12 Al-Qaeda militants gunned down in Pak
*10 others arrested after gun fighting

ISLAMABAD, Oct 2: Pakistan troops killed at least 12 Al-Qaeda suspects and captured 10 others in a major offensive launched against the terror network holed in a rugged tribal region bordering Afghanistan early today.

According to senior Army official Maj. Gen. Ameer Faisal about 12 Al Qaeda militants were killed in a gunfight that broke out after troops laid seige to a suspected Al Qaeda base within five kms of the border in South Waziristan tribal agency.

The captured militants, mostly foreigners, were paraded blindfolded with hands tied behind their backs in front of journalists from the foreign media during a trip organized by the Army to the scene of the operation.

Defence spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan said the offensive was launched early this morning on receiving information that several Al-Qaeda men were hiding there.

Pakistan has deployed some 60,000 troops along its long and porous border with Afghanistan to check the movement of Taliban and suspected Al-Qaeda militants.

"We believe that some Al-Qaeda men have taken shelter in South Waziristan tribal belt after carrying out attacks in Afghanistan`s Paktika province," Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan said.

He said Pakistani forces had been tracking the suspects and launched the operation after confirmation of their presence. The operation involved attack helipcopters and ground troops.

The operation followed observations by US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage yesterday that President Pervez Musharraf was generally supportive of the crackdown against Al-Qaeda and Taliban but it was not the case with all the Army and security officials in Pakistan.

"I personally believe that President Musharraf is genuine when he assists us in the tribal areas and he has from inside of the border, but I do not think that affection for working with US extends up to down the rank of Pakistan security community", Armitage said in Washington.

Foreign Ministry spokesman, Masood Khan, however, denied Armitage’s observations that all Army ranks were not behind Musharraf: "The President is the head of armed forces. All security agencies are answerable to him and they follow his directions faithfully", he said. (PTI)

J&K goes hi-tech, CM launches e-governance

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 2: Jammu and Kashmir today became the second State after Andhra Pradesh in the country to introduce video conferencing facility in the working of the Government in an effort to improve efficiency in governance.

On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed launched the facility by talking from Secretariat here to Jammu, Leh and Nuyoma.

This facility will be extended to all district headquarters in phases. Far-flung districts of Kupwara, Poonch and Doda will be covered in the first phase. This facility has been created by utilizing the services of NIC

With this facility easy connectivity has been established with district administration by cutting long travel, time and cost besides bringing efficiency in work culture. It will also help the senior officers at Secretariat to monitor development schemes at district level, listen to public grievances and interact with locals. This will also enable departments to follow up cases with central Government ministries.

Bringing high-tech into the day-to-day governance of the State, the Chief Minister while speaking to Social Welfare Minister Mula Ram and Minister of State for Rural Development Ch. Gharu Ram, who were at Jammu, enquired about the sanctioning of new anganwari centres by the Union Government. He was told that the Principal Secretary, Social Welfare has been deputed to Delhi to seek necessary sanction. The Chief Minister asked for dovetailing these centres with pre-nursery classes.

Sitting in the company of Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Minister for Information Technology, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Chairman Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Thupstan Chhewang, Chief Secretary Dr. Sudhir S. Bloeria and other senior officers, Mufti Sayeed enquired from Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Lokesh Jha the progress on the beautification and creation of parking lots in Jammu city. He was told that out of the 3 parking lots ordered by the Chief Minister, 2 projects at Super Bazar and Jewel Chowk have been commissioned while the third one at Doctor’s Lane is being developed as a parking lot.

When enquired about the development of parks in Jammu city, the Divisional Commissioner apprised the Chief Minister that J&K Bank has completed 25 per cent work of relaying of Rajinder Park with children’s corner. The bank is also soon taking up work of developing the second walkway along the canal as desired by the Chief Minister. The Digiana park will be completed in one month’s time.

On the dispute of establishing the much-needed public convenience at Purani Mandi park, the Chief Minister advised the administration for taking the locals into confidence for designing of the underground convenience and resolve the matter. This facility is needed in the area urgently.

The video conferencing commenced with felicitations of Gandhi Jayanti. Minister for Social Welfare Mula Ram said that he is talking to a place where Gandhiji saw a ray of light during partition. Mufti Sayeed replied by saying that this ray of light is now also seen in Jammu.

While talking to the local MLA, Pintoo Narboo and other officers at Leh through video conferencing, the Chief Minister congratulated them for receiving highest tourist traffic this year. He enquired about present tourist flow and was happy to know that even in the month of October occupancy in hotels is substantial.

Mr Pintoo while expressing satisfaction that Ladakh had progressed well during last one year sought the Chief Minister’s help in getting allotment of more funds for the region.

The Chief Minister replied that the State has a limited kitty and it is the endeavour of the coalition Government to do justice with all the regions of the State. He however, said that whatever has been done in Ladakh is not less substantial.

Through this facility the State capitals have also been connected to Nuyoma, a far-flung area of Ladakh. The SDM, Nuyoma apprised the Chief Minister about development activities in the area and said that night temperature goes to minus 10 degrees centigrade.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister also inaugurated SMART GOV in the Secretariat thereby introducing e-governance in the Secretariat. The Chief Secretary approved and transferred a GAD file to the Chief Minister seeking his approval for extension of the family planning incentives to migrant employees.

In the first phase, working of 5 departments- Chief Minister’s Office, Science and Technology, Information Technology, Finance and General Administration, have been put on the e-governance.

The SMART GOV seeks to achieve objectives like increasing employees’ productivity, efficient management of data, information and knowledge within the Secretariat, exploitation of the power of networking and advancement towards a paperless, knowledge-led governance. It is based on a two-tier architecture consisting of the Central Information System (CIS) and the Departmental Information System (DIS). Common applications useful to all payrolls, leave, audit, monitoring of plan schemes, assets management, court cases, personnel information system, etc would be done on computers. SMART GOV is expected to make a significant contribution to the evolution of various technical standards governing IT projects within the Government.

Tata Consultancy, which is executing the SMART GOV, in its presentation said that the objective is to integrate technology to deliver electronic work place for better efficiency.

Commissioner/Secretary Information Technology, R.K. Gupta told the Chief Minister that separate server has been installed in Jammu and the facility will be available in Secretariat there on opening of offices.

Later, talking to mediapersons, the Chief Minister said that this facility would help the Government in improving efficiency, effective monitoring and supervising of works in all the regions of the State. He said it would not have any bearing on Darbar Move as the 172 year old practice would continue to be an effective arrangement for integration of the State.

Tragedy strikes JU's picnickers
Student drowns, VC orders probe

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 2: Tragedy struck a picnic party of Jammu University students at Baba Pairh Devta near Nagrota this afternoon when a Management Semester-I student Pankaj Mohan Bhatia was washed away in water fall and was drowned. His body hasn’t been recovered till tonight when police called off a search operation.

Late tonight, Vice Chancellor, Jammu University Prof Amitabh Mattoo spoke to General Officer Commanding (GOC) 16 Corps and sought help of army divers in tracing body of the student. Army divers will start their operation early tomorrow morning, Mattoo told EXCELSIOR after visiting the site of mishap and staying there for more than two hours.

Prof Mattoo has also instituted an internal inquiry in the incident.

Reports said the students and teachers of Management Department of Jammu University had gone to Baba Pairh Devta, a religious-cum-picnic spot for a day’s picnic. They reached the picnic spot in the noon after walking a distance of about three kms. Around 1.45 PM, six students went mid-stream of the nullah catching hands of each other and reached close to water fall.

However, the students got separated due to speedy currents of water fall and fell in the nullah. While four of them managed to come out, two others were drowned.

Two students and two tour guides, who were expert in swimming, immediately rushed to rescue the drowning students. According to eye-witness account given by some students, a tour guide managed to get hold of both the drowning students but due to heavy water fall he could rescue only one at a time. He left one of the student to shore and went down to mid-stream to rescue another but by that time the student had drowned.

Other students and teachers continued search for Pankaj Mohan Bhatia, a Semester-I student of Management, but couldn’t locate him. "The boy simply disappeared. We couldn’t locate him thereafter. Nor his body was visible anywhere", a student, who joined the rescue operation, said.

HoD Management J R Dhotra and Dean M R Rana slipped away from the spot after students and tour guides failed to search the student leaving behind three female teachers and students at the venue. Two other teachers stayed at the site of mishap till police personnel reached there and started a rescue operation.

Some of the students rang up EXCELSIOR and called for stern action against HoD and Dean, who fled away from the spot after the tragedy.

Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor Prof Amitabh Mattoo cancelled his New Delhi trip and rushed to the spot soon after getting a report of the mishap. He camped at the spot for over two hours and supervised rescue operation. As police failed to rescue the body, Prof Mattoo spoke to GOC 16 Corps and requisitioned help of army divers in locating the body. Army divers will start a search early tomorrow morning.

Prof Mattoo said he has instituted an internal inquiry to investigate circumstances in which the tragedy took place and recommend measures so that nothing of sort happens in future.

"A terrible tragedy has occurred. A young, promising and talented scholar has been lost. It’s not the time now to fix blame but to introspect, I have already instituted an internal inquiry", he said and admitted that "some responsible persons acted shortsightedly".

The Jammu University has also convened a condolence meeting in Jammu University auditorium at 11 AM tomorrow to pray for peace to Bhatia, who hailed from Jain Bazaar. Vice Chancellor, teachers and students will participate in the condolence meeting.

Jammu-Southern Bypass project being cleared
*Work on new Flyover to start soon: Madan

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 2: A prestigious Rs 250 cr Jammu-Southern By-Pass project, for ensuring free flow of traffic from Pathankot to Rajouri-Poonch and also to Srinagar is being cleared while the work on yet another major fly-over project at Bikram Chowk is going to be started soon.

Disclosing this to media-persons here this evening, Minister for Roads and Buildings, Madan Lal Sharma said that Southern By-pass having total length of 60 kms, will take off from Raya Morh on Jammu-Pathankot National Highway and after passing through Miran Sahib— Raipur —Domana it will touch Akhnoor road near Jhiri and then after passing through upper areas of Chinore —Roopnagar, will touch Ban Talab on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

Elaborating further he pointed out that new By-pass after construction will neutralise the unwanted traffic entering Jammu city including Army vehicles proceeding to Akhnoor, Nowshera, Rajouri, Poonch and Srinagar without passing through city. He said the existing Jammu By-pass has become too inadequate for the heavy traffic going from Jammu to Srinagar in light of many colonies coming along Kunjwani, Narwal, Sidhra and Nagrota By-pass.

Mr Sharma said in order to remove traffic congestion at Bikram Chowk near Police Lines at Gandhinagar the PWD has formulated a comprehensive project for construction of fly over costing about Rs 29 crore. This fly over will take off traffic of Jammu city crossing over 3rd bridge (under construction) to Pathankot side without interruption at Bikram Chowk and other crossings. The construction of another flyover from Jewel Chowk up to Canal Head costing Rs 15 cr has also been proposed. This will also ensure some relief in heavy traffic congestion on this road. Besides, a project for widening of road from Canal Head upto Bohri to Gajansoo and Gho Manhasan costing Rs 26 cr is awaiting Government’s nod.

Responding to a question, the Minister said the work on this third bridge will be completed by December 31 and it is proposed to be commissioned on January 26, 2004. Earlier, it was scheduled to be opened to traffic by Baisakhi this year. The floods hampered the progress of work and also caused minor damage to it.

The work on 4-lane road from Swami Vivekanad Chowk to D C Office via Gujjar Nagar has already been taken up. Some area has been widened while rest will be cleared soon. The construction work on this 4-lane road from 2nd Tawi bridge ( Bahu Bridge) up to Swami Vivekanand Chowk and road from Qasim Nagar to 3rd Tawi bridge has already been taken up. It will cost Rs 8 crore. The work of widening of Rehari Chungi Chowk and its re-designing will be taken up soon to regulate free traffic. The department is also thinking to have flyover at this chowk.

Mr Sharma said another major project related to construction of International Convention Hall -cum-Picnic spot has also been proposed by the PWD near Jhiri, where 7-day fair is held every year. Lakhs of people from northern India visit the spot during Mela. It has been proposed to make an artificial lake on the upside of the Ranbir Canal near Jhiri by way of filling canal water in the depressed zones of the area created by the digging by the labourers of brick kilns. This project will cost Rs 27 crore. The Jammu will also have an International Convention hall like Srinagar.

Under PMGSY scheme, 19 road projects with the cost of Rs 28 cr are being taken up this year by the PWD. The Department proposed to spend Rs 38 cr under State Plan, Rs 40.50 cr under NABARD and Rs 14 cr under CRF scheme during the year 2003-04.

The PWD in the entire State has taken up work on 276 NABARD schemes costing Rs 281 cr. With this road length of 467 kms will be constructed and 650 villages will get new connectivity. He said for the first time PWD Fortnight celebrations is being observed in the State. It will create new environment and sense of responsibility and development among employees of the department and others in general.

Chief Engineer, PWD Jammu Mr A S Wazir and SE Jammu-Kathua, Vijay Sharma were also present in the conference.

Increase funds or else agitation: LAHDC

LEH, Oct 2: The Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) said the funds being allotted for the development of this cold desert region were not sufficient and threatened to launch an agitation for Union Territory (UT) status if their demands were not met.

"We are still being treated as one of the 14 districts of the State as far as allocation of funds is concerned," LAHDC Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) Thupstan Tswang said.

However, he appreciated the coalition Government in the State for restoring full powers to the council.

Mr Tswang said the people of the Ladakh, particularly Leh, were not satisfied with the funds being provided for taking up development works.

"Our plan allocation is less than the Badgam district though our area is much more than the total area of all the 13 districts of the State," he lamented and added people of Ladakh have been deprived of their rights since independence.

"It was because of this reason that the people revolted against the State and demanded ut status," the CEC said, adding, "we have not yet given up this demand despite the LAHDC being given full powers by the present Government."

He warned that not only the LAHDC but the people of the region may again start agitation for the UT status if they continued to feel neglected.

Mr Tswang said it is true that funds are allocated to any area or State on the basis of population but this has to change in the case of Ladakh since people of the region live under very difficult conditions — climate and terrain.

He said the unskilled labourer costs Rs 120 to Rs 150 per day while in other parts of the State it will be just Rs 100.

"We have to store everything from a matchbox to milk for babies besides other essential commodities for six months when the region is cut off from the rest of the country due to heavy snowfall on highways".

The CEC said the council supports the idea of State Finance Commission which "will help us to present our case more forcefully before it."

Expressing his displeasure that the 12th Financial Commission did not visit Ladakh, he said, "we want them to visit here so that they could feel the hardships being faced by the people."

"We just want that Leh be granted special category status in funds allocation so that it could also pick up the development alongwith the other parts of the State."

Praising the Congress for restoring all powers to the LAHDC, Mr Tswang said, "it was during the Congress rule at the Centre, that Autonomous Hill Development Council for Leh and Kargil was sanctioned. We are happy that it was again at the initiative of that party, with the support of the Peoples Democratic Party, full powers were restored to the council after the coalition Government took over in the State."(UNI)

Unexploded mines detected
*Probe ordered in bid on Naidu's life

TIRUPATI/HYDERABAD, Oct 2: Eight unexploded claymore mines, similar to the ones that blasted Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s car yesterday, were detected today highlighting the security lapses into which a rattled Andhra Pradesh Government ordered a probe by its security advisor.

Naidu, who suffered injuries on his chest and nose and fractured his right shoulder, was flown in to the state capital alongwith Information Technology Minister B Gopalakrishna Reddy by a special aircraft. The Chief Minister, who stepped out of the aircraft with a hand in plaster, climbed down the ladder and straight got into a waiting car on the tarmac of the begumpet airport to be driven home.

As investigations began into the explosions triggered by suspected people’s war group Naxalites, it has now emerged that a total of 17 landmines were planted near the Alipiri toll gate on the Ghat road leading to the famous Venkateswara Temple.

Police, which launched a massive manhunt for those responsible for the blasts, today recovered at least eight unexploded mines planted in a stretch of 200 metres on the second Ghat Road to the shrine. They believe the mines could have been planted months ago as thick grass have grown around them and could have resulted in a major disaster if they had been detonated.

As the powerful blasts exposed chinks in the security system and raised doubts over its efficacy, Security Advisor to the Government, S Subrahmanyam has been asked to go into the lapses and suggest measures for "fool-proof" arrangements, officials said.

Subrahmanyam, a retired IPS officer, has since left for the site where mines exploded blasting Naidu’s bullet-proof ambassador car in the foothills of the famous Venkateswara shrine.

Meanwhile, police have picked up three civil liberties activists for questioning in connection with yesterday’s blasts.

N V Prasad, D V Prasad and Hari Prasad belonging to Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee, a body often accused siding with extreme left groups, were taken to an undisclosed destination from their residence, their wives complained.

Police suspect the trio of having links with People’s War Group, which is suspected to be behind the blasts.

Naidu spoke to his cabinet colleagues and party leaders, who called on him at his residence, and asked them to assure the people that he was doing well.

A panel of doctors, headed by NIMS Director K Subba Rao, is monitoring the Chief Minister’s condition with mobile X-ray units being moved to his residence to conduct tests.

Information Technology Minister Reddy was admitted to Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences.

TDP MLA R Rajshekhar Reddy, who was seriously injured in the blast and had slipped into coma, was responding to treatment today. Another TDP legislator Ch Krishna Murthy, who suffered injury in his eye, was taken to Apollo Hospital in Chennai. (PTI)

Civilian shot dead by ultras
Jawan killed in shelling

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 2: A civilian was kidnapped and shot dead by the militants at Gool last night while an army soldier was killed and another injured in Pak shelling on Line of Control (LoC) today.

Official sources said two militants kidnapped a civilian Mohd Ismayil son of Bashir Ahmed from his house at village Budhan in Gool area of Ramban police district last night. They took the civilian to an adjoining forest area and shot him dead.

Body of the civilian was recovered by police from the forests this morning. Militants involved in the killing remained untraced.

Meanwhile, an army jawan was killed in Pak shelling on LoC in Mendhar sector in Poonch district this morning. Another jawan was injured in shelling in Nowshera sector in Rajouri this evening. Injured jawan has been hospitalised.

Security forces today busted a hideout in Kalakote tehsil in Rajouri and recovered two anti tank grenades, three AGL grenades, eight UBGL grenades, three IED containers, three IED chargers, 15 electronic detonators, one rucksack, five diaries and Rs 17,850 Indian currency.

Sources said a group of three to four militants, who had taken shelter in the hideout, managed to escape few minutes before the security forces raid. The militants had observed movement of the security personnel from a distance.

A massive search operation has been launched by the security personnel for eliminating the militants, who were believed to be the foreign mercenaries. However, no success had been made till late tonight.

Only yesterday, security forces had eliminated two foreign mercenaries in Kalakote. From the scene of encounter, security forces today made additional recoveries of two radio sets and four AK magazines, the sources said.

Prime suspect in twin Mumbai blasts arrested

MUMBAI, Oct 2: Zaheed Patni, prime suspect in the August 25 twin blasts and one more explosion in the city, was today arrested under POTA as police claimed he had handpicked two other conspirators at the instance of terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba and Pakistan’s ISI to trigger the blasts.

He was detained yesterday on his arrival from Dubai and police grilled Zaheed for several hours before arresting him.

The police claimed Zaheed, who was interrogated at his relative’s place yesterday, was arrested today. Mumbai Police officers also dismissed reports that Zaheed was coerced into returning to Mumbai.

Zaheed recruited co-accused Hanif and Ashrat after getting influenced by ISI and LeT to conduct sabotage in Mumbai, Officer on Special Duty in the Police Commissionerate, Rakesh Maria, said.

"Zaheed brought these men together and was part of the conspiracy", Maria told PTI.

He said Zaheed was involved in three blasts, at suburban Ghatkopar on July 28 and the twin blasts at Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazar on August 25, besides having involvement in the seizure of gelatin sticks at Seepz.

"Although we are confident that Zaheed was the last link in the blasts conspiracy, the search for some people who provided gelatin to execute the blasts would continue", a police official said.

Zaheed has been booked under POTA and will be produced in the designated court tommorow. Hanif and Arshat are already in police custody.

According to Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Satyapal Singh, Zaheed allegedly arranged a meeting between Arshat and Nasir when he reached Mumbai to attend the wedding of his elder brother Khalid on May 28.

"Zaheed knew Hanif for long time and gave him Arshat’s telephone number to contact him", Singh told PTI.

Zaheed Yousuf Patni moved to Dubai in 1999 as a labourer and worked with Alinko trading establishment till he was promoted and posted as storekeeper in January 2002.

His younger brother is also employed with the firm. His family resides at Mira Road, where they moved from Nalasopara some years ago, police sources said. (PTI)

Infiltration still on: Fernandes

HARIPUR, BIHAR, Oct 2: Defence Minister George Fernandes today said situation on the borders was still tense due to infiltration from Pakistan but claimed that the new sensor devices to detect infiltrators were yielding positive results.

After unveiling the statue of martyr Captain Dilip of the Jat regiment, Mr Fernandes told newsmen here that Pakistan had been long facilitating infiltration into Indian territory but the Indian Army had been successful in checking infiltration with their new device.

The geographical terrain of Jammu and Kashmir was conducive for infiltration, the Defence Minister said, adding that the security forces were, however, making all efforts to check it.

The Defence Minister said that India was reeling under internal and external terrorism and some of the educated youth were disturbing peace through their anti-Indian activities, in the name of movements.

Mr Fernandes directly hit out at Pakistan, charging it with trying to weaken India by promoting trans-border terrorism.

Some Indians were still languishing in jails of Pakistan and the authorities were in direct touch with their Pakistani counterparts for their rescue, he said.

To a query, Mr Fernandes said POTA was being misused and the Centre should reconsider the law.

Mr Fernandes described the attack on the convoy of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu as "unfortunate" and said it was fortunate that Mr Naidu had escaped the attack. (UNI)

Two militants among 4 killed

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 2: While as security forces today claimed to have killed two unidentified militants in an encounter at Hakbara village in Sumbal area, militants have reportedly shot dead a Police official as also a shopkeeper in north Kashmir, since last evening.

Informed sources said that after receiving a tip-off, troops of Rashtriya Rifles raided a militant hideout at Hakbara village in Sumbal area. According to the specific information, some armed militants were present at the house of one Rasheed Beig S/o Habib Beig. The holed up militants opened fire and faced the retaliation. Two militants got killed in the gunbattle that reduced the house to ashes. They could not be identified till late this evening.

Sources said that two AK-56 rifles, one UBGL, 9 UBGL grenades and a wireless set were recovered from the devastated site of the encounter. Reports from Pattan area said that in the afternoon today, unidentified gunmen, believed to be militants, fired some shots on Manzoor Ahmed Zargar S/o Rishi Zargar of Kreeri at his shop in Kreeri Bazar. With gunshot wounds he was rushed to a hospital. He, however, succumbed to injuries.

Late last night, militants appeared at Wudar Bala in Rajwar belt of Handwara and shot dead one Khazir Mohammad S/o Hamza Mir at his home. He was reportedly an employee with Home Guard wing of J&K Police.

A civilian, namely Abdur Rasheed Bhat S/o Mohammad Assadullah Bhat R/o Bamrad, Beerwah, has sustained injuries during an encounter between militants and security forces in his village. Reports said that all the militants managed to escape.

Ganai assumes charge

Excelsior Special Correspondent

Srinagar, October 2: Mr. Khursheed Ahmad Ganai assumed the charge of Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir here yesterday. He has been posted in place of Parvez Dewan.

Soon after assuming the charge, Ganai reviewed overall development, law and order scenario and implementation of welfare schemes at a meeting of divisional and district officers.

Meanwhile, the officers of district administration headed by Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Asgar Hussan Samoon accorded farewell to Parvez Dewan. The officers lauded the talent and outstanding capabilities of Mr. Dewan, which brought laurels for the administration in discharging its functions and duties with responsive and transparent attitude.

Sharma is Interpol VP

NEW DELHI, Oct 2: CBI Director P C Sharma was today elected as Vice-President of the Interpol to become the second Indian to be elected to the prestigious post in 30 years.

Sharma, who heads the World Police Organisation in India, defeated Salim Malik of Iran in the election held at the General Assembly of Interpol at Benidorm in Spain today, a CBI spokesman said here.

The election to the 181-member of Interpol is a major achievement for India. As Vice-President representing Asian region, the CBI Director would have a three-year term.

This is the second time that an Indian has been elected to the post, the first being F V Arul some 30 years ago.

Sharma, one of the senior most serving police officers in the country having experience in different areas of policing, spread across criminal investigation, law enforcement, training, policy formulation and management, was elected as a delegate of the interpol.

Sharma has continuously worked for international police cooperation in the field of extradition, deportation and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

He has been decorated with President’s Police Medal and Indian Police Medal.

The Executive Committee of the Interpol meets three times a year before the General Assembly. Its role is to supervise the execution of the decision of the General Assembly and prepare the agenda for it.

The Executive Committee has 13 members comprising the President of the organisation, three Vice-Presidents and nine delegates. (PTI)

Pak High Comm calls 8 boys

FARIDKOT, Oct 2: Keeping in view the gesture shown by the Central Government for the repatriation of all eight Pakistani boys under 17 to their country (Pakistan) at the earliest, the High Commission of Pakistan has called all of them at New Delhi tomorrow for their proper identification to initiate the next process.

They include Nasser Ali, Sagar Ali, Babar Ali, Asif and Mohammad Sahar Khan all from Kassur district, Amjad Khan of Sheikhupura, Altaf Shah and Dinesh Kumar of Amarkot in Sindh province.

Stating here today, Sanjeev Kalra, DIG police Faridkot range said the administration had received a letter from the High Commission through the Union Home Ministry in this connection here yesterday.

He said a team of senior officers will carry the boys from here at the wee hours tomorrow for their necessary verification at Delhi and after the completion of the entire process all of them be brought here back.

Their (boys) repatriation to Pakistan will take the final shape after getting the nod from the High Commission, he said.

The Union Home Ministry on compassionate grounds and to create a better coardial relations between both the countries had decided to release the boys last month and later wrote a letter on September 5 to the Punjab Government for the withdrawal of cases against the boys if there were no serious charges. (PTI)
 
 
 
 

 

 

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