Agitation may be called off today
Govt holds discussions with students

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 14: With a view to discuss various demands in the context of the ongoing students agitation in Jammu, a high level meeting was held here today. The Minister for Higher Education, Mr Abdul Qayoom, the Industries and Commerce Minister, Mr Bodh Raj Bali, Commissioner/Secretary, Higher Education, Mr S S Kapoor, Registrar, Jammu University, Principals of all the Colleges of Jammu city and leaders of Jammu University and College held detailed discussion on various demands.

The students are demanding un-interrupted supply of electricity, introduction of bi-annual for Ist, 2nd and 3rd years of Degree courses, hostel facilities to the boy and girl students, ban on transfer of college teachers during the middle of academic session and improving and streamling the re-evaluation system in Jammu University.

During the deliberations, Mr Qayoom and Mr Bali said that the Government was committed to provide all possible facilities to the students studying in various schools, colleges, and Universities in the State so that they may not feel any difficulty. They said that the Government have already decreased the power curtailment to facilitiate the students. They said that Government will provide generators to Colleges for the laboratory purpose.

Referring to the demands of hostel accommodation, the Ministers said that the 300-room Girls Hostel at Women College, Parade Ground is under construction and is likely to be completed soon. They issued instructions to the Principal of the Women College Parade to come up with a proposal for the purchase of utencils and other furniture for the College Hostel. The Ministers also assured that the building of Commerce College under occupation of the Relief Commissioner and some rooms of GGM Science College occupied by the CRPF will be got vacated and will be utilized for hostel purpose after necessary renovation.

The Commissioner/Secretary, Higher Education apprised that the Colleges have realised funds to the tune of Rs two crores as admission fee from the students and a fund pool has been raised. He said that rules have been framed for the utilization of the amount for the welfare of students of various colleges and for the purpose priority would be fixed soon including construction of hostel accommodation purchase of lab equipments, furniture etc.

The leaders of the students have expressed satisfaction over the discussion on their genuine demands and assured that they would call off their agitation after the discussion with their general body tomorrow.

However, in a press release issued here today All Colleges Co-ordination Committee spearheading the agitation stated that the Government has agreed to concede four of its six demands including improvement of infrastruc-ture and hostel accommodation, stopping mid-session transfers of the teachers in the colleges, appointment of a committee for the efficient working of examination section of Jammu University.

The Minister also assured to take up the issue of the power cut with Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah and holding periodical parleys with ACCC leaders on their long pending demands and progress being made on these issues.

Government has also agreed to provide generators in the colleges and referred 327 posts to Public Service Commission for College lecturers to overcome the shortage of teachers in the colleges. The issue of occupation of Science College Hostel by Paramilitary forces was also taken up and necessary instructions were issued to vacate it and accomodate more students. The Government said that Rs 2 crore of the Pool fund would also be spent to improve the infrastructure of the Jammu Colleges. Mr Rajesh Vidyarthi ACCC leader, said that due to militancy and large scale migration from other part of the State, Jammu colleges have been overburdened while the infrastructure has remained the same. He appealed to Government to take up education sector on priority basis and stop limited seats schemes in colleges and open new colleges in muffassil areas.

There who accompanied student delegation includes Mr Raj Gopal "Jolla", Bansi Lal Thakur, Parvinder Singh "Happy", Ms Radha Sharma, Paramjit Kour, Sangeeta Chaudhary, Monika Manhas, Mithoo Mandal, Ruhi Mahajan and Zorawar Jamwal.

Sharif arrewted, flown to Karachi

ISLAMABAD, Nov 14: Pakistan’s ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been shifted to Karachi under cover of secrecy and formally arrested to try him on charges of treason and kidnapping which carry death penalty, media reports said today.

Sharif, who was in Army custody in an undisclosed location since the October 12 coup, was flown to the Southern port city by a military C-130 plane under strict security arrangements, the domestic ‘Online’ news agency said quoting official sources.

Karachi police has taken custody of Sharif and four other co-accused on the basis of an FIR filed by military authorities accusing them of a criminal conspiracy to kill Army Chief General Pervez Musharraf and attempting to hijack a plane carrying him, the Pakistan Observer newspaper said.

It is still not known when exactly was the former Premier taken to Karachi as the military authorities were tighlipped about it, but it is believed the transfer took place either late Thursday or early Friday.

In a bid to keep the transfer of Sharif to Karachi a well-guarded secret the C-130 plance carrying him landed at a military airfield near Shahrah-e-Faisal in Karachi instead of the Jinnah airport, the paper said quoting reliable sources.

It reported Sharif was not kept at any normal jail in Karachi but was whisked away to a Government hostel after declaring it as a sub-jail. He was lodged there along with other co-accused in the case.

The other accused in the case are Sharif’s former Adviser on Sindh Affairs Ghaus Ali Shah, former Chairman of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority Aminullah Choudhury and former Inspector General of Sindh Police Rana Maqbool.

The FIR against Sharif and others, filed last week by Army authorities, was produced before an administrative judge of the anti-terrorism court in Karachi, Rehmat Hussain Jafrey, yesterday.

Submitting the FIR, the SHO Airport Police Station Waqar Malhan informed the court that the accused were not in his custody.

Former Advocate General of Sindh and head of Sharif’s defence team Iqbal Raad had earlier moved the court requesting it to direct the SHO to produce the accused.

Media reports said Sharif was expected to be produced before the court on November 17, while the other four might be produced tomorrow.

Pakistan observer said Karachi police has already begun questioning the co-accused and some ‘substantive evidences’ have been gathered against Sharif during their interrogation. The leading english daily ‘Dawn’ also quoted Karachi police officials as claiming that they have found evidence establishing direct involvement of Sharif in the conspiracy to hijack the plane with Musharraf and 198 others on board.

The official APP news agency said police yesterday recorded the statement of nine witnesses in the case, including Secretary to the former Civil Aviation DG, Captain and Flight Engineer of the PIA flight carrying Musharraf, Police Superintendent of Karachi port area and Lt Col Atiq, complainant on behalf of the Army.

Two other witnesses, co-passengers of Musharraf in the flight, failed to turn up for recording their statements, it said.

Sharif and others could even face death sentence if the allegations made against them under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and Anti-Terrorist Act were proved.

The case is also likely to be disposed of fast as it is being heard by the special anti-terrorist court which ironically was instituted by Sharif himself earlier this year. (PTI)

Kalyan not to float any new party

VARANASI, Nov 14: Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh today said he would not do any thing that could weaken the BJP, and would continue to function as ordinary worker of the party.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Singh said he would neither sabotage the party nor form any new party. He said he would also not accept any post in the Government or party organisation.

Mr Singh, after relinquishing the office of Chief Minister, had come to Mirzapur yesterday for darshan of Vindhyavasini. Today, he arrived here from Mirzapur and performed puja at the Kashi Vishwanath temple.

Replying to a question on Ministry formation, the former Chief Minister said selecting members of the Council of Ministers was a prerogative of the Chief Minister. "For me all the legislators and Ministers were equal," he added.

Mr Singh said in his view he had not committed any mistake that could adversely affect his political image.

He reiterated his demand that a region-wise and state-wise review of party peformance in the Lok Sabha elections should be taken up.

On the construction of a temple devoted to Lord Ram at Ayodhya, he said it is certainly on the agenda of BJP.

However, he clarified he would not be leading any movement in this regard saying such a movement will be led by saints only.

Singh said he had communicated to the party high command that he would not accept any post at the centre or the party level and prefer to remain an ordinary worker In the state.

I am neither going to break the party nor would form any new party, he said.

He demanded a probe into the reasons which led to the party’s debacle in the recent Lok Sabha elections in the state and take corrective steps at the organisational level.

He denied any secret meeting with his loyalists in Mirzapur and said such reports are baseless.

The former Chief Minister was here to offer prayers at Kashi Vishwanath temple. He had been to Vindhyanchal temple in Mirzapur district yesterday. Last week, he had gone to Ayodhya for ‘darshan’ at Ram Lala temple, where he announced that he had made up his mind to demit the office. (Agencies)

Power Enggs flay Punjab Govt

PATIALA, Nov 14: The Power engineers of Punjab today lambasted the policy of the State Government of providing free power to the agriculture sector which is forcing the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) into a debt trap.

In a presidential address at the general body meeting of the PSEB Engineers’ Association here, Mr Padamjit Singh said "primary reason for the PSEB’s poor financial health is the fact that about 50 per cent of the total available electricity earns zero revenue. This included 32 per cent consumption in agriculture sector which is free and about 17.8 per cent as the power loss in transmission and distribution.

He said the staggering loss of over Rs 1600 crore was due to decisions taken by the Punjab Government to supply free power to farm sector, adding that "free power to any section without compensating to the PSEB was certainly the main reason for poor financial health of the board.

The Power engineers demanded that in case the State Government wanted to continue free power to the agriculture sector then it should pay Rs 1600 crore to the PSEB and out of this it could deduct Rs 500 crore as interest liability of the board towards state Government loans.

The PSEB employees cautioned that certain vested interests were misguiding the political leadership of Punjab to first "bleed the board" by creating financial mess and then prepare ground to introduce "privatisation" in the PSEB. (UNI)

No doctor available for post mortem'

Excelsior Correspondent

BUDGAM, Nov 14: Even as National Conference Government has been claiming credit for putting the State's diseased health system back on rails and the Deputy Commissioner of Budgam has just placed under suspension six dozen absent Government employees, there was no doctor available in this district for conducting an autopsy.

It was at 1130 hours today that a 60-year old Ghulam Rasool Gani S/o Mohammad Ramzan Ganai was crushed to death by the driver of a truck at MLA Chadoura's village of Dooniwari. As the old man died on spot, the driver, Mohammad Shafi Misgar S/o Bakhtawar Misgar, resident of Dooniwari Chadoura, was arrested by Police and his vehicle, JK01A-6951 was also seized. However, the bereaved family could not get the dead body till late this evening as Police failed to get a doctor for the necessary post mortem examination.

According to official sources, the dead body was first taken to Chadoura but instead of a male doctor, only a lady doctor was on duty. Namely Dr Zahida, she refused to conduct the post mortem with the argument that it was the duty of a male doctor who was supposed to be duty after 1600 hours. However, someone at the Sub District Hospital revealed that, as per a routine, no male doctor was on duty at that hospital on Sunday evening.

As SHO Chadoura complained the matter to Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Budgam--who was available on telephone on his Srinagar residence, -- he advised the Police to take the dead body to District Hospital Budgam. On the CMO's telephonic advice, the dead body was rushed to Aga Syed Yusuf Memorial District Hospital of Budgam where, among a dozen-odd doctors, only a male doctor was available. However, the doctor on duty, namely Dr Parvez, too refused to conduct the post-mortem with the argument that it was the "bloody job" of a Chadoura doctor.

When the grief-stricken family stressed that the dead body be handed over to them for necessary funeral rites, even if it clearly meant the possible failure of the accident claim, Chadoura Police found itself in trouble. Having failed to get the post-mortem done, DC Budgam used his powers and returned the dead body to the bereaved family with his certificate that the old man had died of the accident. SHO delivered the dead body to the Dooniwari family but not before sending a written complaint to the senior officials of the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir.

DC Budgam Mr GA Pir confirmed to EXCELSIOR that the dead body was returned to the family after the authorities failed to have the post-mortem done at a hospital. He said that he was going to formally submit his complaint to the senior authorities on Monday.

Army source gunned down in Bijbehara

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Nov 14 : The dead body recovered from Malihar village of Bijbehara has turned out that of a counter-insurgent source of Army whose accomplice had a narrow escape. Meanwhile, Special Operations Group (SOG) Pulwama has apprehended a senior militant functionary and "battalion commander" of Hizbul Mujahideen.

Official sources told EXCELSIOR that unidentified gunmen in ambush fired upon a motor cycle carrying a couple of counter-insurgents at Malhore village in Bijbehara on Saturday. Even as one of them managed to escape unhurt, another one, namely Mohammad Akbar Bhat S/o Ramzan Bhat of Chermarg, Kulgam, got killed. As already reported the dead body was recovered by Police last evening.

Sources said that the two helpers of security forces were residents of Kulgam area and had been working with the Frisal camp of Rashtriya Rifles 01 Bn. They had gone to Bijbehara area when militants ambushed them and eliminated Mohammad Akbar Bhat.

Meanwhile, SOG Pulwama alongwith BSF 04 Bn, have apprehended a youngman in Pulwama district and described him as a senior militant functionary and "battalion commander" of Hizbul Mujahideen. He was identified as Hameedullah Bhat alias Zulfiqar S/o Ghulam Ahmed Bhat resident of Zadoora.

Official sources claimed that Bhat was apprehended with the help of a specific information early in the morning on Saturday when he was going to attend a meeting with the Hizb and Al-Badr commanders at Parigam heights. His motorcycle was intercepted and he was taken into custody. During sustained interrogation, Bhat revealed that he had gone to Pakistan in 1990 and got subversive training in that country while as once he visited Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

Officials claimed that Bhat was a trusted confidante of ISI besides being Hizbul Mujahideen's "battalion commander" of upper Pirpanjal area. Sources said that he was going to discuss his outfit's strategies against security forces and political activists when an informer tipped off Police and got him captured alive.

Army guns down ultra, people protest
Civilian killed, 2 others injured in Surankote

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Nov 14: Army gunned down another militant at Kanial Di Gali near Kakora, about 17 kms from here while ultras gunned down a civilian and critically wounded two others at their houses in Hari area of Surankote in Poonch district last night.

A Defence spokesman said a group of militants attacked village Hari in Surankote last mid-night, where troops had recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition including two Pika guns and 80 kgs explosives the other day.

Militants straightway attacked the houses of three civilians on whose information the troops had recovered the consignment of weaponry from Hari forests the other day. Militants fired at all the three indiscriminately and fled from the spot presuming all of them dead.

However, only one the civilian had died while two others survived with injuries. The deceased has been identified as Mohammad Sharief son of Abdul Aziz while the injured include Mohammad Rashid son of Abdul Azhar and Kabirdin son of Feroz Din, all residents of Hari. The injured have been hospitalised while body of deceased was handed over to his family after post-mortem.

As reported, troops had, the other day, recovered one of the big consignment of arms and ammunition from Hari which included two Pika guns and 80 kgs sophisticated explosive material.

A Defence spokesman said messages of militants intercepted by the troops also confirmed that militants killed the civilian describing them as informers of security forces.

Meanwhile, the spokesman said, troops gunned down a militant at Kanial Di Gali in Kakora area about 17 kms from here yesterday. He has been identified as Mohammad Qayoom son of Mohammad Fazal Din, a resident of Kanial Di Gali.

The spokesman said the slain militant was part of a group of two militants of Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HUJI), who had escaped during an encounter at Kakora on November 10. One radio set, two grenades and a pouch were recovered from the slain militants, who was also a known guide of ultras in the area, he added.

However, local people of the area this afternoon held a massive protest demonstration against the security forces alleging that Mohammad Qayoom was killed in the custody and he had nothing to do with the militancy.

As soon as the body of Qayoom was handed over to his family, the people of Kanial Di Gali shifted the body to main road at Kakora and disrupted the vehicular movement on Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch road at 1530 hours. They alleged that Qayoom was arrested by the troops on November 12 and killed in cold blood in the captivity.

Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri Mr B A Runyal, DySP Headquarters Mr Sultan Khan and Tehsildar Rajouri Mr Bashir Khan rushed to the spot and talked to the agitated people. They assured people that an inquiry will be conducted into the killing and, if the accused was found innocent, action will be taken.

Following assurance, people lifted their dharna.

MiG 27 to be phased out

SHILLONG, Nov 14: Air chief A Y Tipnis today said present MiG 27 meant for training fighter pilots would be phased out within a year or two but the decision to this effect would be taken by December.

Talking to reporters here at the Eastern Air Command during his day-long programme, the Air chief informed that the Government was considering to introduce more high-tech Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) for grooming fighter pilots and added that MiG 27 was not adequate.

To a query, Mr Tipnis said the takeover by the Army in Pakistan has not increased that country’s military power.

Terming the development as a "political situation," Mr Tipnis, however, admitted that the decision making in that Army-controlled country would be much faster now.

"What happened in Pakistan is an internal affair," he told reporters here at the Eastern Air Command during his day long tour, adding "we will take cognisance of the military capability only."

"We do not know their (Pakistan’s) intent but we will keep vigil all time," he said.

He said despite the coup in Pakistan, the military power in that country remained same though India could not be complacent about its security. (UNI)

ATTF militants kill 17 in Tripura

AGARTALA, Nov 14: At least 17 persons were killed and nine injured by All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) militants at Panchabati Bazar in west Triura district today, Director General of Police K T D Singh said.

The militants stormed into the bordering area of Panchabati, under Sidhai police station, this evening and started spraying bullets, indiscriminately killing 12 persons on-the-spot.

Five others later died at the G B Hospital here, Singh told PTI.

There were also report that 10 persons were kidnapped by the ATTF militants, he said, adding it was apprehended that the militants might have fled across the International Border.

BSF was alerted and the border sealed, Singh said.

Senior police officials rushed to the spot while Assam Rifles personnel have started a combing operation in the area to track the killers. (PTI)

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