Army to deal sternly with violators: Vij

NEW DELHI, Dec 1: In the face of increasing incidents of indiscipline, Army Chief General N C Vij today said the force was determined to deal sternly with violators and ensure that troops stuck to a laid-down code of conduct.

"We are determined to hand-out exemplary punishment to all personnel irrespective of rank if they indulge in indiscipline or violate the laid-down procedures during conduct of operations," Vij said on the sidelines of a function to felicitate climbers of the Rajputana Rifles who recently scaled the 7,120 metre Trishul peak in Himalayas.

On increasing allegations of human rights violations and fake encounters, Vij said the Army High Command has taken a "very serious" view on this trend.

He said the recent spurt in such allegations had been deliberated at the highest level and measures are being chalked out to deal with such cases with a heavy hand as "high standards of discipline was the hallmark of a fine Army."

In this connection he pointed out to a number of punitive actions taken against officers of the rank of even Major Generals, Brigadiers and Colonels.

"It is not correct to assume that Army acts only when such incidents are brought out into open by the media. We have our own internal systems to detect and punish such offenders," he said.

On de-induction of troops in J and K, the Army chief said it would not be done at the cost of the security interests of the country.

"The troop reduction exercise would not be undertaken overlooking the country’s security," he said adding that the security situation in J and K has improved after fencing.

Asked about the fate of alleged culprits in the Tehelka scam, the Army chief said the authorities had been waiting for legal aspects of the case to be sorted out. "Now, that it has been sorted out, action would follow soon."

On the operations reportedly conducted by the Myanmar Army against insurgent groups in the North-East, the Army chief said the Yangon Junta was "India-friendly".

"The two armies have developed a good working relationship and this cooperation is put into practice whenever situation demands."

Asked if the Myanmar Army had logistics to mount such an operation, Vij said the neighbouring country had earlier also carried out such operations.

However, he said he had not received detailed reports on the operations.

On the A V Singh report on measures to bring back "youthful profile" to the Indian Army, Vij said he was hopeful that the recommendations would be implemented soon.

He said the report was under the consideration of the Defence Minister who was favourably inclined towards it. (PTI)

Two militants arrested in Mahore

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 1: Two suspected militants were today arrested by security forces from Mahore tehsil in Reasi police district along with some incriminating documents revealing the militants "future plans" in the area.

Official sources said the suspected militants were arrested from a hideout which was raided this morning by security forces on a specific information. They have been identified as Mohd Sharief Qureshi, 32, son of Jamlan and Master Mohd Bashir, 55, a resident of Mala.

A large quantity of incriminating documents pertaining to militant activities and their further plans of strikes on the civilians and attacks on security forces were recovered from their possession, the sources said.

After preliminary questioning, security forces handed over the suspects to Mahore police station for further interrogations.

Meanwhile, security forces today busted a hideout of the militants at Fatehpur in Rajouri district. It was presently abandoned by the militants.

The hideout had been constructed inside a field near the house of Mohd Hussain son of Badar Ali, a resident of Fatehpur.

Winter session begins on stormy note
*BJP, RJD MPs clash

NEW DELHI, Dec 1: The winter session of Lok Sabha today began on a stormy note as the House was adjourned abruptly amid uproarious scenes with RJD members seeking to raise allegations made against leader of the opposition L K Advani by his estranged daughter-in-law Gauri Advani.

BJP members clashed with those from RJD who waved copies of newspapers which had reported that Gauri Advani had written to RSS chief K C Sudershan and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee listing charges against the BJP president.

In the midst of uproar, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee adjourned the House 15 minutes ahead of the lunch break.

The House was earlier plunged into a turmoil with angry Bahujan Samaj Party members storming the well immediately after the House had made obituary references to its former members, seeking dismissal of Samajwadi Party Government in Uttar Pradesh for arresting their colleague MD Tahir.

Taking strong exception to their behaviour, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee warned them and repeatedly asked them to resume their seats, failing which he would be compelled to suspend their membership.

Finding them in a defiant mood, Chatterjee initiated process to suspend them and read out the names of 11 BSP members out to obstruct the question hour.

Union Ministers P R Dasmunsi and Suresh Pachouri went up to them and persuaded them to go back to their seats to avert the action against them.

As soon as the question hour was over, BJP deputy leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra protested against the "total failure" of the UPA Government in tackling mounting prices of essential commodities and led NDA members out of the House.

Raising the issue, Malhotra said let there be a discussion and voting on the issue in the House and "I am sure two-thirds of members will vote against the UPA Government which is in a minority."

The rising prices had broken the backbone of the people, he said pointing out the increase in prices of petrol and diesel had cascading effect on other items.

Demanding a statement from the Government, Malhotra said the UPA Government had "betrayed" the people as it had promised in its Common Minimum Programme to control prices. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Dec 1: Attempting to build up pressure on the ruling alliance on the opening day of the winter session of Parliament, BJP stalwarts Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani today led thousands of party activists march to Parliament and courted arrest enroute in an attack on the Manmohan Singh Government for its six-month ‘misrule’ and escalating prices of essential commodities.

At a rally on the sprawling Ram Lila grounds prior to the March, the BJP leaders mocked at the Congress slogan "Congress Ka Haath, Aam Admi Ke Saath" (Congress, always with the common man) and said the poor management of economy had badly hit the common man, particularly the poor, as the Government had no control over the price rise.

Besides Mr Vajpayee and Mr Advani, other BJP leaders who courted arrest included former party president M Venkaiah Naidu, former Union Ministers Murli Manohar Joshi, Jaswant Singh, Yashwant Sinha, Arun Jaitley, BJP vice president M A Naqvi, and general secretary Shivraj Singh Chauhan.

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said that the economic gains consolidated by the NDA Government had been frittered away due to the mishandling of economic policies. He had a dig at the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for promising a healthy economic growth with inflation under check and compared it to Mungeri Lal Ke Haseen Sapne as inflation continued to shoot up, fuelling price rise.

He cautioned the United Progressive Alliance against complacency on the price rise issue and said it was important for the Government to steer the economy in the right direction.

Mr Vajpayee said it was sad that the eight per cent growth rate achieved by the previous NDA Government was "slipping" while the inflation rate had touched the eight per cent mark.

"It should have been the other way round, but the Government kept changing its decision every day affecting the pockets of the common man," he said. The common man was struggling to pay the increased costs, whether it was for drinking water in Delhi, for petrol, cooking gas or transportation, Mr Vajpayee said.

An increase in the prices of water in Delhi, he said, was a pointer to the fact that there was something "seriously wrong" in a country full of rivers and the snows in Himalayas.

BJP president Advani accused the UPA Government of compromising national security for political gains by striking deals with Naxalite groups in North East and Andhra Pradesh. He also unleashed attack on Mrs Gandhi and said there was a super Prime Minister as SPM and then, there was a CPM.

Holding the Government’s inefficacy on the economic front and "failure" to take any timely decision because of the presence of "extra power centres", he said it was unfortunate that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not enjoy the privilege of taking decisions on his own.

"Mr Singh is an economist and I respected him as a Finance Minister. But this Prime Minister has in the past six months brought down the country’s economy adversly affecting the common people," the former Deputy Prime Minister said.

"In our Constitution, the Prime Minister is the last word but here we find that he does not have any say," according to Mr Advani.

The Government with "a Prime Minister, super Prime Minister and the CPM" was in no position to take any pro-people decision and this deterioration in the decision-making would continue till the present regime was brought down, he said.

The real face of the Government had come out and the confidence of the people been shattered, Mr Advani said warning the UPA against pursuing policies detrimental to the country’s interests.

The UPA Government, he alleged, had failed on almost all fronts, including internal security where insurgency went unabated, and cross-border terrorism failed to be taken up as an issue during the ongoing peace process. BJP former president Venkaiah Naidu charged the Communist Parties with double standards and said "the Communists practised coalition in Delhi and operation in Kolkata."

He said there was no rationale behind increasing the price of coal and steel.

Mr Naidu said the Government was under the wrong impression that they had received the mandate of the people. "We concede that we have not won majority but they should also realise that they (Congress) have only seven seats more than the BJP in the Lok Sabha."

He criticised the Government for the return of JMM chief Shibu Soren into the Cabinet, saying "bringing back tainted ministers appear to be the priority of the Government instead of making efforts to control inflation."

Former Union Minister for Human Resource Development Murli Manohar Joshi said the people who had forgotten the issue of price rise for six long years of NDA rule were now feeling miserable in just six months of the upa regime.

"All essential prices have gone up and the Government has utterly failed to check the prices," he said.

BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that the UPA Government was confused and faced with internal contradictions, seen in two senior ministers of the coalition who were charging each other with corruption and harbouring criminals. (UNI)

Lt Gen Sharma new GOC of Nagrota Corps

Excelsior Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Dec 1: Lt Gen Sudhir Sharma will take over as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nagrota-based XVI corps, in place of Lt Gen Ashok Kapur.

Lt Gen Sharma, who is from the Brigade of Guards, is presently the Additional Director General, Complaints Advisory Board (CAB) at the Army Headquarters here, an Army Spokesman today said.

Lt Gen Kapur moves to Pune as Chief of Staff of the Southern Command, succeeding Lt Gen Satish Bhalchandra Satpute, who retired today after four decades of service.

Meanwhile, Northern Command’s Chief of Staff Lt Gen K K Khanna has taken over as commandant of the Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun, succeeding Lt Gen Gambhir Singh Negi, who retired yesterday.

No successor has been named yet in place of Lt Gen Khanna.

Lt Gen V K Chopra has taken over the new Master General of Ordnance (MGO), in place of Lt Gen Vijay Kumar Jetley, who has retired, the Spokesman added.

Hurriyat to observe token hunger strike

SRINAGAR, Dec 1: To register its protest against the increase in alleged human rights violations by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference headed by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq will soon observe a token hunger strike.

"Hurriyat leadership has decided to observe a hunger strike to register protest against the growing incidents of human rights violations in the State," the amalgam said in a statement after a joint meeting of its Executive Council, Working Committee and General Council here today.

It, however, said the time and the venue for the hunger strike would be decided shortly but the Hurriyat intends to mobilise mass support and participation in the protest.

The meeting, chaired by Mirwaiz, discussed the prevailing situation in the State and expressed serious concern over the spurt in human rights violations over the past few weeks particularly after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit last month.

Briefing the participants about their recent meetings with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shoukat Aziz and American and British Ambassadors, the amalgam leaders said they discussed the possible solutions to Kashmir issue, inclusion of Kashmiris in the Indo-Pak dialogue process and hurdles in the process of unification of the separatist camp. (PTI)

Ban on pre-paid mobile services lifted

NEW DELHI, Dec 1: As a follow up to the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Jammu and Kashmir and the North East, the Centre has made mobile phone services there fully operational with the activation of pre-paid services from today.

The decision of lifting ban on pre-paid mobile services in J and K, Assam and other North Eastern states was taken after considering inputs after the Prime Minister’s visit to these states last month, an official spokesman said.

However, roaming facility will not be permitted to the pre-paid subscribers in these states, the spokesman said.

Due to security reasons, pre-paid mobile services were not allowed in Jammu and Kashmir although state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Airtel had been providing post paid services in the State.

In Assam and other north eastern states, the pre-paid services were banned from February one, this year, also because of security reasons.

"With this decision, the mobile telephone service providers of these states can now offer pre-paid mobile services," the spokesman said.

The guidelines for the services in these states prescribe that the SIM cards of pre-paid mobile service would be sent to the customers by post or courier and the service to the number could be activated only after receipt of acknowledgement slip from the customers and after due verification, he said.

BSNL began its services in J and K last year. Airtel phones started ringing last month, becoming the first private player to start services in the State. (PTI)

Militant killed in Tral

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 1: While as a militant was killed in a gun battle with security forces in Tral area of Pulwama district during last night, suspected militants shot at and critically wounded a counter insurgent in broad day light in Anantnag district today.

Informed sources in south Kashmir told the EXCELSIOR that troops of Ist Para unit of Army launched a search operation in Hajan Nar forests of Naristan Tral area in Pulwama district last night. As the troops were searching the area, they intercepted a militant, who according to these sources, fired at them.

The fire was returned and in the ensuing exchange of fire, the militant was killed. However, his identity was yet to be ascertained.

Sources said that pistol borne militants appeared in Nowgam Dooru in Anantnag district this afternoon and fired at a counter insurgent, identified as Hamidullah Mir, son Ghulam Ahmed, resident of Kulgam. Mir was critically injured and was shifted to a Srinagar hospital where his condition was stated to be serious.

Meanwhile, militants detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on Srinagar-Baramulla highway near Bulgam this morning. The IED exploded with a big bang. However, there was reportedly no damage.

IA to operate Srinagar-Jeddah flight

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 1: Indian Airlines (IA) has decided to operate direct Haj flights from Srinagar to Jeddah this year.

This decision received the approval after Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed spoke to Union Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel and asked for operating direct Haj flights so that the pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir are not put to any inconvenience.

The Chief Minister impressed upon the Minister the need to revert to previous practice of operating direct flights to Jeddah as otherwise, pilgrims would have to fly via New Delhi that could involve night stay there and the consequent inconvenience to pilgrims.

An official spokesman said that the Union Minister agreed with the Chief Minister and assured him that the flights would be operated directly between Srinagar and Jeddah this year.

Centre regrets Pak delay on visa liberalisation

NEW DELHI, Dec 1: Pakistan has not so far reciprocated the visa liberalisation measures announced by India on September 18 this year, Government told the Lok Sabha today.

In order to facilitate people-to-people contacts and mindful of humanitarian considerations, the Government had announced unilateral relaxation of the grant of visas to the Pakistani nationals, Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed said in a written reply.

He said the relaxations are being implemented appropriately and the Indian High Commission in Islamabad has been issuing about 6,000-7,000 visas per month, including to academicians, journalists and doctors.

"The Government of Pakistan has so far not reciprocated the visa liberalisation measures announced by India," the minister said.

He said the Indian decision covers accredited journalists of Pakistan with minimum three years accredition with national or international media of repute, academicians and professors, and vice-chancellors.

Pakistanis coming on the invitation of reputed universities and institutions, medical practitioners, if accompanying patients for treatment at leading hospitals in India and those above the age of 65 years are also eligible under the decision, Ahamed said.

He said decision encompasses permission to Pakistani nationals to visit upto 12 places during each visit.

Iraq: The United Nations has sought services of an Election Commission official on deputation for work in Iraq in connection with the elections scheduled in January next year, Ahamed said.

Decision on the request has been deferred in view of the prevailing security situation in Iraq, the minister said.

Terrorism: The US has offered help in combating terrorism in the North East, he said.

The offer of assistance was received by the Ministry of Home Affairs in the form of a letter dated October 4, 2004 written by Ambassador of the US, Ahamed said, adding cooperative counter-terrorism efforts would be discussed within the framework of cooperation in such matters.

Farmers: There have been newspaper reports suggesting that some African countries want to take Indian farmers to their countries to push their ailing farm economy, he said.

However, no African country has approached the Government so far, the minister said and added that appropriate decision will be taken if the Government is approached for it.

UN: India’s contribution to un amounted to Rs 27,98,68,571 during the current year and constitutes 0.421 per cent of the world body’s regular budget, Ahamed said.

He said the Government had no proposal to get the contributions reduced in view of financial conditions. (PTI)

Indo-Pak FS level talks put off

ISLAMABAD, Dec 1: The two-day Foreign Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan, scheduled to take place here on December 23-24 to kickstart the second round of composite dialogue process, have been put off to December 27-28, an official announcement said today.

The rescheduling of the dates was done at the request of the Indian Government, a Pakistan Foreign Ministry statement here said.

Besides reviewing the progress in the talks on various issues, the Foreign Secretaries would discuss the peace and security, CBMs and Jammu and Kashmir issue.

They would also fix schedule for officials-level talks on issues like Siachen, Wullar Barrage, Sir Creek, terrorism and drug trafficking, economic and commercial cooperation and promotion of friendly exchanges on various fields.

Meanwhile, railway officials of the two countries would meet here tomorrow to discuss resumption of rail link between Kokharapar and Munabao, connecting Rajasthan and Sindh province of Pakistan.

The two countries had earlier discussed a proposal to run a bus service between Kokhrapar and Munabao, but later shifted to the idea of a rail link which, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh recently said, was likely to begin on October two next year.

The rail talks will be followed by parleys between coast guard officials of the two countries on December 3-4 in New Delhi to discuss an MoU to establish direct communication links between the two sides.

Also officials of the two countries will meet in New Delhi on Dec 7-8 to resolve differences over the modalities to run the bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad. Pakistan opposes use of passport and visas for passengers to travel by the bus and wants the travellers to use identification certificates provided by local officials.

The bus talks will be followed by separate expert-level meetings on nuclear and conventional CBMs from December 14 to 16 in Islamabad.

Also, the officials of the two countries are scheduled to conduct joint survey of boundary pillars in the Sir Creek area on Dec 14-15. (PTI)

Advocate among 4 arrested for cheating

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 1: A Jallandhar-based advocate among four persons have been arrested by the Gandhi Nagar Police for cheating people on the pretext of arranging loans for them without any hassle.

An official spokesman said that Gandhi Nagar Police received a number of complaints from the people that a firm on the name and style of Money Linkers had cheated them of thousands of rupees each on the pretext of getting bank loans sanctioned without any hassle.

On this a police party led by SHO Inspector S S Sambyal started investigation into the complaints. During investigation, police came to know that Money Linkers firm is being run by a group of four persons from outside the State and they had cheated around 100 persons so far.

After collecting all the evidences against the persons running Money Linkers, police team led by S S Sambyal under the supervision of SSP Jammu Dr Kamal Saini and SDPO South Shiv Kumar Chouhan conducted raid and arrested all the four persons including a Jallandhar-based advocate.

From the possession of one of the cheats, one unlicenced 7.65 mm pistol with 13 cartridges was recovered while from the office several documents were seized. The arrested persons have been identified as Om Parkash, son of Deputy Lal of East Sagar, New Delhi, Kuldeep Singh, son of Ved Parkash of Haryana, Advocate James Bhatti, son of Rehmat Massih of Jallandhar and Mohit Bhatti, son of William Bhatti of Pathankot.

A case under Section 420 RPC and 3/25 Arms Act has been registered in this connection and further investigations were on.

The preliminary investigations revealed that the arrested persons used to get Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 for getting bank loans sanctioned without any hastle. Whenever people asked for the reasons behind the delay in sanctioning of loans, one of the accused—Kuldeep Singh used to terrorise them by showing the pistol and projecting himself as PSO of O P Sharma.

Since the accused used to get property statement from all the persons, the police didn’t rule out the possibility of all the accused having planning to conduct large scale dacoities.

Two held for black marketing

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 1: Police today arrested two persons for black marketing of Food Corporation of India (FCI) rice.

Police spokesman said that on a specific information a police party from Gandhi Nagar Police Station led by SHO S S Sambyal conducted a raid in Ware House area and seized 50 bags of FCI rice which were being sold to Verinder Gupta, son of Krishan Lal Gupta instead of being distributed through ration shops.

The driver of the Tata Mobile, in which the rice was brought to Ware House from Talab Tillo area, was also arrested. He has been identified as Kuldeep Singh.

Police has registered a case under Section 3/7 Essential Commodities Act and launched hunt to nab the depot owner Jagdish Raj Gupta.

PMO constitutes inter-ministerial team for Kashmir

NEW DELHI, Dec 2: As a follow-up to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir and his assurance to Kashmiri migrants at the camp in Jammu, the Prime Minister’s Office has constituted an inter-ministerial team for preparing a plan to rehabilitate Kashmiri migrants.

The team will prepare the rehabilitation plan after visiting the migrant camps and holding discussions with the migrants taking into account, among others, means of livelihood, education, health and the security of women, PMO sources said.

The three-member team will be led by Principal Advisor (incharge of J and K) Planning Commission Kasturi Gupta Menon. The members are Joint Secretary (designate) Ministry of Home Affairs, dept of J and K affairs Mitali Sen Gavai, and Joint Secretary, Ministry of Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation, Pankaj Jain.

The team may co-opt members from any other ministry/department if felt necessary. The team will be serviced by the department of J and K affairs and will have to submit its report to the PMO within two months. (UNI)

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