China removes Sikkim from website

BALI (INDONESIA), Oct 8: In a major move to foster friendly ties with India, China has removed Sikkim as a separate country from its Foreign Ministry website, honouring an understanding reached on the issue during Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s historic visit to Beijing in June.

This significant step was taken by Beijing just ahead of the meeting Vajpayee today had with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of the 9th ASEAN summit here.

"Prior to this meeting in Bali, China changed the Foreign Ministry website showing Sikkim as a separate country. Sikkim was earlier shown as a separate country after Singapore," Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal told reporters after a "highly successful" and "extremely cordial" meeting between Vajpayee and Wen. This was their second meeting in three months.

The Chinese leader told Vajpayee that Beijing would "honour whatever understanding was reached in Beijing" during the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to that country.

In an implicit recongition of Sikkim being part of India, China, during Vajpayee’s visit, agreed to trade through Nathu La pass in the north eastern state. Sibal also announced that special political representatives of the two countries — National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra and senior Chinese Vice Minister in the Foreign Ministry Dai Bingguo — would meet in New Delhi on October 23 to hold talks on the vexed boundary question.

In Beijing, a senior Chinese Foreign Ministry official confirmed that Sikkim has been deleted from the official website.

"We removed it during the week-long national day holidays," the official told PTI when asked if Sikkim has been deleted from the official Foreign Ministry website. Earlier, the Chinese Foreign Ministry website had mentioned Sikkim as a separate country in Asia and had allocated a separate web page. "The Chinese Government does not recongise India’s illegal annexation of Sikkim," a one-line statement used to say.

Sibal, when asked if any deadline has been fixed for resolving the border question with China, said "one should never fix any artificial deadlines" on the boundary issue as it has been in existence since the two countries became independent.

The issue had come to fore especially after the 1962 Sino-India conflict, the Foreign Secretary said adding the border question was now being looked at from a "political perspective."

In reply to a question, he said he was not aware whether China has removed Sikkim as a separate country from its official map. To a question if any reference to Chinese intrusion in Arunachal Pradesh at the time when the Prime Minister was visiting China was made during the Vajpayee-Wen meeting, he said that would have been "surprising" considering the "tone and content of the excellent" discussions.

"Getting into complaints and nitty gritties would have been out of place," he said.

Wen, who drove to the Bali Intercontinental hotel where Vajpayee is staying, termed their talks as the "most important one".

On clarifications regarding the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on Western sector, Sibal said "they will continue. It is an ongoing process".

Observing that efforts would be made to overcome any hitch on the issue of clarification of LAC, the Foreign Secretary said "exchange of maps with regard to the western sector has taken place".

The parleys between the Indian and Chinese special representatives would give a "new encouragement", he said, adding that the eastern sector would be taken up later.

Repeatedly terming Vajpayee’s June visit to China as "very successful," the Chinese Prime Minister said the boundary question needed to be resolved keeping in view long term and strategic perspectives.

Wen voiced confidence that remaining issues between the two countries could be resolved with "clear political determination" on both sides.

During the meeting, the Chinese leader underlined that the world was watching the largest and most populous countries making efforts to take their relationship forward and "this is giving an important message".

He pointed out that China, India and the ten members of the ASEAN comprised three billion people which was half the world’s total population and together they could make a "very significant contribution to stability and development globally, Sibal said.

Asserting that Vajpayee’s visit to Beijing was a "great success" in the context of Sino-Indian relation, Wen agreed to visit India as early as possible.

Referring to his earlier visit to India as a member of China’s polit bureau, he recalled his tours of Agra and Goa and hoped that he would go Bangalore and the eastern part of the country next time.

Vajpayee agreed that a "very good" beginning had been made and a "political solution" should be found to the border question.(PTI)

6 militants among 8 killed
Rs 17 lakh seized

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 8: Even as a soldier and a civilian got killed in a militant attack in Tral area this evening, security forces have killed at least six militants in three separate gunbattles in Kashmir valley since last evening. Police have detained four persons of Anantnag district in Srinagar, seized two of their cars and recovered cash worth Rs 17.10 Lakh from their possession.

Informed sources in south Kashmir told EXCELSIOR that a chance encounter took place between a patrol of Rashtriya Rifles 42 Bn and militants at Dudkalan forest area, near Lurgam, in Tral this evening. A soldier, identified as rifleman Praveen Kumar Singh, got killed. A local Gujjar, namely Mohammad Ishaq Gujial S/o Mohammad Abdullah R/o Dudkalan, who was grazing his cattle, was caught in the crossfiring. He sustained critical injuries and died after a while. While as officials maintained that he died in the crossfiring, residents of Lurgam have complained that he was fired upon in over-reaction and killed by troops.

In south Kashmir again, troops of RR 36 Bn and Anantnag Police (SOG) conducted a cordon-and-search operation at Gujjar Mohalla, Sonbrari, in Kokernag area of Anantnag district today. During the operation, a fierce gunbattle took place between a group of holed up militants and security forces. Three militants were killed. They were identified as Jehadi Bhai of Lashkar-e-Toiba, Sharief Khan alias Parbat S/o Ali Baqar Khan R/o Churhat, Punzgam (Qazigund) and Riyaz Ahmed Wagay S/o Abdus Sattar Wagay R/o Kapran, Verinag. Officials described Parbat as a member of Harkatul Jehad-e-Islami (HUJI).

In north Kashmir, Army conducted a cordon-and-search operation at Surigam in Sogam area of Kupwara district during last night. During the operation, an encounter took place between the holed up militants and security forces. Two militants got killed. They were identified as Abu Hamza and Abu Saifullah. Officials claimed that both of them were Pakistan nationals and members of Lashkar-e-Toiba.

Yet another armed clash occurred between militants and troops of RR 29 Bn at Khargam in Kreeri area of Baramulla district today. One unidentified militant was killed.

A checking party of Police Station Parimpora detained four suspects, who were travelling in a Santro and a Maruti car, near Qamarwari outskirts of Srinagar this evening. Cash worth Rs 17.10 Lakh was recovered from them. They were identified as Bilal Ahmed Sofi S/o Mohammad Sidiq Sofi R/o Nai Basti, Anantnag, Shabir Ahmed Kontu S/o Ghulam Nabi R/o Bijbehara, Gulzar Ahmed S/o Ghulam Nabi R/o Qazigund and Fayaz Ahmed R/o Wattalhama. They have been subjected to interrogation and their vehicles have also been seized.

Police have suspicion that the huge consignment of hard cash was being carried for militants in north Kashmir. However, the detainees have initially claimed that they were dealing in business of manufacturing of cricket bats and the money was from a genuine source.

Meanwhile, static guard of DIG Crime & Railways, Mohammad Amin Bhat, opened fire in air when a team of Srinagar Municipality and SDA went to the senior Police officer’s Hyderpora house for demolishing an unauthorised structure today. Reports said that nobody was injured.

HM comdr dodges BSF, escapes after surrender

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Oct 8: A ‘commander’ of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit has dodged the Border Security Force (BSF) in Budhal, Rajouri and deserted it in less than a month of his surrender taking alongwith him arms and ammunition. The top militant has reportedly re-joined his outfit. Also, this was for the second time that the militant has deserted security forces after his surrender.

Mubarak Shah alias Battu, a ‘chief commander’ of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit for Budhal, had surrendered before DIG BSF (Counter Intelligence Operations) S S Malhan and other senior officers of BSF and police on September 9 at Kandi, Koteranka in Budhal. He had handed over a huge quantity of arms and ammunition at the time of surrender which included three AK rifles, one Chinese pistol, one pen pistol and three wireless sets.

Twentysix year old Mubarak Shah son of Qadir Shah, a resident of Daraj, Budhal, who was a terror to the people of Budhal and surrounding areas in Rajouri, was associated by the BSF for carrying out counter-insurgency operations in militancy-infested areas of Budhal after his surrender, reliable sources said.

Accordingly, they said, Battu was accompanying a BSF team to Upper Daraj in search of a militant group of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit yesterday. As the BSF decided to call off the operation after sun set, they couldn’t locate Battu. Security forces carried out searches in the adjoining areas but failed to trace the surrendered militant.

Sources said Battu deserted the force alongwith two rifles, ammunition and some grenades. Official sources, however, confirmed that the militant decamped with only one AK rifle and one magazine.

Some people told BSF officials this morning that they spotted Mubarak Shah at village Darman where he briefly visited the house of his in-laws hurriedly and then left the village. Security forces and police carried out a raid in the house of Shah’s in-laws but couldn’t get him there.

An intercept revealed that Mubarak Shah has re-joined Hizbul Mujahideen outfit which he had deserted a month back to surrender before the security forces. According to sources, the security personnel were making all out efforts to again capture or eliminate Battu as he might have known some "operational strategies" and codes of the security forces with whom he worked for about a month.

Possibility of the Hizbul commander having stage managed a "surrender drama" to get access to security forces for a brief period was also not ruled out. However, the sources clarified that this was not the first time when a surrendered militant has re-joined the militants. "There were several such instances in the past as well", they pointed out.

Mubarak Shah had first surrendered before security forces and police in 1997 after working with Hizbul Mujahideen outfit for a couple of years. He was a Pakistan trained militant. Following surrender, he was recruited as a Special Police Officer (SPO) for working with police in anti-militancy operations.

But, the sources recalled, Shah started indulging in thefts and extortions using police uniform and weapon. He was arrested by a police party and was jailed for few months. After being bailed out, he again joined Hizbul Mujahideen outfit.

After Battu killed three foreign mercenaries of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit on the directions of a local Hizbul Mujahideen ‘commander’, he was appointed ‘chief commander’ of the outfit for Budhal. He had snatched three rifles from the mercenaries which he handed over to security forces at the time of his surrender last month.

Meanwhile, people in remote areas of Budhal have become panicky following the escape of Battu as they feared that he could strike anytime in their area as he used to do earlier.

BSF has also lodged a First Information Report (FIR) in connection with Battu’s escape at Koteranka police station, the sources said.

Vigilance books Shah in strip allotment

From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Oct 8: The State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) today booked the senior National Conference leader and the former Minister for Housing & Urban Development (H&UD), Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Shah, and three senior officials with the charges of corrupt practice and misuse of official position. Mr Shah, who is now leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, had allegedly resorted to unfair and illegal means in the matter of allotting a strip of land to himself, which was adjacent to his plot in Jammu Development Authority’s Roop Nagar Housing Colony.

The officials booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act are the retired IAS officer and then Commissioner-Secretary to Government H&UD, Ghulam Nabi Ahangar, then JDA Vice Chairman, Mohammad Aslam Qureshi, and then JDA Secretary, Trishant Kumar Sharma.

An official spokesman disclosed that Vigilance Organisation Jammu (VOJ) has registered case FIR No: 28 of 2003 under Section 5(2) Prevention of Corrupt Act 2006, read with Section 120-B Ranbir Penal Code, against the former H&UD Minister Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Shah, then Commissioner-Secretary H&UD, then Chairman JDA and then Secretary JDA. He said that SSP Vigilance, Alok Puri, has been appointed as the Investigating Officer.

The spokesman explained that JDA’s Board of Directors (BOD) had decided in April 1982 that strips adjacent to the plots of the JDA allottees, not exceeding 600 sft in area, could be allotted to them on prevalent market rates. Former District and Sessions Judge and the retired member of the State Human Rights Commission, M L Kaul, applied in March 1995 that a strip of land adjoining his plot No: 61 in Sector 1 of Roop Nagar be allotted to him on concessional rates. The BOD agreed to allot the same but fixed the premium of Rs 1.50 Lac, which was communicated to the applicant through a letter of intent.

Mr Kaul, however, refused to pay then market rate and went to the J&K High Court with a petition, seeking allotment of the strip as per the original rate of his plot. The Court disposed off the case on January 25, 2001, with the direction to the JDA and the state Government to treat the writ petition as a "representation" and take such decision "as permissible under law". Thereafter, Mr Kaul approached the then H&UD Minister Mr Shah, seeking allotment of the strip, measuring 2025 sft, at the rate of Rs 5,500 per marla on the analogy of the rates charged from Legislators in 1999.

Then VC JDA, Shant Manu, conveyed to the Commissioner-Secretary H&UD, vide his letter dated April 4th, 2001, that Mr Kaul’s plea was not justified. His argument was that the BOD had already allotted nearly 100 strips to the adjoining plot holders at then prevalent market rates. Besides, the subsidised rates applicable to the Legislators of 1987-1990 could not be applicable in Mr Kaul’s case.

Nevertheless, the spokesman said, Mr Shah allotted the strip to Mr Kaul at a premium of Rs 2,000 per marla, though the applicant himself had offered to pay Rs 5,500 per marla and the BOD had fixed the rate of Rs 1.50 Lac. Thereafter, a similar strip was similarly allotted to then Minister of Law, Mushtaq Ahmed Lone, at Roop Nagar on concessional rates. The spokesman contended that these cases were sanctioned to actually pave the way for allotment of a strip of 2250 sft in favour of the Housing Minister himself. Mr Shah, who was the Minister incharge and ex-officio Chairman of JDA, overruled the BOD decisions and a former VC’s objections and allotted to himself the strip of 2250 sft at a premium of Rs 59,558/- as against Rs 2,03,750/- worked out by the JDA. He caused considerable loss to JDA and corresponding pecuniary gain to himself.

The spokesman said that the three senior officials colluded with one another and granted undue benefits to Mr Kaul and the two Ministers of the National Conference government. While as Mr Ahangar has since retired from government service, Mr Qureshi has been placed under suspension and booked in another case by VOJ earlier this year. This is first time in the last about 40 years that an anti-corruption matter has been registered against a Minister in Jammu & Kashmir.

Asked for his comments, Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Shah, told EXCELSIOR that he was still gathering details about the case as he learned about it through electronic media this evening. He dismissed it as a "crude case of political vendetta" by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s government. "My image is as white as the snow. This is clearly an act of tarnishing my image and that of the National Conference government at the behest of political executive. I thank the Chief Minister for it and declare that in case the charge is proved, I will resign as MLA and Leader of the Opposition", he said.

Mr Shah said that he and his party would accept the challenge and fight it out in the court of law. He asserted that he had never overruled the BOD decisions and the allotments in favour of Mr Kaul, Mr Lone and himself were fully in accordance with the BOD decisions and also on very high rates.

Assets worth Rs 15 cr recovered from Mayawati, relatives

NEW DELHI, Oct 8 : CBI tonight claimed that it has so far recovered assets worth Rs 15 crore in the name of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati or her close relatives.

The CBI has filed an fir in a designated court at Lucknow under Section 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 on Sunday and carried out searches at her premises this morning.

During the searches, the CBI claimed to have recovered documents relating to the purchase of property in the National Capital and other parts of Uttar Pradesh during April one, 1995 to August 29, 2003.

She had resigned on August 27, 2003.

In the FIR, CBI claimed that Mayawati had disclosed her income as only Rs 1.12 crore during the period whereas the agency had found that her bank balance in two accounts at Parliament Street and Moti Bagh alone amounted to Rs 2.51 crore.

The FIR also claimed that she had purchased a land at Lucknow during an auction in March 2003 in the name of her Party BSP for Rs 45.75 lakh which she later transferred to her name on August 8, 2003.

By then, the Taj heritage controversy had picked up momentum with Supreme Court directing the CBI to go after "high and mighty" responsible for spoiling of environment around the 17th century monument.

Another dealing was about 5.15 hectare of land purchased at Gyaspur in Bulandshahr for Rs 33 lakh in the name of her brother Annad Kumar. The same was allegedly got transferred by her from Kumar to her another brother and then her father before finally shifting the ownership back to Annad Kumar back on September 12, 2003.

The CBI FIR also claimed that the former Chief Minister had fixed deposits and cash certificates worth Rs 1.80 crore.

The scrutiny of the bank accounts of her close relations including father, mother, brothers and sister-in-law revealed a balance of Rs 2.39 crore besides a fixed deposit worth Rs 74 lakh in the name of her brother Raj Kumar and his wife, the FIR said and alleged that the family members "do not have any ostensible means to have such huge deposits."

Meanwhile, rejecting allegations against it in the Mayawati and Ajit Jogi cases, CBI today said that the raids against former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati were conducted "absolutely legally" and termed as "baseless and unfounded" her charge that the action was "politically motivated".

"All allegations levelled against us are totally baseless and unfounded. I take this opportunity to dispel any misgivings that any extraneous force was behind the two cases," CBI Director P C Sharma told reporters while referring to the raids against Mayawati and the chargesheet filed by CBI against Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi.

"We had a job to do and that has been done professionally and absolutely legally," he said.

On the raids against Mayawati, he said "I would like to make it clear that the search warrants were taken from the court under various provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code" and added that CBI had conducted raids at 21 places in Delhi, Lucknow and other parts of Uttar Pradesh.

To a question on Mayawati’s claim that Rs 5.5 lakhs meant for BSP leader Kanshi Ram’s medical treatment was seized by CBI, Sharma said "we have nothing to do with it. They can approach the court and take back the money".

Referring to the chargesheet against Jogi filed by the agency yesterday, the CBI chief said "we investigated as per the directions of the Cabinet Secretariat".

Extensive investigations were also carried out in which officers of the Intelligence Bureau were also questioned, he said.

Asked to comment on Congress charge that the chargesheet had been filed against a complainant (Jogi), he said "I will not reply to any political questions, but the chargesheet was filed within the legal provisions". (Agencies)

IAF gallantry awards for defenders of JK airbase

NEW DELHI, Oct 8: Six Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel, including an officer and four other ranks who successfully foiled an attempt by Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants to infiltrate the Awantipora air base and cause havoc, were today awarded medals for gallantry.

Vayu Sena Medals for gallantry were presented to Squadron Leader Ashutosh Chaturvedi, Corporal Bhushan Kumar Prashar, Naik Reji Polackel Thankappan, Naik Jhagru Ram and Sepoy Ganga Singh for demonstrating exceptional courage in their role in defending the airbase.

A group of heavily-armed LeT militants attacked the main gate of the Awantipora air base (near Srinagar) on October 22 2001, intending to gain access and do maximum damage by destroying aircraft and missile complexes and target personnel and their families.

However, the first three, who were then the station security officer, desk NCO at the main guard room, guard commander at the main guard room respectively, and the other two were on guard duty, reacted admirably to the situation.

Sparing no thought to their own safety, they manned strategic positions, quite close to and in the firing range of the militants, continued relentlessly directing fire at them terrorists, until all the attackers had been eliminated.

The medals were presented to them by Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy on behalf of the President, today on the occasion of the 71st anniversary of the IAF.

The sixth awardee, Wing Commander Rajesh Kumar, was awarded for his performance during operation ‘Parakram.’

Commanding Officer of a Mirage squadron, Wing Cdr Kumar was tasked with destroying enemy positions on the Line of Control (LoC), when intelligence was received about infiltration of enemy troops across the LoC to well-defended high altitude positions overlooking Indian forces. Close to Indian positions and defended by Surface to Air Missiles (SAMs), a very precise attack was needed to destroy them, but the vagaries of weather and absence of adequate intelligence made the task very hard.

Despite all these constraints, the Wing Commander successfully led and executed the attack. Braving enemy fire, he attacked and destroyed the enemy target, the remainder of which was completed by his formation.

His task earned him the Vayu Sena Medal for gallantry.(UNI)

Mufti meets Kalam, Sonia

Excelsior Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Oct 8: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed today called on President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and Congress President Mrs Sonia Gandhi and discussed with them the present law and order situation of the state.

During an half an hour meeting with President, the Chief Minister discussed various aspects of J&K scenario with special focus on helping the orphans in the state.

The President showed keen interest in strengthening orphanages to give better attention to the orphans.

Showing keen interest in Jammu an Kashmir, Dr Kalam indicated his desire to visit Kargil.

During his 45- minute meeting with Mrs Sonia Gandhi, both the leaders discussed the overall situation in Jammu and Kashmir with special emphasis on measures taken by the coalition government to consolidate gains achieved during the last 10 months. They took note of the steady flow of tourists and Pilgrims into the state, which also contributed to the stability of the situation.

The need for comprehensive dialogue with all sections including the secessionist groups also figured in the discussions to address the internal dimension of the problem. Holding dialogue with the people and addressing alienation is a part of Common Minimum Programme of the multi- party coalition government that came to power on a clear mandate of restoration on peace with dignity.

The functioning of coalition government, of which the Congress is a major partner, also came in for review. They expressed satisfaction over its functioning with continued emphasis on addressing people’s problems expeditiously.

Efforts to generate employment, both within and outside the government sector, were also discussed.

Pak targets hospital, AIR as shells land in Poonch

Excelsior Special Correspondent

POONCH, Oct 8: Pakistan army today targeted district hospital building an All India Radio (AIR) station in the town by firing mortar shells early this morning. One of the mortar shell fell inside the hospital and damaged a ‘sarai’ (rest house). Over 80 patients admitted in the hospital had a narrow escape.

A heavy exchange of shelling took place between the two sides in which one army jawan was killed and two others including a jawan and a civilian were injured while Pakistan army’s Bodhian post was destroyed in which Pak troops suffered atleast six casualties, official sources said. Several cattle were also reported to have perished in shelling.

Reports said Pak army started mortar shelling in Poonch town at 5.30 AM today. Several shells fell around Poonch town including Betar nullah. However, at about 8.05 AM, a mortar shell hit a tree inside the district hospital and fell on rest house, causing damage to its roof and boundary walls.

"Had the shell directly landed in the hospital, it would have caused a number of casualties among the patients and the people staying in rest house", the sources said, adding a major catastrophe was averted as the shell struck against a tree, which minimized the damage.

Some patients and their attendants deserted the hospital in panic but returned as shelling stopped.

Another shell landed close to AIR building, located near the district hospital, but exploded harmlessly. Sources said Pak army had deliberately targeted the hospital and AIR building. Two houses, located in the vicinity of hospital and AIR building, were damaged in shelling.

Several mortar shells also landed at Digwar, Sokar, Bigial Dara, Khari, Karmara, Banpat and Tokri. An army jawan was killed and another seriously injured in shelling at Banpat as a bunker, they were manning, was directly hit by a mortar shell.

Troops from this side immediately retaliated. Sources said Pakistan army’s Bodhian post, which was targeting Indian positions with mortar shells, was blasted by the troops in retaliatory shelling. Atleast 6 Pakistan army personnel were either killed or seriously injured inside Bodhian post, the sources said.

Shelling from Pakistan side stopped following effective retaliation by the army.

A civilian Mohd Ilyas son of Mohd Iqbal was seriously injured in shelling at forward village of Sagra in Mendhar sector late last night. He was shifted to district hospital Rajouri from where he was referred to Jammu and admitted in Government Medical College.

Pak army also resorted to shelling in Nowshera sector in Rajouri district. Two cattle belonging to Ved Parkash were killed and two others were injured in shelling in Bhawani village of Nowshera. Shelling and firing also took place in forward village of Lam, the sources said.

Window panes and doors of several houses in Poonch town were rattled under the impact of heavy shelling this morning. Panic-stricken people locked themselves inside the houses and some of them took shelter in the bunkers. People didn’t send their wards to the schools while some shopkeepers, who had opened their shops early in the morning, downed their shutters and fled to their houses.

SSP Poonch Mukesh Singh, Deputy Commissioner Ejaz Iqbal and DySP Headquarters Nissar Ahmed rushed to the district hospital to assess the situation. They assured the patients to stay in the hospital. Normalcy was restored in the town in the afternoon.

Sources said no reasons could be ascertained immediately behind sudden unprovoked mortar shelling by Pakistan army in Poonch town.

Omar: Mufti’s demand ‘a stunt’

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 8: President of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Omar Abdullah today said that Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s demand for a special emissary to initiate a dialogue on Kashmir is another of his political stunt’s at the behest of the Union Government.

Mr Abdullah said that Mufti was the one who at the time of N N Vohra’s much hyped appointment said that Vohra has the mandate to talk to all sections of the society irrespective of their ideologies and leanings and today his demand for another emissary only exposes his hypocrisy and double speak aimed at only further compounding the confusion that is prevailing in Kashmir.

Omar said that Union Government absolutely lacks the will to have a meaningful dialogue to resolve the Kashmir imbroglio. He said unless the intentions are bonafide, all emissaries shall fail and not be able to make any headway as has happened in the past. The NC president said that Mufti’s issuance of the statement after meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister is a clear indication that the Mufti is acting as a puppet in the hands of powers to be in Delhi, who are just not serious about initiating a dialogue with all shades of opinion in Kashmir which alone can pave the way for a dignified, respectable and honourable solution to the Kashmir issue.

Omar said that all political parties must rise above their own petty political interests and join hands to find a lasting peaceful solution to the vexed Kashmir issue. He said the suffering of the people of Jammu and Kashmir is above all a human time and it a high time that the Union Government should realise it. He said that Delhi must come out with a clear transparent roadmap on Kashmir.

Referring to the financial grant for Hazratbal shrine from Jagmohan whom he described as no well wisher of the people of Kashmir, Omar said Mufti’s move only confirms the NC’s worst fears that the takeover of the Muslim Auqaf Trust was a part of a grand design of the forces in New Delhi carried out by Mufti, to interfere in the religious matters of the people of Kashmir. This, he warned, is a very dangerous trend and needs to be arrested because history is witness to the fact that the people of Kashmir have always strived to retain their identity based on Kashmiriyat and any efforts to interfere with Kashmiriyat will be resisted at all costs, a release issued here today stated.

Espionage ring busted, 2 held

NEW DELHI, Oct 8: With the arrest of an ex-armyman and his associate, Delhi Police today claimed to have unearthed an espionage ring active in the capital for about five years.

Krishan Kumar, who served as Army Hawaldar till recently, was arrested near Nehru Park in Chanakyapuri, barely 300 metres away from Pakistan High Commission last evening and "some sensitive defence documents" were recovered from him, police sources said.

He was allegedly waiting there for a Pakistani intelligence operative to hand over these documents, they said.

The 37-year-old Krishan Kumar’s interrogation led to the arrest of his associate Suresh Kumar who lives in Sadh Nagar near Army Cantonment and used to rent out his house to defence personnel, police sources said.

Police had received an intelligence input that a person would reach the Nehru Park to deliver some secret defence documents to a Pakistani intelligence operative, they said, adding accordingly a trap was laid there.

In the evening, a middle-aged man was spotted waiting for somebody and he was nabbed as he started moving away after some time, they said.

During interrogation, Krishan Kumar disclosed that he had joined the signals unit of the Army in 1986 and had taken premature retirement about two months back, they said.

Krishan Kumar, hailing from Gurgaon in Haryana, has served on sensitive assignments at various locations in eastern and western commands, police sources said.

He was posted to Delhi in 1993 and two years later he met two persons who introduced themselves under false names but were actually Pakistan intelligence officers, they said.

They developed friendly relations with him and motivated him to work for them in lieu of money, the sources said.

He agreed and has been providing sensitive information and documents to them for which he used to receive between Rs 35,000 and Rs 40,000 per year, they said.

Although the Pakistani intelligence officers changed, he continued to provide information and documents to their successors here, the sources said.

Even after his transfer out of Delhi in 1996, he remained in touch with Pakistani officers and used to meet them in Delhi, the sources said.

He told his interrogators that after being transfered out of Delhi, he motivated Suresh Kumar, his former landlord, to work for the Pakistani intelligence officers, they said.

Suresh also introduced another armyman Lance Naik Mohan Kumar from the signals corps, then his tenant, to the Pakistani operatives, the sources said.

Motivated by Suresh, Lance Naik Mohan also then started providing sensitive information and documents to the Pakistani operatives, the sources said, adding Army authorities have been informed and action is being taken against him.

A search at the residence of Suresh also led to recovery of classified documents. (PTI)

Traffic Inspector among 5 suspended

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 8: SSP Traffic S D Singh has suspended five Traffic Police officials including an Inspector, two Sub Inspectors and two constables for allowing team of a local TV channel to conduct checking of the vehicles in Samba town on Jammu-Pathankote national highway.

This act of the Traffic officials was against the Government rules, official sources said.

Suspended officials included Inspector Daljeet Singh.

Sources said subsequent investigations revealed that two Sub Inspectors didn’t have their role in facilitating the channel’s crew team to hold checking. Later, they were exonerated of the charges but Inspector and two cops remained suspended.

Four Presidential guards ‘rape’ girl, arrested

NEW DELHI, Oct 8: Four armymen, posted as Presidential Guards, have been arrested for allegedly gang-raping a college student in a park in broad daylight here, shocking the denizens of the national capital.

Manish, Satinder, Kuldeep and Harpreet of the cavalry unit of the Presidential Guards allegedly committed the crime in Buddha Jayanti Park near Dhaula Kuan at around noon on Monday, police sources said today.

While Harpreet was arrested the same day, the three other ‘Sawars’ (horsemen) were nabbed yesterday, the sources said. All the four were

today produced before a court which remanded them to judicial custody till October 22.

The victim, a student of Jesus and Mary College, in her complaint said she had gone to the park along with her friend at around 1030 hours, the sources said.

Shortly later, the four accused in Army uniform bearing a tag of Presidential Guards reached there and teased the girl.

Irritated by this, the girl and her friend started leaving the park but the fours prevented them.

The accused then allegedly assaulted the girl’s friend and raped her, the sources said.

Medical examination conducted on the victim has confirmed the sexual assault, they said. "Army authorities have taken a very serious note of the alleged involvement of the soldiers in the incident," a Defence spokesman said in a statement, adding "the Army is committed to provide all necessary help to the police to see the culprits punished speedily."

He said since Army act provisions do not allow prosecution of such cases under the military law in peace station, the accused have been handed over to the police authorities.

A senior Army officer, accompanied by his wife, also visited the parents of the victim to express their regret over the "unfortunate incident", the spokesman said. (PTI)

Geelani engineered split: Lone

NEW DELHI, Oct 8: Mr Sajjad Lone, chairman of the Peoples Conference, has accused hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani of playing Pakistan’s game by engineering a split in the Hurriyat Conference, which he claimed represented the sentiments of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement here, he said conscious efforts were being made by some disgruntled elements to weaken the Hurriyat Conference, a conglomerate of 23 separatist political groups.

The statement came following the expulsion of Molvi Abbas Ansari as chairman of the Hurriyat Conference by 13 members of the general council. However, majority of the members

of the executive council, the highest decision making body of the conglomerate, has contested the council’s authority to expel the chairman. Prominent leaders like Mirwaiz Omer Farooq, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat and Mr Bilal Lone lent their full support to Molvi Abbas.

Mr Sajjad Lone, who succeeded his father Abdul Gani Lone as chairman of the Peoples Conference after his assassination in 2001, said Mr Geelani was playing Pakistan’s game by creating confusion about the political definition of the Kashmiri leadership."If Mufti Sayeed and Farooq Abdullah are the Indian face of Kashmir, Geelani is the Pakistani face of Kashmir and the All Party Hurriyat Conference the Kashmir face of Kashmir", he said.

Asserting that the general council had no mandate to oust Molvi Abbas, he said the council only had an advisory role. There is a clear demarcation of powers between the all powerful executive council and the general council. As Molvi Abbas was elected by the executive council it is only this body which can remove him from the chairmanship.

The Peoples Conference leader said Syed Ali Shah Geelani played an important role in the formulation of the constitution of the Hurriyat Conference. Morally, ethically and politically, he is committed to it. Till date the general council has no say in the election of the chairman .

Mr Sajjad Lone said the changed political scenario had provided new opportunities for projecting the cause of the Kashmiris. As the onus of providing the pro-Kashmiri political thrust falls on the Hurriyat Conference it has to rise to the occasion and deliver on behalf of the people of Kashmir. He said the sentiment of azadi among Kashmiris remained strong as was evident from the sacrifices made by the people. (UNI)

Rs 1.10 lakh fake currency seized, 6 held in City

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 8: City police today arrested six Kashmir persons and recovered Rs 1.10 lakh worth fake currency from their possession. Seized currency was in the denomination of 1000.

Police said a TATA Sumo No. 1499 JK02J was intercepted by a City police party led by DySP City Rupinder Chalotra and SHO Devinder Singh at Manda on a specific information that some mysterious persons were travelling in it. The vehicle had been hired from Jewel Chowk.

All six persons were shifted to City police station. The fake currency, hidden by them beneath a seat, was recovered by the police.

According to police, a kingpin of fake currency racket, based in Srinagar, has been identified. A message has been flashed to Srinagar police to arrest him.

Further investigations in the case are being supervised by SSP Jammu Dr Kamal Saini and SP City (North) Parbhat Singh.
 
 
 

 

 

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