Govt yet to come up to expectations of people: Sofi
PDF demands representation in Coordination
Committee, more ministerial berths

By Dinesh Manhotra

JAMMU, Oct 3: One and half month after converting their forum into a full-fledged political party, leaders of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) have started flexing their muscles. Besides demanding ‘due share’ in the Mufti Mohammed Sayeed led coalition Government, PDF also demanded representation in the State Coordination Committee.

In an informal chat with media persons after inaugurating party office at Jammu, Minister of Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Hakim Mohammed Yaseen, who is also spokesman of the Forum, strongly demanded that being a political party, representation should be given to PDF in the Coordination Committee, which was constituted to monitor functioning of the coalition Government. "Now we are the third largest constituent of the coalition regime so our party should be given due representation in every sphere", he argued and added that strength of PDF should be increased in the Ministry, keeping in view the number of party MLAs.

Mr Yaseen was of the view that PDF has not given adequate representation in the Ministry as par its numerical strength. "As spokesman of the PDF, I will write to Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed to increase our strength in Ministry and get representation in the Coordination Committee", he disclosed.

Replying to a question, Mr Yaseen clarified that Mohammed Yosuf Tarigami and another MLA of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) were alliance of the Forum but they have their separate identity as CPIM members. "It is upto Tarigami to decide either to stay in this group or walk out", he said and made it clear that PDF, like other parties, was now a fulfilled political party and will approach Election Commission of India soon to get their party registered.

Chairman of the PDF and Minister of Forest, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Sofi said that PDF was a group but on August 21, 2003 it was converted into a full-fledged political party.

Though almost all member MLAs of the PDF had contested election on their own agenda, a detailed discussion was held among all members before converting PDF into a political party. " Aspirations and wishes of all sections of the society will be taken into consideration before making document for the party", he said and added that MLA Kathua, Babu Singh has assigned the job to prepare agenda for the party.

Mr Sofi, however, said that restoring peace in this violence plagued State was the first and fore most priority of new party and every member of the party will work overtime to bring out this region from destruction and turmoil.

Both the leaders of PDF asked both India and Pakistan to resume dialogue to solve Kashmir problem once for all.

Earlier, addressing party workers, Forest Minister admitted that coalition Government has not yet come upto the expectations of the people. "Although we are partner of this regime, without any hesitation I declare that we have not yet fulfilled the aspirations and wishes of the people"

Inhabitants of this State were fed up with rampant corruption, bureaucratic Raj and family rule, he recalled and added that people gave mandate to deliver good governance. PDF chairman was of the view that imposing blanket ban of recruitment was not solution of any problem. "Instead of banning recruitment, we should devise some other ways to solve this problem", he said.

Giving reasons for converting PDF into a political party, Mr Sofi said that people of this State were fed up with traditional political parties and they want new faces. "Unlike traditional political parties we will not impose our agenda on people. We will rather follow people’s agenda", he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Hakim Mohammed Yaseen assured Jammuites that PDF will fulfill aspirations of the people of all the three regions of the State. "We will not allow discrimination with any region of the State", he declared and exhorted the party workers to spread message of PDF in every nook and corner of the State.

"Instead of running after power we are committed to mitigate miseries of the people", he said and asserted that PDF will emerge as strong force in the State.

Mr Yaseen said that PDF has decided to inaugurate party office at Jammu on the auspicious occasion of Navratras as these days are holy days for Hindu brethren.

Minister of State for Industries, Raman Mattoo, Minister of State for Forest, Th. Puran Singh, MLA Kathua, Babu Singh, MLA Banihal Moulvi Abdul Rashid also addressed the gathering. MLA Billawar Dr Manohar Lal was also present on the occasion.

In the ever first public meeting of the PDF in Jammu, some Congress and PDP workers deserted their parties to join PDF. Prominent among those who joined PDF included former State executive member of PDP Tej Ram Dogra.

Carried out recee of Railway Stn, Airport, other areas
Pak militant stayed in City for one month
*Arrested while exfiltrating from IB with maps

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Oct 3: Border Police today arrested a Pakistan militant, who was staying in the City here for last more than one month during which he carried recee of some important installations including Railway Station, Airport and Bari Barahamana town.

The militant was arrested from near the international border in RS Pura sector when he was trying to exfiltrate to Pakistan to bring with him two fidayeens (suicide squads), who had to carry out a fidayeen attack at one of the three important locations selected by him.

Police described arrest of the militant as a prize catch. They identified the militant as Abdul Rouf, a resident of Pakistan’s port City of Karachi.

Reliable sources told EXCELSIOR that the militant was arrested from forward village of Gharana, about 100 meters short of IB, in RS Pura sector last mid-night by a police party. He was spotted moving towards Pakistan by a patrol party of Village Defence Committee (VDC) in the mid-night. The VDC engaged him for about 20 minutes till Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) RS Pura Dushyant Sharma reached there alongwith a police party and captured the militant.

The Pakistan militant was shifted to an unknown location where he was subjected to sustained interrogation by the police officials under supervision of DIG Jammu Farooq Ahmed and SSP Border Karnail Singh.

Sources said the militant during his preliminary questioning has revealed that he was staying in the City for last more than one month to carry out recee of vital installations on the directions of Pakistan army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). To dodge police, he got himself recruited in Durga Hotel at Railway Station as a labourer. He employed himself only to take a cover. He told the hotel owner that he hailed from Rajouri district in Jammu region.

Getting time from the labour, Abdul Rouf used to carry out recee of Railway Station and surrounding areas. He told police that he visited Jammu Railway Station thrice last month. This he did to take a full view of Railway Station’s entry and exit routes. He had prepared a map depicting a view of Railway Station. The hand made map on a paper carried timings of the departure of Pune bound Jhelum Express and New Delhi bound Shalimar Express, the sources said.

Besides Railway Station, the militant had also visited outer area of Airport and Satwari Chowk. He didn’t make any attempt to enter inside the Airport after sensing heavy deployment of cops at main gate. He had also visited Bari Barahamana town last week and prepared a map of the town.

The militant, according to sources, disclosed that he had been directed by senior officers of Pakistan military and ISI officials to stay in Jammu City for about a month by getting himself employed at a dhaba or a rehri so that he is not doubted by police. He was given a fake address of Thanna Mandi, Rajouri which he gave to his hotel employer.

Sources said the militant has revealed that he had to accompany two fidayeens from Pakistan to Railway Station after few days for carrying out a fidayeen attack. In August 2000, two fidayeen had struck at Railway Station killing 15 people including security personnel and injuring several others. Since then tight security arrangements had been made at Railway Station. Sources said the militant carried out recee of Railway Station as he was empty handed and carried some cups of tea in his hands posing himself as an employee of a tea stall.

According to sources, the militant disclosed that his family was staying in Karachi’s outskirts for last 25 years. His family had migrated to Karachi from Bangladesh about 25 years back. In Bangladesh, his family hailed from Gopinpur, Dhaka.

Abdul Rouf is being sent to Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) for further sustained interrogation to ascertain more clues.

Abdul Rouf told police officials that he reached Jammu a month back from Mumbai. He claimed that he had reached Mumbai through sea route from Karachi. However, police officials believed that the militant could be lying as there were indications that he had infiltrated from RS Pura sector.

"The fact that the militant was well versed with the IB route, which was evident from the way he was moving easily towards the border without asking the route from anyone, clearly indicated that he might have infiltrated through the same route", the sources said.

6 militants, civilian killed in Valley
PP, high school damaged in Pak shelling

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 3: A fortnight after causing massive damage in Gurez, Pakistani troops have targeted the border town of Tangdar and caused damage to several structures with intensive gunfire. In the Kashmir valley plains, security forces have killed at least six militants since last evening while as militants have shot dead a civilian.

Official sources in Kupwara told EXCELSIOR that Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked shelling over the border town of Tangdar, in Karnah sector, on Thursday. Even as the local Brigade Headquarters appeared to be their actual target, rockets rained on several civilian and Government structures in the town situated 2 Km short of LoC. One of the shells hit the roof of the Police post and caused extensive damage to the structure. However, there was no loss of life. Similarly, another rocket destroyed a portion of the local High School. Being a holiday, there was no loss of life. Electric transformer of the telephone exchange was also destroyed which disrupted the telecommunication system in the town.

Residential houses of two civilians—Mohammad Ismail S/o Akbar and Nazir Ahmed S/o Raj Wali—were also damaged due to shelling. Two cows got killed. However, there was no loss of human life.

Deputy Commissioner of Kupwara, Yadullah, confirmed that due to the damage caused to the electric transformer, the entire communication system, excluding that of Army, had gone defunct. He said that the exchange was otherwise too restricted to internal communication service in Tangdar. BSNL, he said, was not operating any telecommunication link between Tangdar and the rest of the Valley and district headquarters.

On September 18th, Pakistani troops had caused extensive damage to a number of structures, mostly civilian, at the another border town, Gurez. Three civilians had died and four others sustained injuries in the shelling which destroyed a passenger bus and about 20 shops in a market at the Gurez capital of Dawar.

Two soldiers have reportedly sustained injuries in Pakistani shelling in Nowshera sub sector.

6 militants killed

Sources said that troops of Rashtriya Rifles 47 Bn raided a militant hideout at Chak Nutnusa on Sopore-Kupwara road last evening. During the operation, a group of holed up militants opened fire and made unsuccessful attempts to escape. Troops retaliated with ferocity, killing all the three militants of the group. They were identified as Nisar Jamal S/o Khan Zaman, Zafrullah Saleem alias Khalid and Khaibar Afridi S/o Abdullah Khan. Officials claimed that all the three were Pakistani nationals and members of Harkatul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammad.

Sources said that on another specific information, troops of RR 29 Bn conducted a cordon-and-search operation at Bota Chak in Kreeri area of Pattan, in Baramulla district. During the operation, an encounter took place between the troops and holed up militants. Troops destroyed the residential houses of Rehman Dar and Abdullah Dar, killing three militants. They remained unidentified till late tonight, though officials believed them to be Pakistani nationals.

In the nearby village of Watirgam, militants exchanged gunfire with troops of RR 29 Bn. Troops retaliated but militants managed to escape. One civilian, namely Abdul Ahad Bhat S/o Mohammad Sultan Bhat R/o Darhama, Wagoora, sustained injuries in the crossfiring. He was rushed to hospital.

In south Kashmir, Police recovered the bullet-riddled body of 20-year-old Bilal Ahmed Sheikh S/o Ghulam Hassan Sheikh R/o Kanusa, Shopian, from Habdipora. He had been reportedly kidnapped by militants from Kamro Sangipora on Thursday.

At Chandhar, near Pampore, Awantipora Police and ITBP detected an IED, which had been planted by militants on the roadside. Bomb disposal squad defused it.

4 militants, VDC member among 6 killed
Militants attack Navratra devotees, 6 injured

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 3: In two separate strikes in Doda, the militants gunned down two persons, one of them a Village Defence Committee (VDC) member and injured seven others including six devotees, who had gone to a temple on the occasion of Navratra festival this afternoon.

Meanwhile, army and BSF gunned down four militants—two each at Budhal and Mahore and destroyed a hideout of the militants in Surankote tehsil in Poonch district.

Police said a group of militants opened firing on the devotees, who were returning to their houses after paying obeisance at a temple at Rowshera under jurisdiction of Gandoh police station in Doda district this afternoon.

Police parties, deployed at the temple, retaliated and repulsed the militant attack. Six devotees were, however, injured in the attack. Police parties rushed the injured to a local hospital where they were given first aid and discharged.

All other 600 devotees reached safely to their houses, police said, adding a strong contingent of army and police was rushed to Rowshera to launch a hunt for the militants involved in attack. However, they remained untraced.

Another group of militants struck at Suidhar near Gori Binola in Thathri area of Doda at 2 PM. They opened indiscriminate firing on a group of people and gunned down two persons and injured another.

Militants escaped after the attack.

Deceased have been identified as Gambhir Chand son of Kund Lal, a VDC member and a resident of Julapani and Rakesh Kumar son of Ragunath R/o Hulonu, Gori Binola. Injured was identified as Subash Chander son of Ram Lal. He has been hospitalised.

A joint team of army and police reached Suidhar soon after the attack and started a search operation for the militants. Teports said that atleast four foreign mercenaries were involved in the attack.

Meanwhile, a joint team of army, Border Security Force (BSF) and police launched a joint search operation at village Gonda in Budhal area in Rajouri district this morning on a specific information regarding movement of a group of militants. Security personnel were fired upon by the militants as they approached a house where the militants had taken shelter.

An exchange of firing between the two sides continued for about two hours in which two unidentified militants were killed, the sources said and added that three BSF jawans were injured in the firing. House of Alaf Din son of Kher Din, where the militants had taken shelter since last evening, caught fire in the encounter and was gutted.

Two AK-56 rifles, seven AK magazines, one wireless set and two hand grenades were recovered from the slain militants, who were stated to be the activists of Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HUJI) outfit. Injured BSF jawans have been hospitalised.

According to sources, two other militants slipped away from the encounter site as security forces had to exercise restraint to avert civilian casualties. It took the security forces half an hour to rescue family members of Alaf Din from the house, they said.

Meanwhile, in another encounter, army and BSF jawans eliminated two more militants in Mahore tehsil under the jurisdiction of Reasi police district this evening. The militants, both of whom were stated to be the foreign mercenaries, were killed in a two hour long gun-battle with the security forces, the sources said.

Two AK rifles, one hand grenade, one wireless set, a jacket and a diary were recovered from the scene of encounter. In this operation, according to sources, security forces didn’t suffer any casualties. Slain militants’ diary revealed their affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen outfit.

Meanwhile, army today destroyed a bid hideout of the militants at Morha Batangi in Draba area of Surankote tehsil in Poonch district this morning.

Recoveries made from the hideout included nine kg RDX, 36 Pika rounds, four grenades of Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), three IED boxes, 14 PTD grenades, 16 packets of medicines, five RPGs and five boosters.

No arrests were made from the hideout, the sources said.

Union Cabinet clears quota for economically
backward classes

New Delhi, Oct 3 : The Union Cabinet today took various decisions of far reaching consequences, apparently keeping an eye on the elections.

The Cabinet decided to accord reservation for Economically Backward Classes (EBCs), not covered by the existing reservation policy, and set up a Commission to elicit the views of State Governments and work out modalities in this regard.

A meeting of the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, decided to amend clause four of Articles 15 and 16 of the constitution to incorporate the word ‘Economically Backward Class’, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told reporters here.

She said an additional clause would be added in Article 16 to empower the states to fix any quantum of reservation in favour of any Backward Class, including EBCs.

The Commission, consisting of Chairman, four members and a Secretary, would work out modalities in consultation with State Governments and Union territory administrations.

The panel, which would have a one-year tenure, would recommend the quantum of reservation, suggest criteria for identification of EBCs and present a report to the President.

Swaraj said the Supreme Court had earlier ruled that ten per cent reservation for EBCs was constitutionally invalid and stated that Article 16 of the constitution, provided for reservation only to Socially and Educationally Backward Classes.

Swaraj said the group of Ministers, set up to discuss the issue last month, decided that Cabinet approval in principle should be sought for the proposed reservation to EBCs as well as on appointment of a Commission.

Meanwhile, in an aggressive move to push disinvestment in the face of Supreme Court verdict halting disinvestment in two oil PSUs, HPCL and BPCL, the Government today said it could sell stake in IOC, a fortune 500 company, exercising its executive power while looking into judicial and legal options to pursue the sell off programme.

"We are not taking a confrontationist view of the Supreme Court judgment... As executive option we can look at effecting a swap since Indian oil was not constituted under act of Parliament," Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie told reporters after the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Disinvestment, chaired by Prime Minister A B Vajpayee.

Shourie said that IOC’s retail marketing operations could be disinvested either through public offfer or to a strategic buyer after splitting the corporation in two or three entities and added that as part of its committment to reform process the CCD also decided to go ahead with disinvestment in six other PSUs including STC, Engineers India and Balmer Lawrie.

The Minister said that while Government would look at judicial option for a clarification or review of the Supreme Court judgement, which had far reaching implication for the entire disinvestment programme, it would also simultaneously explore the possiblity of going to Parliament for legal changes in pursuit of disinvestment.

The Government also cleared the long awaited proposal to set up a National Tax Tribunal to reduce the burden of pending cases in High Courts and to ensure uniformity in administartion of tax laws.

Twenty-five benches are proposed to be set up under the national tax tribunal at a cost of Rs 7.88 crore, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told reporters here.

She said the tribunal would consist of a chairperson and a number of judicial and technical members. The chairperson would be a retired judge of the Supreme Court or a retired Chief Justice of High Court.

The chairperson will hold office for five years or till he/she attains the age of 68 years while the retiring age for other member would be 65 years. The chairperson and members would be selected by a selection committee consisting of Chief Justice of India or his nominee, Law Secretary and Revenue Secretary. (PTI)

Biggest ever Ministry in UP

LUCKNOW, Oct 3: Uttar Pradesh was today saddled with its biggest ever ministry after no less than 91 ministers were inducted by Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, taking the strength of his ministry to 98.

Yadav’s current ally and former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh held the previous record with 95 ministers in his ministry.

Twenty-four Cabinet Ministers and 67 Ministers of State were administered oath of office and secrecy by Governor Vishnukant Shastri at a ceremony held at the sprawling K D Singh Babu Stadium here.

Prominent among those inducted as cabinet ministers were Reoti Raman Singh, Naresh Agarwal, Ashok Bajpayee, Ambika Chaudhary, Hari Shankar Tewari, Ram Gobind Chaudhary, Shakir Ali, R K Chaudhary, Virendra Singh, Raja Ram Pandey and Raj Kishore Singh.

Of the 24 Cabinet Ministers, 20 are from the Samajwadi Party and one each from alliance partners - RLD, LCP, SJP and Samata Party.

Besides inducting 67 Ministers of State, Yadav also accommodated four legislators as chairmen of different state-owned corporations.

Political compulsion appeared to have prevailed on Yadav to have the jumbo sized ministry. Highly placed sources said Yadav had submitted to the governor a list of 44 MLAs for being sworn in as ministers yesterday but 27 more names were added at the eleventh hour due to intense pressure from new entrants to his Samajwadi Party.

As many as 26 legislators who had crossed over from BSP and had joined the Samajwadi Party have been inducted as Ministers of State besides a number of independents who have lent their support to his coalition Government.

Prominent among the former BSP legislators inducted into the ministry are Ansar Ahmed, Kameshwar Upadhya, Jaiveer Singh, Dinesh Singh, Jai Prakash Yadav, Rajpal Tyagi and Haji Yaqoob.

Only two women - Usha Verma and Uma Kiran - have found place in the expanded ministry.

Yadav was sworn in alone as Chief Minister on August 29 after the fall of the BSP-BJP coalition Government led by Mayawati.

Later in his first expansion on September 26, he inducted six Cabinet Ministers - two each from Samajwadi Party, RLD and RKP.

As many as 26 legislators who had crossed over from BSP and had joined the Samajwadi Party have been inducted as Ministers of State besides a number of independents who have lent their support to his coalition Government.

Prominent among the former BSP legislators inducted into the ministry are Ansar Ahmed, Kameshwar Upadhya, Jaiveer Singh, Dinesh Singh, Jai Prakash Yadav, Rajpal Tyagi and Haji Yaqoob.

Only two women - Usha Verma and Uma Kiran - have found place in the expanded ministry.

Yadav was sworn in alone as Chief Minister on August 29 after the fall of the BSP-BJP coalition Government led by Mayawati.

Later in his first expansion on September 6, he inducted six Cabinet Ministers - two each from Samajwadi Party, RLD and RKP.

With this expansion, the number of Cabinet Ministers have gone upto 30.

A close look at the list of the Ministers of State reveal that initially it had 65 ministers but two more names were added at the eleventh hour taking the number to 67.

Significantly there were a couple of disgruntled faces among the SP ranks after finding their names missing from the list of ministers.

It was chaos all round at the K D Singh Babu Stadium as thousands of SP supporters literally broke the heavy police cordon and gained entry into the grounds to witness the ceremony.

Interestingly, only the cabinet ministers were administered oath of office and secrecy one by one, the Ministers of State were sworn in tens.

Yadav had earlier announced that he would address the media after the ceremony but the programme was cancelled at the last moment without assigning any reason.

The portfolios of the six cabinet ministers, who were inducted on September six last in the first expansion, were yet to be announced.

The distribution of portfolios might prove to be another headache for Yadav as the allies particularly the RLD and the RKP were reportedly insisting on getting key ministries such as PWD, urban development, power and irrigation. (PTI)

PL supports reconciliation efforts

SRINAGAR, Oct 3: The Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari-led faction of Hurriyat Conference today got a shot in the arm when People’s League, an important constituent of the separatist amalgam, decided to support the reconciliation efforts carried out by former Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq.

"We are for unity and will strive till the last moment for reconciliation between the two groups of the Hurriyat Conference", Acting Chairman of People’s League Bashir Ahmad Tota told reporters here.

Tota’s statement assumes significance as both the factions of Hurriyat were claiming the support of People’s League following the split in the 25-party conglomerate last month.

He said People’s League, which is one of the seven members of the decision-making executive committee of the Hurriyat, had formed a committee to boost Mirwaiz’ reconciliation efforts between Ansari-led faction and the one led by firebrand separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

Asked which group the league would support in case the reconciliation did not materialise, Tota said "we will go by the report and recommendation of the working committee on the issue. But we are hopeful that unity (among the separatist organisations) will be achieved".

He flayed the State Government for rearresting party Chairman Shiekh Abdul Aziz after the High Court issued orders effecting his release.

Meanwhile, Ansari said he was ready to go to any extent for the unity and integrity of the separatist amalgam.

"I am ready to go to any extent for the unity and integrity of the Hurriyat but everyone has to demonstrate largesse and work out solutions to the issues within the constitution of the conglomerate", Ansari told PTI.

Asked if he would quit as Hurriyat Chairman in the interest of unity, Ansari said "why should I quit? I am not the one to flee and I did not break the rules".

He, however, said a decision to this effect can only be taken once all the members of the Hurriyat Conference, including the breakaway group, get together.

Ansari said he will convene a meeting of the executive in the next few days to deliberate upon two important issues on which decisions will also be taken the same day. However, he refused to elaborate on the nature of the issues.

Inviting breakaway groups back into the fold of the Hurriyat, he said lets sit together for our future and discuss all issue after forgetting the past. (PTI)

Extortion racket busted, ‘Editor’ among 4 arrested

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Oct 3: A major extortion racket involved in duping various companies and officers of Government departments has been busted by the police. Four of the racketeers including editor of a weekly news-paper have also been arrested while two others are absconding.

Police sources told EXCELSIOR that the racket was operating in Jammu city for the past over six months and it had extorted money from several petrol pump owners, officers in Regional Transport Authority and officers in several Government departments connected with construction work.

The arrested extortionists have been identified as editor of a weekly news-paper ‘Nai Roshni’—Ravi Khajuria, son of Ganga Ram of Bakshi Nagar, Vinod Tak, son of Bansi Lal of Kanzi House, Tilak Raj, son of Ram Chand of Panjthirthi and Jaggi of Bakshi Nagar. The absconding racketeers are Rakesh Neel of Gurdwara Sunder Singh Road and Sanjay of Vinayak Bazar.

Cases under Section 386, 387, 120-B RPC and 4/25 Arms Act have been registered against them and further investigations were on.

Giving details, police sources said that about 10 days back these extortionists approached Area Manager of a computer networking company ICTEL Sunil Kumar of Kerala in Jhelum Resort, where the officer was staying, and told him that they were from Anti-Corruption Bureau and had information that ICTEL was duping the people.

One of the extortionists suggested the officer to give Rs 10 lakh to ‘senior officer of Anti-Corruption Bureau’ Tilak Raj if the company wanted to run the business smoothly in the city. They fixed a date and time with the officer to collect first instalment of the deal.

As soon as the extortionists left the Jhelum Resort, the company officer approached Gandhi Nagar Police and narrated the whole incident to SHO S S Sambyal. On the scheduled day and time, SHO reached Jhelum Resort to arrest the racketeers but they didn’t turn up.

Later, the racketeers again rang up two more company officers—Rohit and Rajan of Delhi at their office behind Apsara Theatre at Gandhi Nagar and again fixed the date and time to collect the instalment. "Yesterday Vinod Tak, Ravi Khajuria and Tilak Raj approached the company officials and took Rs 30,000 from them", the sources said and added that as soon as they came out of the office they were apprehended by a police team led by DySP J S Johar and SHO S S Sambyal under the supervision of SSP Jammu Dr Kamal Saini and SP South Bhupinder Singh.

On their interrogation, police came to know about three other members of the extortion racket. A police team led by SHO immediately raided Bakshi Nagar area and succeeded in apprehending another extortionist Jaggi.

"All the exortionists were in possession of cards of Indian Anti-Corruption and Crime Prevention Organisation and by posing themselves as officers of Anti-Corruption Bureau, they had extorted money from several petrol pump owners, officers of Government departments connected with construction work and Regional Transport Authority", police sources said.

Whenever, the sources said, the opposite parties refused to give money editor of weekly news-paper used to threaten them to publish news in his paper about the raid of Anti-Corruption Bureau in their respective establishments.

Sources said that the arrest of extortionists was the outcome of a trap laid by South Police in connivance with the officers of ICTEL, who were assured that their money would be safe even if they hand over the same to extortionists.

Police teams have been sent to different places to arrest the absconding extortionists.

US re-designates HuM as terrorist outfit

WASHINGTON, Oct 3: Pakistan-based militant outfit Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Al-Qaeda, LTTE and Hamas are among the 25 groups redesignated by the United States as foreign terrorist organisations making it illegal for persons in the US to provide material support to them. Other Pakistan-based militant groups, including Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Lashkar-i-Jhangvi continue to remain on the list of foreign terrorist organisations, an official announcement here said.

"The Secretary of State (Colin Powell) redesignated 25 groups as foreign terrorist organisations under US law on October 2, 2003. The initial designations of these groups in 1997 and 1999 are due to expire on October 3, 2003", US State Department Spokesman, Richard Boucher said yesterday.

"By re-certifying them as foreign terrorist organisations and publishing that decision today in the federal register, we preserve the US Government’s ability to take action against them in accordance with the provisions of the immigration and nationality act, as amended," he said.

"This act makes it illegal for persons in the United States or subject to US jurisdiction to provide material support to these terrorist groups", Boucher said.

"It requires US financial institutions to block assets held by them; and it enables US to deny visas to representatives of these groups", he said, adding the initial terrorist designations, made in 1997 and 1999, were set to expire on October 3.

"The Secretary made this decision in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the treasury after a thorough review of these groups’ terrorist activities over the past two years", Boucher added. (PTI)

6 kg charas seized at Railway Station

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 3: About six kilogram of charas was recovered from two smugglers at Jammu Railway Station by General Railway Police.

A Railways Police spokesman said that the smugglers carrying a huge bag reached Jammu Railway Station yesterday morning and tried to enter the platform through VIP gate. On seeing the police personnel and scanner they stopped for sometime and then moved forward which created suspicion in the mind of the police personnel.

Both the smugglers were stopped for frisking and checking. Their bag was subjected to scanning and when scanner showed that some narcotics was concealed in the bag the smugglers fled from the spot.

Police team led by DySP GRP M H Malik and SHO Railway Police Station H S Gill under the supervision of SSP Crime and Railways H L Fotedar and Additional Superintendent of Railway Police U K Aima immediately swung into action and chased both the smugglers from near the Taxi Stand outside the Jammu Railway Station.

During checking of the bag, police recovered six kilograms of charas concealed in four polythene bags. Each bag carried one and half kilogram of narcotics.

The smugglers have been identified as Abdul Rashid Rather, son of Haji Ghulam and Shafiq-ur-Rehman, son of Abdul Rehman, both the residents of village Banigam under the jurisdiction of Qazigund Police Station in Anantnag district.

A case under Narcotic Drugs Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered against them and further investigations were on to find out the source of the charas.

The sustained interrogation of smugglers was going on to ascertain the final destination of the seized narcotics. At initial stage of interrogation, the smugglers disclosed that they tried to enter the platform through VIP gate keeping in mind that through that gate police personnel will not subject them intense checking and frisking.

SP, DySP among 18 injured in Baglihar clash

Excelsior Correspondent

RAMBAN, Oct 3: Atleast 18 persons including Superintendent of Police, Ramban Danish Rana and SDPO Ramban J S Katoch, were injured when police resorted to lathicharge to disperse two warring factions of the labour unions of Baglihar Power Project, Ramban who were pelting stones on each other.

Among injured five were the police officials while remaining were labour of the Baglihar Power Project.

Reports said that trouble started this evening when newly floated labour union namely Chenab Hydro Project Union made attempt to open its office in the premises of the Baglihar Power Project.

As office bearers of the new union reached the venue to open their office, activists of the already existing union opposed their move to open office. After some hot exchange, both the factions entered into scuffle.

With in minutes large number of workers affiliated with both the unions reached the spot and resorted to pelting stones on each other. As the situation took ugly turn, a police party reached the spot to pacify the warring factions. Police team led by SP Ramban Danish Rana and SDPO Ramban J S Katoch rushed to the spot.

Initially police tried to pacify the stone pelting groups but of no avail. As peaceful efforts to pacify both the groups failed, police resorted to lathicharge to bring the situation under control. The mob stopped fighting with each other and turned towards police. Police team came under heavy stone pelting resulting into injury of SP and SDPO and some other police persons

As the labourers were indulged in heavy stone pelting, police fired some shots in air to disperse the mob. Situation was brought under control only after firing in air.

18 persons including SP Ramban and SDPO Ramban were injured in stone pelting and lathicharge. Seven labourers have also received injuries.

Senior police officers are camping in the project to monitor the situation. Additional forces have been rushed to the spot.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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