Press Club holds grand reception for Pak journalists
Journalists for breaking all information barriers

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 3: Journalists of India and Pakistan today called for breaking all information barriers among South Asian countries and appealed media to rise above national centric approach.

Over-whelmed by the grand reception by Press Club of Jammu, the visiting delegation of Pakistan journalists, who reached City of Temples this evening, appealed political leadership of both the countries to soften borders and encourage people to people contact in the sub-continent.

"Let Muzaffarabad-Sringar, Sialkot-Jammu and Amritsar-Lahore routes be opened so that people from both sides of the borders can visit other side more freely’’, said Imtiaz Alam, prominent journalist of Pakistan and general secretary of the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) while addressing a reception organised by the Press Club Jammu, here this evening.

He opined that the vexed Kashmir problem will become a small issue if people of both the countries come closer and exploit similarities of the South Asia.

"Which was not happening in the last 57 years, is happening now", observed Mr Alam while pointing towards the on-going peace process initiated by the regimes of both the neighbouring states. He appreciated joint statement issued by Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh and Pakistani President General Pervez Mushrraf in New York and said, "the joint statement will facilitate in improving ties between India and Pakistan and bring both the countries closer".

In a reciprocal gesture, Mr Alam invited journalists from this side of border to visit Pakistan and have interaction with the people there. "No area of the South Asia should be prohibited to free press", he advocated.

The eminent Pakistan journalist admitted that media persons from both the sides of the border have been part of vicious propaganda campaign launched by regimes of both the countries. "We journalists allow ourselves to become a part of their propaganda campaign but now we should rise about these mean devices and work for establishing bridges between the two countries", he said and stressed that press should play a pivotal role for initiation of a composite dialogue between the two countries.

Expressing his gratitude for media fraternity of Jammu for according rousing reception to them, Mr Alam said, "Aap Ko To Sirf Paanch Gante Intzaar Karna Parha. Hum Ne To Yahan Pahunchane Ke Liye Pure 57 Saal Intzaar Kiya Hai" ( You did wait for only five hours but we had to wait for long 57 years to reach here)", said visibly emotional Pakistan scribe.

Ms Rehana, female member of the visiting delegation of Pakistani journalists, could not control her emotions while speaking in the reception. For her ‘it was a dream come true’. She also admitted that journalists on both sides of the border were writing about each others without having proper knowledge of ground realities. She informed that more number of female journalists were interested to visit this side of the border but due to visa restrictions they could not get permission for the same.

K K Katyal, president of SAFMA said that earlier the organisers had some apprehensions about Government’s attitudes towards holding the visit and reaction of people. "But now we feel that the initiative taken by the SAFMA has realised and the result is beyond imagination,"he said and hoped that the feeling of friendship between the people of both the countries will grow stronger and stronger with such initiatives and developments.

Sanjeev Acharya, general secretary of Press Club of India, described the visit of Pak journalists as a great historic event and hoped that media would play a definite role in the ongoing peace process between the two countries.

General secretary, SAFMA, Vinod Sharma, drew attention towards the initiative taken by the organisation in holding the visit of Pak journalists. "Although we disagree on many issue but we agree to disagree," he said

Senior journalist Pushap Saraf recalled emotional memories of his earlier visit to Pakistan and said that the barriers between two countries were artificial. "This visit has touched many sentimental chords and let we make best use of your stay here," he said

Eminent businessman Devinder Rana said that Jammu has special relations with Pakistan and appealed intellectuals on both sides of the border to highlight the positives and dilute negatives of relations between both the countries.

Veteran journalist Shayam Koul also spoke on the occasion.

President of Press Club of the Jammu Mr Manu Srivatsa presented vote of thanks.

It was very very special occasion in the life of woman journalist, Ms Aroosa Alam, Special Correspondent of Pakistan Observer. She said it is dream coming true in her life when she touched the Indian soil after crossing Wagah border. She further expressed that she was overwhelmed with the grand reception received from the Jammu Press Club members and other media-persons of Jammu city.

Responding to a question, she said that she was feeling at home and was extremely happy to be with the journalists of this part. She said that she would like to see the things and closely study the culture and traditions of the people here." We wish the people from this side may go freely to our country and those from Pakistan can come here without much restrictions. Increasing interactions, people to people contact between the two nations will help a lot in normalising tension and improving relations between the two nations," she added.

Imtiaz Alam, Editor South Asian Journal and Editor Current Affair expressed that it took him long long fifty seven years to reach this part of the Asian region. This is a historic event in the history of India and Pakistan." We want soft borders so that people to people contact can be established. The topography is similar, people are alike and culture also resembles. There should not be any more walls of hatred between the two countries and a new chapter of friendship and good relationship should be developed," he maintained.

Ms Rehana Hakim, Editor Newslines said that she was extremely happy to be here and would like to see all the important places in J&K state. She wished to enjoy a ride on a ‘Shikara’ in Dal lake of Srinagar. " We have heard a lot about Kashmir and from the very childhood longed to see all those places. It is a great occasion for all of us to visit this part of India and we wish the relations may improve. We also wish that roads from Muzaffrabad to Uri and Sialkot to Jammu may open very soon so that people from each side understand each other in better way," she added.

In the mid-night, keeping up their schedule, the delegation had a dinner with Vice Chancellor, Jammu University, Prof Amitabh Mattoo at his official residence.

Speaking, Mr Alam said people of both the countries want friendly relations and wish to come closer to each other but the politicians and Governments of both the nations create hurdles.

We are here not to create history but write about it: Alam
Delegation for bus service from 3 places

WAGAH, Oct 3: A group of Pakistani journalists arrived here today on a landmark visit to Jammu and Kashmir, the first in 57 years, as part of the media exchange programme between India and Pakistan.

The members of "goodwill mission" were received at the Indo-Pak border by South Asia Free Media Association’s (SAFMA) India Chapter president K K Katyal, and secretary-general Vinod Sharma. Representaives of the Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab Chapters of SAFMA were also present.

The visit of the 16-member team of Pakistani journalists, including two from Muzafarrabad in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), from October 3 to 8 has been organised by SAFMA which was set up recently to improve relations, promote understanding and build confidence between the two countries.

SAFMA secretary-general Imtiaz Alam (The News), who is leading the delegation, said the delegation was on a goodwill mission, including a visit to J&K and called it a great initiative for free movement of journalists across borders, for which SAFMA has always striven. He thanked Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh and Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri for making it possible.

"We are not here to create history but to write about it. We are agents of free flow of information and not of any particular body. We will attentively see the situation and assess it," he said.

The journalists include Mr Tariq Naqqash (Dawn) and Mr Roshan Mughal (Nawa-i-Waqt) (both based in Muzaffarabad), Ms Rehana Hakim (Editor Newsline), Ms Marianna Babar and Ms Nusrat Javed (The News), Mr Ejaz Haider (The Friday Times), Mr Talat Hussain (Ary TV) and Muneeza Jehangir, daughter of famous Pakistani human rights activist Asma Jehangir, who is representing Geo TV.

During our stay in the Valley we will also interact with the Kashmiri Pandits to know about their life style and problems faced by them, Alam said.

"Our programme also includes meeting with political parties besides an interaction with Hurriyat Conference leaders," he said

The delegation will interact with various business organizations for prospective development of industry and business in the valley, he said.

"We have programmes to meet the educationists from the valley beside Vice Chancellor of Jammu and Kashmir University," he said.

Alam said the delegation members were carrying with them the demand for the uninterrupted bus service from Muzzafarabad to Kashmir, Amritsar to Lahore besides the opening of Sialkot from Pakistani and Jammu border from Indian side so that both the nations could become visa free regime.

Delegation member Mastansar Javed of ‘The Jung’ daily said now on visiting the Kashmir valley all the Pakistani scribes would be able to write balanced story instead of half baked material for the masses of the Pakistan.

A journalist of ‘The Dawn’ daily said, both the nations should allow their cable operators to release signals of all the TV channels so that masses could have better information on both sides.

Alam demanded change in the 1972 visa policies.

The delegations will reach New Delhi to attend the Conference of Indian Chapter of SAFMA on October 11.

India granted visas to the Pakistani journalists less than two weeks after Foreign Ministers of the two countries met in New Delhi and said they would try to ease visa restrictions for reporters.

The decision was taken a few days before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf met in New York last week.

India’s move indicated a major shift in its long-standing policy of keeping the State out of bounds for media personnel from across the border.

While India imposes no restriction on journalists from other countries visiting Jammu and Kashmir, the Pakistani journalists have not had access to the State. Pakistan alows non-Indian foreign journalists to visit PoK only if they get a no objection certificate from the Interior Ministry.

The last time Indian journalists were allowed into PoK since 1964 was during the wedding of JKLF chief Amanullah Khan’s daughter and the son of assassinated Hurriyat leader Abdul Ghani A group of Indian journalists will pay an 8-day return visit to Pakistan occupied Kashmir from November 19.

Hosted by the Pakistan chapter of the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), the mediapersons will visit Muzaffarabad, Gilgit, apart from Islamabad and Lahore.

They will also attend the fourth SAFMA regional conference on "reconciliation processes in South Asia" in Lahore on November 20-21. (Agencies)

Journalists' visit a step in right direction: Mufti

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 3: Welcoming the first-ever visit of Pakistani journalists to Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has said such interactions would help "reduce distances" and create the right atmosphere for improvement of relations.

Talking to a news channel, Mufti Sayeed said that the media persons are free to meet anybody they want, as there is no restriction on their movement.

He hoped that the visit would boost the ongoing process of reconciliation between India and Pakistan and added "it is a step in the right direction".

"This is the first time since 1947 that journalists from the neighbouring country are visiting our State. I am hopeful that this will help the process of reconciliation to move forward.", the Chief Minister said.

He said the visit was part of a process and a similar delegation from Jammu and Kashmir would visit the neighbouring country later.

The Mufti said he had always been advocating people-to-people contact from both sides and believed that such interactions would enable to remove misgivings and misperceptions about each other and foster closer relations.

The Pakistani journalists on their visit to the State, are scheduled to meet a cross-section of the political spectrum besides intellectuals at Jammu and Srinagar.

Strongly believing in frequent visits of different delegations between India and Pakistan, the Mufti said whenever he had occasion to meet the Prime Minister or the Home Minister he had always advocated inclusion of Jammu and Kashmir in the itinerary of such visits. "Keeping the State out of the itineraries was not of any help", he added.

About Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s statement that the visiting mediapersons would be under pressure from the Government, the Chief Minister said "there will be no such pressure on them and in fact they are meeting everybody including Geelani himself". He said the Pakistani journalists were not aware of the situation here and it would be a great opportunity for them to objectively see and report. He said they would find the world of difference between what they had been writing from there and what the ground situation was here.

"Let them make their own assessment after visiting this place", he said and added that the government had nothing to hide from them.

He said his Government had earlier welcomed the European Union delegation, the Red Cross and the International Human Rights Commission whose members were allowed to meet whoever they wanted.

"We have a democratic atmosphere here," he said and added that the visiting journalists would have the feel of Kashmir’s hospitality during their stay in the valley.

The Chief Minister said this year Jammu and Kashmir had hosted a contingent of scouts and guides from Pakistan under the aegis of SAARC and prior to that a delegation of Pakistani pilgrims visited Leh to participate in the Sindhu Darshan festival.

"On both occasions the visitors returned with positive feelings and good memories," he said.

When his attention was drawn to the recent statement of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf reportedly seeking help of the West to resolve the Kashmir imbroglio, the Chief Minister said the problem had to be solved by India and Pakistan bilaterally. He said that General Musharraf has recently held talks with the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and according to his own admission, he was satisfied with the meeting.

Armed forces must adapt to India's nuclear status: CAS

NEW DELHI, Oct 3: The Indian Air Force as well as the other two services must keep on innovating to address new challenges arising from India’s status as a nuclear power, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal (ACM) S Krishnaswamy today said.

"We have to recognise that India is now a nuclear power, and correspondingly, new challenges have emerged. These have no real answers. Technology alone is not sufficient to solve everything," he said.

Observing reality must sink in about the "presence of the nuclear button," ACM Krishnaswamy said that they could not look to the past, as in the US-Soviet nuclear race, for solutions which were viable in the present.

"Will we go into a total war? where does deterrence begin and where does it end? these are some of the questions we need to answer," he said.

Participating in a panel discussion on the occasion of launch of the ‘airpower journal,’ the Air Chief, in his brief intervention, said all the three services must strive for creating further mechanisms for ‘jointness’ among themselves, though he acknowledged that this would require more debate.

Responding to a point raised about close air support (CAS) operations, the air chief asserted that this was no longer an issue.

"We are committed to supporting the other services," he said, adding that they required to look beyond ‘conventional methods of CAS, to the new battlefield management technology, involving sensor to shooter time lag and connectivity, and particularly how much flexibility forward echelon commanders possess.

Marshal of the Air Force Arjun Singh, also responding here, said the IAF needed to create a balance between cas operations and ‘strategic’ attacks further infield, observing that air forces tended to stress on the latter, as they were more ‘satisfying’ and safer.

The journal, released today by the marshal of the IAF, is the organ of the centre of the airpower studies, headed by noted strategic thinker air commodore (retd) Jasjit Singh. The first issue, significantly, features articles by high-ranking serving officers including Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash, Strategic Forces Chief Air Marshal Ajit Bhavnani and Army’s Quarter Master General Lt Gen V G Patankar.

Panellists, who included former Foreign Secretary M K Rasgotra, senior journalist Inder Malhotra, the marshal himself, and IDSA Deputy Director Commodore (retd) C Uday Bhaskar, lauded the launch of the journal, which will be the only professional journal on airpower outside the US.

Other prominent guests at the launch included Strategic Forces Chief Air Marshal Ajit Bhavnani, Western Air Command (WAC) Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Air Marshal S P Tyagi, the IAF’s Inspector General (Safety Inspection) Air Marshal B N Gokhale, ex-Air Chief ACM O P Mehra, ex-WAC chief during the Kargil conflict Air Marshal (retd) vinod patney and other retired officers from all the three services. (UNI)

LeT 'commander' among 5 top ultras killed
*SPO deserts post in Surankote

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 3: Five militants including an ‘area commander’ of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) Zanat Gul of Pakistan were gunned down by security forces and police in two separate encounters today while a Special Police Officer (SPO) deserted his post in Surankote along with an AK rifle and is reported to have joined the militants.

Three militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed in an encounter with police and security forces at village Hariwalla in Deedha area of Gool under the jurisdiction of Ramban police district this evening, official sources said.

The militants were eliminated after more than four hour long heavy exchange of gun-fighting at Hariwalla, they said, adding two other militants managed to escape towards a surrounding forest area. They were chased by the security personnel in the forest area till 8 pm after which the operation was stopped till tomorrow morning due to darkness and bad weather.

Zanat Gul, who was operating as an ‘area commander’ of the LeT for Deedha, Gool and his deputy Ghulam Rasool, who were killed in the operation, were both Pakistanis. Identity of their third slain associate has not been established.

Security forces didn’t suffer any casualties in the operation.

Three AK rifles, five magazines, 90 rounds and one wireless set were recovered from the site of encounter.

Killing of Zanat Gul was a big setback to the LeT outfit in Gool area, the sources said, adding Gul was involved in a number of militancy related incidents in the area.

A 'deputy divisional commander' of Hizbul Mujahideen for Banihal Mohd Sharif Bhatt alias Omar alias Musa R/o Buzla, Banihal was killed by RR and STF in an encounter at Buzla last night. He had escaped in an injured condition after the encounter last night. However, his dead body was recovered this morning. One AK rifle and some ammunition were recovered from him.

Another top militant Saqib Islam, an activist of Hizb-e-Islami, was shot dead by the Army at Hazan Margaan in Darhal area of Rajouri district this morning.

Sources said the Army personnel launched an operation in Hazan Margaan early today after getting a report of the presence of two militants in the village. As troops moved into the village, the militants left their hideout and slipped into a small forest area.

After about an hour long exchange of firing, the Army gunned down one militant, who was later identified as Saqib Islam, while another ultra managed to escape.

Recoveries made from the slain militant include one AK-47 rifle, two radio sets, four magazines, 83 rounds and two hand grenades.

SPO Qamar Din, who was attached with Special Operations Group (SOG) of police, has deserted his post in Surankote along with an AK rifle and some ammunition.

Qamar Din is reported to have joined a militant group, the sources said and added that a search operation has been launched to arrest him. A case has also been registered against him at Surankote police station.

Two militants, two jawans killed

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 3 : Two militants and an equal number of security personnel were killed in a fierce encounter in Baramulla district tonight, official sources said.

The encounter broke out in Bandipora area, 55 kms from here when militants opened fire on security forces who laid a cordon around the village following specific information about the presence of militants there, the sources said.

They said the encounter was still continuing.

Meanwhile, five persons including a security jawan were injured in a grenade blast in Kashmir where security forces apprehended three suspected ultras, official spokesman said here today.

The spokesman said four civilians and a security force jawan were injured when ultras lobbed a hand grenade towards a security patrol at Chankhan crossing in Sopore area of Baramulla district. The injured were hospitalised and reported to be out of danger.

Security forces apprehended two suspected militants at Kundabal in Safapora area of the district, recovering 55 kgs of explosive material from Trazoo in Sopore area at their instance, the spokesman said.

He said another militant was apprehended in neighbouring Kupwara district at Nunwani in Kalaroos area and an AK rifle, two magazines and five rounds were recovered from his possession.

Several rocket shells recovered from scrap

GHAZIABAD (UP), Oct 3: An unspecified number of rocket shells were recovered today from the scrap which was imported from Iran to Bhushan Steel Company’s factory here, where a blast had claimed 10 lives and injured 15 others.

Bomb disposal squad of the Army and National Security Guards searched through the scrap kept in 11 trucks which had been brought to Kanha Upavan, a secluded area near the factory yesterday.

"Different kinds of shells have been found. Some of which are live," Major Sukhwant Singh, who was supervising the bomb detection operation told reporters.

While he refused to divulge any numbers, police sources said five rocket shells were found today.

Singh said the operation to search the scrap had been stopped so that proper safety precautions could be taken before defusing the live ammunition.

The sources said defusing is likely to take place tomorrow.

"We are segregating the shells and keeping them in some pitch which have been dug up for the purpose," Singh said.

While sources said some shells had German marking, Singh refused to comment on this matter.

He also declined to comment on how long the operation would take, saying "it is a long and tedious process, it will take time.

"It is a very unfortunate incident and now our priority is to take security precautions so that life of members of bomb disposal unit and local villagers is not put at risk," Singh said.

The trucks which have been brought here from the sealed Bhushan Steel & Strips Limited yesterday and overnight have been parked at least half a kilometre away from each other in the sprawling Kanha Upavan to prevent any mishap.

Police sources said defusing of shells may not take place at the Upavan and a different site was likely to be identified for the purpose.

Meanwhile, Bhushan Steel & Strips Limited has decided to take legal action against Mumbai-based Metco Marketing (India Private Limited) and Lucky Metals of Dubai for breach of contract in supply of heavy metal scrap containing the explosives.

"Our contract specified that the heavy metal scrap would be devoid of any material that can cause damage. After the explosion, we have taken legal action against the suppliers as we deemed it fit," Bushan Steel & Strips Limited vice president Rahul Sengupta told reporters here.

The Army is contemplating shifting of the recoveries to its depots, where after an inquiry they would be disposed of.

The Army specialist team had reassessed the threat to the local population from the unexploded shells and rockets, the Army spokesman said.

The team wanted to shift the unexploded shells and rockets to a safer place to carry out their controlled explosion so that it did not cause any further casualty, he said.

The report had been sent by the team to Army authorities and they were awaiting clearance for shifting the said shells and rockets, the spokesman added.

Meanwhile, Sengupta said the scrap containing the explosive had been shipped from Iran’s Bunder Abad Port to Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Delhi via the Mundra Port in Gujarat.

After reaching ICD Delhi, the material was cleared after due examination by custom authorities and then reloaded to trucks which carried them to the factory in Ghaziabad, he said.

"Until the scrap was unloaded at the factory we had no idea that it contained rocket shells. No one from our company was present during the customs inspection, the vice-president of the company said.

Sengupta said four containers and eight to nine trucks containing old scrap from Iran meant for his factory was still in ICD Delhi and that the company had refused to take delivery of it.

"The management has decided to stop all imports of heavy metal scrap hence forth. We have asked Lucky Metals to take charge of any scrap that may be lying at icd yard or may be in transit," he said.

Metco Marketing against whom Bhusan Steel has decided to take legal action also has customers in China, Taiwan, Korea and Malaysia.

Kanha Upwan, which houses several cowsheds and has agricultural fields, has been marked out of bounds for local people to prevent any harm to them. (PTI)

4 Armymen killed, Assam toll 37

GUWAHATI, Oct 3: Four Armymen were killed by ULFA militants in a grenade attack at Talap area in Tinsukia district of Assam today as the toll in bombings and firing by NDFB and ULFA militants since yesterday rose to 37, with a total of 12 fresh deaths reported.

The militants hurled grenades at an Army patrol vehicle killing the four, official sources said.

Altogether 12 persons, including three ultras, were killed and 50 injured in 10 incidents as the violence engulfed 13 districts, up from yesterday’s nine, police sources said. Yesterday 25 people were killed.

Among the dead were three people, while 16 others were injured in a bomb blast by NDFB in the Gauripur weekly market in Dhubri district at 6.30 pm, the sources said.

At the Bijni fish market of Bongaigaon district, NDFB militants exploded a bomb killing one person and injuring 17 others.

The districts in the grip of militant violence were Dhubri, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Darrang, Morigaon, Chirang, Adalguri, Sonitpur, Sibsagar, Karbi Anglong, Kamrup, Nalbari and Tinsukia.

A suspected extremist was killed at Puthimari under Kolaigaon police station in Udalguri district during the day, the 18th ‘raising day’ of NDFB, when the bomb he was carrying exploded, the sources said.

ULFA militants exploded a bomb at Borhat at noon in Sibsagar district and killed a tea garden labourer on the spot and seriously injured two others.

The district police seized six kg of RDX from the militants and took 10 people into custody.

Two NDFB militants were killed at Koilajuli in Rangapara of Sonitpur district when the bombs they were carrying went off.

Fifteen persons were injured when militants exploded a bomb in a cloth shop at the Dhekiajuli weekly market in the district.(PTI)

NE states put on high alert

GUWAHATI, Oct 3: All the northeastern states, barring Mizoram, and West Bengal were today put on high alert in view of a series of strikes by militants in Assam and Nagaland which claimed 55 lives and over a 100 injured.

Security forces in Assam where militant outfits NDFB and ulfa left a gory trail of 29 dead and 66 injured in 12 districts since yesterday was on "maximum alert" with additional security troops deployed, Director General of Police P V Sumant said.

Security along railway tracks had been beefed up with patrolling intensified as the militants were targeting railway passengers, he said.

He said security has been tightened in vulnerable areas where NDFB militants were active, particularly Kokrajhar, Udalguri, Darrang, Chirang, Sonitpur, Morigaon, Nalbari and Kamrup districts.

Besides, security troops have been alerted along the border districts to prevent movement of the ultras, he said.

In Manipur, security and police posts were also put on maximum alert in the past 24 hours, official sources said in Imphal.

Sources said security forces on patrol of sensitive areas had been instructed to report to the headquarters if they find any suspicious object or material. Bomb disposal squads were also on standby.

Security and police forces deployed on the Manipur-Nagaland and Manipur-Assam borders had been particularly asked to maintain a hawk-eyed vigil to prevent ultras from slipping into the State.

In Nagaland, police vehicles were patrolling deserted streets with all shops and establishments closed in Dimapur with security beefed up statewide.

In Arunachal Pradesh, patrolling was on and additional check posts had been set up in some areas, Inspector General of Police P N Agarwal said in Itanagar.

With the Assembly election ahead, police in coordination with the Army and Assam Rifles were maintaining special vigil in militant-infested Tirap and Changlang districts adjoining Nagaland.

All police stations in Meghalaya were on alert. "We have asked our boys to be alert when such incidents have taken place in Assam," Director General of Police L Sailo said in Shillong.

Tripura was put on high alert and security was beefed up for a fortnight from October one to prevent any insurgent group for carrying out subversive activities in view of the state’s merger day on October 15, Additional Director General of Police Pranoy Sahaya said in Agartala.

"The security alert is for a fortnight because October 15 is the day of the merger of the erstwhile princely State of Tripura with India and there was apprehension of attack or subversive activity on that day," he said. Paramilitary forces were also deployed in hilly, interior and insurgency-prone areas.

In Sikkim, a general alert was sounded statewide. Deputy Inspector General of Police (Range) S D Negi said in Gangtok "though we don’t expect any trouble here, we are not taking any chances. So a general alert has been sounded."

Patrolling around vital installations and along the border districts had been stepped up as a precautionary measure, he said.

In West Bengal, security was tightened statewide with authorities instructed to keep vigil on railway stations, tracks, vital installations and Government establishments.

Official sources said in Kolkata that police patrolling was being introduced in strategic areas of North Bengal districts.

Police forces along the West Bengal-Assam border in both Jalpaiguri and Coochbehar districts were also on alert to prevent intrusion by militants.

"We have tightened security all over North Bengal and taken precautionary measures following the explosions and firing by militants in Nagaland and Assam yesterday," the sources said.

However, there was no special security arrangement in Mizoram following the incidents in Assam and Nagaland, Aizawl district Superintendent of Police L T Hrangchal said. (PTI)

Shah Rukh in Time's 20 Asian heroes

NEW DELHI, Oct 3 : Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, Civil Servant Gautam Goswami and sitar exponent Anoushka Shankar feature prominently in Time’s 20 Asian heroes under the age of 40.

Sri Lankan legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, gutsy Pakistani woman Mukhtai Mai, Afghanistan’s prominent human rights activist Ahmad Nader Nadery and John Wood, a former microsoft executive who is building schools and libraries throughout Asia, also figure in the Magazine.

"I get people who write in blood. Normally very short letters like I love you," says 38-year-old Shah Rukh Khan.

Well into a two-month song-and-dance tour of Europe and North America, Khan, who figures in Time’s Asian heroes, was quoted by the Magazine in London as saying "I get people who fall sick and think I can cure them."

Srk, as he is popularly known, has had a run of hits since 1995 and is believed to have raked in a quarter of a billion dollars.

"No one holds a candle to him," says Director and friend Karan Johar, who insists on casting Khan as lead in all his films. "Forget the top 10. He is one-to-fifty by himself," Johar said.

Khan began his filmy career as a Wannabe Director who drifted into soap opera acting and moved to Mumbai from Delhi in 1991 to make a fresh start after his parents died.

His secret, says Khan, is always playing the coy, cheeky lead. But playing the good guy all the time can be a burden.

Khan says he craves something different. "I want to beat people up. I tell the directors... Next time I knock on a door and a girl opens it, can I slap her? Or shoot her?"

He says he has played the same part for so long that he worries it has followed him home. "I am acting all the time. When I go on set, I don’t have to prepare myself. And, when I am not on set, I am still acting". (PTI)

BSP to welcome reservation for Muslims

MUMBAI, Oct 3: Bahujan Samajwadi Party supremo Mayawati today said any proposal by the Centre to introduce reservation for Muslims in public sector jobs would be welcomed by her party.

"BSP will welcome a proposal for reservations for muslims in Government jobs if the Central Government proposes it," Mayawati said.

She was speaking at a public rally at Worli in Central Mumbai.

On the third day of her tour in the state for the election campaign, Mayawati blasted Congress-NCP combine and the Shiv Sena-BJP combine for "failing to address the issue of developement".

She alleged that all the previous Governments in the state had failed to improve the condition of Dalits in the state and exhorted the voters to bring her party to power to bring about the change.

Mayawati said BSP had emerged as a big power in the state and expressed confidence that it will be the power of balance after this election.

"No Government can come to power without our support," she said and added that BSP has carried on its march from Uttar Pradesh to Maharashtra and the election results would produce surprising verdicts. (PTI)

Kiyani appointed new ISI chief

ISLAMABAD, Oct 3: President Pervez Musharraf today appointed a new chief for Pakistan’s powerful spy agency.

Lt Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani was appointed Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence agency, replacing Gen Ahsanul Haq, the Army’s Public Relations Department said. Kiyani was the top general in Rawalpindi, where the Army is headquartered.

Haq was appointed yesterday as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Military Staff. His predecessor, Gen. Muhammad Aziz Khan, is retiring on Oct. 7.

In other moves, Musharraf picked Lt. Gen. Ahsan Saleem Hayat, the top Army General in the southern city of Karachi, to replace Vice Chief of Army Staff Gen. Yousaf Khan, who is also retiring. (AP)

Dogri folk singer enthralls visiting journalists
Ghulam Mohammed’s Sarangi strikes emotional chord with Pak scribes

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 3: Although he has performed in many parts of the world, it is first time that legend folk singer of this Duggar land got the opportunity to display his talent before Pakistani nationals. Enthusiasm as well as excitement was very much visible on the face of Ghulam Mohammed as there was a strong feeling in his mind that like other sections of the society, he too has been contributing to improve relations between the two neighbouring countries. Ghulam Mohammed has witnessed many ‘ups and downs’ vis-a-vis relations between India and Pakistan as he has crossed 70s at this stage.

Today’s evening was immemorial event in the life of Ghulam Mohammed- a symbol of the secular Dogra tradition. He sung with more devotion and from the ‘core of the heart’ as today's event will be a turning point in the future of coming generations of both India and Pakistan.

"It is really a historical event in my life", emotional Ghulam Mohammed said before beginning of the programmee, adding, "I have prepared a special item for today’s event".

Raab Sada Sanjha Jis Duniya Banae A ! Aapu Bich Sare Kis Galay Dhe Larai A! Hind Pak Dono Asay Kathay Hoi Bonay Hai! Dukh Sukh Asay Ek Duia Ghe Sanana Hai ( If the samd God has created this universe than why we are fighting with each other. India and Pakistan have to sit together to share joys and griefs jointly as we are neighbourer)’’, these were the couplets of special item prepared by Ghulam Mohammed for this historical event in the honour of visiting Pakistani delegation.

Ghulam Mohammed is a known folk singer who is popular among Indian all over the world for his Dogri Bhaints (devotional songs) in praise of Mata Vaishno Devi. For giving his performance, he toured many parts of the world. Jootan Jagdeayan Mata Rani Dhey Darbar ! Sherian Wali Dhey Darbar Jootan Jagdeayan is won of his popular Bhaints which enthralled the Indian living at South Africa and Canada. When Ghulam Mohammed visited South Africa and Canada his Bhaints became popular among Indians.

Today’s historical event was started with Bhaints of Ghulam Mohammed followed by Naaz Sharief which he presented along with his son Iqrar Mohammed.

Pak journalists given warm welcome at Lakhanpur

Excelsior Correspondent

LAKHANPUR, Oct 3: A delegation of Pakistan journalists was given a warm welcomed by Kathua based journalists of different newspapers and television channels on behalf of Press Club of Jammu at Lakhanpur, the gateway of Jammu and Kashmir, on their arrival here late this evening.

Besides the local journalists, a large number of citizens had gathered here to receive the journalists, who were scheduled to reach here at 2 pm but arrived at 8 pm due to delayed departure from Pakistan.

The delegation members were garlanded by the journalists. The Pakistan journalists mixed up freely with the local scribes and the citizens for about half an hour.

Police parties led by SP Kathua Raghubir Singh had to face an uphill task to give security cover to the visiting journalists in view of heavy rush of the people curious to see them since it was for first time that Pakistan journalists are visiting Jammu and Kashmir.

Later, the journalists left for Jammu to attend a function of Press Club of Jammu.
 
 
 
 

 

 

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