Bandipora encounter claims 3 militants, 2 civilians
MLC’s militant kin shot dead

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Nov 11: While as three militants and two civilians have died in the nightlong gunbattle between the militants and security forces in Bandipora, troops have eliminated two more militants in Kokernag and Kulgam areas of Anantnag district.

On the other hand, militants have shot dead a counter-insurgent who had been awarded life imprisonment by a Court in the matter of the brutal murder of a Forest official in Pulwama district.

Informed sources in south Kashmir told EXCELSIOR that security forces have finally killed a top wanted Jaish-e-Mohammed militant, Fareed Ahmed Chohan, in an encounter in Ahlan Gandole (Kokernag) locality of Anantnag district.

Sources said that security forces and police conducted an operation on the basis of a specific information and killed Fareed Ahmed Chohan son of Hashmat Chohan in a brief encounter today. Troops of Rashtriya Riffles 36 Bn and District Operations Group of Anantnag Police participated in the operation.

According to these sources, Fareed Chohan had forcibly married Arifa D/o Mohammed Qasim Pathan-a relative of the National Conference MLC Choudhary Nizam-ud-Din in 2002. Case FIR No 194/02 under section 366 RPC had been registered against him at Police Station, Kokernag.

On August 21, 2003, troops of 10 Para had raided a Gujjar’s house in Ali Brari Behak, Ahlan Gadole, after learning that Chohan was hiding there. However, Chohan and his militant associates retaliated and managed to escape. All the troops had destroyed the targeted house, Chohan’s wife Arifa had got killed alongwith her 6 month old baby, Sher Ali and her 60 year old father Qasim Pathan. Qasim’s cousin, Mohammed Shafi was the fourth civilian who died in the cross firing. A prominent counter-insurgent and Army’s source Ghulam Nabi alias Saddam of Nowgam had also been killed in that encounter. The 30 year old Jaish fugitive was finally got killed.

In yet another encounter with militants in Anantnag district today, troops of Rashtriya Rifles of 9th Bn have killed an unindentified militant at Hampathri in Kulgam area.

Informed sources in north Kashmir told EXCELSIOR that troops of Rashtriya Rifle swooped on a militant hide-out at Quil Muqam in Bandipora area late last evening. According to a specific information received by a unit of Kilo Force, at least three militants were present at the house of one Abdur Rasheed Shah.

During the operation, a fierce encounter took place between troops and the holed up militants. Forces finally destroyed the twin houses of Rasheed Shah and Sayeed Shah, killing all the three militants. They were identified as Abu Sufian, Abu Saad and Abu Mohsin. Officials claimed that they were cadres of Lasher-e-Toiba.

Sources said that the house owner Rasheed Shah’s wife, Zareefa, and a student namely Meraj-ud-Din Shah son of Sayeed Shah, also died in the gun-battle.

According to informed sources, some militants raided the house of a counter-insurgent Ikhwani, namely Zahoor Ahmed Ahangar son of Mohammed Rafeeq Ahangar at Hari Parigam village in Pulwama district late last night. They captured Zahoor, took him into a separate room of his house and shot him dead.

Enquiries revealed that in 1995, Zahoor and two of his counter-insurgent colleagues, namely Nazir of Baho and Ahmed Sheikh of Jawbiara had kidnaped Forester Ghulam Mohammed Shah and burnt him of death. Court had recently awarded life imprisonment to the trio. Free on bail, they had reportedly filed an appeal in a superior Court. Zahoor had been occasionally putting up at his home. Finally, he fell to the militants bullets during last night.

Reports from Sumbal said that some unidentified gunmen, believed to be counter-insurgent Ikhwanis appeared at Kamraj Rural Bank at Goshbug and looted cash worth Rs 50,000 on gun point.

Security forces intercepted a Tata Sumo vehicle, bearing registration No. JK02-R-7984 and recovered two hand grenades from the same at Mirgund on Srinagar-Baramulla Highway. The vehicle has been seized alongwith its driver, Ghulam Ahmed Sheikh of Lawaypora, Narbal.

CRPF to take full command of Srinagar’s security: DG

SHILLONG, Nov 11: Central Reserve Police Force would take over from BSF the command of internal security of trouble-torn Srinagar city in Jammu and Kashmir by March 2004, its Director General S C Chaube said today.

"A process has begun from today in which five battalions specially trained in counter-insurgency operations have moved to Srinagar. Another three will be joining them by the end of the month," Chaube told a press conference here.

Altogether 16 battalions of CRPF would replace as many from BSF in taking the command of Srinagar city of Jammu and Kashmir and the ‘progressive taking over’ would be completed by 2005, he said.

Replying to a query regarding the experience of the force in tackling ‘Fidayeen’ attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, the DG said CRPF has taken a number of measures and successfully nullified the attacks. "It goes to the credit of CRPF that probably it is only force in that State where suicide attackers could not get away after entering its camps,’ he claimed. He said that recruitment of locals in different militant groups in Jammu and Kashmir had gone up in the last three months even as the ultras were "fine tuning" their communication systems.

Chaube quoted intelligence reports to say as many as 75 young boys whose whereabouts were not known, were recruited by the militants in Jammu and Kashmir in the last two-three months. He said the militants - ‘aided and abeted by the ISI and Pakistan Army’ - were also ‘finetuning’ their communication systems and procuring more and more devices. "And that is a challenge to the security force like CRPF," Chaube said. The DG, however, said during September this year 200 militants were killed by security forces. This was the ‘highest number’ of ultras killed in a single month in 2003.

The DG said the CRPF also chalked out an ‘extensive plan’ of computerisation as part of its ‘e-governance’ year observed this year.

A project ‘Intranet Selo’ ensuring online connectivity at all levels of command for conducting both operational and administrative functions was launched by Union Home Secretary N Gopalswami recently.

"With implementation of this plan, we will get connected to all CRPF offices and function in a work flow environment," he said adding reinforcement on surveillance gadgets and other equipment was also on.

Chaube said the force would hopefully spend Rs 500 crore in a phased manner in modernisation programme by next four years.

The DG said his force had already taken over in Manipur and denied any training having received from BSF in this regard.

"We dont need any training. Our association with North-East dates back before BSF was born", Chaube said.

He said the burden of internal security, counter-insurgency and tackling militancy fell back on CRPF following recommendations of a Group of Ministers which suggested a formula of ‘one border one force’ in the wake of Kargil War.

Accordingly, BSF and ITBP were restored with their original role of guarding the International Border.

This idea, he said, was aimed at stopping ‘as far as possible’ the infiltration and exfiltration. (AGENCIES)

No differences on talks with Hurriyat: PM

NEW DELHI, Nov 11: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today denied media reports that there were "differences" within the Council of Ministers on the issue of Centre’s decision to hold talks with Hurriyat Conference.

"There are no differences within the Council of Ministers on the issue of talks with the Hurriyat Conference. Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani has been given the responsibility to hold parleys and on that basis the talks will take place", Vajpayee told reporters at the airport here before emplaning for Moscow on the first leg of his three nation week-long visit to Russia, Tajikistan and Syria.

Asked if he had talks with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa after the state assembly’s decision to jail six senior journalists, including five from ‘The Hindu’ newspaper, Vajpayee said "I had no conversation with Jayalalithaa".

To another question on his views regarding the move to jail the journalists, he said "everybody should respect the Lakshman Rekha".

In an apparent reference to the editor-in-chief of ‘The Hindu’ N Ram, the Prime Minister said in a lighter vein "in Chennai Ram is living there".

Asked if he had any interaction with Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid after he inaugurated the SAARC Information Ministers Conference this morning, Vajpayee said "I just shook hands. Today there was no conversation".

He said "it is good that the Information Ministers of SAARC countries are meeting and I have in my address given certain suggestions which can be pondered over by various countries".

On newspaper reports that Central Vigilance Commisioner P Shanker has complained to him about six Central Ministers, the Prime Minister said "I do not understand how such reports have appeared. The Cabinet Secretary has already given his clarification and after that everything is cleared. No minister was named in the discussions.

"The Cabinet Secretary and other officials keep meeting. The officials of Vigilance Department are also there. But media, somehow, tries to speculate and create sensational stories. This is not right".

In a departure statement, the Prime Minister said his visit to Russia "is in keeping with the agreement between the two countries who have annual summit meetings, so that we can constantly review and build on the progress in various elements of our strategic partnership."

"My discussions with Valadimir Putin and other representatives of the Russian leadership will also cover major global and regional political and economic developments," he said.

Observing that a nearly 100-strong Indian business delegation would be in Moscow during his visit, Vajpayee said he hoped they would establish useful contacts with Russian business and industries to allow trade and investment relations to be put on a firm footing even after the rupee-rouble arrangement ceased to operate.

Referring to his two-day visit to Tajikistan beginning November 14, Vajpayee said that it was India’s closest neighbour in central Asia.

"We share the common values of faith in democracy and secularism. We have had fruitful cooperation in recent years both bilaterally and on regional matters," he said.

The Prime Minister said that he was going there on a return visit as Tajikisan President E A Rakhmonov had visited India in May, 2001.

"I look forward to renewing contacts with Tajik leadership exchanging views on matters of bilateral interests as well as international and regional issues," he said.

On his visit to Syria, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 15 years, Vajpayee said New Delhi saw Syria as an important partner in west Asia.

Describing his visit to Damascus as "timely and important", he said he was looking forward to detailed discussions with President Bashar Al-Assad on important bilateral and international issues.

"My visit will also give us useful opportunity of exchanging views on recent developments in the west Asian region," he added.

The Prime Minister, who left by a special Air India Boeing 747 aircraft, is accompanied by External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and high ranking officials.

Vajpayee was seen off at the airport by several ministers, top civil and military officials and diplomats from the three countries. (PTI)

DP close to solve Swiss diplomat’s rape case

NEW DELHI, Nov 11: With the arrest of a youth, Delhi Police today claimed to have solved the sensational day light robbery at Swiss Airline office at the World Trade Tower in Connaught Place area and also raised the prospects of solving the sensational rape case involving a Swiss diplomat.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Dipender Pathak told reporters that cops arrested 24-year-old Navdeep Randhawa from Mayur Vihar area of east Delhi following a tip off.

Pathak said the arrest of Randhawa came during its probe into the sensational Swiss diplomat rape case that shook the entire police establishment and led to suspension of five cops.

"We received a tip off about one east Delhi based Yankee having suspicious movements and also his presence near Siri fort on the fateful day (of rape of the Swiss diplomat)," he said and added that the information was further developed and Randhawa was arrested last night.

A pass out of Lawrence school at Sanawar and economics graduate from Furgusson College Pune, Randhawa admitted that he was at a shop of a famous Coffee Chain near Siri fort but has been so far denying any involvement in the rape case, Pathak said and added that his movements on that day were being investigated.

However, Randhawa has admitted his involvement in the shoot out at the WTT in which cash of Rs 14,000 and a mobile phone were robbed in broad day light, the DCP said.

The accused told the cops that he had committed robbery at the Swiss airline counter out of frustation for money to meet his flamboyance, Pathak said.

After being estranged from his family, Randhawa found himself in acute shortage of money and decided to carry out a robbery, the DCP said and added he recced the area first and chose Swiss international airlines office as his target after ensuring a safe escape route.

He had used his father’s gun to carry out the sensational robbery, Pathak said.

To a consistent question whether Delhi Police suspected his involvement in the Swiss diplomats rape case, the DCP said "his movement towards Siri fort side on October 14 and his possible involvement into the case is further being looked into". (PTI)

Bad governance behind alienation: Vohra

NEW DELHI, Nov 11: Centre’s interlocutor on Jammu and Kashmir N N Vohra today said bad governance is primary cause of alienation of people and regretted that no clear policy was being applied to tackle the internal threats.

The former Union Home Secretary also strongly advocated setting up of a federal law and security agency to tackle the dangers unitedly posed by terrorism, insurgency, extremism and organised crime and mafia and guided from across the borders.

"Patriotism does not grow on trees. It comes when even the poorest have trust in governance. Neglect and lack of redressal of grievances leads to distrust," Vohra said speaking at a function to mark the 38th foundation day of Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) here.

"There is a direct link between governance and internal security of the country," he said and emphasised that no amount of application of force without governance would help tackle the dangers to internal security.

Pointing out that external security could not be managed if internal security "is in jeopardy," Vohra regretted that the country was yet to "come to grips" regarding "what needs to be done, how to be done and whom to be made accountable."

He maintained that terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and insurgency in North East had serious implications on maintenance of peace, order and serenity across the country and without tackling those dangers, "we will not be able to safeguard progress in the fields of economy and technology." (PTI)

Govt concerned about Hurriyat leaders’ security

NEW DELHI, Nov 11: Even before talks between Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and Abbas Ansari-led Hurriyat Conference could take place, security of the separatist conglomerate’s leaders has become an issue of concern for the Centre which feels threat to them could hamper progress in the dialogue process.

The fear of threat to the lives of these leaders from Pakistani agencies through ‘jehadi’ elements is one of the issues being discussed at the meetings of the coordination committee set up to do the groundwork for the proposed talks, high-level Government sources said here today.

Inferring from intelligence inputs, the Government circles particularly fear targeting of former Hurriyat chairman Abdul Ghani Bhat on the lines the former moderate Hurriyat leader Abdul Ghani Lone was assassinated last year, they said.

"We want something to be done to protect them, particularly Bhat," the sources said.

The coordination committee, which was set up as a follow-up to the naming of Advani for talks, discussed the matter threadbare at a meeting today, they said.

The issue was also discussed at the previous meeting of the committee on last Saturday, they said.

"Pakistan would not like the separatists to hold talks with the Centre and would do anything to scuttle it," the sources said, adding by targetting one leader their goal can be achieved.(PTI)

Musharraf positive on peace process

NEW DELHI, Nov 11: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is "very positive" on the peace process initiated by India and has "certain ideas" and a very high opinion of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a senior Pakistani Minister said today.

Islamabad has also viewed the 12 proposals made by India with pragmatism, Pakistan Information and Broadcasting Minister Sheikh Rashid told reporters here.

Asked whether Musharraf would suggest having a separate meeting with Vajpayee on the sidelines of the SAARC summit in Islamabad in January, Rashid said "President Musharraf has certain ideas and he has a very high opinion about Prime Minister Vajpayee".

Rashid said the next meeting of Civil Aviation officials from the two countries would be held on December one and two to discuss resumption of air links.

"We hope India will show some understanding and give sureties" on the issue of overflights, he said.

When reminded that India had categorically rejected the Pakistani demand for guarantees on overflights, he said no one knows why India put up the restrictions in the first place. He was confident that the issue would be resolved amicably.

On the resumption of the Samjhauta Rail Service, he said Pakistan always favoured enhancing people to people contacts. "The basic thing is the attitude in addressing this issue...".

Pakistan also has no objection to starting a ferry service from Mumbai to Karachi saying such a service was there earlier also.

On the Indian proposal for starting a bus service from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad, Rashid said "there is only one difference on who is going to give the visa".

He said Pakistan has no objection if this was done by the UN observer group or any third country or introducing the ‘permit’ system that existed earlier for people travelling among Pakistan, Afghanistan and India.

When told that India has turned down Islamabad’s suggestion to involve the UN body, he said "it is not acceptable to Pakistan to make the border on the Line of Control. Then there is customs duty in Srinagar and a check post in Muzaffarabad. This is politics."

"If they (India) want to genuinely support the people of both Kashmirs, we are ready to accept that," he said.

On the issue of cross-border terrorism and recent statement by US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice that Pakistan should do more to stop this menace, Rashid said there were also a number of statements from the Bush administration appreciating Pakistan’s support and role in the global fight against terrorism.

On why Pakistan was insisting on discussing the Kashmir issue before taking up other bilateral irritants, he said "let the dialogue start. We can discuss everything together".

Earlier, asked by a television channel whether any military regime in Pakistan will be in a position to improve ties with India, he said it was acknowledged both in Pakistan and outside that Musharraf was in a position to take quick decisions.

Asked about Pakistan indulging in a buying spree to reinforce its defence forces, Rashid sought to counter it asking "what about India striking defence deals with the US, Britain, Russia and Israel".

"Have you got it to sell in Juma Bazaar (Friday market)?" he asked. As a small country, wouldn’t Pakistan take recourse to well equipping itself from any threat?

He also denied the Indian charge that Pakistanis were sneaking into Kashmir and fomenting trouble there or that Islamabad was funding and training people from the border State.(PTI)

13 houses damaged in shelling

SRINAGAR, Nov 11: One person was injured and 13 houses damaged in shelling by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Karnah sector of Kupwara district of north Kashmir today, official sources said.

The intense artillery and mortar shelling from across the border began at around 9 AM and was still continuing when last reports came in, the sources said.

They said the houses were damaged in village Latoo and Tad which were worst hit by the stepped up Pakistani shelling.

Cross-border shelling was also reported along the LoC in Keran, Tangdhar, Teetwal, Nowgam in Kupwara, Gurez and Uri in Baramulla and Kargil and Drass in frontier region of Ladakh during the previous night, the sources said.

They said troops guarding the borders also fired back in retaliation to target Pakistani positions.

However, there was no report of any casualty or damage to the property in the shelling, the sources said.

Pakistani troops have intensified shelling along the LoC in the last couple of weeks targeting forward villages and posts, which has left six killed and 16 others injured besides damage to a number of structures, including a mosque, in Kupwara, Baramulla and Kargil districts. (PTI)

Madhumita’s servant identifies killer

NEW DELHI, Nov 11: Servant of Madhumita Shukhla and the lone eyewitness to her murder, Desraj, today identified Prakash Chander Pandey as the person who shot dead the Uttar Pradesh poetess at her residence in May this year.

Pandey, arrested yesterday at Lucknow, was produced before Desraj at Unnao Jail in Uttar Pradesh where he identified him during a Test Identification Parade (TIP), CBI sources said.

The sources said Pandey was shown to Desraj during a TIP where he identified him as the second person who had come alongwith Santosh Kumar Rai on May nine this year, the day she was shot dead.

The servant had already identified Rai, a small time political worker and arrested by the CBI on November six, during a tip at Barabanki Jail on November nine.

The CBI has alleged that Pandey had pulled the trigger at the poetess, the sources said.

The sources said that after Desraj’s identification it was now clear that Rai and Pandey had come to the poetess’ residence at Paper Mill Colony near Lucknow on the day of the murder.

The CBI was now trying to find out the weapon used by Pandey in killing her.

Besides Rai, the CBI has also arrested Rohit Chaturvedi, cousin of a former minister and MLA Amarmani Tripathi, who is already in jail.

The murder created a political furore in Uttar Pradesh leading to sacking of Tripathi from the then Mayawati Government. The case was later handed over to CBI for thorough probe.

Tripathi was arrested by the CBI in September this year after his blood sample matched with the DNA of Madhumita’s seven-month-old foetus. (PTI)

Vajpayee, Putin hold informal talks

MOSCOW, Nov 11 : Seeking to build on India’s strategic partnership with Russia, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee tonight held informal talks with President Vladimir Putin shortly after arrving here to a red carpet welcome.

In an honour reserved only for a select few world leaders, Putin hosted a private dinner for Vajpayee at Novoo Gareva Dacha located in a sprawling forest area, 15 kms outside this Capital City.

The 78-year old Indian leader and Putin, 27 years younger, greeted each other warmly at the Dacha before the informal talks in the presence of only the interpreters.

No official word was available on the subject of their discussions as formal summit talks are scheduled tomorrow at the Kremlin when as many as 10 agreements and a joint declaraton on global challenges posed by issues such as terrorism will be signed.

Landing at Vunkovo Airport on a breezy cold evening after an eight-hour flight that avoided Pakistani Airspace, Vajpayee was received by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Boris Alyoshin and Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov, senior officials and Indian Ambassador K Raghunath.

He inspected an Interservices Ceremonial Guard of Honour on the Tarmac as temperatures dipped to three degrees celesius. This is the fourth meeting between the two leaders in in the last 12 months. (PTI)

Aga breaks away from Geelani

SRINAGAR, Nov 11: The Hurriyat Conference faction led by Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari today got a major morale booster when Anjuman-e-Shar-e-Shian (ASS) vice president Aga Abdul Hussain broke away from the Syed Ali Shah Geelani-led faction.

"Right from the beginning I have been recognising Ansari-led faction as the real Hurriyat. Geelani’s relevance in Hurriyat was over when his parent body Jamaat-e-Islami recalled him from the executive council," Hussain

said in a statement here effecting a virtual split in the largest Shi’ite organisation of the State.

Making a scathing attack against Geelani, Hussain said the ageing separatist leader rose in the political horizon of Kashmir due to Jamaat backing. But whenever he was required to lead he failed, he added.

In an oblique reference to Geelani’s supporters which include his elder brother and ASS president Aga Syed Hassan, he said some people have come under the influence of Geelani who, he said, had dealt a severe blow to the freedom movement by playing divisive politics.

Based on consultations with scholars, elders and youth of the Anjuman, we have decided to lend our unstinted support to Ansari-led Hurriyat, he added.(PTI)

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