Militants strike at highway, travel from Jatwal to Akhnoor breaching 14 nakas
Two ultras, 2 jawans among 6 killed; Major, 8 others injured
Another militant captured alive in injured condition
TATA Sumo driver arrested for suspected terror links

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Oct 27: Playing with the security arrangements, three militants in police uniform struck at three places last night from Jatwal to Akhnoor covering a distance of more than 70 kms without meeting any resistance till a TATA Sumo, they were travelling in, was intercepted by an army naka about 100 meters short of Akhnoor bridge. A total of six persons including two army jawans, two civilians and two militants were killed while nine others including five Army personnel, one of them a Major and four civilians were injured in the militant strikes. A suspected harbourer of the militants—a TATA Sumo driver of Ustaad Mohalla has been arrested while a militant was captured by the army in an injured condition. He has been shifted to a Military Hospital under tight security.

Drivers of TATA Indica and TATA Sumo, the two vehicles used by the militants in travelling from Jatwal to Akhnoor, have confirmed presence of three militants, only two of them were killed in the gun-battle with army. Third militant was captured alive after he was injured in the gun-battle but army didn’t disclose his arrest officially. As the operation was completed and army went to pick-up dead bodies of the militant, a grenade (which one of the militants had tied with his body after removing its pin) exploded causing serious injuries to Major Subhramniyam of Engineering Regiment and a jawan.

Army maintained a cordon around Akhnoor bridge till wee hours of this morning after intercepting the militants at 11.55 PM last night. An operation was launched at 5 A.M. today and the militants were finally killed at 2.30 PM. Driver of TATA Sumo, who was also described by the army as a militant, was captured in the mid-night itself. He has been identified as Faisal Javed son of Maqsood Ahmed, a resident of Ustaad Mohalla.

After causing derailment of Shalimar Express, the militants covered a distance of more than 70 kilometers, hijacking two vehicles, killing two civilians and wounding four others on the national highway covering a minimum of 14 permanent police nakas from Jatwal to Akhnoor bridge and were not subjected to checking anywhere. "Tata Sumo driver told interrogators that his vehicle was not stopped for checking anywhere on Jammu-Akhnoor road while Indica driver told police that his vehicle was signaled for a halt at only one naka but the militants told him to ignore the signal. Surprisingly, the naka party didn’t flash a message that an Indica car has violated the signal", reliable sources said, adding "this itself explains the alertness of police stations".

Sources told EXCELSIOR that four militants were pushed into Indian territory by Pakistan army from International Border between Mawa and Madoon in Hiranagar sector on the night of Diwali (October) 25. One of them was shot dead by the troops immediately after his infiltration at Karol Mathran near Bobiya while three others, who had taken a different route, managed to cross safely and reached Jatwal. One revolver and 20 rounds were recovered from the militant killed at Karol, who was identified as Mohd Nihaal son of Mohd Lateef, a resident of Narowal, Pakistan.

The three militants took positions inside bushes under a small culvert in Jatwal where they abandoned their three black uniforms, three plastic shoes, one hand grenade, a small quantity of RDX, six meters wire, empty juice container and dry fruit packets. They used the wire in planting an IED on rail track at Jatwal last night, which they blasted with a remote control device. As reported, the blast derailed engine and five bogies of Shalimar Express. However, there were no casualties in the derailment.

Sources said the uniforms, plastic shoes and other material abandoned by the militants at Jatwal, near the site of last night’s train derailment, were recovered by police this morning. The militants at Jatwal changed their black clothes and wore police uniforms, which they had brought with them from across the border. From rail track, the militants reached Jammu-Pathankot national highway at Jatwal where they hijacked a TATA Indica car No. 8808 DLCA, belonging to Jayant Travels, at about 10.20 PM.

The militants opened firing on the car killing two civilians on spot. They forced driver of the car Vikas Singh son of Nar Singh to drive towards Jammu. Enroute, they shot at and injured three other occupants of the car and threw them out of the vehicle near Samba. At Maheshpura Crossing, the militant fired a shot on the leg of Indica driver and abandoned the car.

Two civilians killed in Indica car have been identified as Deepak Salotra son of Sham Lal R/o Roop Nagar and Tilak Raj son of Babu Ram R/o Batala, Punjab, presently putting up at Krishna Nagar. Injured included Vikas Singh, car driver, Sheetal Singh, Rakesh Kumar and Munish Kumar. Car operator was returning from a marriage function in Billawar. Some of the car occupants had taken lift enroute.

The militants then boarded a TATA Sumo No. 7414 JK05 from KC Crossing, which was being driven by Faisal Javed of Ustaad Mohalla and moved towards Akhnoor According to sources, TATA Sumo might have been deliberately stationed at Maheshpura to carry the militants.

It was only at an Army naka about 100 meters short of Akhnoor bridge that the militants were intercepted at 11.55 PM last night. As an army jawan on duty asked TATA Sumo occupants to show their identity cards, one of the militants fired a burst on him killing him on spot. Soon after the shoot-out, army jawans sounded an alert and the soldiers on duty deflated tyres of Sumo as soon as it crossed the bridge. Petrol tank of the vehicle was also busted but the driver drove the vehicle towards right side of an army installation after crossing the bridge.

The militants as well as Sumo driver managed to come out of the vehicle. While the militants fled towards a hill, the driver rushed back and was arrested by the army personnel at Akhnoor bridge. Police parties led by Addl SP Jammu S R Samuel also rushed to the spot.

Troops laid a siege around Akhnoor bridge in the mid-night and simultaneously subjected TATA Sumo driver to sustained interrogation during which he disclosed presence of three militants in police uniform in his vehicle. With onset of dawn, the troops launched a hunt for the militants, who had taken positions in a small forest area on the hill near GREF quarters.

Exchange of firing between army personnel and the militants continued till 2.30 PM today in which another army jawan was killed and three others were injured. Later, troops pressed a Casper bullet-proof vehicle in the operation and shot dead one of the militants while another ultra, finding himself trapped, blew himself up. The third militant was arrested by the army in an injured condition.

At about 4.30 PM when an army team led by Major Subhramniyam went to pick-up bodies of the slain militants, a grenade tied by a militant with his body exploded causing serious injuries to the Major and a jawan. He has been shifted to Military Hospital in Satwari. Other army jawans, injured during day long gun-battle, have also been hospitalised while bodies of two soldiers, one of them identified as Anil Kumar, have been shifted to an army camp. A cameraman of NDTV, Darshan Singh, also sustained a splinter injury during the encounter. He was discharged from the hospital after first-aid.

Two AK-47 rifles, four used magazines and 140 AK rounds were recovered from the slain militants. Traffic on Jammu-Chhamb road remained disrupted during the day. It was only late in the evening that army authorities cleared Akhnoor bridge for vehicular movement after sanitising the area.

TATA Sumo driver told army and police during his interrogation that his vehicle was hijacked by the militants and he was asked to proceed towards Poonch. However, the army and police sources, maintained that Sumo driver Faisal Javed "had links with the militants". Presently, Faisal was in custody of army but he was expected to be handed over to police shortly.

Sources said it was "contradictory statement" of Faisal which created doubts in the minds of security forces that he might have "connived" with the militants. Faisal said he was approached by the cops (militants in uniform) for driving to Poonch at 9.15 PM last night while the fact was that the militants struck at highway at 10.15 PM and reached Mahespura Crossing only around 11 PM.

"There was a possibility that the militants might have a plan to strike again at an army installation at Tanda, where they had previously struck on July 22 this year killing eight soldiers and wounding top brass of army", the sources said but declined to comment on a "definite plan" of the militants. However, there appeared to be "very remote chances" of the militants attempting to reach Poonch by road since there were a number of army nakas enroute, they added.

Though identity of the slain militants hasn’t been established, there was "enough evidence" to prove that they were Pakistanis. Since one of their associates, who was gunned down by the BSF at Karol Mathran in Hiranagar sector on Diwali night was a Pakistani and all of them had infiltrated from across the border, it appeared that the slain ultras too could be the Pakistanis, the sources said.

Sources admitted that "free movement" of militants first on Jammu-Pathankote highway and then on Jammu-Akhnoor road has "exposed security lapses" on part of police stations and police posts enroute. There were atleast 14 permanent police nakas at Jatwal, Mesar, Mansar Morh, Supwal, Vijaypur, Bari Barahamana, Kunjwani, Digiana Ashram, Satwari Chowk, Convent Crossing, Vikram Chowk, Domana, Jhiri Road and Kanachak. As per version of the two drivers, their vehicles were not stopped for checking anywhere barring one naka. The naka which signaled the vehicle to stop too didn’t bother to flash a message about escape of the car.

According to sources, senior police officers have taken a "serious note" of the police lapses.

Faisal was arrested, released earlier

Faisal Javed, driver of TATA Sumo, who drove the militants from Maheshpura Crossing to Akhnoor, had earlier also been arrested by a team of Special Operations Group (SOG) from his Ustaad Mohalla residence after a fidayeen attack on an army camp at Tanda on July 22 following reports that he had "some kind of links" with the militants.

However, he was released after about a week long interrogation.

He was also detained in Srinagar in 1994 alongwith two other youths by police where they had gone for training. He was sent back to Jammu after questioning.

Police said the "contradictory statement" given by Faisal to security officers after his arrest from Akhnoor bridge last mid-night has raised suspicion about his role. "Faisal claimed that the militants hijacked his vehicle and asked him to drive down to Poonch at 9.15 PM last night while the fact was that the militants struck at national highway at 10.15 PM and reached Maheshpura Crossing around 11 PM", the sources said, adding further questioning of Faisal was on.

No withdrawal of troops from key posts in J&K: Vij

NEW DELHI, Oct 27: As the top commanders from Army, Navy and Air Force began their five-day crucial annual meeting to assess the country’s security situation, Army Chief Gen N C Vij today said troops would not be withdrawn from key forward posts along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and that army operations against militants will continue throughout the winter season.

For the first time, the Army Chief disclosed that the country’s political leadership, including the Prime Minister, was being involved in operational war games being conducted by the three services to ensure that there is a smooth chain of command in times of conflict.

"This is not the first time that the political leadership would be involved in operational scenario, including conduct of war games for future conflict threats", Vij told reporters after laying a wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti to commemorate the Infantry Day.

The remarks of the Army Chief assume significance and indicate that the country’s political leadership was totally involved in military decision-making during year-long operation Parakram, the forward deployment of troops on the Indo-Pak border last year.

The five-day top commanders’ meet is being held separately and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will address the combined Commanders’ conference on November 1 where he will be given a graphic presentation by the Army Chief of the present ground situation, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir.

The presentation is likely to help the Government chalk out steps for an Indo-Pak thaw and also to start a dialogue with moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference in J and K.

The Government feels that Pakistani-sponsored groups like the Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and others would attempt to sabotage the talks.

Top field commanders of the Northern Command have recently opposed moves of winter pull back of troops from the forward areas in Jammu and Kashmir and the conference is likely to endorse this.

This would mean that troops would remain stationed in the forward most locations to stop any attempts in infiltration in winter months. This is significant in the context of recent inteligence reports that Pakistan was imparting some terrorist groups winter fighting training.

Though the Army Chief did not elaborate on the pull back, highly placed sources said that unlike in previous years troops will not move back from forward posts in Tithwal, Kel and Machil sector in Kupwara in north Kashmir and from posts in Gurez and Kanzalwan areas in adjoining Baramulla district.

The Army Chief in his brief interaction with the media said that with upgradation of firepower of anti-insurgency units and boosting up the surveillance capabilites, the last few months had seen more of militant interceptions as well as as sharp downswing in fidayeen suicide attacks on military installations.

According to defence officials, other highlights of the nearly week-long annual conference would be presentation made on the recently set up Army’s first ever artillery division which has come up in Southern Command.

The artillery division includes three to four missile groups which are to be armed with short and medium range Pakistan-specific Agni missiles.

Naval Chief Madhvendera Singh and Air Chief’S Krishnaswamy are also likely to give presentations on air and naval power projections.

For the first time, army would also release its new quality assurance manual.

The western Army Command has recently come up with a detailed paper on command on insurgency forces by armoured corp and mechanised corp officers which may be endorsed in the Army manual, thereby implying that more officer cadre and personnel from these highly elite units would now be drafted for the insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

Hitherto personnel from these units, except for brief stints in Siachen glacier, were not getting counter insurgency deployment to the extent as infantry and artillery units. (PTI)

K R Malkani dead

PONDICHERRY, Oct 27: Hardcore RSS ideologue and one of the few surviving old guards of erstwhile Jan Sangh, Lt Governor of Pondicherry, Kewal Ram Malkani, died of cardiac arrest in Government hospital here this evening.

He was 82 and survived by two sons and a daughter.

Malkani, a former editor of RSS mouthpiece organiser, complained of chest pain at 5.15 PM and was rushed

to the the hospital where he breathed his last two hours later.

Earlier, Malkani felt uneasy in the morning, went to the hospital for a check up and later returned to the Raj Bhawan.

None of his relatives was at his bedside when the end came.

Malkani was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and doctors from Jipmer, Pondicherry, and Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, tried in vain to revive him.

The Pondicherry Cabinet condoled Malkani’s death and announced a day’s public holiday in the Union Territory tomorrow.

The date of funeral will be decided after consultations with relatives who are rushing to the Union Territory.

Malkani was the 15th Lt Governor of Pondicherry and had assumed office on July 31, 2002. He was the second Lt Governor after R K Vyas to die in office. (PTI)

Train traffic restored after 17 hours
NR, police officers review situation

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Oct 27: General Manager Northern Railways and the Inspector General of Railway Protection Force (RPF) today reviewed the security of the track alongwith the officers of Crime and Railways, Jammu at the spot where twin explosions in Shalimar Express at Jatwal near Hiranagar took place yesterday.

This apart, the traffic on the Jammu-Pathankot railway track was restored at around 1600 hours after 17 hours of its disruption, with Malwa Express the first train leaving Jammu Railway Station and Jammu Mail reaching here after the repair and removal of derailed bogies from the track.

Railway sources told EXCELSIOR that General Manager Northern Railways R R Jaruhar alongwith IGP RPF reached the spot of twin explosions this morning and reviewed the security situation with the officers of Crime and Railway of Jammu including Inspector General Abdul Rashid Khan. They discussed a number of measures for intensification of vigil on the track to thwart any such attack in future.

"The authorities of Crime and Railways Jammu, in the meeting, suggested installation of sodium lights all along the track, establishments of pickets of security personnel after every two kilometres and barracks after every five kilometers and making the space adjoining the track from Jammu Railway Station upto Pathankot to ply motorcylces, if not four wheelers", the sources said.

SSP Crime and Railways H L Fotedhar, who also attended the review meeting, also suggested making areas all along the track clear of wild grass to help the security personnel manning the track capable enough to keep an hawk’s eye on the activities at some distance from the track.

"The General Manager Northern Railways said that suggestion regarding establishment of pickets and barracks along the track, as being raised by the Crime and Railways authorities, has already been included in the plan and efforts would be made to accomplish the task by the end of current financial year", the railways sources said and added the meeting of RPF and Crime and Railways Officer was held as the track from Jammu to Pathankot is being provided security by both the agencies.

The investigation, both by IGP Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Crime and Railways officers, revealed that the terrorists, who had targeted the Shalimar Express, had reached near the track minutes before the arrival of the targeted train. "This is evident from the fact that sometime before Shalimar Express, Holiday Special left Jammu Railway Station and was not targeted by the terrorists. Moreover, even a goods train, which was given way by Shalimar Express at Samba was not targeted", the sources said.

The twin investigating teams recovered several belongings of the terrorists from the place 50 yards away from the track which included track suit, small quantity of RDX, detonators, dry fruits having markings of Pakistani company and four empty AK-47 cartridges.

The remote control IED could not cause maximum damage to the train as well as passengers as on one side the speed of the train was very slow and on the other side the driver of the engine applied emergency brakes soon after the first explosion, one of the staff manning engine told EXCELSIOR.

"The second explosion took place due to the grenade which was planted by the terrorists near the toilet of the S-6 coach after they saw the IED blast had only derailed the train and caused little damage", the investigating officers said, adding even the grenade blast could not leave much impact.

Throughout night the process of shifting passengers of the train from the spot to Jammu Railway Station continued with Railway authorities pressed large number of private buses for the job. In the morning, a number of engineers and other staff of the operation wing of the Northern Railways, both from Jammu and Pathankot, reached the spot to make the track operational.

For the convenience of the passengers of all trains, the Railway authorities also deployed several private as well as SRTC buses from Jammu Railway Station to shift the passengers to Kathua, Hiranagar and Chakki Bank, where the incoming trains were terminated after the blast, to help them to continue with their onward journey from that places.

According to Station Manager Jammu Railway Station Mulkh Raj, about 1200 passengers of different trains canceled their tickets for the respective journey.

Later, at around 1600 hours the traffic on Jammu-Pathankot Railway track was completely restored with Malwa Express was the first train leaving Jammu station and Jammu Mail touching Jammu platform. All the coaches except those derailed have been brought to Jammu by using another engine, Mulkh Raj said and added that efforts were on to shift the derailed coaches.

Power Minister orders inquiry List tampered to adjust blue eyed AEEs

By Dinesh Manhotra

JAMMU, Oct 27: As some officers have allegedly tampered with the finalised transfer list of Assistant Executive Engineers (AEEs) of the Power Development Department (PDD), Power Minister Mohammed Sharief Niaz has initiated an inquiry to fix responsibility on those bureaucrats responsible for clandestinely altering the list approved by him.

Secretary General Administration Department (GAD) Mr S L Bhat has been asked by the Power Minister to initiate an inquiry and submit report within stipulated time. Keeping in view the alleged bunglings, transfers and posting order of AEEs have been kept in abeyance.

Highly placed sources said that on October 23, Power Minister Mohammed Sharief Niaz had finalised list of transfers and postings of 234 AEEs. This approved list included 44 Assistant Engineers (AEs) who were promoted to the rank of AEEs. In the evening of the October 23, the Minister handed over the approved list with some modification to the higher officers for implementing the same on very next day.

Sources further said that in the list, Minister also made arrangements to make some senior AEs as incharge AEEs till they fulfill their eligibility only to make it sure that Department will not suffer due to the shortage of officers.

However, sources said, instead of implementing the approved list of the Power Minister, some officers at the helm of the affairs, in the intervening night of October 23 and 24, 2003, tampered with the list and incorporated some more AEEs in the list without knowledge of the Minister. These officers not only altered the list but also issued back-dated transfer and posting orders to most of their own AEEs. Keeping the Minister in dark, these officers directed the transferred AEEs to join their new assignments without any delay.

Sources further said that though Minister had approved posting and transfer of only 234 AEEs, officers responsible for tempering the finalised list had incorporated many more AEEs in the list.

Making a mockery of the system, posting of as many as three AEEs have been made for one post, sources said, adding, "even name of some of the AEEs who were transferred by the Minister personally on important positions have been missing".

Sources informed that the Minister, who was unaware of the entire mid-night tampering operation, when inquired from the concerned officers about reason of delay in releasing the orders, were shell shocked to know that transfer orders were already issued by ‘by-passing’ his approved list.

Sources said the Minister has taken strong exception of the decision of some officers to ‘reject’ his list and ordered an inquiry in the entire episode.

When contacted Power Minister Mohammed Sharief Naiz admitted that bunglings have been committed in the transfer order. He disclosed that he has ordered an inquiry in this regard.

When asked whether tampering have been done in his approved list, the Minister said that something wrong has been done that is why he has ordered an inquiry. Minister did not rule out possibility of involvement of some senior officers in the entire operation of tampering his approved list.

The Minister further informed that transfer and posting orders of 234 AEEs have been kept in abeyance keeping in view some bunglings. The Minister also did not rule out possibility of handing over this case to the Vigilance Organisation as he smelt some financial bunglings and exchange of money in this case.

The Minister also informed that action will be taken against some AEEs who have managed to get some prize postings with the connivance of some officers who have tampered his approved list.

HM military advisor among 3 killed

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 27: Police today achieved a major success when they killed a self styled chief operational commander and military advisor of pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen Saif-u-Rehman Bajwa in the down town city.

In other militancy related incidents, a militant was among two people killed while security forces averted a tragedy in the Kashmir valley overnight.

An official spokesman said, police on a tip off conducted searches at Palapora Safakadal in the down town city during which an encounter took place. In the hour-long clash Bajwa, a resident of Rehimyar Khan Pakistan was killed.

One AK rifle, four magazines, one hand grenade, 73 rounds and one wireless set were recovered from the slain commander.

In another encounter at Kralgund in the frontier district of Kupwara, security forces gunned down a militant. One AK rifle, three magazines and 42 rounds were recovered from him.

Militants entered the house of Mohammad Abdullah Dar, who was working as Personal Assistant of former Legislative Assembly speaker and shot him dead at Watergam in Baramulla late last night.

Border Security Force (BSF) today defused a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on the Sriangar-Uri highway.

A BSF spokesman said, troops of the 13th batallion during a routine patrol detected an IED planted by militants at Sheeri on the highway.

He said a bomb disposal squad was immediately summoned who later defused the IED, averting a major tragedy as the road is used by the security forces and civilians.

Official spokesman said, another IED was detected and later defused by the police and security forces at Gousia Colony Azad Gunj Baramulla today.

50 Hurriyat activists arrested
*Partial strike in Kashmir

SRINAGAR, Oct 27 : More than 50 leaders, from both groups of the All Party Hurriyat Conference APHC, have been taken into preventive custody at civil lines here for violating prohibitory orders.

Meanwhile, today’s general strike, called by several separatist leaders, evoked partial response in the Kashmir valley.

Police arrested more than 20 Hurriyat Confernece members of the Abbas Group as the procession, led by Awami Action Committee leader Shahidu Islam, was proceeding towards Ghanta Ghar via Lal Chowk. They were later taken to Kothibagh and Maisuma Police stations.

More than 40 supporters led by Ghulam Nabi Sumbji and Zia Uddin of the APHC (Geelani faction) were also taken into custody from two different places in the Civil Lines area.

Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani told reporters that more than 40 leaders of the Conference were arrested and lodged in Central Jail during a peaceful procession today.

The arrest of Hurriyat leaders was against their basic rights in a democracy, they added.

The strike call saw only shops downing their shutters in the Valley. No violence was reported from any part and School Board Examinations conducted normally.

Baramulla and Sopore saw partial strike whereas there was no response in Kupwara. (UNI)

Punjab PCB issues ultimatum to polluting industries

JALANDHAR, Oct 27 : In view to combat growing pollution in the state,the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PCB) today issued ultimatum to the most polluted industries to reveal their detailed action plan to curb pollution caused through their industries by Nov 15 or face consequences.

Tanneries and paper mills, which are identified as main source of water pollution and told them to come out with their detailed action plan for curbing pollution through their industries by November 15 Control Board told reporters here today.

Giving detail of today’s interaction meet with industries on compliance of citizens charter drafted by the Union Minister of Enviornment and Forests, Singh revealed that there were 22 sugar mills, four distillery units, 37 tanneries and 19 paper mills, which were identified as the most pollution causing units and clear cut instructions have been issued to them to mend themselves to create pollution free environment in the state.

Causing industries also we held similar kind of meetings in other districts of the state and ultimatum have been issued to them also, make Board’s functioning more transparent and streamlined.

He termed the Municipal Corporations and Municipal Committees as the biggest sources of pollution and revealed that out of total 138 MCs only four were having water treatment plant and rest of them were supplying drinking water to the consumers without even proper treatment.

It could be evident from the fact that ‘Buddha Nala’ of Ludhiana has been converted into ‘Ganda Nala’ due to Corporation’s inactiveness, he said adding that along with industries, MCs were equally responsible for growing water pollution in the state. On the air pollution caused by the crackers on Diwali Day, Singh said that this year the pollution through crackers was a bit low than the last year.

The exact position could be explained only after receiving the exact data, which was still awaited, he added. (PTI)

PM launches Mobile Phone Service in Nagaland

KOHIMA, Oct 27 : In a landmark development, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today launched the Mobile Telephone Service in Nagaland and, in his first message through the mobile, made a strong plea for peace in this restive state and called upon its people " to talk, remove distances and let the talks proceed".

"Today my message to the people of Nagaland is this — let the talks continue, let the dialogue proceed, let distances be removed, let confidences be built and let us together create peace and accelerate development," said Mr Vajpayee, in his inaugural conversation with Union Communication Minister Arun Shourie in New Delhi.

"I must confess that I do not know how mobile phone technology works but I do know that it is all about talking, its all about connecting people, its all about removing distances and its all about making ties better," Mr Vajpayee said. The Prime Minister said, "the people of Nagaland have been waiting for the day for quite sometime, but as they say, der aye durust aye (better late than never)," and added that the launch of the Mobile Phone Service in the state is yet another sign of the changing times.

"The people of Nagaland would fully benefit from the facility," he said and expressed confidence that the process of positive changes would further speed up in the times to come.

The simple half-an-hour ceremony at the Raj Bhavan was attended by Governor Shyamal Dutta, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Minister of State for Communication and IT Ashok Pradhan and other senior officials.

Describing this as a delightful and extraordinary achievement which would bring the fruits of development at a faster pace, Mr Shourie said the country was now getting knit together and would move ahead in many ways.

The BSNL Mobile Services launched today would cover 80 per cent of Kohima. The rest of the city would be covered by the end of November and all districts would be covered within this financial year, he said.

Mr Shourie also said that 20 more districts in the North-East would be covered by Mobile Phone Service by December-January.

Mr Rio and Mr Dutta also spoke to Mr Shourie. (UNI)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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