Indo-ASEAN partnership agreement to add momentum to ties: PM

VIENTIANE (LAOS), Nov 28: Terming India as one of the fastest growing economies, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said a long-term partnership agreement with ASEAN countries would provide a new dimension to its relations with the powerful ten-nation grouping.

"A new India is on the horizon" and the future "lies in working together," Singh said as he arrived here on a three-day visit to Laos to attend the 3rd India-ASEAN summit during which a partnership agreement will be signed to give collective vision of New Delhi and South East Asia in political, economic, science and technology, health, culture and other key spheres.

It will provide a new dimension to India’s relations with ASEAN, the Prime Minister said, adding India attached high priority to strengthening and expanding the scope of its mutually beneficial relations with "our neighbours in the East with whom we have profound civilisational ties".

The Prime Minister, who is leading a high-level delegation, said "this inclusive approach should give added momentum to this partnership between India and ASEAN".

The partnership agreement, which sets out the direction of India’s ties with the countries of the region in various spheres for the next decade, was discussed at the ministerial meeting of the Foreign Ministers and the pact is all set to be signed on Tuesday.

At a reception hosted by Indian Ambassador Twesang Topden here, the Prime Minister said India was on the threshold of entering a new era where poverty and disease would be "thing of the past".

India, the Prime Minister said, was according a thrust to its "Look East’ policy and that was the reason, New Delhi was trying to expand its links with the South East Asian countries.

ASEAN comprises Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Brunei.

Singh urged Indian citizens and those settled abroad to carry forward India’s image and the message of culture. India is a land of plurality in which all religions enjoyed equal respect and that made the country a cohesive nation. "We are trying to promote cultural unity in diversity," he said.

External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh in a statement said "this landmark document incorporates a plan of action for even more intensive cooperation on political and security issues as well as in the economic, social and cultural fields."

"It is indeed a matter of gratification that a number of new dimensions, such as cooperation in remote sensing, space technology and information technology have been added to our two millennia old cultural, religious and civilisational links," he said.

During bilateral meetings, the Prime Minister had with ASEAN leaders, Indonesia sought India’s cooperation in countering terrorism and joint patrolling in the seas.

Indonesian President Susilo Banbag Yudhoyono during talks with Manmohan Singh sought cooperation in countering terrorism from across the borders.

The Prime Minister said that stretching from Afghanistan to Philippines this was a common predicament and what was needed was a bilateral and multilateral arrangement to collective stand against the menace, according to National Security Adviser J N Dixit.

The Indonesian leader also sought defence cooperation from India and emphasised on maritime security, joint patrolling in the seas and suggested an institutional arrangement.

In separate bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister, the leaders of Vietnam and Laos extended support for India’s candidature in an expanded United Nations Security Council.

The two crucial South East countries conveyed their support when their Prime Ministers Bounnhang Vorachith and Phan Van Khai held talks with Singh.

Both Vorachith and Khai told the Indian Prime Minister that there were several areas including power, agriculture, biotechnology, science and technology and peaceful use of nuclear energy where they could cooperate. (PTI)

Troops reduction experimental, can be reversed: Mukherjee

ONBOARD IAF AIRCRAFT, Nov 28: Terming the Centre’s decision to reduce troops in Jammu and Kashmir as "substantial", Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said the exercise was "experimental" which could be reversed if the situation demanded.

"We made an experiment which was very well received by the international community. But there is no guarantee on the situation deteriorating. If need arises we can go back on this," Mukherjee told reporters onboard IAF aircraft on his return from Nashik after witnessing the roll out of the first indegenously built Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft.

In the backdrop of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s recent statement that the troop reduction was "cosmetic", he asserted that it was "substantial" and the decision was taken after considering the security situation in the State.

"This decision was made after feedback from the Army. We know that extremists are still there. But these types of problems will be there," he said.

Earlier addressing a gathering at the HAL Engineering Depot here, he said the decision to reduce troops was made "not merely to convey some message because of some visit from neighbouring country." He was referring to the recent visit by Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

He said the decision was made after recognising the fact that due to the efforts by the armed forces, "we were able to reduce the rate of infiltration".

"We have taken the decision on the basis of so many facts. Despite many attempts from other side of the border, our security forces and because of effective fencing, we were able to frustrate infiltrators, he said. Mukherjee also strongly denied reports that the troop reduction undertaken by the Government was not taking place on the ground and the Army was merely replacing irregular troops with Rashtriya Rifle personnel.

"It is absolutely wrong. As Army chief N C Vij had already said it is just a figment of imagination," he said furiously when asked about the authenticity of such reports.

Asked whether Pakistan has made any reciprocal proposal from its side of Kashmir, he replied in the negative.

"The ceasefire now on at the Line of Control was unilaterally announced by them and so far it has been successful. But on this issue (troop reduction) no such step has been taken," he said.

On cross-border terrorism, he said India has been a victim. "We lost more lives, including civilians, than we lost in three wars that we fought with Pakistan. We cannot keep our eyes shut to these developments."

He said the international community will have to recognise in "clear and unmistakable" terms that terrorism has no geographical boundary.

Any attempt to recognise and support terror will come in the way of peace and amity in the post-cold war era, Mukherjee added. (PTI)

Give ultras a chance for mainstream: Lt Gen Singh
*India will have to keep its options clearly defined

CHANDIGARH, Nov 28 : Chief of Army Staff designate Lt General Joginder Jaswant Singh today said India would have to keep its "options clearly defined" if Pakistan did not keep its commitment to the peace process.

Addressing a press conference here a day after he was named as the next Army Chief, Singh said the reduction of troops in Jammu and Kashmir was a step in right direction and "we will be watching the situation and making a review every two to three months".

"If Pakistan is sincere, then it is okay, but if it does not keep its word, then we need to have our options clearly defined," the Western Command Army Chief said at its Headquarters in Chandimandir, near here.

Favouring taking people into confidence to isolate terrorists, Singh, who will be taking over from Gen N C Vij after he retires on January 31, said the confidence building measures like force reduction were a step in the right direction.

A range of CBMs, including political, cultural, economic and military were "well orchestrated by the Government," Singh said and added it was now for Pakistan to respond favourably to take the peace process forward.

Singh said he would be visiting Kashmir after taking over as Army Chief. "I will visit and interact with people to update myself. Then I will formalise my thoughts and will be able to respond to your questions in a better way," he said when asked about the prevailing situation in the Valley.

General J J Singh also served as Brigade Commander in the Valley in 1991-92 at the height of militancy.

Gen Singh said militants in Kashmir or the North-East should be given a chance to lead a life in the mainstream of society.

"I am open even to a viewpoint that ex-militants be recruited in the Army," he said.

Lt Gen Singh said his message to the agitated youth of Kashmir was "to throw away guns and adopt a democratic approach in this democratic country."

The officer, who had conducted anti-terrorist operations as a Brigade Commander in Kashmir during 1991-92, said the Army was fighting insurgency in the Valley with a humane approach. "We (Army) are a responsible organisation with accountability and responsibility," he said.

Appreciating partial withdrawal of troops in certain areas of the Kashmir valley, Lt Gen Singh said the Indians expected Pakistan to now curb cross-border terrorism.

Interestingly, Gen Singh objected to media using the word "militant" while speaking of violence in Kashmir. "All these violent people — whether Mujahideens or of any other group —should be called terrorists and not militants," he said.

Terming the much-reported fake killings in Siachen as an "aberration", he said the media should not rake up such issues as the Army personnel were already going through challenging tasks at the borders in Kashmir and the North-East.

Favouring taking people into confidence to isolate the terrorists, General Singh said that "due to the Army’s humane approach it has many success stories in the Valley."

He recalled his experiences in the Valley, saying the Army had gained goodwill among people by taking them into confidence and sometimes letting off young boys with a warning who had taken up the gun for the first time.

General Singh, who got emotional and had moist eyes while narrating a counter-insurgency operation, said "we succeeded in our objective. The word went around that ours is a professional Army with a human face. I used to tell the families of these misguided youths that they do not deserve to die so young and in such a manner."

"Many times in the states having insurgency problem, people sit on the fence and tend to favour the winning side, which the Army has shown to them that it is."

Asked if surrendered militants could be commissioned in the Army, he said, "they are our citizens. He (terrorist) is a misguided youth of our nation. They should come to the mainstream."

He, however, said that the Army showed no leniency when it comes to countering terrorism with an iron hand.

About the challenges facing the Army, Singh said, "we are modernising, getting new equipment and new weapon systems. We are also revising our thought process".

He said "though the shortage of about 12,000 to 13,000 officers in the force was a cause of concern, it did not mean that the Army would liberalise recruitment process to meet the shortage".

"We want leaders of certain calibre. We hope we will meet the shortage over a period of time", he said.

Lt Gen Singh expressed reservations over recruitment of women for combat operations in the Army. "We have enough men... We have not reached that stage," he said, adding that there were "various implications if women come into the clutches of the enemy."

When asked about his message to young Army officers, he appealed to them to look at one step at a time. "Do not dream of being a General. We have a steep pyramid for the top brass."

"Instead of being in desperation, one should be satisfied and happy in life. There are happy Colonels and unhappy Generals," he observed.

Attired in a battle fatigue, the Lt General said he was fortunate to be appointed the leader of the second largest Army in the world.

Former Army Chief Gen V P Malik, along with his wife, visited Gen Singh’s residence and congratulated him. The two Generals, who fought insurgency in Kashmir together in early 1990s, hugged each other and posed for media photographers.

Gen Singh also posed for the lensmen, along with his wife Anupama Singh, whose profile was also distributed to the media on the occasion.

"Anupama Singh seems to be that elusive perfect woman who carefully balances her life as wife of a senior Army officer, mother, and grandmother with that of a successful energetic and dynamic artist and professional," her profile read. (Agencies).

Protests in Handwara village over youth's killing
8 CRPF personnel killed in Baramulla

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Nov 28: A Central Reserve Police Force jawan shot dead his seven colleagues, including three officers, and was later killed in the return fire in the camp in north Kashmir town of Baramulla today.

The bodies of the deceased were airlifted to Delhi from Baramulla this afternoon.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Kashmir valley, A K Singh, told the EXCELSIOR that a trooper of CRPF 152 Bn, identified as constable S Deka went berserk at around 2345 hrs last night at his company headquarters in Baramulla town over some "yet to be ascertained" issue.

Mr Singh informed that the trooper first barged into the room of the company commander, inspector Sadhu Ram, and shot him dead. "Afterwards, he intruded into the adjacent room spraying bullets on sleeping deputy company commander, sub inspector Chandra Ram and head constable K D Sharma. Both died on the spot," he said. He said that chaos kept the CRPF personnel from reacting immediately but they rushed towards the rooms where from they heard gun shots.

"The irate Deka opened indiscriminate fire from his service automatic rifle on his associates advancing towards him killing four others and wounding two. Nevertheless, he too was shot dead in the meantime," he elaborated. He identified the four troopers as constables Marya Pillai, Parak Nath Dey, Hardeep Singh and Kuldeep Singh.

The PRO said that CRPF Inspector General had ordered investigation into the incident. "We don’t know the details as yet. It will take some time, as the witnesses who could have provided us details are no more. We have to ask all who were present there to ascertain what reasons led to this ugly incident," he added.

Mr Singh said that the two injured personnel were out of danger and were undergoing treatment at the SKIMS Soura and Bone and Joints Hospital Barzulla in Srinagar.

A newly raised company, 50 to 60 troopers are believed to be new recruits in this CRPF unit, which is under rotational training in Baramulla. The company had replaced a Border Security Force (BSF) unit just 15 days back. The berserk trooper, Deka hailing from Assam, himself was in service for last one year only.

Even as there have been several incidents of troopers reacting violently to the stress of being posted in Kashmir, sources in CRPF revealed that Deka’s conduct had been absolutely fair during his one year tenure. They pointed out that there was not a single complaint against him. These sources disclosed that couple of hours before the incident occurred, the company commander had reportedly "humiliated and rebuked" Deka over some issue in front of all during the routine roll call.

Meanwhile, people of Kulangam Handwara in Kupwara district today again took to streets and protested against the killing of a youth, Tajam-ul-Haque War S/o Ghulam Rasool, who police claimed was a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant. Haque was killed in an "encounter" with police alongwith three others in Nishat locality of Srinagar on Saturday.

Shouting slogans against government and police, the protestors refused to bury the body of Haque unless Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed "apologised" for branding him a Fidayee (member of a suicide squad). They insisted that he was a BSc 2nd year student and had gone Srinagar on Friday to collect some study material for his examination. His body has been kept in Primary Health Centre at nearby Chogul village.

In a conversation with media persons during the inauguration of Emporium building here Saturday, Chief Minister had said that all the four slain persons were Fidayeen, planning to carry out a suicidal attack. "I compliment police for averting a major tragedy by eliminating a group of Fidayeen," Mufti had told reporters.

Haque’s father, Ghulam Rasool War, who is Jamaat-e-Islami’s district head (Amir-e-zila) for Kupwara and was leading the protestors, told visiting journalists that his son was not even remotely associated with militancy. "I have played a major role in reviving Jamaat-e-Islami in Kupwara. May be this could be a reason that my innocent son was killed in cold blood to pressurise me," he said. He said that they would not bury him unless Mufti took back his comments and acknowledged that he was an innocent student.

Peoples Conference (PC) chairman, Sajjad Gani Lone has termed the killing of Haque as "cold blood murder". "I challenge the state authorities to come forward and prove that he had any remote links with violence. He belongs to the area and the residents of the area are vouch for the innocence of the martyred youth," Sajjad said in a statement issued here this evening.

The PC chief said that it was deplorable that innocent Kashmiris were being killed as usual even at a time when peace process was supposed to be going on. "It is perhaps the best proof that peace process is centred on grabbing the Kashmiri land and not restoring peace or fulfilling the aspirations of the Kashmiri nation," he said.

Meanwhile, dead body of a former Hizbul Mujahideen militant, Bashir Ahmed Wani S/o Abdul Aziz R/o Wanpoh Pulwama was recovered at Brangund Chadoora in Budgam district this morning. A police spokesman said that Wani had been kidnapped from his residence during last night.

Reports from Anantnag said that police today recovered dead body of one Bashir Ahmed Khan S/o Showkat Ahmed R/o Brisoo from the forest area of Utrsoo. Khan was a labourer by profession.

Reports said that two masked gunmen entered the house of one Dilawar Khan S/o Ghulam Mohi-ud-din at Shalpora Palhalan in Baramulla district last night and shot him dead. Khan was a former militant of Muslim Janbaz Force.

'Hurriyat not true representative'
Qayyum favours interim solution of Kashmir

MUZAFFARABAD, PoK, Nov 28: Former Prime Minister of Pakistan occupied (PoK) Kashmir Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan has stressed for an interim solution of the Kashmir issue, saying a permanent resolution of the problem was impossible and unlikely to be accepted by the parties concerned.

"There is a need to correct the perceptions that a permanent solution of the Kashmir issue will be accepted by all the parties concerned to the dispute - India, Pakistan and people of Jammu and Kashmir," Mr Khan told the visiting Indian journalists here at a dinner-meeting last night.

He said the parties concerned should accept an interim solution because a permanent solution of the Kashmir issue was not possible.

Asked to elaborate, Mr Khan said any solution which is not permanent and acceptable to all the parties concerned can be called an interim solution.

Mr Khan, who is also the former PoK president, said to make the dialogue process successful "it is necessary that everything should not be disclosed."

"There should be ambiguities to make it successful and these should be by design and agreement and not by compulsion," he added.

India and Pakistan need to face the ground realities and help each other in every aspect so that the world respects them, said Mr Khan, also the supreme head of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference.

Khan asserted that the Hurriyat Conference is not the true representative of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and said the rift in the amalgam has damaged the Kashmir cause.

"Who says the Hurriyat leaders are the true or real representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. They are not. They have influence only in small pockets in the State," Mr Khan said.

He said the rift in the Hurriyat Conference has damaged the Kashmir cause. "It has done more harm than any good," he added.

Mr Khan said the representatives could be elected by the people. "Let there be an election to decide who are the real representatives of the people. These representatives can then sit with India and Pakistan and discuss and make efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue," he added.

Mr Khan said the election would resolve the leadership issue once and for all. "But for that let the Kashmiris sit and discuss the issue among themselves first," he added.

Mr Khan said Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s recent proposals were just an initiative.

Asked if ambiguity could have been maintained in this case also, Mr Khan said Gen Musharraf could not have discussed his proposals secretly.

"These could have been leaked anytime. But in any case, the proposals should not have been rejected outright by India. The formula could have been discussed with an open mind," he added.

Mr Khan is also the former PoK president and at present the supreme head of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference.

Mr Khan said that the gun gave a new life to the Kashmir issue and called for a road map to end violence in troubled Jammu and Kashmir.

"Gun gave a push to the Kashmir issue. It infused a new life into the dying movement because it had become impossible to resolve the problem peacefully," Mr Khan said.

He said it was not in the hands of anyone to end the "gun culture" in Jammu and Kashmir now. "If a road map is evolved, more than 90 per cent guns will fall silent. The militants will be then ready to drop their guns," he added.

He said for that, the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan needs to gain momentum.

"Gun is not the only means of Jehad.It has to be seen in the larger context of Islam," he added.

Mr Khan said he wants to keep this side of Kashmir peaceful when asked why there was no such movement here.

Mr Khan said there are vested interests in both the countries who do not want the peace process to sustain.

"There is a subversion culture in both India and Pakistan and the agencies are out to disrupt the peace process. These agencies are permanent in both the countries who do not favour normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan. A lot (money) goes into it," he added.

Mr Khan said the media has an important role to play in bringing the two countries closer. (Agencies)

Indigenously built Sukhoi-30 MKI rolls out

NASHIK, Nov 28: A successful flight-run of the indigenously built strike aircraft Sukhoi-30 MKI was conducted at the Airforce base near here today, marking an important milestone in the annals of the Ojhar-based division of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).

The flight run at the IAF base at Ojhar, about 20 kms from here, took place in the presence of Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, HAL chairman N R Mohanty, top Defence Ministry officials and a delegation from Russia, which had supplied over two dozens of Sukhoi-30 MKIs.

In a 10-minute dazzling aerobatics display of left and right roll-over, vertical loop and ‘slow run’, Russian test pilot P M Sergai and his Indian counterpart Wing Commander K R Ajit showed the manoeuverability of the highly sophisticated twin-seater long-range multi-role flying beauties.

The large gathering was dumbstruck when the fighter aircraft took off in the skies after a short run and came almost nose-diving to perform the reverse flying and peeling off to demonstrate a vertical loop.

Though the HAL claimed this to be first of the two aircraft indigenously manufactured at the Ojhar based HAL unit, its chairman Mohanty, accompanying Mr Mukherjee, later told a press conference that the initial roll-outs of the Sukhoi-30 MKIs will be assembled from the "knockdown" conditions brought from Russian factories.

However, in the gradual phases, the indigenous character will come into effect, he said. The ambitious HAL project envisages domestic production of 140 aircraft, its engines and equipment fitted there on. However, Mr Mohanty clarified that 114 of the 140 fighters will have the indigenous raw materials, while the others will be assembled here with the systems coming in knock down conditions from Russia.

All the 140 aircraft will be manufactured by 2017-2018, the HAL chief said.

Sukhoi-30-MKI, the twin-engine fighter, can be simultaneously operated as interceptor, bomber and trainer and can fly in all weather conditions.

The aircraft’s "engine thrust vectoring capability" makes its only of its kind jet in the world, according to chief of Air Staff S Krishnaswamy.

The 21-metre aircraft can fly up to 3,000-km without refuelling, 5200-km with one refuelling and 8400-km with another refuelling. It has been fitted with indigenously developed ‘mission’ computers. The fighter also boasts of a radar computer and warning system developed by defence avionics research establishment, while communications system has been developed by the Hyderabad division of the HAL.

An inter-government agreement was signed on October 4, 2000 between India and Russia for the manufacturing of SU 30-MKI at HAL. Subsequently, a contract for the transfer of technology was signed between Russian company Rosoboron export and HAL on December 28, 2000. (UNI)

8 Inspectors transferred

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 28: Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu range, Dr Shesh Pal Vaid today ordered transfers of zones of eight Inspectors.

Inspectors Daleep Singh, Harjeet Singh and Bharat Bushan have been allotted Udhampur-Doda range.

Inspectors Harbans Lal, Sagar Singh, Mushtaq Ahmed, Jamrodh Singh and Mohd Tufail have been allotted Rajouri-Poonch range, according to official sources.

Hurriyat moderates to apply for travel documents to visit Pak

SRINAGAR, Nov 28: Leaders of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference would be formally applying for travel documents soon to visit Pakistan.

"Most of our leaders have already applied for passports and others are doing it in coming days", Hurriyat sources said today.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his recent visit to Kashmir had asked the separatists to formally apply for the travel documents for consideration.

Among the four executive committee members of Hurriyat, acting chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and former chairman Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari possess passports but the Central Government has impounded those.

Mirwaiz was recently granted temporary and country specific passport for visiting Jeddah and other places.

Former chairman Abdul Ghani Bhat does not have the passport while another senior executive member Bilal Gani Lone has the travel documents.

Mirwaiz had recently said that going to Pakistan was not a condition for continuing talks with the Centre.

However, he insisted that visiting Pakistan was a requirement for everlasting peace and permanent solution to the Kashmir issue. (PTI)

Winter session likely to be stormy

NEW DELHI, Nov 28: With the BJP firing salvos at the UPA Government over Kanchi Seer’s incarceration and re-induction of JMM chief Shibu Soren into the Union Cabinet, the winter session of Parliament, beginning December one, is likely to be a stormy affair even as a heavy legislative agenda awaits it.

The main opposition slammed the Government soon after Soren was re-inducted into the Cabinet saying it would raise the issue in Parliament as the "moral fabric of the Government is a complete suspect".

Though political parties had assured Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee at a meeting on November 23 that they would ensure smooth functioning of the House, the BJP said it would raise issues "aggressively, offensively and assertively".

BJP sources said the party was unlikely to disturb the proceedings but Soren’s return and Seer Jayendra Saraswati’s arrest are issues on which the opposition would like to put the Government on the mat.

The NDA had vociferously raised the issue of "tainted" ministers in the budget session after an arrest warrant was issued against Soren in a 20-year-old murder case.

The proceedings were disrupted for most part of the session and both the Houses adjourned prematurely.

With about 20 important bills, including the patents (amendment) bill, to be introduced, a heavy legislative agenda awaits the winter session that will have 17 sittings.

Eleven bills will replace ordinances promulgated during the inter-session period.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram had said efforts were on to ensure that maximum bills were passed in the session.

With the opposition seeking more time for completion of business, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said if needed the session could be extended. (PTI)

Lalu alleges Paswan swindled money

PATNA, Nov 28: RJD president and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad today alleged Union Minister and Lok Janashakti chief Ram Vilas Paswan had swindled money in the Rs 800-crore purchase of cranes when he was Railway Minister in Deve Gowda Government in 1996-97 and threatened to make public concerned purported documents.

Paswan rejected the charge saying if an irregularity of even Rs eight, what to talk of Rs 800 crore, was established against him, he would quit politics.

Prasad told reporters here that "the file containing details of purchase of low quality crane from a foreign company Kotwal" when Paswan was Railway Minister is lying with me and I will make it public to show the world how honest Paswan is".

The matter was, however, given a "decent burial" by the Deve Gowda Government, he alleged. The RJD leader claimed former Railway Ministers Nitish Kumar and Mamata Banerjee had recommended a CBI probe into the deal and a PIL was also filed in this connection.

Nitish Kumar as Railway Minister had recommended field test of the cranes which did not meet the required standard, Prasad claimed.

The RJD chief said he would make the relevant file public for every one to know "the truth" about Paswan.

The Railway Minister alleged one of Paswan’s relatives residing abroad has the commission money in the purchase of cranes in a Swiss Bank.

Paswan claimed the RJD chief’s charges were reflective of his "nervousness and frustration" following the "unprecedented" turnout at the LJP rally here yesterday. (PTI)

12 run over by speeding train

SUKHI SEWANIA, MP, Nov 28: Twelve people were run over by a speeding Chennai-Lucknow Express at the Railway station here this morning in a horrifying accident, attributed, prima facie, to lack of care by passengers. Railway sources said the superfast train plowed into a crowd,mostly youth, who had gathered after a dispute between some travellers on the Bhopal-Bina passenger train which had halted on the other track.

One person was seriously injured and has been hospitalised.

Police said all the victims had been identified. They were residents of Bhopal’s Rahulnagar and Pampapur localities and were said to be heading for the Sanchi Buddhist mela.

State Medical Education Minister Gaurishankar Shejwar, who visited the site announced a magisterial inquiry into the accident.

The State Government and Railway authorities have each declared an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 lakh for the families of the deceased, and Rs 25,000 and 15,000 respectively for the injured.

Police Superintendent (Bhopal) Pawan Shrivastav said the train driver applied brakes but could not stop the superfast train in time. He said the 12 victims died on the spot.

West Central Railway’s Bhopal Division Manager Devi Prasad Pande denied that his department was to blame for the tragedy.

"Prima facie, the mishap appears to be a direct consequence of the passengers’ carelessness. Our top priority is rescue and relief. Responsibility shall be fixed after the probe," Mr Pande told reporters after inspecting the site.

He quoted eye-witnesses as saying that the passenger train had halted at the station when a quarrel between some passengers resulted in a crowd gathering on the track.

An eye-witness said that several passengers warned the crowd of the rushing express train but it was too late. Another person said some people attempted to stone both trains after the accident. In the resultant chaos, several passengers left the station.

Declining to comment, Station Master O K Sharma merely said the records had been taken away by his superiors. News of the accident, which occurred at 1130 hrs, reached Chief Minister Babulal Gaur while he was participating in the last rites of his only son Purushottam, who passed away at Bhopal last evening following a cardiac arrest.

Mr Gaur directed the district administration and Health authorities to ensure all help for the affected families.

The dead victims were identified as Pinky, Sunil, Sunil, Ajay, Ajay, Nishat, Manget, Nitesh, Rajendra, Ashok, Sumit and Deepu.

The injured, who hadn’t been identified, was hospitalised at the Hamidia Hospital in Bhopal, where heart-rending scenes were witnessed as mourning relatives gathered around the bodies.

The Railway administration has established a helpline at Bhopal station- 0755-50016072 and the control room may be reached at 1072. (UNI)

166 missing in China coal mine blast

BEIJING, Nov 28: A fierce gas explosion ripped through a coal mine in northwest China’s Shaanxi province today, trapping at least 166 miners eight kms underground and injuring 41 others in one of the worst mining disaster to hit the coal-rich nation.

By the evening, 127 miners were rescued alive from the Chenjiashan coalmine but another 166 remained trapped underground, Xinhua news agency quoted a latest casualty figure released by the control centre of the State Bureau of Production Safety.

Earlier, up to 188 miners were believed to have been trapped in the mine in Tongchuan about 740 km southwest of Beijing, but the latest report revised that down to 166.

Out of the 127 miners rescued, 41 are hospitalised, including five who were seriously injured, it said.

There were 293 miners working underground when the gas explosion occurred at 7:20 am (4:50 am IST) in coal pits some 8,000 meters away from the entrance.

Those who escaped the gas explosion were mainly workers working near the entrance. Some of them suffered from poisoning of carbon monoxide, the report said.

Zhao Tiechui, Deputy Head of the Bureau, who led a delegation and arrived in Xi’an, capital of Shaanxi, earlier in the day, was on his way to the site of the accident.(PTI)

Centre outlines nine-point strategy for J&K

NEW DELHI, Nov 29: Carrying forward its peace process, the Centre today outlined a nine-point strategy that included initiation of dialogue with all groups in Jammu and Kashmir, especially those which shunned violence, to achieve the twin-objective of peace and development in the militancy-hit State.

The other salient features of this strategy include promotion of interaction with people of Pakistan and pursuing of opening of Jammu-Sialkot, Uri-Muzaffarbad and Kargil-Skardu roads, a Home Ministry Spokesman said here.

While Sialkot is in Pakistan, Muzaffarabad is capital of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and Skardu lies in the northern areas controlled by Islamabad.

"This would help people-to-people contacts and open up trade," he said.

The strategy was finalised following Home Minister Shivraj Patil visit to J and K earlier this month during which he met a cross-section of the people there, the Spokesman said.

As part of the measures, communication equipment, gadgets, weaponry and ammunition and training in skills and technology for security forces and intelligence agencies would be upgraded.

Besides initialising a dilaogue with all groups in J and K, especially those which eschewed the path of violence, the strategy talked about accelerating economic development, promoting culture, tackling unemployment and public grievance, avoiding human rights violation by security forces and intensifying involvement of media in the process of reconstruction in the State.

On accelerating economic development, the spokesman said the Centre would ensure "balanced" development of the three regions of J and K— Jammu, Kashmir valley and Ladakh.

This would also include expediting completion of infrastructure projects-railways, roads and power, fuller implementation of schemes for development of agriculture, horticulture, tourism, trade, handicrafts and industries with emphasis on provision of basic necessities like drinking water, education, healthcare, woman empowerment and creation of employment opportunities.

The strategy would also focus on preserving and promoting cultural uniqueness of J and K.

Another key area would be creating employment in J and K by raising additional battalions of India Reserve Battalions, Central Paramilitary Forces and Army from remote and border areas of J and K to prevent alienation of the youth.

On avoidance of human rights violations, the spokesman said prompt and transparent enquiries, strict action against offenders, reiteration of instruction and training on humane behaviour by security forces will be undertaken.

There would be "intense involvement of media in the process of reconstruction," he said.

Patil had paid a three-day visit to J and K from November six along with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and top officials. (PTI)
 
 
 
 

 

 

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