J J Singh becomes first Sikh to be appointed Army chief

NEW DELHI, Nov 27: Lt Gen Joginder Jaswant Singh, a highly-decorated officer, was today appointed the next chief of the Army Staff, becoming the first Sikh ever to be named to the high post.

However, Lt Gen Singh, who will take over on February 1, 2005, succeeding Gen N C Vij, who retires on January 31, sought to downplay the record of his becoming the first of his community to occupy the post. He told UNI he would faithfully carry out the responsibilities entrusted to him and ensure that the Army was "fully prepared for the next war."

"I am Indian first and foremost," he said and recalled a Jawaharlal Nehru quote that religion is no guide to a man’s ability.

"Our first Prime Minister once said that if man raises his hand against another on the basis of religion, he would fight him to the best of his ability, whether he was Prime Minister or an ordinary citizen," he said.

Presently the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the frontline Western Army Command, he also adroitly dealt with questions about his priorities when he takes over as the head of the world’s second-largest army.

"I am conscious of the issues facing the Army but require some time to study them in further depth before saying anything on them. I will comment on them at the appropriate time," he said.

However, Lt Gen Singh, the primary architect of the Army’s newly-adopted war doctrine, said with the spectre of terrrorism increasing, the tempo of Low-Intensity (LI) and Counter-Insurgency (COIN) warfare would further increase.

He said that the Indian Army was well experienced in LI and COIN operations, a fact recognised throughout the world and lamented the tendency to jump on any aberration.

" Our men practise a high deal of restraint and use minimum force, being extremely cautious to avoid any civilian casualty. However, any excess, which is an aberration and duly punished, is widely highlighted," he said.

Asked about the troop reductions in J&K, he reiterated the Army chief’s remarks on the issue.

"We will continue to review the situation and see what effect it has had and what the ground situation is," he said, noting that the force reduction was a major Confidence-Building Measure (CBM). Terming high-technology and night-vision fighting capability as essential for future warfare, Lt Gen Singh, who as head of the Western Army Command, refined operational planning by bringing in ‘revolution in military affairs’, said he would also focus on these aspects.

"We need to keep reviewing our doctrine and war-fighting techniques and regularly updating them with regard to contemporary conditions," he said.

Lt Gen Singh, who participating in the national seminar on peacekeeping last month, advocated the creation of a national peacekeeping doctrine, said he would take interest in this.

"Our troops have performed very well on UN assignments and are eagerly sought for this. I will also consider this issue," he said.

Born on September 17, 1945, at Bahawalpur (now in Pakistan), Lt Gen Singh was commissioned into the Maratha Light Infantry (MLI) on August 2, 1964.

A third generation army officer, he has worked in a variety of command and staff appointments during his long and distinguished service spanning over 40 years.

Believing in leading from the front, he was seriously wounded in an engagement with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir when he was commanding a Mountain Brigade in 1991 and was awarded the war wound medal as well as earning a commendation from the COAS. Additional Director of Military Operations during the Kargil conflict, he commanded an elite strike corps during exercise Poorna Vijay and Operation Parakram.

Besides being a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Lt Gen Singh has done the senior command course, higher command course and the prestigious National Defence College course.

He has been decorated with PVSN, AVSM and VSM and is also one of the honorary ADCS to the President. He is married to Anupama and has a son and a daughter

Widely respected in the Army and the prime architect of the recently-released army war doctrine, Lt Gen Singh is one of the ‘Ganpat’ generals, currently occupying high posts. Other officers from the Maratha Light infantry, whose men are affectionately called ‘Ganpats’ include Northern Army Command GOC-in-C Lt Gen Hari Prasad — Commissioned into the Army on the same date as Lt Gen Singh —and GoC-in-C Lt Gen K Nagaraj.

Other illustrious officers of the regiment have included Lt Gen Thomas Bryan Henderson-Brooks, the author of the controversial Henderson-Brooks report on the 1962 Sino-Indian War debacle, Lt Gen I S Gill, Director, Military Operations, during the 1971 Indo-Pak conflict and Lt Gen K S Brar, who commanded the Infantry Division involved in Operation Bluestar.

Lt Gen Singh, who will take over charge on February 1, 2005, will have a tenure of about three years.

"He will hold the post for two years and eleven months,"highly-placed Defence sources told UNI.(UNI)

4 militants killed in Srinagar encounter

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Nov 27: Police today claimed to have gunned down four militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) in an exchange of fire in the outskirts of summer capital city of Srinagar. The police said that the four member militant group was on way to high security zone of Sonawar locality to carry "suicide attack".

Superintendent of Police-East Anand Jain told the EXCELSIOR that on a specific tip off, Srinagar police laid an ambush near Doodh Mohalla on Foreshore Road in Nishat locality in the wee hours today. He said that the police had developed "specific input" that a group of LeT militants would travel on Foreshore Road from north Kashmir to carry a Fidayeen attack in highly security zone of Sonawar locality in Srinagar.

Mr Jain said that the police ambush party intercepted an auto-rickshaw and asked its driver to stop. However, the auto-rickshaw borne militants opened indiscriminate fire on the police party, which was retaliated by them. He said that in the ensuing gun battle, four militants of LeT were killed.

According to him, two AK rifles with 100 rounds of ammunition, eight grenades, one pistol with eight rounds and a map of International Hotel, located in Sonawar locality, were recovered from them. He said that the slain militants were planning to carry a suicide attack on the CRPF guarded International Hotel, which houses police employees.

A police spokesman identified the slain persons as Tajam-ul-Haque War S/o Ghulam Rasool, R/o Kulangam and Bashir Ahmed Hajam S/o Ghulam Ahmed, resident of Tral, Ali Mohammed Kamran R/o Sialkot Pakistan and Abdul Rashid Balouch R/o Multan Pakistan.

Meanwhile, residents of Kulangam said that Haque was a B Sc IInd year student at the Government Degree College Handwara and was not even remotely associated with militancy. They maintained that he was injured in a grenade attack couple of months back in Handwara chowk and was hospitalised at the SKIMS Soura. Haque is the son of Jamaat-e-Islami’s district head (Amir-e-zila) for Kupwara. According to a local news gathering agency, Kashmir News Service (KNS), dozens of men and women took to streets to protest the killing of Haque at his native village of Kulangam.

Syed Ali Shah Geelani led Hurriyat Conference has criticised the incident as "fake encounter". A spokesman of the Hurriyat in a statement issued here this evening said that the four unarmed youth were picked up from their homes and later killed in a fake encounter.

Meanwhile, unidentified gunmen barged into the house of one Moulvi Bashir Ahmed Mir S/o Ghulam Mohi-ud-din at Panchalpora Aishmuqam in Anantnag district last night and dragged him out. Imam of a local mosque, Moulvi Bashir was later fired at his leg. The gunmen later fled away and Moulvi Bashir was rushed to Srinagar hospital.

In another incident, gunmen chopped off right hand of one Mohammed Yousf Khan S/o Abdul Gani at Batnoor Tral in Pulwama district last night after intruding into his house. He has been hospitalised.

Reports from Baramulla said that a released militant, identified as Khurshid Ahmed Khan S/o Muzaffar Ahmed was shot at and injured by unidentified militants at PDD Colony Rafiabad last night.

Informed sources in south Kashmir said that militants opened fire on a counter-insurgent turned shop-keeper Mohd Abbas Mir alias Jehangir, S/o Khazir Mir at Sadjoora village in Qazigund this evening. Mir was immediately shifted to SMHS Hospital Srinagar where he succumbed to his injuries.

PM agrees with Musharraf on Sonia’s role vis-a-vis Pak

NEW DELHI, Nov 27: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today was in consonance with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s view that Congress president Sonia Gandhi should play a proactive role in helping India and Pakistan resolve Kashmir and other outstanding issues.

Singh was asked by reporters at Rashtrapati Bhavan soon after the swearing in of Shibu Soren as Cabinet Minister about his view on Musharraf’s comments that if Gandhi takes a lead and plays an important role, the Pakistan President was confident that there will be a breakthrough in Indo-Pak ties.

"Definitely yes. She is the Congress president and the chairperson of the UPA," he said.

Musharraf in an interview to an Indian daily was quoted as saying that since Gandhi was not in Government, she can work it out in a more informal way.

The Pakistan President had also suggested that Gandhi should try and involve all her allies, the Left Parties and the opposition BJP in this endeavour.

Singh said he has accepted an invitation to go to Pakistan and he may do so sometime next year. "I have the invitation to visit Pakistan and I have accepted it," he said. Asked when he planned to go there, he said "let me see, next year".

The Prime Minister did not wish to get into verbal sparring on Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz’s statement that without progress on finding a solution to the Kashmir imbroglio, Islamabad cannot accord most favoured nation status to India or move forward on the proposed gas pipeline project from Iran to India via Pakistan.

The Prime Minister said his talks with Aziz earlier this week was held in a "good atmosphere" and the outcome of this meeting has already been made known.

"We conveyed our views and they (Pakistani side) gave their views," he said, adding that the Government will sincerely try to improve ties with Pakistan.

About his upcoming maiden meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India summit in Laos, Singh said it would be an opportunity to know the Chinese leader.

"India wants good relations with China," he said.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister will leave for Laos tomorrow on a three-day visit to attend the third India-ASEAN summit to be held in Vientiane on November 30.

The summit is expected to conclude a "partnership document for peace and progress for shared prosperity" of India and the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) —Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

The document would set out the "different directions" for strengthening political and economic cooperation between India and ASEAN. It would also cover the fields of science and technology, health, agriculture and culture.

The Prime Minister, who would return on November 30 in view of the winter session of Parliament starting on December 1, was expected to have bilateral meetings with some of the ASEAN leaders and the ASEAN plus three — China, Japan and Korea.

For the first time in the history of India-ASEAN summits, there would be a meeting between the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN and India.

External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh is already in Vientiane and is attending the meeting today.

This is the fourth visit abroad of Dr Singh since he assumed office on May 22. His first visit was to Bangkok in July to attend the first summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Scientific, Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).

The Prime Minister then went to the United Nations in September to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and earlier this month to the Hague for the India-European union summit.

Besides attending the annual summit with ASEAN and holding bilateral meetings, the Prime Minister would also flag of the Laos-Indonesia segment of the ASEAN car rally along with other South East Asian leaders.

The current two-way trade between India and ASEAN is estimated at about 14 billion dollars — exports worth 5 billion dollars and imports at 9 billion dollars, — was targeted at 30 billion dollars by 2007.

The proposed partnership document has been in preparation for a while now with inputs from non-officials, thinktanks, academics.

The document would provide an impetus to India’s broadening and diversifying trade ties with ASEAN, he said.

Dr Singh was expected to hold bilateral meeting on all three days from November 28 to 30, he said. (Agencies)

Pak seeks WB’s intervention on Baglihar project

ISLAMABAD, Nov 27: Pakistan today said it has sought the World Bank’s intervention to facilitate a bilateral settlement of the issue arising out of India’s construction of the Baglihar hydro-electric dam over Chenab river.

"A decision has been taken in principle by President Pervez Musharraf at the highest level to approach the World Bank on this issue. But as of now we want to settle it bilaterally with India and asking the World Bank only to facilitate a bilateral settlement," foreign office spokesman Masood Khan said.

Significantly, Pakistan has not informed India about its decision to approach the World Bank. On the contrary, Indian Deputy High Commissioner T C A Raghavan, who is holding charge in the absence of High Commissioner Shivshankar Menon, was invited to the foreign office here today and given a letter seeking dates for a meeting between Water Secretaries of both the countries to iron out the differences.

Raghavan said he has not been informed about any decision by Pakistan to approach the World Bank.

Earlier, Khan told the private Geo TV in an interview that "Pakistan economic advisor Dr Salman Shah has sent a letter to the World Bank, asking the bank to use influence on India so that the issue could be resolved through bilateral talks."

"We preferred to resolve the matter bilaterally, but there has been no progress and we have sought the World Bank intervention," he said.

Pakistan’s decision to approach the World Bank was also timed to coincide with the meeting between the Indus Treaty Commissioners of both the countries currently being held in Lahore to iron out differences over the construction of Krishanganga dam in Jammu and Kashmir.

This is the first time since the signing of the Indus Basin Water Treaty in 1962, Pakistan has approached the World Bank, which brokered the agreement, to intervene to resolve the issue.

"If the bilateral track fails then we will seek a neutral expert through the World Bank," Khan told Geo TV, adding Pakistan has the right to seek the neutral expert’s view if it fails to resolve the issue bilaterally.

The Indus Treaty granted rights over Ravi, Beas and Satluj to India and accorded riparian rights to Pakistan over Indus, Chenab and Jhelum. All six rivers either originates or passes through Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan’s decision to go to the World Bank followed several rounds of talks between Indian Indus Treaty officials with their Pakistani counterparts. The Water Secretaries of both the countries had met in New Delhi in July this year during which the two sides expressed optimism to resolve the issue.

Pakistan claims that gate-way of the 430 mw hydro-electric project has the provision to block the water. India denies it and argues that the treaty provides it the right to make use of the flow of the water to generate electricity. The project is due to be completed next year. (PTI)

Feeling of normalcy fast returning to Valley
Infiltration reduced by 70 pc: Sinha

MUMBAI, Nov 27: Thanking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the Rs 24,000 crore economic package, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt Gen (retd) S K Sinha said here today that the feeling of normalcy was fast returning to the Valley despite stray incidents of violence.

Addressing a meeting of the Leslie Sawhny Programme of training for democracy to mark the birth centenary of humanist and constitutional expert Minoo Masani, the Governor said tourist traffic to the State had been growing steadily.

In 2002, there were about 28,000 tourist arrivals, while in 2003 it went up to 1.7 lakh. "This year we are all set to cross the four-lakh mark", he added.

"The Amarnath Yatra this year has been an all-time success," said Gen Sinha, who previously held the gubernatorial post in Assam, and added that over four lakh people visited the cave shrine, double the number of the previous year.

"Moreover, not a single incident of attack on pilgrims has taken place," he noted.

Stating that Jammu and Kashmir was now focusing on economic development, he observed that the package announced by the Prime Minister will go a long way in the development of the State.

Referring to cross-border infiltration, he said it had reduced since the fencing of the LoC.

The infiltration had reduced by 70 per cent, with none reported in the last couple of months. A few attempts had been made but they were foiled, he said.

He noted that the fence was 12 ft high and 12 feet deep, electrified and fitted with high-tech devices. "The credit (for it) must go to chief of Army Staff Gen N C Vij," he added. Gen Sinha, who took over as Jammu and Kashmir Governor last year, said in a lighter vein that when he was appointed Assam Governor, there were reports in the media of "armed man in Raj Bhavan", but when he left Assam, reports appeared referring to him as "a true Assamese".

Speaking on the measures introduced in the Kashmir valley, he said nearly a 1000 mini-hydel projects were being implemented, each of which will generate nearly 8-10 kw of electricity. In a few years, this will help villages in far-flung areas have electricity.

The retired General pointed out that on the military front, in the last six months commanders of various terrorist and insurgent outfits had been eliminated. "This had a direct impact on the atmosphere in the Valley," he said.

However, the Governor said "religious fundamentalism" was a problem and efforts were on to tackle this issue.

Gen Sinha, who as an Army officer had served in the Valley for several years, stated that Pakistan had never succeeded militarily and hence in 1989 the low-intensity conflict, which he termed as a vicious mix of insurgency, terrorism and proxy war, was launched.

Talking about the 1999 Kargil episode, he said the modus operandi from the other side had been simple — commit aggression, deny involvement, try to pass it on as a freedom struggle against Indian operations and arouse religious sentiments. (UNI)

Soren stages comeback in Cabinet

NEW DELHI, Nov 27: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren today staged a comeback into the six-month-old UPA Government, taking oath as a Cabinet Minister at a function at Rashtrapati Bhavan which was boycotted by the opposition.

Even the Left parties, which support the Manmohan Singh Government from outside, and leaders of the UPA constituents were conspicuous by their absence at the function, which lasted just a couple of minutes.

According to a Rashtrapati Bhavan Communique, Mr Soren will be Coal Minister. Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief K Chandrasekhar Rao, who has been a Cabinet Minister without portfolio, has been given Labour and Employment, while Sis Ram Ola will hold the Mines portfolio.

At a brief ceremony at the Ashoka hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Mr Soren was administered the Oaths of Office and Secrecy by President A P J Abdul Kalam. The Prime Minister and about half-a-dozen cabinet ministers, including Pranab Mukherjee (Defence), Shivraj Patil (Home) and H R Bharadwaj (Law) were present. Senior civil and military officials also attended.

Dr Singh strongly defended Mr Soren’s reinduction, stating that the "basis on which Mr Shibu Soren left that basis does not exist now."

Talking to reporters after the swearing-in, the Prime Minister said he did not expect any problem in the conduct of the Parliament proceedings during the winter session, starting in December, due to the reinduction.

"We respect the oposition and want to accommodate them on all issues. They are most welcome to raise any issue they want to."

Mr Soren had resigned from the Union Cabinet in July as Coal Minister after a Jharkhand court issued non-bailable warrant against him in a 1975 massacre case. He has since secured "conditional" bail.

Mr Soren’s reinduction into the six-month-old UPA ministry comes a day before the Prime Minister leaves for Laos to attend the India-ASEAN summit. The winter session of Parliament is slated to begin from December one.

Talking to reporters, Mr Soren said he did not think that he had been taken back to prevent him from staking claim to the post of Chief Minister in Jharkhand where Assembly elections are due in February.

"If people want to make me Chief Minister, I will become," he said.

He also maintained that "taint" had never been an issue and never be so.

The Prime Minister said the Government would make all efforts to ensure a smooth session.

"I very much hope so," he said in reply to question whether the session would see a smooth sailing. (UNI)

LeT, JeM defamed ‘freedom struggle’: Amanullah
*Geelani, Bhat fighting individual battle

MUZAFFARABAD, Nov 27: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Amanullah Khan today said the induction of the Lashkar-e-Toiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammad in the militancy in Jammu and Kashmir has "defamed" the "freedom struggle".

"The foreign elements such as Lashkar and Jaish have defamed the freedom struggle in Jammu and Kashmir. It has lost its nationalistic character and has harmed our cause a lot than being of any help to the movement," Mr Khan told the visiting Indian Journalists at the breakfast meeting here.

He regretted of not choosing "best people" to serve the "Kashmir cause".

"Militants did not follow the code of conduct. It did not remain the freedom struggle after its initial four years. Unfortunately, some innocent people were killed by them...Injustices do happen in war," Mr Khan said when asked about the role of the JKLF in the migration of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley.

"We committed a lot of mistakes. We were not able to choose best of the people for carrying forward the Kashmir cause. In 1998, we were successful in reviving the dying movement," he added.

He admitted "ideological differences" with Yasin Malik who split from him.

Khan, one of the founder members of JKLF against whom India has secured an Interpol red corner notice, spoke openly about the differences between him and Yaseen Malik, who formed his own faction of JKLF.

"I have ideological differences with Malik as the independence he is talking about is aimed at dividing Kashmir, which is unacceptable to us," Khan said amidst pro-freedom slogans from JKLF activists who had gathered at the meet the press event.

"He (Yasin Malik) is egoistic and that is why he has been abandoned by majority of his comrades," he said.

To a question whether violence in Jammu and Kashmir was justified, Khan said "the violence needs to end. The armed struggle has highlighted the issue and there was no need for any such movement now."

Amanullah Khan said "personal interests" had resulted in the "split and disintegration" on the once 24-party Hurriyat Conference.

He said hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Hurriyat moderate Abdul Ghani Bhat, though having similar ideology, were fighting an individual battle.

"Mr Geelani and Mr Bhat have same ideology. But they have kept personal interest supreme. Both want to be the Hurriyat chief," Mr Khan said.

He said the leadership issue was coming in the way of unity in the separatist amalgam.

The JKLF (Amanullah) chairman said the Hurriyat leaders were fighting individual battles and not contributing towards one voice in resolving the Kashmir issue.

He also called upon all the "separatist forces" in Jammu and Kashmir to join hands and come under one platform. "If Kashmiris come under one slogan and unite, they will become a potent force," he added.

The JKLF leader said people in the region wanted to be independent while having "compulsory friendly relations with both India and Pakistan."

"We want peace and nothing else...Peace should be given a chance," he added.

Mr Khan welcomed the proposed bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad but without passports and visas. "If it starts with a condition that people from both sides travel on resident permit. We will welcome it. Otherwise, it is not acceptable to us," he added.

Meanwhile, Angry exchanges on the Kashmir issue among students of a university in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir turned their interaction with visiting Indian journalists into a chaotic scene today, prompting police to take control of the situation and escort the scribes to a safer location.

The students supporting accession of Kashmir to Pakistan and those favouring its independence disrupted the interaction session organised by the Kashmir Resources Centre for Studies here.

After introductory "political" lectures by Senior Professors of the University, the students owing allegiance to National Students Front, an off-shoot of JKLF, started shouting slogans for an independent Kashmir which was objected to by some others who wanted accession of Kashmir to Pakistan.

Some of the students captured the stage at the function and claimed that the university had expelled them for raising a students union in the campus, a charge denied by the university officials.

To the surprise of the visiting journalists, who were touring PoK under the aegis of South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA), one of the students from the rear shouted that the scribes should be allowed to meet students outside the convention hall as there was a large presence of ISI sponsored students who would project a wrong picture of wishes and aspiration of people.

Amidst chaos and melee, the scribes were escorted to a safer place and additional police force was rushed to the campus to control the agitating mob as the atmosphere within the university had been vitiated after anti-Pakistan slogans by hundreds of students.

The scribes had to cut short their stay in the University Campus after police took control of the situation and dispersed pro-independence students. (Agencies)

Krishna is Maharashtra Governor

NEW DELHI, Nov 27: Former Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna was today appointed Governor of Maharashtra, a Rashtrapati Bhavan press communique said.

Mr Krishna succeeds Mr Mohammad Fazal, who recently completed his term.

Born in 1932, Mr Krishna has been a Rajya Sabha member, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief and deputy Chief Minister.

"On expiry of the term of the Maharashtra Governor Mohammad Fazal, President A P J Abdul Kalam is pleased to appoint S M Krishna as the Governor of the State with effect from the date he assumed charge of his office," he said.

Krishna, is the second former Chief Minister of Congress to be made Governor. Sushil Kumar Shinde of Maharashtra was recently made Governor of Andhra Pradesh.

The former Karnataka Chief Minister had unsuccessfully led the Congress in the State Assembly polls held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections. (PTI)

Border people doubt longevity of ceasefire

TANGHDHAR, Nov 27: Although the ceasefire between India and Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir has completed one year, the residents of this border valley are apprehensive that the peace would not last long enough as Islamabad was strengthening its defences.

"We are happy with the situation (of peace) since last year when the two countries declared a ceasefire but it just might not last long enough, Mohammad Aslam Shah, a resident of Amrohi village on the LoC," said here.

Amrohi is a village metres within the Line of Control and Shah’s house is just four metres from the zero line. People from this side can see their counterparts from the other side and their movements with naked eyes.

"The Pakistani Army has since built concrete bunkers along the LoC and we can see movement of arms and ammunition to the posts as well. What is the need for replenishing the mortar stock and other war utilities at the posts if the ceasefire is going to be a permanent thing?" he asked.

Though Amrohi village has been left on the other side of the border fencing carried out by the Army, Shah said they had no apprehensions about being left out.

"The Indian Army has done a great job by erecting the fence which is for the protection of the country as well as our protection. There have been several attempts of infiltration from the other side but the fencing has helped in thwarting them," he added.

"It is difficult to put in words as to how much it (ceasefire) means to us. This should last forever. The past year has been first full year in my life when peace has prevailed," numberdar of Gundi Saydan border village Syed Usun Shah said.

Asked how has the ceasefire affected their lives, Shah said it has been after a longtime that Tanghdhar valley has witnessed such a long duration of peace.

Gundi Saydan village has been one of the worst affected villages due to cross-border shelling over the past many decades as it lay directly in the firing range of the Pakistani mortar guns.

The ceasefire has enabled the village people to carry out activities which are otherwise taken for granted in other parts of the country like children going to school, farmers attending to their fields and shepherds rearing their livestock, he said.

"Earlier our crops would rot in the fields as the constant shelling would not allow us to do regular farming. The concern for safety of humans was paramount and that led to neglect of the livestock," Shah said.

The education sector, which was one of the worst hit during the pre-ceasefire days, has been a major beneficiary of the halt in hostilities between the two armies on either side of LoC.

However, the residents and the civil administration in coordination with the Army are not taking anything for granted not even the ceasefire.

Nearly 1,500 concrete shelling protection bunkers at a cost of Rs three crore have been constructed for the safety of people, in case the hostilities resume, sub-district Magistrate of Tanghdhar Khadim Hussain said.

These bunkers are besides those already in place near all public places like hospital, schools and other offices.

But the administration did not stop there and availed the peace opportunity to take the development works further. One of the major projects has been the Pandu bridge which has benefited nearly 3,000 people living close the LoC, Hussain said.

A power project, built in coordination with the Army, was completed in record time of two months for which line inspector Abdul Hamid was awarded. It is another story that he has not received the benefits of the award so far even after six months.

Hussain said work on other projects like Amrohi water supply scheme and and Balthadiyan water supply scheme were in full swing.

We hope to make hay while the sun shines, he said in a proverbial reference to the ceasefire.

Having tasted peace for one year, the people of Tanghdhar valley, which remains cut off from the rest of the State and the country for good four months of the winter, want their demands to be looked into.

On top of the wish list is a college in the area followed by Scheduled Tribe status for the residents who are all Paharis, more doctors for the hospital, a stadium for conducting sports activities, an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) and upgrading the telephone exchange which is out of order for most of the time. (PTI)

HM commander held in Doda

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 27: A Hizbul Mujahideen "area commander" was apprehended by Rashtriya Rifles and Doda police after a brief encounter at Nawapachi in Doda today while two police constables were injured in an ambush by the militants on Bharath road.

Official sources said the troops of Rashtriya Rifles and Doda police carried out a joint search operation at Nawapachi in Marwah area of Doda district this morning after developing an information about presence of a Hizbul "commander" in the area.

As soon as security personnel surrounded hideout of the militant, he tried to escape. However, he was captured after a brief encounter.

He has been identified as Mohd Ilyas alias Gazi son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din, a resident of Yurdu, an "area commander" of Hizbul Mujahideen.

Recoveries made from his possession include two Chinese grenades, one wireless set, one pouch and 15 AK rounds.

Meanwhile, two police constables were injured in an ambush laid by the militants at village Shudaaan in Bharath road of Doda district.

The constables were part of a police escort party, which was travelling in a Maruti Van, and giving cover to a Works department team which was engaged in construction of road.

Injured cops have been hospitalised.

SHO suspended for Mendhar firing

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 27: Station House Officer (SHO) Gursai police station Maqsood Hussain Shah was today placed under suspension and an inquiry into yesterday’s firing on the civilians at Bhatta Durrian in Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district was ordered by the district administration after which the people called off their protests.

Official sources said SSP Poonch Mukesh Singh ordered suspension of Gursai police station SHO Maqsood Hussain Shah as the people continued their protests at Bhatta Durrian for second day today against Army and police firing on the civilians in which one civilian was killed and another seriously injured.

Tehsildar Mendhar Razaq Choudhary, who visited the spot, conveyed to the people that a magisterial inquiry has also been ordered in the firing by Deputy Commissioner, Poonch. The inquiry will be conducted by Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Mendhar.

Following inquiry and suspension of the SHO, the people lifted their protests at 12 noon. Body of the firing victim Munir Hussain son of Bagh Ali was later buried by the people.

Taj viewing by night resumes after 2 decades

AGRA, Nov 27: It was a special moment as the monument of love Taj Mahal, bathed in moonlight, welcomed night-time visitors after two decades tonight.

The Mughal monument made of white marble, one of the seven wonders of the world, shimmered through a light fog leaving tourists, who had flocked to this Uttar Pradesh city to be part of this special occasion, speechless.

The Taj, one of the most photographed objects in the world, is known to keep changing hues throughout the day but is the most beautiful on moonlit nights.

The mood was festive as 300 tourists were garlanded and the customary ‘Tilak’ applied on their foreheads, as drums and trumpets played in the background, before they embarked on their special rendezvous with the 17th century masterpiece.

Baljeet Bhatia, who had come from Delhi with her husband J S Bhatia, said "the tickets were very expensive. We had to shell out Rs 510 each but it has been worth it. We have seen the monument before in the day but the Taj at night is really special."

Shelly, a 32-year-old from the US, said she did not know earlier that the Taj had been opened for night viewing from today. "I promptly reached the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) ticketing office when I came to know and am glad that I could see the Taj both by day and night."

Night viewing of the Taj had been stopped in 1984 after fears that Khalistan militants would attack the monument. It resumed for a few days in 1999 but was again stopped.

The Supreme Court had on Thursday granted permission to the Uttar Pradesh Government to restart night-viewing after being satisfied with the security arrangements.

However, only 400 people will be allowed to visit between 2030 hours to 0030 hours on every night five times a month -the full moon night and two nights prior to it and two after that.

Strict security arrangements were put in place with the entire area around the historic monument being open only for tourists tonight.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is in charge of security at the Taj and 200 policemen have been deployed in and around the monument and on boats on the Yamuna river.

The over 300 tourists were taken in batches of 50 to the monument and each batch got to spend 30 minutes inside. The tourists could carry only still cameras and binoculars.

They were subject to strict checking, once at the Shilp Gram from where they took a one-kilometre ride by battery-operated bus to the monument campus, and then again with X-ray machines before entering it.

The steep price of the tickets - Rs 510 for resident adults and Rs 500 for children - did not deter Taj lovers. The day-time rate is only Rs 20.

While only 150 tickets had been sold till yesterday, today the number doubled and utter chaos reigned at the ASI counter with tourists having to wait for hours to buy tickets.

Over 200 tickets have already been sold for tomorrow, an ASI official said.

For foreigners, the entrance price remains Rs 750 as in the day-time. Till yesterday, eight foreigners and 18 children had bought tickets. (PTI)
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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