Both militants killed in 20 hours battle
Mahamaya operation ends

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 1: Operation in the Mahamaya forests by the Army personnel ended in wee hours of this morning with the troops eliminating the surviving terrorist with heavy gun fire. The operation lasted 20 hours.

The terrorist, who didn’t fire a single shot on the Army soldiers during the night, was gunned down by the troops at about 5 am when he tried to shift the place of his hiding, official sources said. They added that the troops didn’t suffer any further loss in the gun-battle.

However, an Army jawan, Mohan Lal who was injured in the exchange of firing with the terrorists last evening, succumbed to his injuries in the Military Hospital this morning taking death toll in the encounter on the security forces side to two. A police constable of the Crime Branch, Bal Krishan, who was a member of the dog squad, was killed in the encounter yesterday.

Besides, three Army jawans, two policemen, a senior IAS officer K B Pillai and his driver and body-guard were injured while DIG Jammu range Farooq Ahmed had a narrow escape in the encounter which started at 9 am yesterday and culminated at 5 am today with the killing of the surviving terrorist. As reported, one terrorist was killed by the Army last evening.

As anticipated by the Army and police personnel, the surviving terrorist had tied a grenade with stomach of the terrorist, who was killed in the operation yesterday. As the Army personnel dragged his body after tying a rope in his legs, the grenade went off. However, the troops didn’t suffer any loss.

The Army personnel fired several shots on the body of second terrorist also to neutralise the booby trap, if any.

Later, the troops handed over the dead bodies of the terrorists to police for their burial. According to sources, identity of the militants couldn’t be established as no identity cards or chits were recovered from their possession. Sources, however, said the terrorists were believed to be the Pakistanis.

Recoveries made from the scene of encounter were two AK-56 rifles, their six magazines and 36 rounds, two Mousers with two magazines and 21 rounds and two hand grenades. Both the terrorists had lobbed atleast eight grenades on the Army and police personnel besides emptying several magazines of AK rifles, the sources said.

Meanwhile, dead body of the slain Crime Branch constable Bal Krishan, who had sacrificed his life while leading a dog squad in the Mahamaya forests, was brought to the District Police Lines (DPL) where he was given a ceremonial send off. Senior police officers paid rich tributes to him after which his body was shifted to his residence.

The Army authorities have also sent the dead body of deceased Army jawan, Mohan Lal to his native town.

India, Pak to resume air links by January 1

NEW DELHI, Dec 1: Ahead of the SAARC summit in Islamabad next month, India and Pakistan today took a giant leap in their ties when they decided to resume bilateral air links from January one, exactly two years after they were snapped in the wake of the December 13, 2001 terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament.

The decision to revive air links was announced after talks between civil aviation officials of the two countries here this afternoon.

The talks between the civil aviation officials had virtually become redundant after Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s announcement in Islamabad yesterday that Pakistan would lift the ban on Indian flights over its air space, removing another irritant in normalisation of bilateral ties.

Diplomats say India and Pakistan have expedited the normalisation process to make it convenient for Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to travel to Islamabad for the SAARC summit, to be held from January 4-6.

The two countries have already restored the Delhi-Lahore bus link. After their decision to revive air links from January one, the two countries now appear set to hold talks for the resumption of the Samjhauta Express train service.

A joint statement issued at the end of the civil aviation talks said in pursuance of the announcement made by the Pakistan President on November 30, the two sides agreed to resume simultaneous air links and overflights with effect from January one, 2004 on a reciprocal basis. This also completes the operationalisation of the proposal made by Prime Minister Vajpayee in May this year for resumption of civil aviation links between the two countries.

Noting that the talks between the two sides were held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere, the joint statement said at the request of the Pakistan Government, the Indian Government agreed to the removal of restrictions on the type of aircraft, up to B-747 capacity, to be used by the designated carriers of the two countries.

It said the two sides agreed to hold further discussions to update the existing bilateral air services agreement at a mutually convenient date.

The Indian delegation at the talks was led by Civil Aviation Director General Satinder Singh while the Pakistani team was headed by Additional Defence Secretary Major General Mohd Ashraf Chaudhry. New Delhi had suspended both direct air links and over-flights on Jaunaury 1, 2002, blaming Pakistan for the attack on Parliament.

The first round of talks on resuming air links was held at Rawalpindi in August but ended in failure as Pakistan insisted that India guarantee that there would be no ban on over-flights if the two countries ever snapped civil aviation ties in the future.

On June 10, 2002, India unilaterally offered to resume over-flights but Pakistan said that New Delhi had mentioned nothing about direct air links and there was no progress at the time.

After the failure of civil aviation talks on account of Pakistan’s insistence that there should be no unilateral suspension of over-flights, India had said such guarantees could be extended to other issues as well.

On May 2 this year, Mr Vajpayee received a telephone call from his Pakistani counterpart Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali during which the Indian premier offered to resume civil aviation links on a reciprocal basis.

Days later, Mr Jamali suggested the resumption of bus and train services between the two countries. On July 11, the Delhi-Lahore bus service got underway again.

In his October 22 package of proposals to Pakistan, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha linked the resumption of Samjhauta Express train to successful completion of talks on the civil aviation front. (UNI)

56% polling in 4 States; 5 killed in MP

NEW DELHI, Dec 1: Five persons, including a woman, were killed and more than 24 injured in poll-related violence and communal clashes in Madhya Pradesh which went to Assembly polls along with Delhi, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh today with an estimated 56 per cent of the 9.34 crore electorate exercising their franchise.

Curfew was imposed in Chhatripura area of Indore in Madhya Pradesh following clashes between two communities and arson over poll-related disputes while in neighbouring Chhattisgarh, Naxalites, who issued a poll-boycott call, traded gunfire with police and snatched EVMs at some polling booths in Bastar region.

The Election Commission ordered repolling in 56 polling stations on December 3 in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh where the franchise exercise was disrupted due to various reasons including snatching of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) by Naxalites, who had given a poll boycott call, in Bijapur constituency in tribal Bastar region.

The desert state of Rajasthan recorded the highest voter turnout of 60 per cent while cosmopolitan Delhi registered the lowest 48-50 per cent. Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh recorded identical polling of 55-58 per cent.

Madhya Pradesh bore the brunt of poll-related violence claiming five lives in Bhind district including that of a woman caught in a cross fire between two rival groups. The other four were killed in clashes between rival groups.

Naxalites of the outlawed People’s War Group snatched EVMs in Bijapur Assembly constituency triggering an exchange of fire with the police.

Deputy Election Commissioner A N Jha told reporters here that stray incidents of violence and booth capturing were reported from all states except Delhi which remained by and large peaceful barring isolated incidents of group clashes. (PTI)

Badal, son sent to jail

ROPAR/CHANDIGARH, Dec 1: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president and former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his MP son Sukhbir Singh Badal were today sent to jail after a special court refused their interim bail pleas in connection with a disproportionate assets case.

The Badals were transported to Patiala’s central jail in the official car of the SAD chief who is also the opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Gurcharan Singh Tohra accompanied them to the Patiala jail.

"We respect the judiciary but will take on the Amarinder Singh Government strongly," remarked Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, a former Union Minister.

The former Chief Minister and his son were remanded in judicial custody till December 13 by Ropar’s special court. Special Judge S K Goel will hear their regular bail request on Wednesday.

The court, however, re-summoned Mr Parkash Singh Badal’s wife Surinder Kaur on December 13 as she did not appear before it today.

The application of Narottam Dhillon and another accused in the case, challenging the jurisdiction of the special court to hear the case, was also listed for hearing on December 13.

The Badals were chargesheeted by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on November 22.

Mr Badal’s Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), a partner in the central coalition, will hold a meeting of its Political Affairs Committee (PAC) to chalk out the party’s next move, SAD general secretary Kanwaljit Singh said.

In his remarks over Mr Badal’s judicial remand, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said the move was fulfilment of his pre-election promise.

"By targeting the primary source of corruption we have lived up to the people’s expectation... There is joy in Punjab," the Chief Minister told a news conference here after the court order.

Capt Singh said the prosecution would neither seek police nor judicial remand for Mr Badal’s wife. The Chief Minister, however, said both Mr Badal and his son would be given facilities extended to former Chief Minister and an MP.

"My promise to hit the symbol of corruption is over and now it is for the court to decide."

The Chief Minister said his Government would not allow any agitation by the Akalis. "The prosecution will strongly oppose the bail application of the Badals on Wednesday and our drive against corruption will continue."

As against the SAD’s threat to mobilise 50,000 activists for agitation today, only about 700 Akalis turned up in Ropar, Capt Singh said, adding that about 500 of them were kept at bay by police near Bhatha Sahib Gurdwara. While SAD general secretary Capt Kanwaljit Singh said the party’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC) will meet here tomorrow to decide the next course of action in the graft case against the Badals, the Chief Minister said his Government would not allow any agitation by the Akalis. "The prosecution will strongly oppose the bail application of the Badals on Wednesday and our drive against corruption will continue," he added.

The Chief Minister disclosed as against the SAD’s threat to mobilise 50,000 for the agitation today, only about 700 Akalis turned up in Ropar, adding while about 500 of them were kept at bay by police near Bhatha Sahib Gurdwara, the remaining about 200 managed to reach the judicial complex at Ropar where after 90 minutes of arguments, the special judge, after reserving his order, pronounced it at 1420 hrs in the open court. After about 40 minutes, the father-son duo of Badals were taken to Patiala jail by Ropar SSP Surinder Pal Singh, who is also the case Investigating Officer (IO).

Amarinder Singh further disclosed that about 1600 Akali workers were taken into preventive custody in apprehension of breach of peace and they have been sent to judicial custody till December five when their cases were to be reviewed. He said former Akali minister Sucha Singh Langah has been "locked up" under Section 188 of the IPC for violating prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC. Among the 1600 arrested are former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Bibi Jagir Kaur who, along with about 50 party workers, taken off a passenger train at Ropar Railway Station and arrested.

The Chief Minister said in two incidents of violence in Punjab over Ropar Canal Bridge and at Kurali, two Akali MLAs-Ajit Singh Kuhar and Balbir Singh Miani-suffered injuries, adding a police inspector, a head constable and two constables also sustained injuries in the Akali-police clash triggered with stone-pelting by the akali workers. The Chief Minister said his Government was going to request the Punjab High Court to transfer corruption cases, including the one against the Badals, to fast-track courts for speedy trials, adding the Government was in the process of releasing Rs 25 lakh asked by the High Court for setting up two such courts at Jalandhar and Patiala, already sanctioned by the High Court last week.

Capt Amarinder Singh denied the charge the case against Badals was being remote-controlled by AICC president Sonia Gandhi, reiterating that it was a part of the Congress manifesto and his promise to the people to root out corruption by striking at its primary source and he has accomplished it. "Mrs Sonia Gandhi has never interfered in the case... It is Badal’s fantasy that she is remote-controlling it," he added.

The Chief Minister denied any dissidence in the Congress Legislature Party against him, claiming it is media’s creation. Interestingly, Assembly Deputy Speaker Bir Devinder Singh, widely perceived to be one centre of dissidence, was present with Capt Singh at the media conference.

He said the Badals have been sent to judicial custody under Sections 6, 13(2)(1), 7, 8, 9, 10 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Sections 420, 467, 468,471 of IPC, adding it would send a right signal to the people of Punjab that nobody, howsoever high and mighty he may be, would be spared in his Government’s drive against graft. "My Government has registered 400 cases under the anti-corruption act," he added. (UNI)

Exit polls predict win for BJP in MP, Cong in Delhi

NEW DELHI, Dec 1: Exit polls on television channels today predicted a clear win for BJP in Madhya Pradesh and the possibility of a hung Assembly in Rajasthan and Chhattishgarh with Delhi clearly going in favour of Congress.

Surprisingly, BJP is shown to have a slight edge in Rajasthan but no party is projected to get a majority, according to these polls.

Congress dubbed the exit polls as "BJP’s deceptive and misleading propaganda" with the AICC media secretary Tom Vadakkan expressing confidence of beating back anti-incumbency.

BJP chief whip in Parliament Vijay Kumar Malhotra said he would not believe that BJP was doing too badly in Delhi.

An Org-Marg Exit Poll on ‘Aaj Tak’ predicted that in the 230 seat Madhya Pradesh Assembly, BJP was likely to get a huge majority between 140 and 150 seats with Congress trailing at 55-65 seats.

In Rajasthan, where there are 200 Assembly seats, BJP is shown to have an edge over Congress with 85-95 seats compared to 70-80 seats for Congress.

Chhattisgarh, with 90 seats, however, was likely to have a hung Assembly with both ruling Congress and BJP tied at 35-45 seats each with others accounting for two to 10 seats. Congress was poised to romp back to power in the 70-member Delhi Assembly winning between 50 and 60 seats against 10-20 seats predicted for BJP.

A DRS exit poll on ‘Sahara Samay’ channel predicted 89 out of 200 seats for BJP in Rajasthan and 84 seats for Congress.

In Madhya Pradesh the poll on ‘Sahara Samay’ forecast 168 of the 230 seats for BJP, 44 for Congress and eight for BSP.

Both the States predicted a surprise in Rajasthan as earlier opinion polls had said Congress was poised to do better than BJP.

For the 70-member Delhi Assembly, the exit poll on ‘Sahara Samay’ gave 38 seats to Congress and 25 to BJP while another TV channel - ‘Star-TV’ quoting A C Nielson Exit Poll -predicted 50 seats for Congress and 11 for BJP.

While Org-Marg exit poll on ‘Aaj Tak’ had a sample size of 21,600 covering two Assembly segments in each Parliamentary constituency, ‘Sahara’ did not give any detail about its survey.

The ‘Star News’ gave BJP 121 seats in Madhya Pradesh and 71 to Congress and in Chhattisgarh 46 seats to BJP and 38 to Congress.

The channel also said it was a nech-to-neck race in Rajasthan.

Participating in panel discussion on the channels, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the Judeo episode had made some impact on BJP but had boomeranged on the Congress. Chief Minister Ajit Jogi has become a "liability" for the Congress, she said.

Asked why BJP had not projected anybody as Chief Minister in Chhatisgarh, she contended that the party has benefitted by doing so.

She said people in the State were convinced that Jogi was behind the Judeo operation but swere apprehensive of speaking out. This fear has been removed by the BJP campaingers and the fallout would be reflected in the election results. (PTI)

Kulgam residents protest girl’s killing
JCO, soldier, 2 militants killed in Shopian gunbattle

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 1: Two Army personnel, including a junior commissioned officer (JCO), and two militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba got killed in a fierce gunbattle between militants and security forces at Rei-Kapran village, in Shopian area of south Kashmir today. Meanwhile, unidentified gunmen have attacked the residence of a PDP leader at Soibug in Budgam area, shot dead the driver of a three-wheeler in Nawakadal area of Srinagar downtown and people of Kulgam area have registered their protest against the killing of a 15-year-old girl at Zangalpora village during last night.

Informed sources in south Kashmir told EXCELSIOR that, over a specific information, troops of a unit of 13 Punjab launched a search operation at Rei-Kapran village in Shopian area this afternoon. According to the tip-off, some armed militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba were hiding in the village. As soon as the security forces zeroed in on a particular house, two holed up militants opened fire and made unsuccessful attempts to escape. Still, they put up a tough fight, killing Subedar Dhyan Singh (resident of Soal, Akhnoor) on spot. Two personnel, namely Naik Raj Kumar (resident of Kangra, Himachal Pradesh) and Havildar Munshi Ram sustained critical injuries.

Forces evacuated the injured soldiers and rushed them to 13 Punjab’s camp at Chowdhary Gund. They requisitioned Army helicopters, which airlifted the soldiers and ferried them to 92 Base Hospital of Army in Srinagar. However, Raj Kumar succumbed to injuries en route.

In terrible retaliation, troops killed both the holed up militants. With the help of the documents seized at the site of the encounter, one of them was identified as Abu Saquib Karoli S/o Mohammad Yunis of Pakistan. Another was unidentified but believed to be a local cadre of Lashkar-e-Toiba. No damage was caused to any civilian life or property in the gunbattle, which disrupted traffic on Shopian-Kulgam road for several hours.

In the same foothills of Pir Panjal, a 15-year-old girl, namely Naseema D/o Abdul Aziz Qasai, got killed in a mysterious shootout at Zangalpora village in Kulgam-Qazigund belt. Residents today protested the girl’s death with allegations against troops of Rashtriya Rifles 9th Bn that they had fired upon her without any reason and provocation. They forced shutdown in the area, shouting slogans against the PDP-led coalition Government and demanding action against Naseema’s killers.

Army, which is incommunicado for mediapersons after destruction of Indira Nagar telephone exchange last fortnight, did not make available any statement in defence. However, IG Kashmir Zone, K Rajendra Kumar, told EXCELSIOR that Army’s firing was "not intentional". He said he had reasons to believe that the girl had died during an exchange of fire between militants and security forces. He confirmed that troops had laid an ambush as they expected movement of some militants. Zangalpora, according to sources, is the residential village of a top-wanted Hizbul Mujahideen militant and "divisional commander" Arif Khan.

Syed Ali Shah Geelani-led faction of Hurriyat Conference has condemned the killing of the innocent girl, put the blame on security forces and demanded an impartial judicial inquiry into the whole episode.

Here in the capital city, unidentified gunmen, believed to be militants, barged into the residence of a released militant and auto driver, Basharat Ahmed Naikoo S/o Ghulam Ahmed, at Kani Mazar, Nawakadal, dragged him out and shot him dead late last evening.

Meanwhile, reports from Budgam said that during last night, militants lobbed a grenade and fired upon the guarded residence of a PDP leader, namely Mohammad Kamaal Malik, at Soibug. While as Malik and his family members were unharmed, the house suffered minor damage. Police guards retaliated and the militants escaped. A former chemist, Malik has joined PDP last year and unsuccessfully contested Assembly elections on its party ticket from Budgam.

Pardesiyoon se na akhiyaan milana...

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 1: Bureaucrat-turned-politician, Ghulam Qadir Pardesi, has deserted Omar Abdullah’s National Conference (NC) and migrated back to his flock in Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His ‘home-coming’ was celebrated at a modest function at the PDP headquarters here today.

"Politics is no religion that can not be renunciated", quipped Pardesi when scribes desired to know why he had been frequently migrating to different political parties and what, for the moment, prompted him return to the PDP. Party Gen Secretary Bilal Lodhi, Chief Spokesman Syed Basharat Bukhari and others welcomed Pardesi back to Mufti’s pary.

After holding senior positions in the state administration, from DC Srinagar to Director of Estates, Pardesi had retired from government service 12 years ago. He was the Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer in Srinagar during the controversial Assembly elections of March, 1987, which gave birth to Kashmir insurgency and Hurriyat Conference.

After a tryst with Congress, three retired officials—Abdul Hameed Khan Banihali (former Adviser to J&K Governor), G Q Pardesi and Ghulam Nabi Mir Lasjan (former Superintending Engineer)—had played a major role in launching Mufti Sayeed’s first ever regional party, PDP, on July 28, 1998. However, Pardesi and Mir quit PDP and joined NC in 2001 when they developed serious differences with the party leadership over the way of appeasing militants and labeling the slain PDP activists as "informers".

Even as Mir purchased NC’s ticket from Amirakadal in the Assembly elections of September 2002—only to be defeated by the NC deserter and the Congress nominee Mohammad Shafi Bhat—Pardesi’s favourite constituency of Sonwar went to Farooq Abdullah’s aide Mohammad Yaseen Shah. Speculations are now rife that Khan and Mir may also migrate to the PDP wetland.

Hurriyat hails resumption of air links

SRINAGAR, Dec 1: Welcoming the resumption of air links between India and Pakistan, Hurriyat Conference today said though the steps were small in nature, they could act as a catalyst to improve the relations between the two countries leading to a formal dialogue on Kashmir issue.

"We welcome the resumption of flights between India and Pakistan. These gestures though small in nature can act as catalyst to improve the relations between the two countries," former Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq told PTI here.

He said people of Jammu and Kashmir were hopeful that the improvement in relations between New Delhi and Islamabad would lead to a formal dialogue aimed at long lasting resolution of the issue.

The developments over the past two weeks, including the ceasefire along the Line of Control, have raised hopes among the people of Jammu and Kashmir that India and Pakistan are heading in towards better relations. It can lead to durable solution to Kashmir issue, he added.

Referring to the talks between New Delhi and Islamabad on the resumption of flights, Mirwaiz said similar talks should be held to open Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road and free tarvel of Kashmiri across the Line of Control.

"It is a welcome step signalling progress in the peace process between India and Pakistan but this was not enough and more steps needed to be taken to resolve the Kashmir issue, Hurriyat chairman Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari had said.

"A dialogue between all concerned parties was necessary for resolution of Kashmir in accordance with wishes and aspirations of the people," Ansari added. (PTI)

Shabir Shah dissolves party units

SRINAGAR, Dec 1: Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) president Shabir Ahmad Shah has dissolved all party units in the State with immediate effect and announced a 16-member working committee.

A spokesman of the DFP said Mr Shah had dissolved the units following complaints that some of the leaders were involved in anti-party activities.

"To clean the party from these elements, the units were dissolved and all the office bearers removed," he said.

He said Mr Shah had announced a 16-member working committee, headed by Moulana Abdulah Tari in the State and by Mehmood Ahmed Sagar in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Meanwhile, he welcomed the Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf’s announcement to allow Indian over-flights.

This would further improve the relations between India and Pakistan, he said and hoped that Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee would respond positively.

Mr Shah also expressed concern over the daily killings in the State and demanded that security forces be made accountable for the "excesses they are committing against innocent civilians." (UNI)

Two militants killed in Banihal
*Two Pak brothers held in RS Pura

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 1: Army and police today gunned down two militants in an encounter in Banihal tehsil in Ramban police district while two Pakistani boys were arrested on International Border in RS Pura sector.

Official sources said two militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit were killed in an encounter with the Army and police personnel at village Bugnari in Mahu Mangat area of Banihal this morning. One of them has been identified as Abdul Latif son of Abdul Gani Magrey, a resident of Asher Banihal while identity of his associate hasn’t been established.

One AK rifle, one pouch, six grenades and one radio set were recovered from the slain militants.

Meanwhile, the Border Security Force (BSF) today arrested two Pakistani boys Rashid Ahmed, 16 and Sikander Ahmed, 18, both brothers and sons of Said from a forward village in RS Pura sector at 11.30 am. They hailed from village Muradali in Sialkot district of Pakistan.

They had inadvertently crossed the border. However, they are being questioned by the security forces.

Police seizes foreign currencies

NASIK, Dec 1: Just two days into the recovery of fake stamps of the denomination of Rs 72 lakh, police today raided a bungalow here and seized 90-100 cartons containing currencies of several countries, including Pakistan, Somalia and Brazil, after a sting operation by a television channel unearthed the currency dump.

The city police raided the Padma bunglow and found 90-100 cartons containing foreign currencies, Police Commissioner P T Lohar, who led the raiding team, told reporters.

After opening 5-6 boxes, the police found foreign currencies of countries like Pakistan, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Argentina and Somalia besides some Indian currency notes of various denominations, he said.

The police summoned officials of the State Bank of India, India Security Press and currency note press to identify the currency, Lohar said adding further investigations were on.

Before the police raid, Zee News ran an exclusive story showing its reporter entering through a broken window of a house allegedly owned by one Prasoon Agrawal alias Abhay Bansal, who was arrested in the Rs 72 lakh fake stamps dump case, and filming stacked piles purportedly of stamps and currency belonging to different countries.

While a release from the TV channel in Delhi said it was not immediately known whether the currency and stamps were original or fake, Maharashtra police said it was looking into the matter. (PTI)
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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