Ultras target people for raising VDC, helping Army
3 children among 11 massacred, 10 injured in Surankote hills

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, June 26: Frustrated by strengthening of the Village Defence Committees (VDCs) and hoisting of tricolor at Hill Kaka for first time in 15 years of militancy, a big group of militants struck at village Teli Katha in upper reaches of Marha in Surankote tehsil of Poonch district early today killing 11 civilians including three children and two teen-agers and injuring 10 others.

The VDC of Marha, known as the most powerful VDC in Poonch district, retaliated to the militant attack very effectively and saved several other lives as they forced the militants to flee within 10 to 15 minutes of the firing.

Majority of the victims were Gujjars, who had openly sided with the Army for last couple of years and provided a lot of help during ‘Operation Sarp Vinash’ in Hill Kaka in which 63 militants were killed, official sources said.

They said a big group of 8 to 10 militants, reportedly a combination of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen Pir Panjal Regiment (HMPPR), struck at village Teli Katha, where about 10 to 12 Gujjar families comprising 65 to 70 people had been camping for the last few days along with their cattle leaving their village Marha, at 3 am today. The families used to visit the upper reaches frequently during summer for grazing their cattle.

Instead of attacking the VDC, the militants, whose previous three attacks on the Gujjar families of Marha had been thwarted by the VDC, this time targeted the innocent civilians sleeping in a dhok by resorting to indiscriminate firing from the automatic weapons, the sources said.

Five VDC members, who had gone to upper reaches along with the villagers and were putting up in a separate dhok, replied the firing with their weapons. The VDC members including Lal Hussain, Mohd Aslam, Mohd Qasim, Aijaz Ahmed and Lal Din fired more than 360 rounds on the militants forcing them to leave the village within 10 to 15 minutes of the attack.

"Had the VDC not retaliated effectively, the militants would have eliminated all 65 to 70 people", the sources said, adding 11 people including a VDC member, three children and two teen-agers were killed in the attack.

There were reportedly no casualties on the militants side as they had taken positions at the protected places before launching the attack.

Only one VDC member Mohd Farooq was killed in the attack, the sources said, denying the reports telecast by the electronic news channels that seven VDC members were killed in the attack.

Mohd Farooq was unarmed and was sleeping with the villagers as he had recently joined the VDC and was yet to get training. All other VDC members fought bravely with the militants and were safe. Sources also denied that the death toll in the attack was 12.

Also the militants were wearing civil and Khan dresses and not Army uniforms as reported, they said.

SSP Poonch Mukesh Singh, DC Poonch Altaf Hussain and other senior police officers had reached the spot this morning after trekking for three hours on foot. The SSP Poonch appreciated courage displayed by the VDC, which saved several other innocent lives. He asked the VDC members not to get demoralised by the killings. "We will trace the killers and kill them", he declared.

Deceased have been identified as Noor Mohd, 75, son of Manga, Mohd Farooq, 25, son of Noor Mohd, Lal Hussain, 75, son of Ghulam Mohd, Faiz Hussain, 50, son of Shahnaz Hussain, Gulzar Hussain, 25, son of Ali Mohd, Mir Jaan, 25, son of Mohd Azam, Parveen Akhter, 14, daughter of Lal Hussain, Niaz Ahmed, 8, son of Mohd Farooq, Imtiyaz Ahmed, 4, son of Mohd Farooq, Nazakat Hussain, 14, son of Mohd Aslam and an unnamed three year old child of Gulzar Hussain.

Injured included Ghulab Din, 80, son of Lal, Ali Mohd, 80, son of Faiz Mohd, Abdul Gani, 30, son of Ghulam Din, Ashwara Bi, 60, wife of Ali Mohd, Shamshad Akhter, 25, wife of Mohd Ashraf, Sabza Begum, 30, Mohd Aslam, Rashida Bi, 20, wife of Gulzar Hussain, Shabakat Hussain, 10, son of Faizal, Khalida, 3, daughter of Ashraf and Shahnaz Akhter, 8, son of Mohd Aslam.

Seven injured were airlifted here and admitted in the Medical College hospital. Condition of the injured is stable, Dr Vinod Gupta, Medical Superintendent GMC said. Dr Gupta said best possible medicare is being given to the injured.

On spot investigations by the police officers revealed that the militants had used AK-56 rifles and Rocket Projectile Guns (RPGs) in the attack. Number of the militants could be between 18 to 20. While some of the militants executed the attack, others gave them the cover.

Most of the killers were the foreign mercenaries, who were frustrated by the local people’s help to the Army, which had led to several successful operations not only in Hill Kaka but in other areas of Surankote.

The attack, according to the sources, appeared to have been executed jointly by the militants of LeT and HMPPR outfits, who were the worst sufferers at the hands of Army in the area.

It may be recalled that the people of Marha had decided to join the VDCs and take up arms against the militants about a couple of years back after a number of civilians were killed by the ultras. The locals including the VDCs had openly joined Army’s ‘Operation Sarp Vinash’ in Hill Kaka in which 63 militants were killed.

Hill Kaka area was cleared of the militants after the Operation. On January 26 this year, the local people had hoisted the tricolor at Hill Kaka for the first time in 15 years of militancy. The locals had also lent a helping hand to the Army and administration in laying kucha road to Hill Kaka.

All these acts of the people were not being liked by the militants, the sources said and added that they had made three unsuccessful attempts on the lives of VDCs and civilians during past few months but all their attacks had been thwarted by the VDCs. Even a couple of women in the area had also been trained in the handling of weapons and they had participated in previous attack by the militants about one and a half month back.

"Main aim of the militants was to demoralise the VDCs and local people so that they stop supporting the Army. However, the local people were determined to fight against the militants to ensure that they don’t manage to establish their base again in Hill Kaka", the sources said.

Yatra issue remains unresolved
Governor, CM fail to arrive at decision

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, June 26: A 40 minute long scheduled meeting between Governor Lt Gen (Retd) SK Sinha and Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed today didn’t yield any result, as both failed to arrive at any decision in order to end an impasse over this year’s Amarnath Yatra.

While there was no official version about the outcome of today’s meeting, which was held at Raj Bhavan Srinagar, the authoritative sources, however, said that Mufti Mohd Sayeed during the meeting, expressed his inability that he could not allow the Yatra to continue for more than 40 days, owing to ‘security’ and other reasons.

The sources said that Gen Sinha, didn’t subscribe to the stand of Mufti Sayeed, as Governor was of the belief that the Government should act as a facilitator in the smooth functioning of the Yatra and provide all facilities for the Yatris.

The Chief Minister, who was adamant on not increasing duration of the pilgrimage to two months, as sought by the Shrine Board and a host of social and religious organizations, is reported to have told the Governor that it was not possible to increase the yatra period to two months. He was also non-committal on other proposals given by the Board for welfare of Amarnath pilgrims, the sources said.

The Governor, the sources said, also conveyed that since Vyas Purnima falls on July 2, the pilgrimage had to begin on that day, as has been decided by the Amarnath Shrine Board, keeping the religious sanctity of the Yatra into consideration. Obviously, it implies that Governor will have to attend to all these religious functions and offer puja and prayers on July 2, since he is also the Chairman of Amarnath Shrine Board.

Simultaneously, Mahant Deepinder Giri of Dashnami Akhara, who is spiritual head of the Yatra and a member of the Shrine Board, would also offer prayers at the Akhara the same day.

The Governor, the sources said, is also understood to have referred to various other proposals of the Shrine Board and wanted that the Government, as a facilitator, should provide all these facilities for ensuring smooth conduct of the Yatra.

He is reported to have insisted that since a large number of pilgrims will visit the shrine, the Government was duty bound to provide them with the facilities like better security measures, pre-fabricated shelters, environment friendly sanitary arrangements, preservation of Ice Lingam, medicare, electricity, water and Langar, as were the recommendations of the Shrine Board. Sources said the Chief Minister reportedly said during the meeting that only one or two huts or toilets can be constructed and that too on experimental basis.

It may be recalled here that the Congress high command is also committed to the demand that Amarnath Yatra should be for a period of two months.

"The Government has no business to interfere in working of the Shrine Board, which is an autonomous body. The Government has to facilitate the Yatra as per the Shrine Board proposal", the Congress said.

These views have already been expressed by Pradesh Congress (I) president and Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Urban Development Ghulam Nabi Azad and AICC (I) general secretary, Incharge J&K, Ambika Soni.

Four Congress Ministers—Raman Bhalla, Jugal Kishore, Romesh Sharma and Yogesh Sawhney had resigned on Thursday in protest against the Government’s decision to restrict Amarnath yatra to a period of one month.

The stalemate over the Yatra issue is likely to continue upto June 28, when PCC-I president and Union Minister for Urban development and Parliamentary Affairs Ghulam Nabi Azad arrives here to take up the issue with the Chief Minister and also during the meeting of the Coordination Committee, the sources added.

PTI adds from New Delhi: VHP today described the Jammu and Kashmir Government’s move to restrict the Amarnath Yatra period to 40 days as an "attack on the religious freedom of Hindus" and threatened to commence the annual pilgrimage from July 2 as per the traditions.

"Since time immemorial, the yatra commences on Guru Purnima, which falls on July 2 this year, and concludes on Raksha Bandhan. The State Government’s move to restrict the duration of the pilgrimage is an attack on the freedom of Hindus," VHP senior vice-president Acharya Giriraj Kishore said.

Kishore said VHP was "not willing to give up its religious rights" and would "defy" any move to suppress the pilgrims, who would commence their pilgrimage from July 2 onwards.

"The Jammu and Kashmir Government is acting on communal lines. They have no hesitation in freeing terrorists from jails. This kind of discrimination is unacceptable," he said.

Meanwhile, scores of Shiv Sena activists led by the party’s Delhi unit president Jai Bhagwan Goyal today staged a protest demonstration outside the town hall here demanding extension of the yatra to two months.

The party later submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil urging him to stop the interference of the State Chief Minister in the religious matters of Hindus and commence the pilgrimage from July 2.

Yash Johar passes away

MUMBAI, June 26: Noted film maker Yash Johar passed away at a Suburban Hospital tonight, family sources said here. The end came at 2150 hours, they said.

Johar, 75, was admitted to the Leelavati Hospital on June 19 for acute chest congestion.

The noted film director was put on life-support system for the last few days.

The funeral would be held at 11 am tomorrow at Shivaji Park, the sources said.

Yash Johar, the man with the midas touch, who churned out jubilee hits year after year like ‘Muqaddar Ka Faisla’, ‘Agneepath’, ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hain’, ‘Kabhie Kushi Kabhie Gham’ and ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’, today gently faded out of life’s canvas.

The passing away of the veteran film-maker marks the end of a glorious era and films, known for their opulence and dramatic extravaganza, scattered over breath-taking locations.

Zooming Mercedes, the whirring blades of the helicotper, sprawling well-pruned lawns and aesthetically constructed mansions always formed part of the huge celluloid screen when it came to Johar’s pictures.

Johar, the man who successfully produced films that carried a healthy blend of high moral values, deep rooted Indian traditions, with stories set in exotic locales, began as a humble photographer. His films like ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, ‘Kabhie Kushi Kabhie Gham’ left many a hardcore family loving persons teary eyed and nostalgic over old Indian values.

For a person, who began with his eye on a camera, his forte for spotting potential stories and translating them into potboilers, made him stand out in the film industry.

Johar, later turned production controller and finally a producer. He culled his inherent talent over the years to master every aspect of the film making by ensuring that his ‘dharma’ production churned out some memorable films.

He was a senior member of the film producers guild of India.

His films included Dostana (1980) and Duniya Meri Jeb Mein (1984).

Johar began his career as a production assistant way back in the 1950’s. Having worked with noted names like S Mukherjee, Dev Anand and Sunil Dutt, Johar picked up the finer nuances of film production from these stalwarts.

He soon earned himself the name as one of the best production managers, who knew how to handle the team aptly with ease and Elan. However, it was actor Sharukh Khan, who turned out to be his lucky mascot and with whom he teamed up to produce hits like ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gam’, which turned out to be money spinners.

His son, Karan Johar, inhereted his father’s midas touch by churning out blockbusters through his aptly directed films. (PTI)

Muslim organisations decry terrorists for misusing term Jehad

NEW DELHI, June 26: Several Muslim organisations, including All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), today decried terrorists for "misusing" the term `Jihad’ and stressed the need for clearing air on "misinterpretation" of the "holy" word which has nothing to do with terror.

"It is very unfortunate that we have reached a point where we need to clarify that Jihad has nothing to do with terrorism. Jihad is a holy word in Quran meaning action which is done to further the cause of God," AIMPLB vice president Maulana Kalbe Sadiq said participating in a conference on `Terrorism and Jihad: An Islamic perspective’ here.

Religious leaders of all the religions should be involved to discuss the issue and make people understand the difference between the two words, he said, adding "wide-spread misuse of the word `Jihad’ for terrorism might confuse the people."

T A Rehmani, president of the Muslim Political Council of India, said after September 11, there has been "reckless use of the word `Jihad’ as a synonym for terrorism."

"Knowingly or unknowingly, our leaders and media have also used the term as if the Islamic philosophy of Jihad is the root cause of terrorism," he said.

"There is a need for eminent and known Islamic scholars and other Muslim and secular intelligentsia to take a unanimous, just, firm and clear stand on the issue which is of paramount importance for the whole world," said Rehmani.

Sadiq called for a dialogue of Muslim religious leaders with the heads of other religions to dispel the myth about Jihad.

Earlier, inaugurating the conference, Minister of State for Food Processing Subodh Kant Sahai said "politics of religion" was to blame for perjudices about Islam.

"Politicians, by using the word Jihad to refer to terrorism, are indirectly strengthening the terrorists by giving them a religious identity," he said.

Senior Journalist Pankaj Pachauri said media was not to be blamed fully for the misuse of the word ‘Jihad,’ saying the usage had trickled down from those in power.

"We in the media have derived the usage from the politicians, from those at the helm," Pachauri said, adding the issue has to be discussed at various fora so that people understand the real meaning of Jihad.

"Information and truth are the most potent weapons to fight the propaganda," he said.

Calling for a "Jihad against terrorism", Obaidullah Khan Azmi, MP, said, "people all over the world need to unite and fight in a determined manner the scourge of terrorism."

He said Jihad meant to struggle made in a positive, constructive manner, hence the word should not be associated with terrorism.

President of Darul Uloom Yasin Akhtar Misbani alleged that "people at the root of the misuse know the real meaning of the words Jihad and Mujahid. But as part of a well-thought out propaganda, they have misused them and given them wrong connotations."

The conference unanimously declared that "Jihad is a pious, pure and holy duty of all Muslims and has nothing to do with any sort of terror act." (PTI)

Two militants, soldier killed in high drama operation
500 detained at mosque to find 'killers' of engineer

From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, June 26: Even as Army killed two militants, one soldier got killed and a Major injured, at least 500 people were put for nightlong detention at a mosque in Litter village of Pulwama district today. Security forces are maintaining the cordon-and-search operation on the basis of a specific information according to which a "top wanted militant" was hiding somewhere in the village. The militant is reportedly a senior commander of the militants who, according to security forces, had kidnapped and killed the IRCON engineer Sudhir Kumar and his brother in the same locality on Wednesday/Thursday.

Informed sources in south Kashmir told the EXCELSIOR that on the basis of some intelligence reports, troops of Rashtriya Rifles 01 Bn launched a major search operation in Litter and Sugan villages in Pulwama-Bijbehara belt. According to the information available with Victor Force, armed guerrillas of two pro-Pakistan militant outfits were present at a couple of hideouts even after killing the IRCON engineer and his brother on Thursday.

As already reported, the railway construction engineer and his brother had been kidnapped by two armed persons from Gulzarpora, in Awantipore area, on Wednesday last. The kidnappers let off a Kashmiri material supplier Farooq Ahmed Kuchai and the driver of the IRCON-hired Tata Sumo, Shabir Ahmed, at Litter. On Friday, slit-throat bodies of the two non-Muslims, hailing from Muzaffarpur U.P, were recovered from a filled up pit at Sugan. The vehicle too was recovered from the same area.

As the troops, accompanied by contingents of SOG Awantipore and SOG Pulwama, swooped on Litter this afternoon, signs of unrest were tell-tale in the populace. Troops raided the house of a militant, Altaf Malik, and lifted two of his brothers, namely Pervez and Ashfaq. Thereafter, troops raided several houses at Sugan. In the afternoon, troops returned to Litter and laid cordon around the main mosque in village. Suddenly, militants opened fire from an unknown direction. Major Amit Kumar sustained injuries and another soldier got killed.

Sources said that in the melee, associates and overground workers of militants managed convergence of about 40 women at the mosque who created a pandemonium in order to facilitate the holed up militants to come out and intermingle with the crowd. Police and troops tightened the cordon and got out all the 40 women and 12 men with physical frisking. However, the militants managed to come out and they vanished in the locality. Minutes after the mosque was clear of the men and the women, troops spotted two militants at a distance of about 100 yards from the mosque. They were both killed in a brief encounter.

Officials identified the slain militants as Zahoor Ahmed Mir alias Jehangir R/o Nowpora, Shopian, and Basharat Ahmed alias Gazi Mukhtar alias Imran R/o Abgam, Kulgam. Seizures indicated that they were members of Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami. Two AK-56 rifles and five grenades were recovered from the site of the encounter.

While the gunbattle ensued in close vicinity of the mosque this evening, about 500 men, who had been made to assemble for an identification parade at an open spot got panicky. Police asked them all to take shelter inside the mosque.

After the two militants were killed, troops turned to the mosque and began abusing the residents. They were angry why the village women had provided cover to the holed up militants and facilitated their exit from the mosque earlier. Police officials advised the troops to withdraw the operation as, according to them, both the militants present in the village had been eliminated. However, a senior Army officer, who supervised the operation, argued that the "leader of the militants responsible for the assassination of the Ircon engineer and his brother" was still hiding "either among the 500 men or somewhere else in the village".

Troops reportedly made it clear to the residents that they would not be allowed to come out until they identified and handed over the militants hiding in the village.

As the detained crowds raised hue and cry, while alleging that troops were "abusing and thrashing them", Police officials insisted that the operation be concluded. When Army did not agree till late tonight, Police withdrew its contingents as also those of CRPF 86 Bn, who are part of SOG Awantipore and SOG Pulwama.

A Defence spokesman denied reports that troops were angry with the residents for providing cover to the militants. He, however, confirmed to the EXCELSIOR, late tonight, that the operation was "still in progress". He also confirmed reports that troops were continuing the operation "to find the leader of the militants responsible for the Ircon engineer’s killing". He said Army had a very reliable information that the top-wanted militant was still hiding somewhere in Litter village. He added that the civilians would be allowed to come out of the mosque after proper identification and frisking of each individual. The spokesman at headquarters of 15 Corps said that the injured officer, Maj Amit Kumar, was out of danger.

Earlier today, an IED, which had been planted under a heap of stone at Tengpora in Batmaloo area, exploded. One Nepalese labourer, Vijay Kumar, sustained injuries.

Geelani asked to join hands with Itihadi force

SRINAGAR, June 26: Three militant outfits have served a week-long ultimatum to chairman of breakaway Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani to join hands with Itihadi force, an amalgam of seven erstwhile constituents of undivided Hurriyat Conference, or quit politics.

Harkat-ul-Ansar, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Harkat-e-Jehadi-Islami asked Geelani and Itihadi force to endeavour seriously in reuniting the separatist camp, Junid Tahiri, a joint spokesman of the three outfits said in a statement to a local news agency.

"We appeal to the leaders of Itihadi force comprising JKLF, Jamaat-e-Islami, Peoples League, Democratic Freedom Party, Kashmir Bar Association, Jamiat-e-Ahlihadees and Jamiat-e-Hamdani, and Geelani to unite in the best interest of the ongoing movement.

"If Geelani is issuing statements for unification then he should join hands with right people", he said.

Tahiri said Geelani has been advised either to make serious efforts to unite with Itehadi force within seven days or else quit politics. (PTI)

Lalu postpones Srinagar visit

NEW DELHI, June 26: Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, who was to visit Srinagar today to meet the breaved family of senior Railway Engineer Sudhir Kumar Pundeer who was killed by militants along with his brother two days ago, did not go as he was pre-occupied with some functions in Bihar.

It was confirmed earlier in the day by the Railway Ministry that Prasad was visiting Srinagar today.

Prasad may visit the Valley in a day or two, the ministry said. (PTI)

Pak to discuss Kashmir, other issues with sincerity: Khokhar

NEW DELHI, June 26: Arriving here for crucial talks, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar today said his side would discuss with Indian officials the "fundamental issue" of Jammu and Kashmir and other matters with "great sincerity and seriousness" as both sides prepared to propose a slew of Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs).

"We are going to kickstart the composite dialogue....We certainly will approach the talks with great sincerity and seriousness," Khokhar told reporters on his arrival at the airport here for the two-day talks with Foreign Secretary Shashank from tomorrow.

Khokhar, who was received by Foreign Secretary-designate Shyam Saran, India’s High Commissioner in Islamabad Shiv Shankar Menon and Pakistan Envoy here Aziz Ahmed Khan, said the two sides will discuss the "fundamental issue of Jammu and Kashmir", besides peace and security and CBMs.

"We hope that we will be able to do some solid business," said Khokhar who was Pakistan’s High Commissioner here from 1992 to 1997 and added he was "very delighted to be in Delhi after many years and looked forward to meeting all my friends".

Asked whether Pakistan will press for tripartite talks involving Kashmiri leaders, he parried saying "we will see".

In Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said that any agreement on J and K has to be one that is acceptable to the Kashmiri people.

Khokhar is also expected to meet Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who leads a breakaway faction, before getting into talks on J and K on Monday.

Tomorrow, the two sides will take up issues related to peace and security, including CBMs.

New Delhi has made it clear that while it is interested in taking forward the dialogue process on all issues including that of J and K, there will be "no compromise on its basic position on J and K."

India is expected to present a comprehensive package of proposals for cooperation in specified areas while discussing Jammu and Kashmir and on military Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) at the talks but has made it clear that there will be no compromise on its basic position on J and K.

As part of steps to enhance people-to-people contacts, India may propose early holding of technical level talks on the bus link between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Among other proposals expected to come up at the talks are restoration of the size of respective High Commissions at Islamabad and New Delhi to 110, a formal decision on reopening consulates in Karachi and Mumbai and the issue of freeing civilian prisoners and fishermen besides touching on the question of missing defence personnel.

The Indian side led by Shashank, will comprise Saran, Menon and Joint Secretary in External Affairs Ministry Arun K Singh and senior officials.

New Delhi is "reasonably hopeful" of the talks and is approaching it with a detailed and positive agenda.

Earlier Khokhar, who is leading a nine-member delegation, told reporters at Lahore that during the talks the two sides would also draw a schedule of meetings of other senior officials who would be going to India between now and August.

According to Khokhar, at least six more meetings would be held before the two Foreign Ministers meet in August.

"The groundwork will be done by us," he said, adding his side was going with "purposeful attitude. Our job will be to work very hard and to see if we can find some creative approaches to finding solutions to our outstanding problems."

Khokhar said he was approaching the talks with an "open mind"

"It is our hope that both sides can show some creative approach, boldness in addressing the fundamental problems between the two countries," he said.

The other members of the delegation include Additional Secretary, Asia Pacific, Salman Bashir; Director-General, South Asia, Jalil Abbas Jilani; Foreign Office Spokesman Masood Khan; Director Foreign Secretary’s Office Tehmina Janjua; and Directors and Deputy Directors of India and Kashmir Affairs Division. (PTI)

Advani, Jaswant meet PM

NEW DELHI, June 26: Leaders of the opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha L K Advani and Jaswant Singh today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to register their protest in the manner in which the ruling United Progressive Alliance was putting pressure on the NDA appointed Governors to resign from their post.

BJP spokesman Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told newspersons that the two leaders told Dr Singh that the NDA Govenment had allowed all incumbent Governors, most of them Congressmen, to complete their tenures. "The UPA Government should continue and not violate this precedent." they added that the Governor’s post was a constitutional office for a five-year term.

The two leaders also told him that during the appointment of new Governors, the NDA Government had invariably consulted the State Chief Ministers and alternative candidates were decided if there were reservations on the official nominees. "The new Government should adhere to this healthy convention in the interest of federalism," they said.

Asked about the response of the Prime Minister to Mr Advani and Mr Jaswant Singh, Mr Naqvi said the BJP was only expecting the UPA and its ‘remote control’ to continue the established precedent.

To a question as to why the BJP had not approached the ‘remote control’ of the UPA on the issue, the BJP spokesman said the party had approached Dr Singh, a constitutionally recognised Prime Minister. "We are not concerned about the super Prime Minister," Mr Naqvi remarked.

Party sources said the resignation of Pondicherry Governor was due to pressure exerted by the ruling coalition and there were signs of extending this to states like Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. With the top BJP leadership giving their mind, the obvious inference is that the party wants its nominees to stick to their positions and not be cowed down by pressure from the UPA. (UNI)

Probe sought in engineer's killing

SRINAGAR, June 26: Alleging that mishandling of situation led to the brutal murder of IRCON’s senior engineer Sudhir Kumar Pundeer, the employees of the Indian Railway Construction today demanded a probe into the abduction and subsequent killing of Pundeer and his brother.

"The situation was taken very lightly by the law and order enforcing agencies, we demand that the entire incident be enquired into," IRCON employees, who suspended work on the Railway project linking Kashmir with Jammu as a mark of protest against the killing of their colleague, said in a statement.

They said they had brought to the notice of the higher officials of the Railway project about incidents of kidnapping and extortion taking place in the recent past in the Qazigund to Awantipora area but no action was taken.

"We demand suitable action be taken against the erring officials both of IRCON and local police," the employees said.

They also demanded that Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to visit them and assure about the steps being taken to ensure their safety and security.

They said till such time none of the staff members would go to the construction site unless adequate security arrangements were provided.

The employees also demanded suitable action plan be framed to handle such situations without depending much on the local authorities.

Every time the incidents were reported there was no sympathy from the higher officials of IRCON and the staff were made to go to site ignoring the threat perception being faced by the site staff which clearly showed the value of life of our staff in the eyes of our officials, the statement alleged.

It also said that the employees wanted to stress their point that they should not be pressurised to stay in places like Anantnag and Baramulla district towns in south and north Kashmir, respectively, where they were not at all safe.

The employees also demanded compensation for the family of the slain engineer.(PTI)

Khokhar hold 2 hour meet with Geelani

NEW DELHI, June 26: Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar began his three-day visit to India with a marathon meeting with fire-brand Jamaat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani in which the pro-Pakistani leader is understood to have been asked to allign with Itihadi force, an amalgam of neutral separatist leaders not favouring direct talks with the Centre.

Geelani, accompanied by some of his close associates, met Khokhar for nearly two hours in which diplomats of the Pakistan High Commission also participated.

Sources close to Geelani faction said the separatist leader was asked to align with the Itihadi force, run by Shabir Shah, JKLF chief Yaseen Malik, Peoples’ League chief Sheikh Abdul Aziz and members of Kashmir Bar Council.

Geelani had demanded that Pakistan should exclusively extend support to his faction and not support other groups, which seems to have been turned down completely by Khokhar as he was going ahead with his meetings with Shah, Malik, Aziz and others, the sources said.

A serious rebuff to Geelani was the invitation extended to Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, senior leader of Hurriyat, the group with which Geelani had a bitter fight last year.

Umer was likely to meet Khokhar on Monday morning, when India and Pakistan will hold discussions on Kashmir issue.

Geelani’s plan to form a new party is also understood to have got a lukewarm response from Pakistan. Geelani and his group managed to give slip to the media and went out by a different gate.(PTI)

SBI guard arrested for firing

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, June 27: Panic gripped Satwari and adjoining localities tonight after a bullet went off from the weapon of a guard of State Bank of India (SBI), Satwari branch, who was in drunk condition.

The gun shot by the Bank guard Thoru Ram, an ex-serviceman, at 9.30 pm sent Army and police on alert. They surrounded the bank apprehending that the militants might have intruded inside the bank premises.

SP City (South) Bhupinder Singh also alerted police nakas in the City.

However, after about an hour, the troops sneaked inside and over-powered the Bank guard, who was heavily drunk. He was whisked away by the Army personnel for questioning.

Jamali resigns; Hussain to be successor, Aziz to follow

ISLAMABAD, June 26: After only 20 months in office, Pakistan Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali today resigned capping months of strained relations with President Pervez Musharraf and nominated his party PML-Q president Chaudhury Shujat Hussain as his successor.

But soon after a visibly disturbed Jamali tendered his resignation, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed clarified that Hussain’s takeover as Prime Minister was an interim arrangement, and he would be succeeded by economist-turned Finance Minister Shoukat Aziz.

During his announcement at the PML-Q Parliamentary Party meeting, Jamali had said Aziz would be "a senior minister" in the new cabinet, but did not hint at the possibility of his becoming the Prime Minister in the long term.

Hussain himself confirmed the Information Minister’s remarks, telling state-run PTV that he has been asked to take over as interim Prime Minister until Aziz, who is currently a Senator, gets elected to National Assembly.

He said Aziz, 54, a former City Bank executive, would shortly contest from one of the safe National Assembly seats to get elected. Until then he would be Finance Minister in his cabinet.

"His election could take some time until then I would be the Prime Minister," Hussain said. While tendering his resignation, Jamali said a sustained campaign has been carried out by some of the newspapers and TV networks for the past 37 days against him to hurt his dignity. (PTI)

 
 
 
 

 

 

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