later. RR's soldier, Jagat Singh, also got killed while as four more jawans, namely Gobind Singh, Pradip Kumar, Pandit Vithal and Vijay Kumar sustained injuries. They were given medical treatment and declared out-of-danger. RR's Sector-5 recovered the dead bodies of the five militants and the identities of three of them were still being ascertained. Troops also recovered three AK-56 rifles, one AK rifle fitted with a grenade-launching attachment, one RPG and a wireless set besides a quantity of assorted ammunition from the site of encounter. The encounter took place in Larmarg area of north-east in Valley where Kilo Force had eliminated a dozen of militants in two different major operations last month. To an extent, troops have broken the militant's dominance in Bandipore-Ganderbal belt during the last three months. However, they have failed to get the top-wanted militant functionaries of three formidable outfits who have all been operating in the same area. The other day only, militants launched a successful attack on an Army camp at Wakoora Ganderbal in which atleast one soldier was reported killed. Reports available from north Kashmir said that the RR troops conducted yet another operation at Watsar forest area of Rajwar belt in Kupwara district and shot dead a Pakistani militant, namely Mohammad Arif or Rawalpindi. One AK-56 rifle and two handgrenades were claimed to have been recovered. In Gulgam forest area of Kupwara district, men from Police Station Kupwara smashed a militant hideout and seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition which included two boxes of AK-56 ammunition, one 107-mm calibre missile, 80 kg of RDX, 20 remote control devices and a box of a detonators. Reports available from south Kashmir said that unidentified gunmen appeared at Chaman Pathri village in Shopian and shot dead an SPO, namely Abdul Gani Chichi S/o Khewan Chichi who had been working with SOG Pulwama's Gagran unit. Dead body of an unidentified woman was recovered from Palpora village of Qazigund and yet another dead body from Malhora, Bijbehara. Reports said that constable Manzoor Ahmed of Kokernag Police Station got killed as he was hit by a misfire of his own rifle. SOG Pulwama alongwith BSF 04 Bn apprehended one Habibullah Bhat from Zadoura village and claimed to have recovered from his one AK-56 rifle. He was described as a Pakistan-trained militant of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Meanwhile, a Zonal Police Headquarters handout claimed that SOG Srinagar smashed a militant hideout at Barthana locality of Parimpora and seized a 35-kg rocket-missile and an LPG cylinder fitted with an IED. Sources said that in the capital city, a prominent militant surrendered before SOG Srinagar. bandh in valley Meanwhile, shops and business establishments remained closed and a major section of the vehicular traffic was off the road today in protest against the alleged human rights abuse and anti-civilian policies of security forces. The bandh had been called by Kashmir Passenger Transport Welfare Association (KPTWA) and supported by the acting chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq. KPTWA had called the strike mainly against the restrictions imposed on the movement of the vehicular traffic by the authorities in Sonwar-Athwajan cantonment area, in the wake of the militant in which PRO Defence, 5 other officials and two militants had got killed on Nov 3 last. Yet another reason for the bandh was the killing of a Srinagar couple by BSF personnel. Reports available from different areas said that the bandh had a considerable impact. A number of banks, particularly all branches of J&K Bank, and semi-Government offices also remained closed. Attendance was thin at the Government offices which functioning in the Valley today. |
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Restoration of democracy in interest of Pak : PM DURBAN, Nov, 13: A day after suspension of Pakistan from the Commonwealth, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said restoration of democracy in that country was not only in its own interest but also that of India and the whole region. The pressure of world opinion would force Pakistan’s military ruler General Pervez Musharraf to move towards restoration of democracy, Vajpayee told reporters after a 30-minute meeting with Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina on the fringes of the Commonwealth summit here. Vajpayee did not agree that India had been very strident in getting Pakistan suspended indefinitely from the Council of the Commonwealth and getting the country barred from participating in any proceeding of the grouping. Pakistan was indefinitely suspended from the 54-member grouping which felt that nothing should be done to impart legitimacy to Musharraf’s military rule. Replying to questions, Vajpayee said the summit leaders had been highly assertive in their speeches on the fact that democracy should return in Pakistan at the earliest. The Prime Minister said he was entirely satisfied with the discussions on Pakistan and other issues on the agenda. Before leaving for the two-day retreat of the Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting at George Island, off the port city of Durban, Vajpayee had a one-to-one meeting with Queen Elizabeth II of Britain. Vajpayee said the pressure of world opinion would force Pakistan to move towards democracy and restore civilian rule. Indian officials said that while deciding to keep Pakistan indefinitely suspended from the councils of the grouping, the leaders noted that the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) would continue to keep a close vigil on the developments in that country and take appropriate action if the situation deteriorated. During his bilateral meeting, both Vajpayee and Sheikh Hasina decided to further bolster economic ties between India and Bangladesh. Officials said Vajpayee’s bilateral talks with her would continue during the retreat. External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh was also present during the discussion. Describing his talks with Sheikh Hasina as useful, the Prime Minister said the Calcutta-Dhaka bus service was functioning well. Officials said Queen Elizabeth, during her meeting with Vajpayee, expressed grief over the devastation and loss of lives caused by the Orissa cyclone. Meanwhile, a CHOGM spokesperson told reporters that modalities on the implementation of the CMAG report on Pakistan was being still worked out and discussion on the issue would continue among the leaders during the retreat. (PTI) |
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5 injured still
serious PATHANKOT, Nov 13: Five passengers of the Jaipur-bound Puja Express, injured in Thursday night’s blast, are in a serious condition at the military hospital here. Thirty-eight others were discharged after necessary treatment. Nine persons were still in hospital. Fourteen people were killed in the blast near Chakki Bank railway station on the outskirts of Pathankot. The Jaipur-bound train was passing through Himachal Pradesh, just two km short of Damtal town, when the explosion occurred. PTI adds from New Delhi: Passengers who suffered permanent disability and relatives of the victims of Thursday’s bomb blast in the Delhi-bound Puja Express can claim compensation up to Rs four lakh, Northern Railways announced today. The relatives of the passengers affected due to the unfortunate incident can file their claims for compensation up to Rs four lakh in case of death or permanent and total disability, on the prescribed proforma in triplicate before the Railway Claims Tribunal at Chandigarh within a year from the date of the incident, a Northern Railway spokesperson said. However, the claims can be transferred from one bench to another after its registration at Chandigarh, she said. The compensation claims will be paid in addition to the ex gratia payment to the affected persons disbursed at the accident site, she said. Northern Railways shares the grief and loss to the passengers and members of the bereaved families of the dead, the spokeswoman added. Sharif may be arrested any moment ISLAMABAD, Nov 13: Pakistan police today said Nawaz Sharif would be arrested any moment as they have found evidence showing his involvement in the alleged plot to kill military ruler General Pervez Musharraf, even as the authorities launched an investigation into yet another case against the deposed Premier. Karachi police chief Javed Iqbal was quoted as saying that the evidence clearly showed involvement of Sharif and other accused in the plot and it came after three witnesses recorded their statements before the investigating team. Sharif will be arrested any moment, Iqbal was quoted as saying. Leading Urdu daily Nawa-e-Waqt, quoting reliable sources, reported that Sharif and two of his former cabinet colleagues are being investigated for conspiring against the armed forces and the military authorities. The authorities were collecting details of the case being dubbed as Dubai conspiracy, it said. It was alleged that Sharif, a few days before the military coup on October 12, suddenly flew to Dubai to hold consultation with his Information Minister Mushahid Hussain, Petroleum Minister Nisar Ali Khan and former ISI chief Khwaja Ziauddin. In this connection, the army authorities have collected all details and it is expected that this case would be filed in Islamabad, the newspaper said. Sharif had gone to Dubai just before he had decided to remove Gen Musharraf from the post of Army chief. Earlier media reports here had also said that Gen Musharraf had come to know about Sharif’s planning against the Army and that is why he had opted to go to Dubai to chalk out his strategy. In the meantime, the legal process in the case of kidnapping and attempted hijacking against Sharif and others had already started with four close aides of the deposed Premier formally handed over to the police yesterday. Police took custody of Sharif’s Adviser on Sindh affairs Ghaus Ali Shah, former Civil Aviation secretary Aminullah Choudhury, former chief of PIA Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former IGP of Sindh Rana Maqbool. Sharif, however, is yet to be handed over to the police by the military authorities who had taken him into custody after toppling his Government. Sharif and others had been accused of trying to prevent a commercial PIA flight with 198 passengers and Gen Musharraf from landing at Karachi airport on October 12 thus endangering their lives. (PTI) |
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Blast handiwork of KZF activists : PP chief JALANDHAR, Nov 13: Punjab Police chief Sarabjit Singh today said Khalistan Zindabad Force terrorists were suspected to be behind the bomb which blew up a bogie of Jammu-Delhi Puja Express last Thursday and that it was planted in Jammu. The bomb, containing a high power explosive, probably RDX, was planted in Jammu in a crate of apples and the fact that it was deliberately planted in a bogie carrying army jawans showed that the terrorists wanted to send a sinister message to the security forces, Director General of State Police Singh told PTI here. He said preliminary investigations revealed that one to two kg of explosive was used in the blast which claimed 14 lives. We cannot be absolutely sure but the finger of suspicion points to the Khalistan Zindabad Force headed by Ranjit Singh Neeta who was in Pakistan till recently but may have crossed over into India, he said. The DGP said the KZF already had a base in Gurdaspur and police had even arrested a prominent terrorist of the Force, Atarjit Singh, only a year ago. He said this particular ultra outfit comprised largely Jammu-based Sikhs and the links of KZF with Kashmiri terrorists were a natural corollary to this fact. We know that the bomb was actually aimed at us in the sense that it was intended to go off in Punjab. It was only coincidental that it went off in Himachal Pradesh territory, the Punjab Police chief added. Asked about reports from some quarters that the blast may have been targeted at former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Shanta Kumar who was travelling on board the same train, the DGP ruled out such a possibility. Asked whether the blast, seen along with arrests of many terrorists in recent past and incidents of weapon-snatching in Punjab, amounted to a tangible evidence that terrorism was rearing its head once again in the state, Sarabjit Singh said all we know is that probing activities by ISI and ultras sponsored by it are on. There is no mass base for terrorists in Punjab but a consolidated thrust to disturb the state’s peace is definitely there, he said, adding, our eyes and ears are open and nothing is a surprise to us. (PTI) |
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5 injured still
serious PATHANKOT, Nov 13: Five passengers of the Jaipur-bound Puja Express, injured in Thursday night’s blast, are in a serious condition at the military hospital here. Thirty-eight others were discharged after necessary treatment. Nine persons were still in hospital. Fourteen people were killed in the blast near Chakki Bank railway station on the outskirts of Pathankot. The Jaipur-bound train was passing through Himachal Pradesh, just two km short of Damtal town, when the explosion occurred. PTI adds from New Delhi: Passengers who suffered permanent disability and relatives of the victims of Thursday’s bomb blast in the Delhi-bound Puja Express can claim compensation up to Rs four lakh, Northern Railways announced today. The relatives of the passengers affected due to the unfortunate incident can file their claims for compensation up to Rs four lakh in case of death or permanent and total disability, on the prescribed proforma in triplicate before the Railway Claims Tribunal at Chandigarh within a year from the date of the incident, a Northern Railway spokesperson said. However, the claims can be transferred from one bench to another after its registration at Chandigarh, she said. The compensation claims will be paid in addition to the ex gratia payment to the affected persons disbursed at the accident site, she said. Northern Railways shares the grief and loss to the passengers and members of the bereaved families of the dead, the spokeswoman added. |
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Agitating students block Tawi bridge, ransack VC’s office Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 13: Traffic on the ever-busy Tawi bridge remained disrupted for more than two hours as agitating students of city colleges staged dharna there to lodge protest against failure of the authorities to accept their demands this morning. However, today’s meeting of the Principals’ of the different degree colleges failed to yield any result. Agitating students also ransacked window panes and gheroaed office of Vice-Chancellor of Jammu University. Earlier, students of all the city colleges today boycotted their classes and took out processions from their respective institutes. Students of Commerce College and Science College jointly took out a procession. Shouting slogans against authorities, the students started march towards Jammu University. As the agitating students reached Tawi Bridge, they staged a dharna there and blocked traffic for more than two hours. Addressing the students, Mr Parminder Singh Happy and Mr Raj Gopal Jolla accused the Vice-Chancellor of Jammu University of adopting anti-student policies and shielding the corrupt and inefficient staff of the University. They said that discontinuation of Supplementary System of examination has adversely affected thousands of students. Ms Paramjeet Kour and Sangeeta Choudhary said that unprecedent power cuts have severly affected the students of Jammu region. They alleged that National Conference Government was hell bent to disturb the peaceful atmosphere of Jammu. Mr Sanjeev Kant, Bansi Lal Thakur, Ruhi Mahajan, Nidhi Gupta, Varinder Chib, Deepshikha, Pooja, Meenakshi, Rajesh Khajuria, Trishi Gupta, Anshu Wazir, Vidishi Talashi also addressed the gathering. Students lifted dharna only after two hours and then trooped towards Jammu University. Airing slogans against Vice-Chancellor, the enraged students ransacked window panes and furniture of the office chamber of Vice-Chancellor. There were virtually choas and confusion when some miscreants smashed pane of the main-gate of the Chamber. They also staged a dharna in front of the VC’s Chamber. Registrar of Jammu University, Prof Zahur-ud-Din, expressed suprise over the behaviour of the students. He regretted that University authorities had called the students for talks but instead of holding talks they resorted ransacking window panes. The students of MAM, on the otherhand, have decided to resume their classes from Monday. According to a press release, a meeting of the MAM College students was held today under the chairmanship of Mr Manjeet Singh Azad. Meeting appealed to the students to come and attend their classes properly. However, in a statement issued here today, Jammu and Kashmir Youth Congress supported the on-going students’ agitating. |
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People desert houses Excelsior Correspondent POONCH, Nov 13: Pak troops resorted to massive firing and shelling on the Line of Control (LoC) in Gulpur area of this district forcing the people living in the forward areas to desert their homes. Reports reaching here said Pak guns started barking in the Gulpur area late last night without any provocation. Pak troops used heavy machine guns in the firing followed by mortar shelling, which was equally and effectively retaliated by the troops of Poonch Brigade. Amidst heavy firing and shelling, people living in the areas close to the LoC deserted their homes in the night itself and took shelter in the safer areas. Reports said the exchange of firing between Indo-Pak troops continued throughout the night and stopped in the early hours of this morning. People returned to their houses in the afternoon following assurances given by the security forces that everything was alright on the LoC. There was no casualty on Indian side in the heavy cross-firing. Casualties on the Pakistani side couldn’t be ascertained immediately but, the reports said, going by the intensity of firing some casualties might have occurred on the other side of the border. Troops were strengthening their presence on the LoC to check the designs of Pakistan. Reports said that Pakistani troops start firing at one place and then try to push trained militants from the other post. This strategy of Pakistan was also been thwarted effectively, they added. Meanwhile, there were reports that Pakistan army also continued heavy firing on Indian positions in Lam and Bhawani areas of Nowshera sector in Rajouri district. The firing was returned by the Indian army but there was no loss of life or damage on either side during the firing, the reports said. |
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Turks face new quake disaster; 247 killed DUZCE (TURKEY), Nov 13: Dazed survivors and rescue workers searched in freezing temperatures on today for signs of life in the rubble of Turkey’s second devastating earthquake in less than three months. Officials said at least 247 people died in the quake, which shook Turkey’s northwestern province of Bolu last evening. The jolt was felt in the capital Ankara and the commercial centre of Istanbul. "My allah, the pain," said the Sabah daily of what it called Turkey’s "unending earthquake nightmare". Aftershocks continued through today morning. Organisers said a summit of 54 leaders, including US President Bill Clinton, scheduled for Istanbul on November 18-19 would go ahead despite the disaster. Clinton was expected to arrive in Ankara tomorrow. His wife Hillary and daughter Chelsea were due in Turkey later today. More than 780 people were injured in the tremor, measuring 7.2 on the richter scale, and hundreds were believed trappped in collapsed buildings. Less than three months after an august earthquake that killed over 17,000, the grim and familiar sight of shattered buildings and weeping survivors returned to Turkish television screens. President Suleyman Demirel spoke of another disaster befalling the nation. Rescue teams sought out survivors amid freezing fog, wailing sirens and weeping onlookers. "My mother and sister are inside. Many people have come out...(but) there is still no sound from them," said a distraught Aysun Pala waiting outside her mother’s collapsed apartment building in Duzce — the town worst hit by the tremor. It was a chilling reminder for many turks of the devastating August 17 tremor that devastated the nearby towns of Izmit and Golcuk. (REUTERS) |
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Two Pika guns among
arms haul Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Nov 13: Troops blasted a militants’ hideout and eliminated two dreaded ultras in Malhan area and recovered a huge quantity of weaponry including two Pika guns from Hari area of Surankote in Poonch district. A Defence spokesman said troops surrounded a hideout occupied by the militants in Malhan area last night after developing an information about the presence of militants. An encounter ensued between the two sides which continued for more than half an hour after which troops blasted the militants’ hideout. Both the militants were killed in the hideout. There was no casualty on army side in the encounter. The slain militants were believed to be the activists of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit and probably the Pakistanis. Two rifles and other ammunition was recovered from their possession, the spokesman said. He said apart from the killings of militants, troops today effected recovery of a big consignment of arms and ammunition from Hari area of Surankote. The consignment was to be used in carrying out attacks on security forces and civilians, he added. The cache include two Pika guns, one disposable rocket launcher, one rocket propelled grenade launched, four disposable rockets, two anti-personnel mines, six rifle grenades, two hand grenades, one silencer of AK rifle, eight remote control devices, 80 kgs of explosives, 314 rounds of Pika ammunition, 500 rounds of AK ammunition and other items used by the militants. The spokesman said the cache, packed in rucksacks and gunny bags, was hidden underground. Recovery of such a large quantity of arms and explosives have thwarted militants’ designs, the spokesman added. LeT demands Islamic system in Pakistan ISLAMABAD, Nov 13: An Islamic militant group today warned Pakistan’s military regime against any attempt to restore democracy in the country and said Islamic system of governance should be enforced immediately. Democracy is un-Islamic and hence a strict Islamic system of governance as per quranic laws should be enforced, chief of Lashkar-e-Toiba Hafiz Muhammad Sayeed told reporters. We urge Gen Pervez Musharraf to announce that Quran and Sunnat (sayings of the Prophet) are the constitution of Pakistan, he said. Hafiz Sayeed ruled out any confrontation with the military rulers for enforcing of Islamic system, but said his organisation would soon launch a nation-wide awareness campaign to mobilise public opinion in this regard. Pakistan’s largest religious group Jamaat-e-Islami had also called for enforcing Islamic system in the country. The Lashkar chief claimed Pakistan’s financial crisis would be solved once Islamic system was enforced as Islamabad could get rid of its debt burden by telling IMF and the World Bank that it could not pay interest as it is un-Islamic. He sparked off another controversy by reviving the demand of declaring members of the Qadiani sect as non-Muslims since they do not believe in the culmination of prophethood on Hazrat Mohammad. Qadianis, who have a sizeable presence in Pakistan, were declared non-Muslims during the regime of Zia-ul Haq, another military ruler in the 1980s. (PTI) |
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