Militants asked to set up hideouts at houses of PDP, Cong leaders
Planner of Nadimarg massacre arrested

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Apr 10: In a significant development, Jammu and Kashmir Police today claimed to have arrested a "District Commander" of the Jehadi militant outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba, who, according to it, had planned the massacre of the members of Kashmiri Pandit community at Nadimarg, in Pulwama district. Twenty-four persons of the Police-protected community, including eleven women and two children, had been killed by unidentified gunmen in a midnight carnage at Nadimarg, on March 23 last.

Director General of J&K Police, A K Suri, told mediapersons at a crowded news conference here today that Lashkar-e-Toiba had suffered a major setback and police achieved a major breakthrough with the arrest of the outfit’s "District Commander" in Anantnag. He produced the 25-year-old detainee before media and identified him as Zia Mustafa alias Arbaz alias Abdullah Omar R/o Rawalakote, Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. DGP, however, did not permit any questioning of the detainee. He pleaded that public disclosures of the militant could hamper the series of operations being conducted by Police over his revelations.

Suri claimed that Zia Mustafa had planned the massacre of Kashmiri Pandits on the instructions of his "Divisional Commander" Abu Omair, who had orders from his top leadership to avenge the killing of Muslims in Gujarat. Claiming to be quoting the revelations made by the detainee, Suri said that the slain "District Commander" of Lashkar-e-Toiba, Abu Noman of Pakistan, had convened a meeting of his cadres on the directions of the "Divisional Commander" in December, 2002. It was, among others, attended by Zia Mustafa.

The meeting decided to attack activists of VHP and RSS, besides Hindu temples all over India, Suri said. Other decisions taken in the meeting included ban on sending children to Army schools as also to establish base in Delhi, Gujarat and other Muslim localities "for waging jehad". The Lashkar commanders, according to the DGP, had been directed by their top leadership to set up hideouts at the houses of the PDP, Congress and National Conference leaders in the Valley. Houses of the local Police, military and paramilitary officials were also supposed to be used as hideouts, DGP said.

Yet another important directive to the militants, according to DGP, was to generate local resources in addition to what they had been getting from Pakistan. Assets looted from the minority community as "maal-e-ganeemat" were also supposed to be converted into financial resources of the outfit. Suri claimed that, in addition to being the "District Commander" of his outfit, Zia Mustafa had also been operating as "Financial Chief" for his organisation in Anantnag.

According to the DGP, Zia Mustafa had already confessed his active involvement in militants’ suicide strikes on security forces, besides killing of security forces personnel and the infamous massacre at Nadimarg. He claimed that the detainee was also responsible for a suicide strike on Awantipore base of the Indian Air Force in 2001. "It’s now clearly established that Nadimarg was the handiwork of militants and their mentors in Pakistan", Suri asserted. He said that infiltration of militants from across the border was continuing without a thaw.

Suri said that Zia Mustafa had infiltrated into the Valley in September, 2001, and he had been operating alongwith half-a-dozen of his associates from Narwani village in Pulwama district. He had established contacts, cultivated sources and recruited fresh cadres for his organisation. The DGP did not disclose wherefrom Zia Mustafa had been arrested by Police.

Asked how much credible his disclosures were in the wake of the infamous Pathribal incident (in which five innocent civilians had been killed by Army and labeled as killers of 35 Sikhs in Chittisinghpura), Suri said: "Every incident is separate. I leave it you, whether to believe it or not". He added, "I’m producing (before you) a live person, not a dead body".

US forces battle hold out fighters in Baghdad
*Kurdish forces enter Kirkuk

BAGHDAD, Apr 10 : US forces battled holdout fighters in Baghdad today as rampant looting persisted in the Capital. To the North, Kurdish fighters reported a major gain, entering the city of Kirkuk near some of Iraq’s most productive oil fields.

A day after US officials declared that Saddam Hussein’s regime no longer controlled Baghdad, the US Central Command said American marines engaged in "intense fighting" with pro-Saddam forces at the Imam Mosque, the Az Amihyah Palace and the house of a leader of the Baath Party. One US marine was killed and upto 20 were wounded.

Capt Frank Thorp, a spokesman at Central Command in Doha, Qatar, said US troops acted on information that regime leaders were trying to organise a meeting in the area. During the operations, he said, marines were fired on from the mosque compound.

He said he didn’t know whether Saddam was among those trying to organise the meeting or whether any regime leaders were captured or killed.

That engagement aside, the largely one-sided battle for Baghdad appeared nearly over, and US commanders were focussing on plans to oust pro-Saddam forces from remaining strongholds - including Saddam’s heavily defended hometown of Tikrit and the Northern City of Mosul.

US military officials said in Qatar that navy bomber and special forces teams were targeting Tikrit, 160 km North of Baghdad, to ensure it does not become a new Command Centre for the regime as Iraqi soldiers are pushed into the area both from the capital and the North.

US president George E Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair sought to calm fears by Iraqis and other Arabs that the coalition troops would become an occupying force.

"We will help you build a peaceful and representative Government that protects the rights of all citizens. And then our military forces will leave," Bush said in a video message that was to be broadcast today in the country by coalition forces.

Blair said "our forces are friends and liberators of the Iraqi people, not your conquerors."

In Northern Iraq, a convoy of Kurdish fighters drove into an industrial neighborhood of Kirkuk. It was unclear whether Iraqi forces were still in Kirkuk. Shooting initially erupted on the city’s Northwest edge, but then Kurdish forces were able to drive around at will.

US military officials stressed that the Kurdish fighters were acting in coordination with American special operations troops, an apparent attempt to reassure Turkey that the Kurds would not run the Northern Oil Centre - which the Turks would see as a signal of their worst fear, creation of an independent Kurdish state.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Abdullah Gul, today said that Turkey would send military observers to Kirkuk - at the invitation of US Secretary of State Colin Powell - to make sure Iraqi Kurdish fighters withdraw from the city.

There was no sign of damage to the Northern oil wells, which US officials had said were rigged with explosives. Kurdish forces also took control of the oil-producing city of Khaneqin, 145 km North of Baghdad and near the Iranian border. In Baghdad, thousands of people from poor outlying districts surged into the city centre with wheelbarrows and pushcarts for a second day of looting, setting fires to some Interior Ministry buildings and making off with anything they could carry. Looted buildings included the German Embassy and the French Cultural Center.

"There’s civilian looting like crazy, all over the place," said US Lance Cpl Darren Pickard, adding there weren’t enough American soldiers to carry out orders to stop the vandalism.

In Saddam city, a densely population Shiite Muslim district in Baghdad, some residents set up roadblocks, confiscated loot being brought back from the city centre and sent it to a nearby mosque.

In many parts of the country, civilians struggled with serious shortages of food, medicine and clean water. Several major international aid groups are demanding swift access to Iraqi civilians without interference from coalition troops.

"We need the independence to move around and do our assessments and we need security," said Kathleen Hunt of Care International.

Hoping to restore some degree of order to the Southern City of Basra, British troops today asked residents to turn in their guns - no questions asked.

Saddam’s precise fate remained unknown. Hoping to resolve the mystery, US Special Operations Forces examined a site in a Baghdad residential neighbourhood that was bombed on Monday based on intelligence that Saddam and at least one of his sons were there. (AP)

Arms haul in Khanetar forests
5 VDC members robbed of weapons

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 10: Five members of the Village Defence Committee (VDC) were robbed of their weapons and ammunition, reportedly by a big group of the militants at village Karnail Narha in Pouni area of Reasi tehsil in Udhampur district early today while troops busted a militant hideout in Khanetar, Poonch and recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition including six pistols.

Official reports received here said that a group of 22 "uniformed men" approached a VDC of village Taskeen in Pouni area last evening and, introducing themselves as army soldiers, asked the VDC members to accompany them for a search operation at Karnail Narha. The VDC members followed the dictates and joined the men in combat dress to Karnail Narha, where they laid a joint ambush in the night.

At about 0100 hours, the "uniformed men" directed all five VDC members to handover their weapons and ammunition to them. After taking the weapons and ammunition, they asked the VDC men to collect the weaponry from Thanala police post this morning.

Reports said that when the VDC members approached Thanala police post this morning to get their weapons, the police personnel told them that no such weapons had been deposited with the police post by any security agency.

Police believed that the men in uniform could be the militants, who used the pretext of a search operation to rob the VDC members, all of whom belonged to the majority community, of their weapons. The weapons taken away by the "uniformed men" included five .303 rifles and 407 rounds.

Meanwhile, police and security personnel have started a search operation in the surrounding areas of Karnail Narh, to search for the militants, whose number, according to the VDC members, was 22. No arrests have, however, been made so far.

Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Rifles troops carried out a search operation in Khanetar forest area in Poonch district this evening and destroyed a hideout of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit, the sources said.

Recoveries made from the hideout included six pistols of .32 bore, 295 AK rounds, 320 pistol rounds, one radio wireless set and one charger. However, no arrest could be made from the hideouts. Sources said the militants managed to escape from the hideouts minutes before the troops raided it.

The hideout was being used by atleast four to six foreign mercenaries of Lashkar outfit for night stay in Khanetar for past about two months. After destroying the hideout, the army soldiers started a search operation for the militants.

Meanwhile, an encounter took place between army jawans and a group of militants in Balakote sector in Mendhar tehsil this afternoon. However, there were no reports of any casualties in the operation, the sources said.

Deal firmly with enemies of peace: CM

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Apr 10: Asserting that the peace process would be accelerated, Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed today said that anybody derailing peace initiatives would be dealt with a firm hand.

"We have given a pledge to the people that peace would be restored with dignity and we are determined to bring turn around in the situation in Jammu and Kashmir with the help of the people", he said

Mufti Sayeed was addressing a joint meeting of senior officers of the army, para-military forces, police and intelligence agencies here this afternoon.

The Chief Minister interacted with senior officers on the latest security scenario and steps taken by them to deal with the situation with special reference to security arrangements for the minority pockets. Officers up to the rank of Brigadiers and DIGs were invited by the Chief Minister for first ever such interaction to give an unambiguous message to all forces combating militancy to deal with the situation firmly but ensure that no innocent is harassed. Two weeks ago, the Chief Minister had a similar free and frank interaction with the police officers up to the rank of District SPs on security.

Stressing the need for greater coordination between various forces engaged in fighting militancy for better results, the Chief Minister said that the common objective of every one is to help return peace in the State. ‘Everybody knows that Pakistan is investing heavily to obstruct and derail our peace initiatives but our task is to thwart its designs and meet people’s yearning for peace’, he said and added that the situation demands firm and sustained efforts of every one to bring a turn around in the situation.

Saying that there is no moral or political justification for anyone to take to gun, the Chief Minister impressed upon the administration and the security forces to see that the efforts must continue to win the hearts and minds of the people. This can be done by giving good governance to the people, reaching out to the needy and extending basic amenities especially medicare in remote and far off places. He assured State Government’s full support to Army and para-military forces for their civic action programme aimed at extension of amenities to un-covered areas. A mechanism would be evolved at district level for provision of medicines from the Government for medical camps to be organized by the security forces for the benefit of civil population.

Referring to the impending tourist season and annual Amarnath Yatra, the Chief Minister asked the security authorities to take all precautionary measures besides beefing up security, as both these activities are vital for bettering the economic scenario of Kashmir valley.

The Chief Minister also discussed measures to check infiltration from across the border and said that there is need to maintain constant vigil. ‘We must maintain our vigil against enemies of peace and frustrate their designs’, he added

Mufti Sayeed also impressed upon all forces to cultivate a people- friendly image that help in improving the situation on the ground. ‘While you should be soft on innocents, you have to be firm against those indulging in killings and violence’, he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister who also spoke on the occasion said that people’s longing for peace encourages the coalition Government. He said, " we will continue with our healing touch approach despite its misrepresenting by some vested interest’.

The Deputy Chief Minister who also spoke on the occasion said that collation Government is encouraged by people’s longing for peace. He said, we will continue with out ‘ healing touch’ approach despite some vested interests and is representing it for political reasons.

Mr. Sharma said that coalition is stressing for coordinating Centre - State relations and at the same time has full support of country’s major political parties. He thanked Central Government for its helpful attitude towards the State.

He said the Government has been able to tackle sensitive issue like regional discontent and is credited with cementing the bonds between all regions.

The Corps Commander Lt. General V.G. Patankar welcomed the Chief Minister’s initiative in convening such meetings for meaningful interaction with the officers of various forces. He assured that army and other para-military forces would leave no stone unturned in coming up to the expectations of the people in dealing with the situation.

The 90- minute meeting was marked by free and fair discussion on security situation.

Among others, the DG Police, A. K. Suri, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Iqbal Khanday and IGP K. Rajindra attended the meeting.

Insat 3-A successfully launched

BANGALORE, Apr 10: In a textbook launch, India’s advanced multi-purpose satellite Insat-3A was successfully hurled into space today after a 24-hour delay, on a mission expected to give a big push to the country’s space-based broadcasting, communication and weather monitoring services.

The indigenously built Insat-3A, the country’s biggest spacecraft with a 12-year mission life, was hurled into space by European rocket Ariane-5 from the French Guyanese spaceport of Kourou in South America.

The 160th flight of Ariane, carrying Indian Space Research Organisation’s 2,958 kg Insat-3A and Galaxy-XII of Panamsat, lifted off majestically at 4.22 AM IST and injected the Indian satellite into space 30 minutes later.

The Insat-3A launch was put off for a day yesterday after ISRO scientists observed during final checks that the signal strength from one of the two telemetry transmitters was less than nominal.

ISRO experts at Kourou and in India cleared the spacecraft for launch after extensive simulations and careful analysis later yesterday.

As Insat-3A was successfully launched, an event telecast live by Doordarshan, a top ISRO team at the launch site, including its Chairman K Kasturirangan, Insat-3A Project Director R K Rajangam and Director of ISRO Satellite Centre, P S Goel, expressed joy.

"It was a wonderful achievement. A very eventful flight of Ariane-5. Spectacular and more importantly, technologically precise", a beaming Kasturirangan said in post-launch comments.

Insat-3A represents an important step in creating and augmenting infrastructure in India for space-based broadcasting, communication and meteorology, Kasturirangan said.

Headquartered here, ISRO, which designed and built the satellite, said the Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka acquired the telemetry signal from Insat-3A, the third satellite in the Insat-3 series, at 04.52 AM IST.

"The initial health checks on the satellite indicate that the performance of the satellite is normal," ISRO said.

Insat-3A, expected to augment the present Insat capacity for communication and broadcasting, besides providing meteorological services along with Insat-2E and Kalpana-1, is being tracked, monitored and controlled from the MCF.

It carries 12 C-band, six upper extended C-band, six KU-band and a satellite aided search & rescue transponders.

Shortly afterwards, the first operations on the satellite were carried out by issuing commands from MCF, which is now guiding Insat-3A.

In the coming days, MCF would carry out orbit raising manoeuvres in stages till the satellite attains its final geo-stationary orbit, about 36,000 km above the equator.

After the satellite reaches near-geostationary orbit, solar panels, two antennas and solar sail would be deployed and the satellite will be put in its final 3-axis stabilised mode, followed by trim manoeuvres to take it to its designated orbital slot. The payloads would be subsequently checked out before the satellite is commissioned, ISRO said in a statement.

Arianespace said today’s mission used a Ariane-5 generic launcher version. It was the first Ariane-5 launch of the year.(PTI)

Enquiry to be completed within 4 weeks
HC directs VO to probe Dal lake maintenance records

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Apr 10: The State High Court has directed Vigilance Commissioner to conduct a thorough probe into alleged bunglings of records relating to the maintenance of the famous Dal lake, and asked him to submit the findings to the court within four weeks.

The Division Bench comprising Justice N A Kakroo and Justice Pramod Kohli handed over the records of the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA), responsible for maintenance of Dal Lake, to Vigilance Commissioner Mr R V Raju for investigation, after they were submitted in the court.

The court also directed LAWDA to submit the records of its developmental activities carried out during 2002-03 to the Vigilance Commissioner for examination, as it had withheld information regarding the amount incurred on development of Dal lake during the period.

The bench said it was forced to appoint the Vigilance Commissioner to investigate various aspects of the case, as both the State and its functionaries chose to withheld details and kept the court in dark about the modus operandi of the expenditure. " The manner and mode adopted in spending the amount received, has also been kept a secret from the court, leaving no option for us but to have the matter inquired into", the Bench held.

It said Vigilance Commissioner would probe into total amount allotted to the authority for development of Dal Lake right from its inception and also scrutinize payments made for works completed by LAWDA and also find out whether the expenditure has been audited.

Mr Raju was asked to probe the source of allotment of funds, amount spent till March last year and amount awaiting, besides name the agencies and persons through whom the work was executed.

The Vigilance Commissioner was asked to find whether the payment was made in full for the work done; give details of such works and payments and find the authority/officer who made the allotment and payment.

It asked Mr Raju to probe whether the authority had examined/audited the account and if the answer was in affirmative, then which authority and for which period the audit was conducted.

Mr Raju was further asked to probe whether employment was offered to any in connection with the development of Dal, number of posts created/filled and nature and mode of selection/appointment.

The Bench maintained that another reason which necessitated the enquiry was the perusal of the original sanction issued by Srinagar Municipality regarding the construction of Jammu and Kashmir Bank’s Guest House which revealed that when sanction was granted by the Municipality on August 26, 1998, ‘no objection’ was awaited,that is why it was granted subject to ‘ no objection’ of LAWDA. " The LAWDA in its affidavit has maintained the same stance. The stand of LAWDA is in uniformity with the original sanction, but its xerox copy forming part of the record of the Municipality runs contrary to the original sanction, for, it bears an addition ‘cleared as land use is hotel site in master plan’. Whose handiwork is this, the Court asked Vigilance Commissioner to look into.

The Bench referred to a communication No LD/II/!070-71, dated August 19, 1999 wherein it has been mentioned that Jammu and Kashmir Bank had taken the construction in hand in anticipation of the permission granted by the Municipality and the construction had reached upto lintel level without there being the proper permission. "If it is really so that the construction work on the guest house was made in violation of the law, then the Vigilance Commissioner shall enquire", the Bench ordered, adding that Mr Raju will also inquire into circumstances leading to the grant of permission in respect of this building.

The Court maintained that regarding the guidelines issued by the Central Government/State Government in respect of the purpose of SRE funds and mode of its expenditure assume significance and "such guidelines in our opinion may help us to arrive at a just conclusion." "We, therefore, direct State Government, Director General of Police, Managing Director, Police Housing Corporation to produce the guidelines if any", the DB further directed.

The court asked the Vigilance Commissioner to maintain secrecy of the probe and permitted him to seek services of any Government official in his investigation and instructed the the State (Chief Secretary) to extend all cooperation and assistance to the Vigilance Commissioner. "It shall be made known to all concerned by the Chief Secretary that any lapse, shall be at their own peril", the Bench held.

The court also handed over records of Srinagar Municipality to the Vigilance Commissioner and asked him to go into the records, especially in the building permission cases.

While directing that the enquiry be completed within for weeks, the DB, however, maintained that if or any reason it doesn’t clinch within the period stipulated, Mr Raju shall be free to seek extension of time. " However, it will be appreciated if the prayer made for extension is accompanied by a report indicating progress made in a sealed cover so that no access is allowed to the report to anybody without permission of the court", the Bench held.

The Court held that LAWDA, having initiated process for compounding the illegal construction, suo -moto notice of contempt was issued to Mr Parvez Dewan and Mr Shoukat Ahmad Beig, Vice Chairman and Secretary LAWDA respectively, in its earlier order dated April 1, 2003. " They have filled the affidavits. We defer consideration of the matter till next date", the Court held, directing that in the meantime respondents are directed to refrain from regularizing the construction made without permission. " However, in genuine cases, they shall be at liberty to seek modification through a motion", it was held.

The next hearing of the case has been fixed on April 25.

5 army jawans killed, one injured in mishap

Excelsior Correspondent

RAMBAN, Apr 10: Five army jawans were killed and another was seriously injured when a one-ton vehicle of the army rolled down into a nullah at Digdol, near Banihal on Jammu-Srinagar national highway in wee hours of this morning.

The army jawans were part of a night patrol party on Digdol-Ramsu section of the national highway.

Official sources said the accident took place at 165 kilometers milestone near Digdol at 0100 hours today when drive of the army truck lost balance over the steering while negotiating a sharp curve. The truck rolled down more than 200 feet deep into the gorge.

Due to darkness, the accident couldn’t be detected. It was only at about 0500 hours that a foot patrol of the army noticed the mishap and started a rescue operation. More jawans of army and police alongwith medical teams also joined the rescue mission.

Sources said four army jawans had died on spot while two others were injured. Another injured jawan succumbs to his injuries while being evacuated to the hospital.

Deceased have been identified as Havildar Girdhari Lal, Gunner Gurmeet Singh, Lance Naik N K Mishra, Naik Sri Narayana and Naik Nawal Kishore. Injured, identified as Operator Pankaj Kumar Yadav, has been airlifted to the Military Hospital in Udhampur, where his condition was stated to be serious.

Bodies of the killed army jawans were in the process of being sent to their houses. Banihal police was investigating the reasons behind the accident but a sabotage behind the tragedy has been ruled out, the sources said.

Army and police officers visited the site of accident this morning for investigations. A case in the accident has been registered at Banihal police station. The one-ton vehicle of the army was badly damaged in the accident.

Meanwhile, two children, Dharamvir, 8 and Purshotam, 9, were drowned in a nullah at village Amara in Majalata area in Udhampur district this morning.

Lady scholar's arrest shame for Pak Govt: Dukhtaraan

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Apr 10: Dukhtaraan-e-Millat supremo Asiya Andrabi has expressed her organisation’s shock over the arrest of a Pakistani female scholar and described it as "utterly shameful" for the Government in that country.

In a statement here today, the underground separatist activist Asiya Andrabi lashed out at the Pakistan Government and described the lady scholar’s arrest as "extreme of humiliation" for the Muslim community. According to her, Dr Azia Sidiquee, a Ph D in aeronautics, had been arrested by the authorities in Pakistan and subsequently handed over to the American secret agency FBI. Asiya said that the acclaimed scholar, who is a staunch believer of the Islamic rennaissance, had been declared a "proclaimed offender" by the USA.

Pakistani authorities not only helped the "international terrorist" in apprehending the female scholar but also handed her over to the non-Muslim Americans to win their good humour, Asiya said. "We have no expectations vis-a-vis the present Government in Pakistan. But, we want to know from the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal as to what was the utility of its rule in two Pakistani provinces. Don’t they perceive it as a challenge to the Muslim dignity when the pious Muslim women are traded with non-Muslims in broad daylight? Are they not aware of the Islamic tenet which calls for Jehad whenever a Muslim woman’s life and honour falls in the hands of non-Muslims?" Asiya asked the Pakistani coalition.

"Have the Pakistani Muslims compromised their dignity to the extent that they have become mute spectators to the barter of pious Muslim women by a Government with debauch anti-Muslims elements?" asked the Dukhtarran chief in a hard-hitting statement. 42-year-old Asiya Andrabi has been a stauch supporter of Kashmir’s separation from India and its accession to Pakistan.

NHRC regrets non-compliance of orders by J&K Govt

NEW DELHI, Apr 10: Expressing "regret" over the non-compliance by the Centre and Jammu and Kashmir Government of its directives, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today asked home ministry and the State Government to submit the report within 10 days on the recent killing of 24 Kashmiri Pandits in Nadimarg village in the Valley.

The commission, which had on March 26 issued notices to Union Home Secretary and State Chief Secretary seeking reports within a week into the killing, regrets to note that even after two weeks, the response has not been received, NHRC said, adding "it has thus called upon the Home Secretary and State chief secretary to submit the report within 10 days."

"This attack is doubly reprehensible as it had taken place at a time when fresh efforts were underway to bring peace and reconsiliation to the State, objectives to which the terrorists are fundamentally opposed," NHRC had said.

Considering the reports that the Nadimagr killing took place despite the presence of police in the vicinity, NHRC has asked the Centre and the State Government to indicate the measures that may have been taken or planned to be taken to strengthen security of the affected community and to ameliorate suffering of the families of those killed or traumatised.

The NHRC, which had received a complaint by Panun Kashmir Movement, an organization of Pandits, forwarded the same to both the Centre and the State Government.(PTI)

PM to visit J&K, Sikkim

NEW DELHI, Apr 10: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will pay a four day- visit to Sikkim from tomorrow which will be followed by a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir next week.

Mr Vajpayee will leave here tomorrow morning for Gangtok, capital of Sikkim. His engagements in Sikkim are not known, but it is presumed he is going there mainly to take rest.

After returning to the capital on April 14, the Prime Minister will leave for Jammu and Kashmir on a two-day visit on April 17 and 18. (UNI)

Bihar kidnapping case takes new turn

PATNA, Apr 10: In a startling turn of events, a Patna-based businessman has retracted his statement against former Bihar Minister Surendra Yadav and others for allegedly kidnapping and assaulting him in Gaya, and in turn, accused the police of confining him illegally and torturing him for a bribe.

Atul Prakash Sinha in a complaint filed with Chief Judicial Magistrate Santosh Kumar Srivastava yesterday alleged that the Sub Inspector of Kotwali Police Station here, Ramakant Ram, who, along with two constables, took him into custody from Anand in Gujarat on April four for allegedly defrauding a number of Bihar politicians, confined him illegally in Gaya demanding money.

The CJM has directed the Kotwali Police Station to register an FIR against the three policemen and investigate the allegation levelled against them by Sinha, who is currently in judicial custody at Beur Jail.

According to the petition, the three policemen after taking the businessman into custody from the Crime Branch at Anand left for Patna by the Rajdhani Express to produce him before the court.

RJD MLC Azad Gandhi and Pappu Yadav, brother-in-law of Subhash Yadav, MLC, who is brother of Chief Minister Rabri Devi had accompanied the police team to identify the businessman.

The petition said, that Sinha after being convinced by the policemen that the journey from Gaya to Patna by road was shorter, alighted with the others at Gaya Railway Station.

It alleged that the policemen then demanded Rs 50,000 from him for releasing him.

The businessman in his complaint said he there upon sought time to make arrangements for the money and was taken by the policemen to a small house. The petition alleged that the policemen became impatient and beat him up for wasting so much of their time as it could cost them their jobs.

The SI then ordered the constables to escort Sinha to Patna and produce him in court in the fraud case against him. The policemen also made him sign two blank sheets of papers before sending him to jail, Sinha alleged.

The complaint against Sinha lodged by Vinod Parashar, a relative of ruling RJD MLC Azad Gandhi was that he had allegedly defrauded a number of politicians in the state of Rs five lakh before fleeing to Anand last year. (PTI)

Soz seeks special package for J&K

NEW DELHI, Apr 10: Prof Saifuddin Soz, MP, said in the Rajya Sabha that the Central Government has not announced any special package for Jammu and Kashmir to rejuvenate its economy which got ravaged during the militancy.

He said Central Government seems to be contented with the announcement that the Prime Minister made on May 23, 2002 during his tour of the State. Whatever the announcements, developmental process, especially generation of employment did not receive a push forward. What was approved by way of relief and security and by provision of a broadgaged Railway Line from Jallandhar to Jammu has no relevance to immediate needs of the State, Prof Soz said.

He said, "I feel constrained to say that the package announced by the Prime Minister on May 23, 2002 had no impact on Kashmir economy. I do not know on what basis the Finance Minister had said recently that employment opportunities had increased in Jammu and Kashmir as the unemployment problem has become very acute in recent years. According to a survey by an NGO, in Kashmir valley alone there are 2.5 lakh educated unemployed youth".

Now that the Prime Minister is visiting J&K State shortly, he must announce a special package for the State so that the economy of the State is put back on the rails of economic progress, said Prof Soz.
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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