India keeps Kashmir out of OIC

PUTRAJYA, MALAYSIA, Oct 13: Perhaps for the first time there was no reference to the Kashmir issue at the Ministerial meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Conference, where discussions mainly focused on developments in Iraq, the fluid political situation in West Asia and dangers to the security and independence of Muslim countries by the "big and mighty" powers.

Secretary general of the OIC Dr Abdelouahed Belkeziz, chairman of the ministerial preparatory meeting Syed Hamid Albar and outgoing chairman Sheikh Hamid Bin Jassim chose to ignore the Kashmir issue in their speeches at the inaugural session.

In fact, Mr Albar, who is also Malaysia’s Foreign Minister, told newspersons this evening that there was no need for the OIC to comment and debate on all issues. "It becomes difficult for the 57-member grouping to implement its resolutions. So it is better to stay confined to important matters so that effective steps could be taken for their resolution," he said.

While Mr Albar referred to Iraq and Palestine in his speech, he totally ignored the Kashmir problem.

It is learnt that India had urged Malaysia, host of the 10th Islamic summit, to not to discuss the Kashmir issue at the OIC. Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia Veena Sikri said the OIC had no locus standi to discuss the Kashmir issue, which is purely bilateral.

Dr Belkeziz, who on Saturday made a passing reference to the Jammu and Kashmir situation in his speech at the senior ministers meeting (som), today avoided any reference in his opening remarks. The secretary general had said on Saturday that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir would be discussed.

However, OIC sources said the issue was being discussed at the committee-level and the Kashmir issue would find a mention in the final declaration.

Dr Belkeziz asked America to vacate its troops from Iraq. He also condemned Israeli atrocities on the Palestinians. (UNI)

CM hands over job letters to 1052
*PM’s employment package takes off

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 13: Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today launched implementation of Prime Minister’s special package for employment by handing over appointment letters of teachers to 1052 youth at an impressive function here this morning.

As many as 26,000 teachers are being appointed in the state in the next two to three months, to be selected in a transparent manner. These jobs are part of one lakh jobs announced by the Prime Minister for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to tackle unemployment problem.

Speaking on the occasion, Mufti Sayeed said that there is no other way out except peace in the turmoil-hit state that can be achieved through a process of comprehensive dialogue. He said the Prime Minister had extended hand of friendship to Pakistan from Kashmir in a sincere effort to achieve lasting peace in the region. He said this marked a good beginning for improving bilateral ties which need to be carried forward by overcoming occasional hiccups. He said the state has suffered immensely due to militancy and the coalition Government is making effort to provide relief to the people through various programmes.

The Chief Minister said that education was one of the sectors that suffered the most due to militancy. He said the children born after 1989 could neither see any playfield nor school. He said the coalition Government has accorded highest priority to the education sector as human resource development is key to all round progress. He said besides Government effort, the private sector too is being involved in a big way for expanding infrastructure and improving quality of education in the state. He said several bold initiatives have been taken to put the system back on the rails.

Describing creation of jobs in education sector as productive employment, the Chief Minister said that Government schools are being fully equipped with manpower and other requirements. He said a policy is being formulated where under a chain of good public schools would be set up throughout Jammu and Kashmir even in far-flung areas to provide opportunities of quality education to children. These schools would have to make 30 per cent reservation for poor students. He said newly set up Wakaf Board would also establish some good public schools where besides other subject, teaching of holy Quran would be mandatory. He said good schools would be set up at Charar-i-Sharief, Srinagar and Baba Rishi in the Valley.

Mufti Sayeed said that a new and holistic education policy would be formulated in the state to make the system more accountable and result oriented. He said the stress would be both on consolidation and expansion parameters. He said the proposed policy would also take care that the youth select the streams for higher education according to their aptitude for achieving excellence. He said the policy would provide for compulsory elementary education to all and college and university education according to talent and aptitude. He said keeping in view constant demand of the people for opening colleges in various areas, the matter is being taken up with the Prime Minister for giving one-time grant for setting up these institutions of higher learning.

The Chief Minister asked the education department to be on its toes and directed that education, rural development and panchayats should pool their resources and infrastructure for starting pre-primary classes by dovetailing Government schools and anganwari centres.

Mufti Sayeed stressed upon the newly appointed teachers that they have been entrusted with an onerous task of shaping young minds and discharge their duties with a missionary zeal.

The Chief Minister said that tackling unemployment problem is a big challenge confronting the coalition Government as it is not possible anywhere to provide employment in government sector to every educated youth. He said, however, the Government is making concerted efforts to create employment avenues and at the same time ensuring that whatever vacancies are to be filled up, it is done in a transparent manner.

Minister for Education Mr. Harshdev Singh said that the entire system of selections of teachers under Rehbar-i-Taleem, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Education Guarantee Scheme has been made transparent and the youth are selected on the basis of their merit. He said the appointment orders are delivered to them right at their doorsteps and they do not have to hanker after anyone for it as used to be in the previous regime.

Minister of State for Education Mr Abdul Rehman Veeri said that education is not merely a department but it is a mission and movement that has to be carried forward with the cooperation of community at large. Referring to making education as a focal point by the coalition Government, he said it is a turning point for this important sector. He said it is the age of science, technology and computers, adding that we have to create basic infrastructure to prepare our youth for facing the challenges of the global job market.

Omar favours dialogue with Kashmir separatists

NEW DELHI, Oct 13: Pointing to the ongoing dialogue between the Centre and the NSCN (I-M), National Conference president Omar Abdullah has advocated involvement of secessionist groups in the peace process in Kashmir and suggested a fresh approach to restore normalcy in the restive state.

Expressing dissatisfaction with Centre and Jammu and Kashmir Government’s efforts for resolving the Kashmir issue, Mr Abdullah said these were sorely inadequate.

"There is no peace or dialogue process, more efforts and internal dialogue is needed," he said on the sidelines of an art show here over the weekend.

He wondered why the Government was fighting shy of talking to the Hurriyat Conference and other militant groups when they were engaged in a dialogue with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) insurgents in Nagaland.

"It should be the next logical step to engage all groups in Kashmir in the dialogue process. We should talk to the Hurriyat, the pro-Independence votaries, those with a secessionist mindset," said the former minister, who resigned from the Union Cabinet after his party was defeated in the assembly elections in the State last October.

On whether the problem could be resolved if the stakes for those involved were increased, as has been suggested by some people, the NC chief noted: "The stake for the average Kashmiri is life and death... What could be a higher stake than that?"

When pointed out that the Hurriyat did not represent the majority of the people of the state, he shot back "who represents the people? we (NC) represents a minority, the PDP represents a section of the people, no one can claim to represent the whole state."

Retracting from his earlier stance of no talks with the secessionists, Mr Abdullah attributed the change to his interaction with the people of the state, which, he said had altered his perception.

"The NC’s earlier position was far removed from the public perception," said the NC chief who took over the reins of the party from his father and former State Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah in May this year.

Mr Abdullah has been a vocal critic of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s "healing touch" policy towards militants in the Valley.

"So far, nothing has worked," he pointed out referring to the efforts by the Centre and State Government to curb terrorism in the State.

The Government has to realise that cross-border terrorism will not end just because we ask for it’s cessation. The authorities will have to work out how cross-border terrorism can be effectively countered, he said.

"We have to step out of the box and take some new initiatives and adopt a fresh approach." he, however, refused to elaborate on the possible measures to be adopted saying "that is for the Government to work out."

He, however, was adverse to using "hot pursuit" as an option to stamp out militancy in the State.

Pakistan, the NC leader said, had been using terrorism as a tool to negotiate. "They won’t stop before a dialogue starts."

Mr Abdullah was not forthcoming on his party’s strategy for next year’s general elections, merely saying "we will see about it when we come to it."

Mr Abdullah said he has been concentrating on rebuilding and strengthening the NC in Jammu and Kashmir, which remains the largest party in the assembly with 28 seats. (UNI)

MI, Special Branch raid dhaba, school
11 suspects detained in City

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Oct 13: In two major raids carried out in the City late this evening, the Military Intelligence and Special Branch of Jammu Police picked-up 11 persons, suspected to be the militants or their harbourers.

Eight persons including seven suspects and an employee of a dhaba were detained by the MI sleuths from Wani dhaba near JP Chowk under jurisdiction of Nowabad police station while three others were picked-up by a team of Special Branch from the quarters of Ravinder Shiksha Sadan School, New Plots.

Police and Army sources were tight-lipped over the raids till late tonight. Reliable sources, however, confirmed that the arrests were part of a "suspected module of militants", who wanted to strike in the City either during Diwali celebrations or on the eve of Darbar move, slated early next month.

Sources said the Military Intelligence sleuths raided Wani dhaba at 6.10 PM and picked-up seven persons, who were taking tea, and an employee of the dhaba. They packed off the suspects in a Shaktiman vehicle brought alongwith them and left for an unknown destination.

Out of eight detained persons, identity of only two of them has been established so far. They were Jamroodh Hussain son of Nazir Hussain, a resident of Balakote, Mendhar, an employee of the dhaba and Javed Ahmed Bhat son of Abdul Salam Bhat R/o Chanpora, Srinagar, who was taking tea alongwith other persons.

"The Military Intelligence raid appeared to have been carried out on a very specific information. The MI sleuths straightway stopped their vehicles outside Wani dhaba, picked-up the wanted persons and left the venue", the sources said, adding that entire operation was completed within eight minutes.

Eye-witnesses told a visiting EXCELSIOR correspondent that 10 persons in civil dress, who later turned out to be the MI personnel, were shuttling from one shop to another in the area right since morning. To spend time, they purchased fruits and other articles from different shops.

"Since there were two dhabas with same name ‘Wani dhaba’ in the locality, they kept watch on both the dhabas till an officer arrived on spot in an Army Gypsy and moved towards Wani dhaba, which was owned by G M Wani", the witnesses said and added that the plainclothesmen followed their officer and rounded up the suspects.

Dhaba owner G M Wani said he was not aware of the credentials of arrested persons. "They were speaking Urdu", was all Wani could tell about them.

Police parties from Nowabad police station rushed to the spot but by then the MI officials had left the scene. Police believed that the arrested persons "could be" part of a militant network but declined to elaborate till an official communication was received by them from Army authorities.

Meanwhile, another raid was carried out by the sleuths of Special Branch of Jammu Police in the quarters of Ravinder Shiksha Sadan School in New Plots area tonight. Three persons including a Chowkidar of the school were arrested by the Special Branch personnel.

Police said Ravinder Shiksha Sadhan school is owned by a ration dealer Noor Mohd. He had kept a Chowkidar in the school and allotted him a room within premises of the school.

At about 7.30 PM, the Special Branch sleuths cordoned off the area, raided the school premises and detained three persons. Sources said one of the arrested persons was a Chowkidar while two others had come to meet him.

According to sources, the two persons who had taken shelter in Chowkidar’s room were stated to be the suspects. They were being interrogated by the Special Branch sleuths till late tonight.

Jammu Tawi Express derails; 5 hurt

AHMEDABAD, Oct 13: Five persons, including two railway personnel, received minor injuries after 11 bogies of the Jamnagar-bound Jammu-Tawi Sarvoday Express derailed near Jakada village close to Viramgam, 55 km from here today, Western Railway officials said here.

The train had left Ahmedabad station at around 2:40 PM and derailed close to Jakada village near Viramgam around 3:30 PM. The cause of the derailment is not immediately know, they said.

All the injured persons were given immediate treatment after a medical recovery van rushed to the spot along with senior officials of the Western Railways, senior personnel told PTI adding that the Commissioner of Railway Safety would be probing into the incident.

Around 350 passengers have been shifted to Jamnagar and Rajkot cities and work is on to clear the traffic along the route where the derailment occured.

Railway officials said that all Rajkot-bound trains from Ahmedabad and vice versa have been terminated at both the cities.

Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Ahmedabad Division, L M Sahor, who also rushed to the spot with the recovery van and rescue team, said that work was on to clear the second track so that traffic may not remain congested for long.

He said that there may be some cancellations owing to the derailment and that the parallel track would be cleared within eight hours.

Railway official are also in the process of clearing a nearby track where a goods train derailed near Dhangadhra town. (PTI)

Mast Gul’s associate awarded 16 years RI

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 13: Shahid Latif, a Pak Occupied Kashmir (PoK) national and a close associate of Mast Gul, has been awarded 16 years Rigorous Imprisonment (RI), besides a fine of rupees 40,000 for indulging into terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

The sentence in this rarest of rare case was announced by Presiding Officer TADA/POTA Court, Mr PN Razdan. Latif, an active member of Jamait-ul-Mujahideen, who alongwith a local militant Giasu Din of Ongama Tangmarg (who died during the trial) were arrested by Gandhinagar Police on November 12, 1994.

In his 13 page judgment delivered today, Mr Razdan said that both these militants were deputed to carry out terrorist activities in Jammu area, but before accomplishing the same, they were apprehended by Police.

The court observed that from the perusal of the evidence of prosecution and the confessional statement of the accused, it was very much clear that both the accused were active members of banned terrorist organization and both were deputed to carry out terror in Jammu area by raising the communal sentiments in the minds of the people. "The exhibition of video cassettes with regards to the happenings of Hazratbal would clearly raise the passions of the people and would have hurt the religious sentiments of the people", the court observed while awarding eight years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of rupees 20,000 under Section 3(3) TADA Act and eight years RI with a fine of rupees 20,000 under Section 3(5) of the same Act. Both these sentences, the judge held, would run concurrently.

According to the prosecution story, the patrolling party of Police Station Gandhi Nagar during the patrolling at Panama Chowk area found the accused persons standing at University Road in suspicious circumstances, both the accused were apprehended by the police and during the interrogation Shahid Latif admitted that he had come from Pakistan after crossing the border from Kupwara. Another accused Giasu Din, resident of Baramulla was accompanying him.

They had come to Jammu with intentions to create terror in Jammu area. One video cassette was seized from Shahid Latif. Both the accused were later on sent to Joint Interrogation Centre for further interrogation where Giasu Din confessed that they are members of banned terrorist organization Jamait-ul-Majahidin while the second accused admitted his involvement in Hazratbal episode. He further admitted that he had shot-both still and video of the entire episode and brought the same for showing to the people so that they may also participate in the uprising against the Government.

The Court after hearing counsel for the accused and Deputy Director Prosecution, observed that the prosecution has proved the charges framed against the accused persons beyond any shadow of doubt and convicted Shahid Latif to undergo RI for 16 years and a fine of Rs 40,000 with the directions that after suffering the sentences accused Shahid Latif be deported to his country Pakistan.

It is worthwhile to mention here that terrorist Shahid Latif was earlier also arrested in the terrorist activities and was sentenced by a competent court and after completion of the sentence he was deported to Pakistan wherefrom, he again along with Major Mast Gul had crossed over the border and reached the city of Srinagar, where he involved himself in the Hazratbal episode under the direction of Major Mast Gul.

No Al-Qaeda in J&K: George

PATNA, Oct 13: Defence Minister George Fernandes has ruled out the presence of Al-Qaeda in Jammu and Kashmir and said 80 per cent of the active terrorists there were foreigners.

During his day-long whirlwind official visit to Bihar which ended last night, Mr Fernandes said it was a proven fact that the terrorists were associated with foreign forces, however, the Government had so far no concrete proof of involvement of Al-Qaeda men in J&K.

He said the common people of the state were against cross-border terrorism and were not supporting the terrorist groups infiltrating the Indian territory which has helped the security forces in combating terrorism.

The Defence Minister said there was no ground for Al-Qaeda to make their base in J&K.

He said the atmosphere in the state was not at all conducive for Al-Qaeda.

Reacting to the statement by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in the recent United Nation Council meeting on terrorism, Mr Fernandes said that Mr Musharraf was exposed by his statement as he had announced steps to check cross-border infiltration.

He said the statement was an indicator that Pakistan was promoting terrorism in J&K.

The Defence Minister said the extent of infiltration had gone down in J&K and the security forces were frustrating the terrorists. (UNI)

‘Pak not claiming whole of Kashmir’

DUBAI, Oct 13: Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has said that that his country was not claiming the whole of Kashmir, although it should have come to it under the 1947 partition.

"Kashmir, like the Israeli-Palestine dispute, is subject to United Nations resolutions and the issue can be solved through a dialogue between Islamabad, New Delhi and the Kashmiri people," Gen Musharraf said in an interview in the "Khaleej Times".

"We are doing our best to show much flexibility," he said and blamed India for the SAARC stalemate and the cancellation of SAF games.

On India’s secularism, the President said thousands of Muslims were burnt down in Gujarat. "Muslims left their houses and are not allowed to come back now," he said citing reports in "India Today."

Gen Musharraf, on establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, said "if the Palestinian issue is settled, Islamabad might consider establishing ties with Tel Aviv."

He said public opinion was against ties with Israel. "We are part of the Muslim world and we are on the side of Arab Muslim brothers," he added. (UNI)

Amanullah for re-unification of Kashmir

ISLAMABAD, Oct 13: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Amanullah Khan today called for a reunified Kashmir independent of India and Pakistan to ensure a resolution of the protracted issue and lasting peace in the region.

In an appeal to the 57-member Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) leaders meeting in Malaysia, Mr Khan said the grouping should support the JKLF’s demand for "the reunification of the forcibly divided, subjugated and trodden Kashmir having a population of over 15 million, and the emergence of a fully independent nation having friendly relations with both Pakistan and India".

This will be "not only in the best interests of all three —India, Pakistan and the Kashmiris — but also ensures durable peace and prosperity for the entire region", he said in his appeal.

Rejecting Pakistan’s demand to implement the 1949 United Nations resolution for a plebiscite in Kashmir to decide on whether the people wanted to stay with India or Pakistan, he said the resolution did not provide the option of an independent Kashmiri state. (UNI)

Kale Kachhewale gang busted

LUDHIANA, Oct 13: A 19-strong gang of Punjabi youth, who had been operating in the guise of Kale Kachhewale who usually comprised denotified criminal tribes from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, was busted by Jagraon Police last night with their arrest, police said.

Jagraon SSP Mukhwinder Singh Chhinna told reporters that two country-made pistols along with six live cartridges, a stolen scooter besides swords, hockey sticks and iron rods were recovered from the gangsters, in the 18-22 year age group, all hailing from Jagraon area.

He said the criminals, who mostly worked as temporary waiters on occasions of marriages and other social functions to eke out a living, communicated with one another in Hindi at crime sites in an apparent bid to mislead the police.

The police officer said the gangsters, who had lost their one accomplice, Ramu, during a robbery, themselves never killed any body during the six crimes they allegedly committed, looting and injuring people who resisted.

He said the criminals, who generally operated on darker nights, would assemble at around 2300 hrs at a pre-determined spot and commit robberies between midnight and 0400 hrs. He said it was while planning a similar robbery at an animal market in Jagraon town last night they were caught on a tip-off. (UNI)

Hurriyat rejects Mufti’s proposal

NEW DELHI, Oct 13: Hurriyat Conference today shot down the proposal of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed for appointment of a special emissary for holding talks with separatists and said that any invitation should be directly from Prime Ministerf Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

"We have no interest in any special emissary. If the Government is serious, then an invitation should come directly from the Prime Minister," Hurriyat Conference chairman Maulana Abbas Ansari said.

He said that Hurriyat Conference did not believe in any mediatoray role of any individual.

"The invitation from the Centre will be discussed by the Hurriyat Conference executive and after that a stand will be taken by the conglomerate," Ansari said while maintaining that the amalgam was in favour of holding talks.

"We favour talks but it should be oriented towards resolution of Kashmir issue and nothing less," he said.

The reaction came from Ansari in the wake of Sayeed’s demand for the appointment of a special emissary for holding talks with the separatist groups who had not met the Centre’s interlocutor N N Vohra. (PTI)

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