Thousands witness Dussehra celebrations

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 5: Dussehra-which symbolised triumph of Truth over Evil, was celebrated all over the region with religious fervour and gaiety. The festival marked with taking out of religious processions and burning of effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbkaran and son Meghnath, who have been treated as symbol of evil forces from centuries.

This day was also celebrated as Vijaydashmi to mark victory of Goddess Durga over Mahishasur, who too was a symbol of evil.

Though effigies of Ravana, Kumbkarn and Meghnath were consigned to flames at various places, the main function was, however, held at Parade Ground where thousands of people were gathered to witness celebrations of this festival.

Dharam Ki Jai Ho-Adharam Ka Nash Ko, Jai Shree Ram repeatedly rented in the air when about 40 feet long effigy of Ravana was consigned to flames. People were seen chanting Shalokas and raising slogans in favour of Lord Rama during the celebrations. Religious fervour virtually gripped the gathering during burning Ravana’s effigy.

By shouting slogans in favour of Lord Rama, people were expressing their faith in the belief that it was truth which ultimately prevailed upon evil.

Police had made tight security arrangements for the celebrations. DIG Jammu range Farooq Ahmed, SSP Jammu Dr. Kamal Saini and SP city Parbhat Singh camped at Parade Ground till the celebrations were over.

Earlier a Shobha Yatra (religious procession) was taken out from historical Raghunath Mandir which passed through different bazaars and localities of the city before reaching at Parade Ground. Traditional Rath of Raghunath Mandir was leading the Shobha Yatra followed by some tableau depicting life and teachings of Lord Rama.

Enroute from Raghunath Mandir to Parade Ground, people were seen jostling with each other to have glimpses of traditional Rath which carrying idols of Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshamana. The entire city was specially decorated for his auspicious occasion.

Before torching effigies of Ravana and his brother and son, Pooja was performed at Parade Ground by the chief guest of the function, T R Gupta. First of all Ravana’s Lanka was consigned to flames followed by effigies of his brother Kumbkaran and son Meghnath. Effigy of Ravana, who has been considered leader of the evil forces, was consigned to flames later.

Earlier, while addressing the gathering, T R Gupta, who was chief guest in the function, asked the people to follow teaching of Lord Rama. He said that Dussehra symbolised victory of Truth over Evil as Ravana represented evil forces while Lord Rama was symbol of Truth. He said that Lord Rama was considered as ‘Maryada Purshotam’ so every body should imbibe his teachings to enlighten their lives. He further said that Lord Rama, an embodiment of righteousness conquered the evil forces representative by Ravana.

Dussehra celebrations at Parade Ground was organised by Sanatan Dharam Sabha with the collaboration of some social and religious organisations.

Authorities had made elaborate security arrangements for the peaceful celebration of this festival. Senior police officers were seen themselves monitoring all arrangements in the ground. Traffic cops were also seen diverting the vehicles towards alternative routes to avoid jams in the city.

Impressive Dussehra celebrations were held at Dussehra Ground Gandhi Nagar. Sanatan Dharam Sabha Gandhi Nagar organised the function. Large number of people from rural areas and outskirts of Jammu city attended Dussehra celebrations at Gandhi Nagar.

A procession was also taken out from Laxmi Narayan temple Gandhi Nagar which passed through different localities before reaching at Dussehra Ground.

Dussehra was also celebrated at Janipur area. A procession was taken out in the locality in this connection.

Vijaydashmi was also celebrated today with religious fervour and gaiety. Some processions were taken out in the city to mark victory of Goddess Durga over Mahishasur. At Gandhi Nagar, Digiana, Gangyal, Satwari and other some areas, functions were held in connections with the completion of ten days Durga Pooja celebrations.

Our Correspondent from Kathua adds: An impressive function was held at Ram Lila Ground Kathua to celebrate Dussehra. Thousands of people attended the function.

Shaffi Pandit to take over PSC chairman by Oct 15
No cabinet reshuffle, expansion in offing

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 5: There is no likelihood of any reshuffle or expansion in the coalition Cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed that is completing one year in the office next month.

Setting at rest all speculations fuelled in some sections of the media over the ‘expansion and reshuffle’ in Mufti Sayeed’s Council of Ministers, authoritative sources said that the present coalition Government is functioning cohesively and smoothly and there is no need for immediate reshuffle or expansion.

Conscious of the particular groups building upon the political scenario, the Chief Minister is treading cautiously and doesn’t want to disturb the political balance in the coalition Government, the sources said.

They said that media reports of immediate Cabinet reshuffle is being sponsored by some political leaders to keep their group active and strengthen their political base.

Meanwhile, Mufti Sayeed is leaving for New Delhi tomorrow on a three day visit. He is likely to meet President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and some Central Ministers to chase some of the pending issues of Jammu and Kashmir with the Centre. The Chief Minister is likely to return on October 10, the sources said.

They said that with the Darbar Move offices likely to close before Deewali at Srinagar, there will only be one Cabinet meeting, possibly on October 18 or October 20 at the Summer Capital.

In that Cabinet meeting, the sources said, some transfers of Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) will be discussed and ordered, since Vigilance Commissioner Mr RV Raju has pleaded for appointing atleast three SSPs with Vigilance Department so that the department could be upgraded and that move will help the organization in probing various cases assigned to it. As Mr Raju’s request will be conceded, and the posting of some SSPs to Vigilance Department will affect the posting of other officers in Police Department, the sources added.

Meanwhile, the sources said that former Director Industries, Mr Saleem Beg is likely to be made Director General of Tourism in place of Mr Mohd Ashraf Baktoo, who proceeded on superannuation on August 31.

It is considered that the combination of Secretary Tourism, Mr Najamus Saqib and that of Mr Saleem Beg would be ideal for the promotion of tourism in Jammu and Kashmir for which the Chief Minister has been working hard and considering it as a major step towards normalcy.

The sources said that Mr Mohd Shaffi Pandit, who was cleared for the post of Chairman Public Service Commission (PSC), the post which is lying vacant for the last two months, is likely to assume the new assignment by October 15. The orders for appointment of both Mr Beg and Mr Pandit will be issued on Thursday, the sources said.

They further said that Mr Pandit has been retained as Finance Commissioner Finance in view of mid-term review of the budget and some legislative reforms being initiated by Finance Minister, Muzzafar Hussain Baig.

Army hunts ‘militants' judge’ in Surankote's Pir Panjal

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Oct 5: Security forces have launched a special operation in Pir Panjal range in Surankote tehsil in Poonch district where an Advocate turned "militants’ judge" on whose "judgement" the militants had killed 13 civilians including three women recently was suspected to be hiding.

Fortythree year old Mehmood Qureshi, a prominent Advocate of Surankote till 1994 when he switched over to militancy and exfiltrated to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), has returned to Surankote few months back, official sources said, adding he was affiliated with Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit.

They said it was recently learnt that Qureshi was operating as "judge of the militants" and directing killings of the civilians, who were co-operating with security forces and police, describing them as"informers". Last week, security forces had recovered a chit written in Urdu from the house of Mohd Hafeez, who was shot dead in his house at Draba, Surankote. Titled as ‘fatwa’, the chit was signed by Mehmood Qureshi (Mehmood Hamza, code name) which said he (Qureshi) has signed "death warrant" of Hafeez for acting as an "informer" of security forces.

Subsequent investigations carried out by security forces especially from interrogation of some arrested militants and their harbourers after recovery of the chit revealed that it was Mehmood Qureshi, a prominent Advocate of Surankote, who had infiltrated back to this side after spending about nine years in militants' camps in PoK.

According to sources, Qureshi had set up a hideout somewhere in Pir Panjal range in Surankote from where he was signing "death warrants" of the civilians and surrendered militants which were being executed by the LeT cadre. More than a dozen civilians including three women have so far been killed by Lashkar cadre on the directions of their "judge".

Sources said Qureshi was a prominent Advocate and a practicing lawyer of Surankote till 1994 when he joined Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). He was instrumental in the recruitment of over 200 local youths in militancy from different areas of Poonch and Rajouri districts. In late 1994, he crossed over to PoK as security forces came to know of his militant links and launched a search for him.

For last nine years, he stayed in PoK guiding and training the local militants in different training camps. He reportedly infiltrated back to this side few months back and established his hideout in Surankote, the sources said.

Meanwhile, security forces have launched searches in Pir Panjal to nab the "militants’ judge" before he could sign "death warrants" of more civilians. Security forces have also obtained some clues from the arrested militants and their harbourers to identify Qureshi and capture him, they said.

Sources said the local people in Surankote, who once held Qureshi in high esteem for his legal skills, have turned against him as they believed that the civilians killed by Lashkar cadre at his behest were "innocent".

This was first incident of its kind wherein the militants have appointed a "judge" to order killings of the civilians. This, according to sources, has been done to "lend justification to the killings of civilians" most of which were being executed to settle "personal scores" or to terrorise the civilians to ensure that they don’t help security forces.

Nuke command in place: George

NEW DELHI, Oct 5: Declaring that both short and medium-range nuclear-capable Agni ballistic missiles were ready for deployment, Defence Minister George Fernandes today said the country’s nuclear command chain, including alternative "nerve centres," was in place, giving India an effective retaliatory capability.

"We have established more than one (nuclear control) nerve centre," he told PTI in an interview in which he disclosed that other nuclear command and control structures like nuclear command shelters and VVIP shelters have also been established.

To a question whether action has been taken to safeguard the country’s nerve centres like north block, south block and Parliament, Fernandes said "all necessary steps to provide these vital places protection" have been taken.

On the possibility of the use of Delhi metro underground tunneling as nuclear shelter, he merely said "some countries have modified underground railway network to turn into shelters".

Elaborating on the process of deployment of 700 Km-range Agni-I and 1500 to 2000 Km-range Agni-II missiles, Fernandes said "these have been handed over to the Army for deployment". He said the production of longer-range variant of the missile — Agni-III —was under production and its exact timing for its test firing were being finalised.

In the interview, the Defence Minister said that Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) set up would be in place within a "few months" and that pace of modernisation of armed forces had been accelerated. Expanding on the nuclear command authority, Fernandes said that any nuclear power has to take care of issues like having a credible second strike capability and setting up of nuclear command and nerve centres.

"India as a declared nuclear weapon state has been on this job from day one" (after 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests), the Defence Minister said, adding that this just did not entail nuclear nerve centres, but also dealt with educating people about nuclear dangers, making hospitals ready for nuclear emergencies and other connected issues.

Though Agni-I and Agni-II along with surface-to-surface Prithvi missiles have been handed to the Army, Fernandes said the newly-raised strategic forces command has its responsibilites and would fulfil them.

Asked if possession of nuclear weapons had emboldened Pakistan to indulge in adventurism, the minister said a number of countries possessed nuclear weapons and everyone looked at deterrent and not not as something they should use.

In this connection, he said most of the nuclear doctrines took no no first strike position. On the CDS system, which has been hanging fire for considerable time, Fernandes said the appointment of CDS was being discussed. "I am looking forward to putting it in place within a few months," he said. (PTI)

OM OM

A large number of devotees and disciples from all walks of life and far & near places thronged the Chaitanya Ashram at Tirath Nagar, Talab Tillo, Jammu on Sunday, Oct 5th the concluding day of the week long well organised and impressive Navratra Puja celebrations as usual. His Holiness Swami Visudha Chaitanya Brahmchari Jee Maharaj who had been observing 40-days Anusthan fast since August, 28th in this regard also broke off on this auspicious day. The special prayers with Puja, Bhajan, Kirtan and spiritual discourses continued with devotional spirit in a disciplined manner for all these Navratra Days. In addition to it, meditation sessions, satsang etc were held systematically and regularly in an extra ordinary and exemplary manner in the Aesthetically and colourful decorated Puja Hall to invoke Goddess Durga Mata to restore tranquillization in the hearts and minds of afflicted and aggrieved people in the entire universe besides bringing end to the present global turmoil. All the devotees participated in the Hawan cum Puja ceremony with great religious enthusiasm and devotion, performed in an atmosphere full of spiritual spirit and divine consciousness, specifically for everlasting peace, prosperity and happiness of human beings and end to the calamitous situation all over the world. Swami Jee Maharaj showered his blessings on the devotees by their turn after they had their Prashad in the Ashram premises. A grand Bhandara was organised and served nicely to all the participants. This sacred day was also marked by the holy immersion of Mata Durga with great fervour and gaiety.

Some of the basic and significant exhortations of Swami Jee Maharaj were highlighted and emphasized on this remarkable occasion and enunciated briefly as under:-

1) Gayatri Mantra Syntheses the three principles of materialisation, vibration and radiation. There is great merit in chanting it.

2) Do not be proud of your affluence, progeny and youth, the tide of time may destroy them in a moment.

3) Do not crave for worldly happiness, strive for eternal and everlasting happiness. Do not get caught in the endless cycle of birth and death.

4) For action of ours, there is bound to be reaction. For every sound that we make, there will be resound. When we take righteous actions and utter sacred words, the same will come back to us in the form of reaction, reflection and re-sound.

5) If we desire peace for the individual, for society and for the nation, it can be achieved only through spiritual means. Hence, we must make every effort to acquire spiritual growth without attaching excessive importance to worldly comforts.

6) God is the ocean of love and compassion. He is most enchanting and sweet. He captivates and attracts everyone. There is divinity in every object in this world. But man is unable to understand this divine principle. In spite of all his learning and listening to the discourses of saints and holymen, he is unable to comprehend the nature of God. There is only one way by which you can understand God. Love him whole heartedly. Do not hate anyone, if you come across a person who hates you, do not reciprocate the same feeling, greet him well. Then all the hatred in him will also vanish. He too will develop love towards you. God is your true friend and most intimately related to you. Love is the only path that can take you to God. When you develop love, God will himself come to you. He will always protect you.

7) When you chant the divine name with love even once, you will experience inexplicable and overwhelming bless in your heart. Divine name melts even a stone-hearted person. Even ice takes some time to melt but God's heart melts instantaneously when you chant his name with love, so, chant the name of God. Even while you are travelling you can chant his name silently without attracting other's attention. In the Kali Yuga, chanting of God's name is the royal path to liberation.

India takes serious note of Musharraf's propaganda

NEW DELHI, Oct 5: India has taken serious note of the recent statements of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on his country’s nuclear capability which it feels he may be using to build up a case for a pre-emptive strike against India.

Government sources, who have read "more than the usual" anti-India rhetoric in Musharraf’s recent statements including the one accusing New Delhi of playing "dangerous" games in Pakistan, Kashmir and Afghanistan, feel that it is the general’s latest "propaganda innovation" against India.

"They must know that we can retaliate in a big way and they should know that," Musharraf had told a Canadian newspaper Toronto star.

"They (Indians) should never presume that they can do things and they can go unchecked", he had said adding that the "risk of full-fledged conflict with India can never be ruled out on South Asia."

"However, what is dangerous is whether there will be a conflict between India and Pakistan which can then lead on to a nuclear exchange," he had said.

Musharraf’s latest threatening references to his country’s nuclear capability give an impression that the "general’s fingers are restive to press the button on the slightest pretext," the sources said.

They noted that Musharraf has threatened a number of times, and subsequently denied, to use the nuclear bomb "if war was imposed on Pakistan".

Musharraf had also sought to allay apprehensions of Pakistanis who feared that their country could be the next target of the us after Iraq, telling them that Pakistan was not Iraq and that they should not forget that "it is a nuclear power".

The sources said Musharraf’s aggressive postures could be related to his coming under intense pressure from hardliners and religious groups in Pakistan and US and its allies voicing their frustration over his failure to curb Al-Qaeda and Taliban.

Washington is well aware of Afghan concerns over regrouping of Al-Qaeda and Taliban with the tacit support of the Pakistani establishment.

The Pakistani intrusion in Kargil, even though unsuccessful, had helped Musharraf at that point of time in ensuring partial acceptance of his coup against the civilian Government of Nawaz Sharif, they pointed out.

Terming as "comic" Musharraf’s remarks about India playing dangerous games, the sources said "Pakistan, internationally known to be the cradle of global terrorism and its ISI known for its machiavellian domestic and external role, needs no outside enemies. There was absolutely no need for India or any other country to play any such game in Pakistan.

As part of the orchestrated anti-India tirade in the past two months, Islamabad resorted to some "flippant charges" including the one alleging that unusual military activities were taking place in Kargil, the sources said. This allegation was promptly denied by the Indian Defence Ministry.

Then Pakistan tossed the charge that India was running terrorism training camps in areas bordering Pakistan to destabilise it. While New Delhi point blank refuted it, there was no buyer of this charge even within the hawkish section of Pakistanis, the sources contended.

Pakistan Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali blamed India for the gunning down of 53 Shias of Hazara tribe in Baluchistan in July this year. Police later arrested five activists of Lashkar Jhangvi, a Sunni sectariant extremist outfit, for the killings.

Significantly, the Afghan Interior Minister Ali Ahmed Jalali outrightly rejected Pakistan’s allegation that Indian consulates in Kandahar and Jalalabad were responsible for these killings.

During a visit to Islamabad in July, Jalali complained that Taliban and Al-Qaeda elements were using Pakistani soil to launch attacks on Afghanistan.

The Afghan minister also reminded his Pakistani counterpart Saleh Hayat that sectarian incidents like the one in Baluchistan were happening in Pakistan much before India opened its consulates in Afghanistan. (PTI)

Qazi admits taking services of surrendered militants in polls

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Oct 5: Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Qazi Mohammad Afzal has admitted that the services of surrendered militants were procured by him during canvassing in last assembly polls.

While interacting with media persons, Mr Afzal said that former militants had joined the national mainstream and their participation and canvassing in elections was just like any other citizen. He admitted that it was with his great persuasion that militants who had given up the gun took part in the electioneering as they were assured for their treatment as citizens of civilized society.

Refuting the allegation of his links with the militants, the Minister said that the police including the central agencies know better as to who played a constructive role for the nation while bringing misguided youth in national mainstream.

While reacting to the question regarding his fate if Dr Farooq Abdullah would have contested against him in Ganderbal constituency, Mr Afzal said that if that would have been the situation then the former chief minister would have even lost his security deposit. It was only because of some gentleness of Omar Abdullah that he succeeded in getting 4000 votes. He said basically people wanted to do away with dynasty rule of the family and they saw a ray of hope besides rare opportunity in this election. He lauded the role of Prime Minister Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee and other concerned in ensuring historic free and fair polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

Regarding the healing touch policy of the Government, Mr Afzal reiterated that basic philosophy of this policy is redressing the genuine grievances of the people and healing the wounds of the sufferers. He said it is not only disbursement of cash relief and jobs.

He also clarified the misconception that only militants are being benefited under this policy and assured that healing touch policy of the coalition Government would soon start yielding positive results on permanent basis. He also urged the Prime Minister to continue with his peace mission with Pakistan and stressed that the issue has to be resolved through dialogue.

Responding to the query regarding the charges of corruption leveled against him by some vested interests, the minister made it clear that such allegation are politically motivated and raised by miscreants who have already been rejected by the public.

No place for terror camps in Pak: PM

NEW DELHI, Oct 5: Declaring that there was no place for terrorist training camps in Pakistan, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee tonight regretted that Islamabad did not accept their existence on its soil.

"Our policy is there. We have made it clear several times that there can be no place for such training camps," he told reporters before leaving on a seven-day visit to Indonesia and Thailand.

"The difficulty is that Pakistan does not accept that such camps are being run by it but the entire world knows the truth," Vajpayee said.

He said in New York US President George W Bush had told Pakistan that such camps are being run by it and that these should be dismantled.

Asked what was the aim of his visit for the ASEAN summit, Vajpayee said "with ASEAN countries our relations are growing. This summit is a step in that direction."

Asked about his agenda for his meeting with Chinese premier wen Jiabao and whether the border problem will figure in the talks, he said "talks are still to take place. We are neighbours in Asia."

Asserting the need for dealing with increasing spread of terrorism in South East Asian region, Vajpayee voiced concern over the fate of multilateralism in the modern world.

"We have to deal with the increasing spread of terrorism in South East Asian region," he said.

Vajpayee said "we are all concerned about the fate of multilateralism in the modern world."

Unsatisfactory progress on Doha development agenda affected South East Asia in the same way as it affected India, he said. Vajpayee said "our relations with countries of regional groupings and with ASEAN have acquired a new dynamism in recent years."

Terming Thailand as one of India’s "closest allies" in the ASEAN region, he said "we have maintained our traditional cultural affinity. We have also significantly strengthened our trade and economic cooperation in recent years."

The Prime Minister was seen off at the airport by Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, Law Minister Arun Jaitley, Planning Commission Deputy Chairperson K C Pant, Cabinet Secretary Kamal Pande and Home Secretary N Gopalaswami. (PTI)

Stage set for Abu Salem's extradition

NEW DELHI, Oct 5: With the legal process entering its last leg, CBI is all set to get extradited to India underworld Don and main accused in the 1993 bomb blast case, Abu Salem, even as the Portuguese Government has dropped one of the charges against him.

Highly-placed CBI sources said a decision on Salem’s extradition was expected within this month as the paper work during the trial has been completed.

According to Portuguese law, the trial has to be concluded within 45 working days of the Court. This time period would end within this month as the Court would be meeting after a long vacation.

The CBI has also hired a local legal consultant firm "Moraos Leitao and J Galvio tales" in Lisbon to assist the Prosecutor General’s office of Portugal in preparing the case as according to the law, no separate counsel could represent the agency in that country.

Meanwhile, the Portuguese Government has dropped one of the three charges against Salem - of marrying a local girl to get a resident permit.

However, the two other charges — obstructing Government officials in performing their duty and entering Portugal with forged documents — remain.

CBI is also hopeful of a favourable order on its petition for extradition moved in a higher Court against Salem’s girlfriend, Monica Bedi, after the trial Court had ordered that she could be tried in Portugal as the offence committed by her in India and that country was same. (PTI)

Militant killed, 2 kidnapped

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 5: A Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant was killed while the ultras kidnapped two civilians from two separate place since last night, official sources said today.

A top LeT militant, Bhat Sahib of Pakistan was gunned down by the troops of 6 Rashtriya Rifles at Dara Sangla in Surankote this evening, they said, adding one AK-56 rifle, three magazines, 60 rounds and one satellite telephone were recovered from him.

Meanwhile, Mohd Khursheed son of Mohd Sadiq, a resident of Gursai in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district was kidnapped by two militants from his house last night while Zahir Hussain was kidnapped from a field at Kastigarh in Doda, they said.

Whereabouts of both the civilians remained uncertain, they added.

Narcotics worth Rs 4 cr seized

RATLAM (MP), Oct 5: In a special drive, police have recovered narcotics valued at Rs 4 crore in international market in seperate seizures and arrested three persons in this connection.

Police said 1.5 kg of brown sugar worth Rs three crore was seized yesterday from a passenger who was waiting to board a bus at Rignod village on Situmahu road, leading to his arrest.

In another incident, a railway police personnel and his associate were arrested yesterday for trying to smuggle smack worth Rs one crore.

Police said the two were on their way to Mandsaur on a two-wheeler when one kg smack was seized from them.

The district police have seized brown sugar worth Rs 60 crore during the past 15 months, they said. (PTI)

Jaya awaits PM's response on Kannappan ouster

CHENNAI, Oct 5: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today said she was awaiting a response from Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to her demand for the removal of Union Minister and MDMK leader K Kannappan, against whom the State Government has decided to slap POTA.

‘We are awaiting reply from him’, she told reporters here after a cabinet meeting.

Asked whether the State Government, which on September 22 last decided to slap POTA against Kannappan for his alleged open support to the outlawed LTTE, would invoke the provisons of the anti-terrorism law against him, she said, "no decision was taken on the matter at the meeting".

Jayalalithaa said through her letter to the Prime Minister, she had apprised him about everything on the issue.

Asked for comments on the reports that Vajpayee had referred the matter to the Union Law Ministry, she said "I do not know any thing about it. I have released to the press the letter written to the Prime Minister."

In a five-page letter to Vajpayee late last month, Jayalalithaa termed Kannappan’s conduct as "anti-national" and said his open support to LTTE had rendered him ineligible to continue in office as a union minister and demanded his ouster from the Council of Ministers.

Declaring her intention not to wait indefinitely for Vajpayee to take action against the minister, she had then warned that in the event of the Prime Minister not taking action due to "compelling political reasons" the State Government would be constrained to take action. (PTI)

LeT group trapped in Kulgam

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 5: Troops of Rashtriya Rifles 9th Bn locked their horns with a thick group of Lashkar-e-Toiba militants in Guddar village of Kulgam in south Kashmir tonight.

Informed sources told EXCELSIOR that troops of RR 9th Bn launched a major cordon-and-search operation at Guddar village in Kulgam foothills of Pir Panjal late this evening. According to a specific information, a group of Lashkar-e-Toiba militants, mostly Pakistani nationals, was trapped. The holed up militants opened gunfire and made unsuccessful attempts to escape. Exchange of fire was in progress when reports last came in at around the midnight.

In last week, Guddar was in news on account of reports that militants had imposed their own "POTA" on eight residential houses in the village, locked the doors and evicted the inmates. Their allegation was that the residents of the village had been providing information regarding the militants’ presence to the security forces.
 
 
 
 

 

 

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