Sushil Sharma, Keshav convicted in tandoor case

NEW DELHI, Nov 3: Former Youth Congress president Sushil Sharma was today convicted by a Delhi court for murdering his wife Naina Sahni, suspecting her infidelity, and later burning her body in a tandoor (oven) of a restaurant here over eight years ago.

Additional Sessions Judge G P Thareja said the evidence collected by police "proved beyond doubt" Sharma’s guilt in murdering his 26-year-old wife, who was also a Congress activist.

Pronouncing the 254-page order in a jam-packed court-room at Tis Hazari courts here, Thareja also held Sharma and his friend and accomplice Keshav Kumar guilty under Section 120-B and Section 201 read with 120-B IPC for conspiring to cause disappearance of the evidence of murder.

Keshav, who was manager of Baghiya restaurant at the ITDC-owned Ashok Yatri Niwas in the heart of the capital, assisted Sharma to dispose of Sahni’s body in a tandoor there.

However, the court acquitted him of charges under Section 302 (murder), saying it was not proved.

The ASJ also exonerated the other three accused - Jai Prakash Pehlwaan, Rishi Raj Rathi and Ram Prakash Sachdeva of charges under Section 212 IPC, observing the charge of harbouring Sharma (43) was not established against them.

The court will hear arguments on the quantum of punishment to be awarded to Sharma and Kumar on Wednesday.

Thareja also asked Delhi Chief Metropolitan Magistrate to prosecute senior IAS officer D K Rao, the then Resident Commissioner of Gujarat Bhawan where Sharma spent the night after the murder on July 2, 1995.

The court asked the Gujarat Chief Secretary to take appropriate administrative action against the employees of Gujarat Bhawan here for "deriliction of duty".

According to the police, Sharma, after the murder, had stayed with his IAS friend D K Rao at Gujarat Bhawan that night and fled to Jaipur the next day.

From there, Sharma went to Mumbai and later Chennai where he secured anticipatory bail. When a police team led by then ACP Maxwell Pereira flew to Chennai, he fled the city, only to surface in Bangalore. On July 10, 1995 he surrendered there and was arrested and brought to Delhi.

As per the police chargesheet, Sharma killed Sahni as he believed she was continuing an affair with class-mate and fellow Congressman Matloob Karim.

On the fateful night of July 2, 1995, Sharma, who reached his flat at Mandir Marg in the heart of the capital, saw Sahni consuming Vodka and talking to someone over telephone.

Seeing him, she put down the receiver. Sharma doubted that she was chatting with Karim and redialled the number. His doubts were confirmed when Karim responded from the other end.

An incensed Sharma took out his licenced revolver and fired at Sahni. While one bullet pierced her head, the other hit the neck killing her on the spot. Sharma then took the body in his car to the Bagiya Restaurant, where he and Kumar attempted to burn it in a tandoor there.

However, the clouds of smoke that erupted from the tandoor caught the attention of beat constable Abdul Nazir Kunju and home guard Chanderpal who rushed to the scene. Fire tenders followed, only to recover the burnt remains of a badly mutilated body.

Police recovered Sharma’s revolver and blood-stained clothes and sent them to Lodhi Road Forensic Laboratory. They also took blood sample of Sahni’s parents - Harbhajan Singh and Jaswant Kaur - and sent them to Hyderabad for a DNA test.

According to the lab report, "blood sample preserved by the doctor while conducting the postmortem and the blood stains on two leads recovered from the skull and the neck of the body of deceased Naina are of `B’ blood group."

Confirming that the body was that of Sahni, the DNA report said, "the tests prove beyond any reasonable doubt that the charred body is that of Naina Sahni who is the biological offspring of Mr Harbhajan Singh and Jaswant Kaur."

In the chargesheet, the prosecution had listed 99 witnesses but later it dropped 18 of them. However, the court recalled six witnesses taking the total number of prosecution witnesses to 87 apart from the six court witnesses. Later on 16 witnesses turned hostile. Over 450 dates were given in the case. (PTI)

Complete, peaceful bandh observed in Jammu
*BJP asks Govt to shun pro-militant policies

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 3: On the first day of re-opening of Civil Secretariat in the winter capital, a complete bandh was observed in whole of Jammu, Udhampur and Kathua with people spontaneously reacting to the call given by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and supported by various outfits in protest against the policies of the coalition Government.

Though heavy deployment of the police was made in almost all the areas particularly in walled city to restrict the protesters from moving towards Civil Secretariat, yet the bandh passed off peacefully with no incident of violence coming into light from any part of Jammu, Udhampur and Kathua.

Neither the political parties resorted to any violent action during the day long bandh nor police prevented them from taking out protest demonstrations in peaceful manner. There was hardly any area where the activists of protesting parties had to forcefully enforce the bandh as people reacted spontaneously and closed their respective business establishments.

Due to commercial vehicles remaining off the roads, the attendance in the Government offices was thin while all the educational institutions were closed. The employees working in the Civil Secretariat also faced many hardships in absence of any public transport.

All the parties supporting bandh took out demonstrations and burnt the effigies of the coalition Government and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed at different places.

In the afternoon, BJP took out a protest rally from its party office at Kachi Chawani wherein hundreds of party activists took part. Shouting slogans against the coalition Government and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, the rally after passing through various areas of the city, reached at Indira Chowk where barricades were already erected and a heavy posse of police personnel deployed to prevent the protesters from moving towards Civil Secretariat.

Though some BJP activists tried to cross over the barricades yet they were prevented by police personnel, who even arrested some of the protesters but released them after sometime. Even State president of the BJP Dr Nirmal Singh told party activists not to become violent and demonstrate peacefully.

Amidst shouting of slogans like "Mufti Government Hai Hai", and ``Lathi Goli Khain Gay, Jammu Ko Bachaian Gay’’, the activists of BJP torched the effigy of coalition Government and Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. The effigy of coalition Government was prepared by women wing of the BJP.

Earlier police tried to stop the protesters at K C Crossing but after the insistence and assurance of the BJP president Dr Nirmal Singh, police allowed them to march upto Indira Chowk.

Some women activists of the BJP were also taken into custody at Maheshipora Chowk this afternoon after they tried to move towards the Civil Secretariat. They were released later on.

Addressing the protesters, Dr Nirmal Singh said that the successful and complete bandh observed in whole Jammu, Udhampur and Kathua was an eye opener for the Mufti Mohammed Sayeed as by way of spontaneous reaction the people of this region have conveyed to the coalition Government that they are opposed to its anti-people, anti-Jammu and pro-militancy policies.

"The coalition Government has completed one year yet none of its partners has fulfilled the promises made with the people during elections. The much-hyped healing touch has only been given to the militants and not deserving persons", he alleged and said that with much enthusiasm the issues pertaining to Jammu region were included in the Common-Minimum Programme (CMP) but their fate still hangs in balance which shows Government’s in-sincerity towards resolving problems of Jammu region.

Clean chit to Abdul Aziz Zargar by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and PCC chief Ghulam Nabi Azad and suspension of SSP Farooq Khan, who was instrumental in killing terrorists, have made it clear that present Government wants only anti-nationalist forces and could not tolerate nationalist forces.

Dr Singh served an ultimatum to Chief Minister to shun anti-Jammu and pro-militancy approach within six months failing which BJP with the active support of people of Jammu region would launch massive agitation to de-throne anti-national Government.

In the morning, the activists of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) were seen asking people to observe bandh in the outskirts of the city including Paloura, Bohri and Talab Tillo.

The ABVP activists also moved in different parts of the city and addressed corner meetings. They alleged that the problems of the students and youth have compounded due to the negative attitude of the State Government.

Earlier some activists of Shiv Sena headed by state president, Rajesh Gupta were taken into custody when they tried to take out a procession from Exhibition Ground this morning. They were detained in District Police Lines Jammu.

The Sena in a handout has strongly condemned the police action and termed it a brutal act. They alleged that the police used force against the peaceful protesters.

Mr Gupta, while talking to reporters termed the police action totally undemocratic. He alleged this way police denied us the democratic right.

To show solidarity with the cause of Jammu at different places some Congress and Panthers Party activists were also seen asking shopkeepers and member of business community to observe a complete bandh.

Govt-Hurriyat talks after Ramzan

NEW DELHI, Nov 3 : The Centre’s talks with Hurriyat Conference might be held sometime after the Ramzan which ends later this month and a Committee would chalk out a road map for the proposed parleys with the separatist amalgam, Union Home Secretary N Gopalaswami said here today.

He told reporters on the sidelines of a CRPF function that the Committee would do the groundwork before talks could be held with Hurriyat leadership.

Besides Gopalaswami, the Committe comprises Centre’s Interlocutor on Kashmir N N Vohra, Cabinet Secretary Kamal Pande, Intelligence Bureau Director K P Singh and Officer on Special Duty in the Prime Ministers’ Office and former RAW Chief A S Dulat.

The Committee was formed after the Government had last month announced that Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani would be holding talks with the Hurriyat chairman Maulana Abbas Ansari.

Asked about the approximate dates when the talks between the Centre and Hurriyat would be held, the Home Secretary said "they are also discussing...Give them sometime. I can only think that it will begin only after the holy month of Ramzan is over." (PTI)

Two arrested for poisoning food at Golden Temple

AMRITSAR, Nov 3 : Members of Task Force of the SGPC apprehended one female Santosh Rani and male Balwant Singh when the duo allegedly were found mixing poisonous substances in the food being prepared in the Langer (community kitchen) of Golden Temple last night, police said today.

SGPC spokespersons here said last night the members of the SGPC Task Force apprehended the alleged accused when they were mixing the poisonous substance in the food being prepared in the community kitchen of the Golden Temple and on laboratory test it was well established that the entire vegetable which was under process was found full of toxic.

Meanwhile, both the alleged accused after their arrest by police were being interrogated to find out the ulterior motive behind the mixing of poisonous substance in the food.

As per the SGPC the entire cooked vegetable of the community kitchen of the Golden Temple was thrown waste well in time and SGPC Task Force has beefed up the security around the community kitchen where the food is cooked for the thousands of devotees who visit the Golden Temple to pay obeisance on daily basis. (PTI)

‘PoK integral part of India’

BAZARIBAGH, Jharkhand, Nov 3: External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha today reiterated that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) was an integral part of India and asserted that the Simla Agreement would be the basis for talks on PoK.

According to the Simla Agreement, PoK was not a part of Pakistan, Mr Sinha said, adding that the 1972 accord would be the basis for any talks on the region.

Talking to reporters here, he said a dialogue with Pakistan was not possible unless it stopped cross-border terrorism.

Terming as "unfortunate" Pakistan’s response to India’s twelve-point proposal to ease tension and create an amicable atmoshphere for talks, Mr Sinha said, "only three of our proposals have been accepted, but the tone and tenor of our neighbour clearly suggest that they are not eager to join us on a common platform."

He said despite the low-key response from Islamabad, New Delhi would continue its efforts to normalise relations between the two countries.

Talks on resuming air links would be held within one or two weeks, he said. (UNI)

Setback to NCM efforts on KPs return

NEW DELHI, Nov 3: The National Commission for Minorities’ initiative for the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley suffered a setback today with the community leaders objecting to a "condition" reportedly put by Hurriyat leader Yaseen Malik that they remain "neutral in the ongoing (separatist) struggle".

The Pandit leaders raised a question mark on the initiative itself under which an NCM-backed committee of Indian Muslim leaders visited Jammu and Kashmir last month and interacted with migrants, separatists and Muslim leaders besides Government functionaries to "create a conducive atmosphere for return" of the community to the Valley.

"We cannot even think of returning if we are asked to give up our right to expression," Kashmiri Pandit Conference president H N Jattu said reacting to Malik’s "advice" conveyed to the committee that Pandits after return "should remain neutral in the ongoing struggle, and lead a normal, peaceful life without involving themselves on either side."

"This advice amounts to asking us to live the life of second class citizens and do whatever they ask us to," he said after attending a meeting of the members of NCM and the committee along representatives of other K P Groups.

He said Kashmiri Pandits would go back at their own terms and without any conditions being put by anyone, including the Government and the separatists.

Jattu said in the given circumstances, the Pandits would rethink about associating with the committee.

All India Kashmiri Samaj president M K Kaw, who led the Pandit delegation at the meeting, said they differed with the assessment presented by the Muslim Committee about the ground realities in the Valley.

"They are more hopeful but we feel it is not the appropriate time for return and more work needs to be done," he said.

Panun Kashmir spokesman Ramesh Manvatti said the community members, irrespective of the sops offered, cannot return till due guarantees are given about their rights.

NCM chairman Tarlochan Singh, meanwhile, said the entire separatist leadership wanted Kashmiri Pandits to return "with honour and safety".

"We also feel that the ground realities are not good. Guns are still booming. But we are trying to create an atmosphere where people of the Valley feel that migration of Kashmiri Pandits was wrong and they should return," he said.

Emphasising that the effort had to be supported by the State Government and the Centre, Singh said as a follow up of the Jammu and Kashmir visit of the Muslim committee, the ncm would organise meetings of Kashmiri Pandits with Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and State Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed next month.

A large conclave of leaders of all sections of Kashmir and the Pandits will also be organised in Jammu to create an atmosphere of harmony, he said.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Moosa Raza, who led the Muslim delegation to the State, said through the "goodwill visit" an effort was being made to convert a conducive atmosphere into practicality.

He said the living conditions in migrant camps in Jammu were pathetic and most of the inhabitants wanted to return if proper facilities were provided.

He said secure clusters of two-room houses were being built in the Valley as the State Government had expressed its inability to protect them if scattered.

While Pandits regretted that its youth were not being given employment, Raza said the State Government had prepared a package which included a provision for jobs.

Terming the visit of the committee as a "good beginning", the NCM chairman said its main achievement was a message to the majority Muslim community of the Valley as to what they had done to the Pandits. (PTI)

Another Punjabi singer arrested

PATIALA, Nov 3: Patiala Police today arrested Punjabi pop singer Sukhwinder Mann in a case of alleged human trafficking even as they raided various places in Delhi, Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula last night to nab Daler Mehndi, who, too, had been booked in a similar case on October 4.

Police sources, while confirming the of Mann, declined to provide details, saying the district police would brief the media shortly on it.

Mann is the second Punjabi singer to be arrested in Punjab in one month. Last month, Jalandhar Police had arrested Sukhwinder Panchi, also on the charge of duping people on the pretext of sending them abroad. Panchi is in judicial custody now.

Meanwhile, SSP P S Umranangal today confirmed that four police parties were sent to arrest Daler Mehndi yesterday after the expiry of his interim anticipatory bail on Saturday night. But he said the pop singer could not be traced at his possible hideouts in Delhi, Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula during the raids.

He said since Daler did not cooperate with the police during two rounds of interrogation on October 27 and 28, police while opposing his bail in a local Court tomorrow, will seek his custody for carrying out investigation in the case. Daler’s plea for regular bail is listed for arguments in the Court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate P S Dhanoa tomorrow.

The SSP said police raids were also carried out to arrest Daljit Kaur and Balwinder Kaur, wives of Daler Mehndi and his brother Shamsher Singh Shera respectively, and Tajinder Singh Laddi, Surinder Singh and Dhayan Singh, alias Harchand Singh. A local Court had reissued Non-Bailable Warrants (NBW) against all the five accused last week. The NBWs are returnable by November 17.

Meanwhile, Delhi High Court today refused to extend Daler’s anticipatory bail. (UNI)

India, Pak to release fishermen

VADODARA, Nov 3: The simultaneous release of 93 Pakistani fishermen from India and 74 Indian fishermen from Pakistan will take place on November 5.

Gujarat Home Secretary K Nityanand told PTI that departure of 93 Pakistani fishermen, languishing in Gujarat jails, would take place on November 5.

Earlier, Pakistan had announced that it would release today 74 Indian fishermen who were in custody in Karachi.

However, their departure was delayed by two days due to some technical difficulties, president of Indian Fishermen Association, Veljibhai Masani told PTI here.

"Had they been released today, it would have become difficult to bring back Indian boats from International Border as they required to be towed down with Indian ship for bringing them back to India as ships of Pakistani marine security agency will allow towing of these seized Indian boats up to the international water border", Masani said.

These boats are not in operational conditions, he added. Understanding the gravity of the problem, the concerned authorities of both the Governments agreed for simultaneous release of fishermen from both the countries, Masani said. Some of the seized Pakistani boats too were not under operational condition and would have to be towed by Indian ships to the international water border from where Pakistani agency would tow them with their ships, Masani said.

The simultaneous release of fishermen and their boats on the same day and time, would solve all problems related to the non-operational boats from both the countries, he said. A Pakistani fishermen delegation led by Abusar Mariwala, which arrived in India on September 22, had favoured simultaneous release of fishermen and their boats from both the countries.

Mariwala had appreciated Masani for getting delayed the departure of 74 Indian fishermen from Pakistan for two days for this purpose. (Agencies)

Separatist leaders urge KPs to return

NEW DELHI, Nov 3: Terming migration of Kashmiri Pandits out of the Valley 14 years ago as a "tragic painful event", several separatist leaders have issued a joint appeal to majority Muslims to "welcome" their return and assured that whatever could be done at their level would be done.

"It is our sincere desire that the Kashmiri Pandits return to their homes and hearths with dignity and respect," said the appeal by Hurriyat chairman Abbas Ansari, his colleagues Abdul Ghani Bhat, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Yasin Malik and Democratic Freedom Party leader Shabbir Shah.

"Whatever can be done in this regard by us and the Muslims of the Valley will be done," said the appeal, also signed by state CPI(M) leader Yusuf Tarigami and released by the National Commission for Minorities here today.

The leaders said "our hearts bleed at their plight in which they are leading a homeless life in Jammu, Delhi and other cities, deprived of even the basic facilities."

The appeal said Kashmiri Pandits were "a part of ourselves and we are incomplete without them" and "they deserve our sympathy in every way. Not only our houses, but our hearts are open for them always."

It said they expected "our compatriots and appeal to them to welcome the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley."

"At the same time we appeal to the authorities responsible to provide them with all the facilities needed for leading a secure, peaceful and comfortable life," the joint statement said. (PTI)

BSF officer injured in blast

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Nov 3: Militants struck twice in Kashmir valley overnight, injuring two people including a BSF officer.

Official sources said that militants detonated an IED placed in an auto rickshaw at Mehjoor Nagar Bund near the Rambagh Bridge when a BSF vehicle was passing through the area this afternoon.

The BSF vehicle was damaged and Assistant Commandant of the 42 Batallion Yashpal Singh was injured in the blast. The area was cordoned off and searches conducted to nab the militants.

The sources said militants fired three rifle grenades at a SOG Camp at Aloosa Bandipora from a nearby hill. Two grenades fell outside the camp while another exploded near it, injuring the wife of an SOG jawan. She has been hospitalised.

An official spokesperson said a foreign militant Abu Umar Yasir, hailing from Pakistan, was gunned down by security forces at Lamantakiya in Ganderbal last night. One AK rifle, one pistol, one UBGL with four grenades, one hand grenade and one wireless set were seized from him.

Another foreign militant Mohammad Ayub was killed in another encounter at Saiwan Shatmuqam in the frontier district of Kupwara last night. One AK rifle, two magazines, 63 rounds, two hand grenades and one wireless set were seized from him.

Govt cancels appointment of Chatterjee

NEW DELHI, Nov 3: The Government today cancelled the appointment of Commerce Secretary Dipak Chatterjee as the head of the Competition Commission as well as some other postings following Supreme Court’s objections to the appointment of a bureaucrat as the head of the newly-constituted quasi-judicial body.

The appointments commitee of the cabinet has approved the continuation of Chatterjee as Commerce Secretary, an official communique said here.

As a result of Chatterjee’s continuation in the post, the committee has also cancelled the appointment of S B Mohapatra, currently Textiles Secretary, as Commerce Secretary.

Nripendra Misra will continue in the post of Fertlisers Secretary instead of taking over as Textiles Secretary.

The committee has cancelled the appointment of Lakshmi Chand, presently Additional Secretary in Ministry of Coal, as Secretary in Department of Fertilisers.

It has approved the appointment of Chand as Special Secretary in Coal Ministry by temporarily upgrading the post.

Also cancelled is an earlier order of appointment of Arvind K Singh, presently in the cadre as Additional Secretary in Ministry of Coal.

The appointments committee of cabinet has approved the appointment of V K Duggal, presently Steel Secretary, as Secretary in Ministry of Water Resources in place of A K Goswami who retired on October 31, 2003.

Binoo Sen, presently Secretary in Department of Animal Husbandary and Dairying, would now take over as Steel Secretary.

The bureaucratic reshuffle in key economic ministries had hit a roadblock last week following the Supreme Court’s criticism of the Government’s move to appoint a bureaucrat as the head of the Competition Commission.

Attorney General Soli J Sorabjee had given an undertaking before the apex court that the Commission, till further orders, would not carry out judicial functions.

The court had said the Central Government’s decision to appoint a retired bureaucrat as chairman of the Competition Commission was a "direct attempt" to encroach upon the judiciary. (PTI)

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