No other way than talks: Mufti
Patil for dialogue to restore peace in J&K

Excelsior Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Oct 19: Home Minister Shivraj Patil today stressed the need for a dialogue for restoration of peace in Jammu and Kashmir, expressing satisfaction that there had been extensive improvement in the situation in the Valley.

Speaking after the meeting with J and K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed who had called on him, Mr Patil said that the Centre would extend all possible assistance to the State to address the various problems raised before him. These included issues related employment and development in various areas.

He noted that the Chief Minister had come to meet him after the victory of his party in the four by-elections, which had proved that the situation was returning to normal.

Mr Patil said that the Chief Minister had given him some papers relating to the demands raised by the State Government, and the Centre would examine these closely.

Talking separately after the approximately 30-minute meeting, Mr Sayeed said the recent by-elections had shown that the situation was fast becoming normal and the mindset of the people was for peace. The people had come out without fear to cast their votes.

He said there had been significant change in the last five or six months for creation of a conducive atmosphere for dialogue and restoration of peace. This progress must be continued, he added.

Reporting an improvement in the security and political situation in his State, Mr Sayeed said the growing urge for peace in the State had left separatists with no option other than coming forward for talks.

"There is no way other than dialogue...Nobody can spurn the offer of talks," he told reporters when asked about the status of talks planned between the Centre and Hurriyat Conference.

The Chief Minister said people in the State were yearning for peace and the decade-old militancy had left their lives shattered. "For last four or five months, there has been an improvement and it has made an impact," Sayeed said after a 30-minute long meeting with Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

"An atmosphere has to be built and the internal dimension of the Kashmir issue has to be addressed in totality. I am of the opinion that once the dialogue offer is made, no one can spurn it," he said.

The improving relations with Pakistan would definitely address the external dimensions of the Kashmir issue and "we hope that the situation will improve very soon."

"There is no problem in the situation or atmosphere but..." Sayeed said without elaborating in response to a question whether the atmosphere was not conducive for the talks with separatist groups.

To a question whether the Government was planning to meet other groups besides Hurriyat, the Chief Minister said "let us take a step and consolidate it before moving on to the second step."

The process of dialogue is a "evolutionary process" and all positive thinking people have to work together to ensure stability, Sayeed said.

Asked about other issues discussed with the Home Minister during his meeting, Sayeed said he briefed Patil about the just concluded by-election in the State, which were almost violence-free.

The Chief Minister also briefed the Home Minister about the developmental work and security situation in the State. The recent visit of Pakistani journalists to the Valley also came up during the discussion.

Sayeed said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was visiting the State "soon" but said that the dates were being worked out.

Asked about the package, he said "something is being worked on."

Earlier, Mr Sayeed held a 30-minute meeting with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Mr Sayeed also took up the case for release of additional quota to Jammu and Kashmir state for performance of Haj Pilgrimage 2005 with the Prime Minister. Mr Manmohan Singh formally agreed to release the full quota to all intending Haj Pilgrims as a special case for Jammu and Kashmir accordingly all those who have submitted their Haj forms. During this year, the pilgrims will be asked to proceed to holy Maka and holy Madina for Haj 2005.

The Chief Minister thanked the Prime Minister for this goodwill gesture. He conveyed felicitations to all intending Haj Pilgrims and advised them to make immediate preparations for performing Haj.

He advised to the members of Jammu and Kashmir Haj Committee to immediately issue clearance to all intending Hajis and process their pilgrimage documents and fix their flight schedule from Srinagar to Jiddha directly as per last year practice.

Shinde resigns, new Govt formation soon

MUMBAI, Oct 19: Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde today submitted his resignation along with his council of ministers to Governor Mohammed Fazal at Raj Bhavan here and said the new Government would be formed "in a few days."

Emerging from the Raj Bhavan soon after handing over the resignation of his council of ministers, Mr Shinde said talks were on in Delhi between the Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party for the past three days.

"There is nothing here. All decisions would be made in Delhi after the talks are held," he said.

The term of the DF coalition Government installed after the October 1999 Assembly elections, ended today with the expiry of the tenure of the 10th Legislative Assembly.

Displaying Governor Mohammed Fazal’s letter accepting the resignations and asking him to continue as the caretaker Chief Minister till alternative arrangements were made, Mr Shinde said he had come to Mumbai "to fulfil the Constitutional obligation" (submitting the resignation of his council of ministers).

"I could have faxed the letter from Delhi, but decided to come down to Mumbai and hand over the same to the Governor because of personal relations with the Governor," he said adding that he was returning to Delhi immediately.

The Chief Minister, who was in New Delhi for consultations with the Congress high command on the formation of the next Government, drove straight to the Raj Bhavan after his arrival from the national capital. He was with the Governor for 15 minutes.

Mr Shinde, asked to comment on statements of a few Congress leaders accusing NCP president Sharad Pawar of betrayal, said it was not proper to make such comments when talks were on in Delhi to resolve the issue of Chief Ministership.

Both the Congress and the NCP have staked their claim for the Chief Ministership.

Mr Shinde said different formulae were being discussed to resolve the issue and hoped that the Government would be formed within the next few days.

Mr Shinde, soon after submitting his resignation letter to the Governor, rushed back to Delhi for another round of talks with Mr Pawar.

A large number of leaders from both the Congress and the NCP are camping in the national capital. Even rebel leaders who contested as independents and won have reached there.

NCP former state unit president Babanrao Pachpute, who successfully contested as an independent from Shrigondha Assembly constituency in Ahmednagar district, has claimed that his party had support from at least eleven independents.

"Ten of them are already in touch with me and another one has also communicated," Mr Pachpute said.

Mr Shinde took over as the Chief Minister in January last year from Vilasrao Deshmukh who initially headed the DF regime after the October 1999 elections.

In the elections held on October 13 this year, the Congress-NCP-RPI(A) coalition bagged 141 seats out of the total 288 and NCP emerged as the single largest party with 71 seats. (UNI)

Govt acts: reserve 20 pc free seats for poor or face eviction
Land allotted to pvt schools at throw away prices

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Oct 19: Taking a serious note of the allotment of Government land to 18 prominent private educational institutions by the previous Governments at throw away prices, the Education Ministry of the State Government has summoned entire revenue record, pertaining to the allotments, and ordered an inquiry.

Lease period of most of the private institutions, which had been allotted huge chunk of commercial land at negligible rates, or virtual free, has also expired. The Education Ministry has decided to take the issue to the Cabinet. It will favour that the lease shouldn’t be extended.

"Since all the educational institutions, barring two or three, which had benefited immensely from the decision of previous Governments, are commercial, the Ministry is planning to set a guideline for them if they want to get their lease period extended", official sources in the Ministry told the Excelsior today.

"In all probabilities, the institutions will be directed to reserve atleast 20 per cent free seats for the under-privileged children or pay commercial rates for the allotment of land, which was presently in their possession", they said.

A notice asking management of the private schools as to why they shouldn’t be dispossessed and evicted of the Government land is also being issued to them shortly, the sources revealed.

Thirteen schools in Jammu and five schools in Kashmir division have been identified by the Ministry as beneficiaries of the allotments.

According to a list of the beneficiaries prepared by the authorities, Presentation Convent, Srinagar was allotted 95 kanals of land at a rate of just Rs 1,000 per month while Biscoe School, Srinagar had been allotted 84 kanals of land for Rs 500 per month. Burn High School was allotted 32 kanals of land for only Rs 5 per marla.

Muslim Education Trust, Bhagat Barzulla has been allotted 39 kanals of land for Rs 4,000 per year, which comes out to about Rs 350 per month. Woodland House School, Shivpora was given six kanals of land for Rs 2900 per month.

Major beneficiaries are, however, the schools in the Jammu region. Presentation Convent School, Gandhi Nagar was allotted 40 kanals of prime land on lease, the period of which has also expired in 1995. Model Academy, BC Road had been allotted six kanals of land. It’s lease period has also expired in the year 2000.

Arya Kanya Vidyalaya, Fattu Chowgan was allotted 13056 square feet land. Surprisingly, it’s lease period expired way back in 1981. Lease period of Gurmat Kanya Pathshala, Fattu Chowgan, which had been allotted 6315 square feet land, has also expired.

Arya Kanya Pathshala, Kachi Chawni had been allotted three kanals land, Khalsa high school, Gumat, 21 kanals of land (lease period expired in 1995), SS Jain Sabha, Rani Talab, 15 marlas of land (lease period expired in 2000), Sanatan Dharam Sabha, eight kanals of land (lease period expired in 2000), Mission School, Residency Road, 12 kanals of land and Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust, four kanals of land, whose lease period has also expired.

Other beneficiaries are DAV high school, SP Academy, Bright Blossom school, Purani Mandi and Shiva Public higher secondary school, Digiana.

Rates charged from these institutions were also negligible, the sources pointed out.

According to Education Ministry sources, the land had been allotted by Revenue department, Custodian department and Nazool department.

"Majority of these private educational institutions are commercial and are known for charging heavy fee from the students", they said, asserting that there was absolutely no reason to allot them land at negligible rates by the Government.

"Either the educational institutions will have to accede to our demand to reserve a minimum of 20 per cent free seats for under-privileged children or they will be dispossessed of the prime land which valued several crore of rupees.

Saying that the previous Governments gave undue benefits to commercial educational institutions, the sources pointed out that in most of the cases, the lease period of allotment of land to the schools was neither extended nor cancelled, thus, making a mockery of the rules.

MBBS paper leak scam
Jaiswal granted 7 days remand

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 19: Controller of Examination, Board of Professional Entrance Examination, BS Jaiswal, who is allegedly involved in sensational leakage of question papers of MBBS, MD/MS examination, was today produced in the Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption Jammu by Crime Branch that is probing the scandal.

The Judge, Mr BL Bhat, granted seven day’s custodial remand with certain directions as prayed by CPO Crime Branch Narayan Gupta.

The Court further directed CPO Crime Branch to produce CD file in the court tomorrow, as the bail application is pending in this court. The bail plea has been filed by battery of lawyers including Advocate OP Sharma.

The paper leakage scam was initially investigated by Vigilance Organisation and thereafter handed over to Crime Branch. The Crime Branch initially registered the case under section 420/120-B RPC and during the investigation, incorporated Section 5(2) of PC Act 2006 BK and registered a case of conspiracy and cheating.

The Crime Branch, during the investigation, arrested a worker of the printing press of Delhi wherefrom question papers for MBBS and MD/MS examination were printed. Later, Crime Branch took many other persons in its custody, including the beneficiaries and also the middle-man. Most of them are presently on bail.

The Crime Branch in its investigation has revealed that lakhs of rupees were involved for the purchase of question papers.

Ajit Kumar, Janak Singh granted conditional bail

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 19: Special Judge Anti-Corruption Jammu, Mr BL Bhat today granted bail, with certain conditions, to former Financial Commissioner ( Finance) Ajit Kumar and Chief Accounts Officer Janak Singh who are allegedly involved in multi-crore jute matting scam.

The Judge, Mr Bhat, in his nine- page judgment, observed that in the facts and circumstances attending upon this case, as unraveled during investigation, the court is of the considered opinion that withholding bail at this stage would amount to awarding punishment before holding trial. " Sofar, as the allegation regarding disproportionate assets is concerned, the same can form subject of distinct enquiry in appropriate proceedings", the Court held.

Mr Bhat directed that both Ajit Kumar and Janak Singh be released from custody of Vigilance Organisation Kashmir (Camp Jammu) on furnishing two surety bonds in an amount of rupees one lakh each and a personal bond of the like amount, subject to impositions of certain conditions.

It was ordered that the petitioners shall join the investigation as and when required by the Investigating Officer and shall not leave the territorial limits of Jammu and Kashmir State till conclusion of investigation, without the written permission from the Investigating Officer and further, shall not directly or indirectly influence the prosecution witnesses or in any manner abuse the concession of bail.

The Court stated that breach of either of these conditions shall entail cancellation of bail besides forfeiture of surety and personal bonds.

The surety bonds were later furnished in the Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption Jammu at about 4 pm and after the verification, the court issued release orders in favour of Ajit Kumar and Janak Singh.

Advocates SK Anand, Menu Koul and DS Chouhan appeared in this bail application on behalf of Ajit Kumar, while’s Advocate Sunil Sethi represented Janak Singh.

It may be recalled here that the private accused in this scam, G R Vakil alias Lassa Vakil is presently in judicial lock-up and his bail application is pending before the State High Court and is likely to be taken up on October 25, 2004. While Ajit Kumar had surrendered before Vigilance Organisation on October 4 and Janak Singh on October 6, Lassa Vakil was arrested on September 6, 2004. Since then, he is in custody of Vigilance Organisation and then in judicial lock-up.

Unqualified officers making SPCB as ‘toothless body’

By Gopal Sharma

JAMMU, Oct 19: The State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) which only believes in recommending actions to the District Magistrate or the concerned head of a department or an agency for action in case of violation or default by a concern, has attained dubious distinction of being called as "toothless body" because several officers are unqualified to enforce Acts and Rules framed for the organisation.

It may sound incredible to many but it is true that despite clear guidelines of the Central Pollution Control Board and the clear charter of Coimbatore conference, the Regional Directors of Jammu and Kashmir provinces of the J&K State Pollution Control Board are not qualified to enforce several Acts and Rules of the SPCB.

Chairman of the SPCB in a letter No. SPCB/PS/CU/PA/IV/1828 dated 14-9-2004 written to the Principal Secretary, Forest Department has requested for the posting of qualified officers for the post of Regional Directors as the present officers as per the new Environmental Policy of the Government of India, are not qualified to enforce the Water ( Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; the Air (P&C of Pollution) Act, 1981 and several rules like Hazardous Waste ( Management & Handling) Rules 1989; Municipal Solid Waste (M&H) Rules, 2000; Bio-Medical Waste (M&H) Rules, 1998 and Amendment Rules 1999; Noise Pollution Regulation & Control Rules, 2000, Ozone Depleting Substance (R&C) Rules 2000; Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989 and Batteries (M&H) Rules, 2001.

With a plea to maintain the sanctity of the Coimbatore conference charter, the Chairman has also strongly recommended the posting for the position of RD from among the senior most Scientists or the Environmental Engineers of the same department. It is regretted that even a few persons working in the legal capacity in the department are keeping an eye on the posts, who are otherwise not eligible for the same. The department has qualified scientists and engineers who can implement these rules and perform these duties. Even the member secretary as per the Central PCB norms should be a whole time employee of the Board and eligible to implement the Acts and rules as prescribed under rules.

Chairman of the Board, S D Swatantra when contacted, said it is true that some officers posted here are not qualified to enforce several PCB Acts and Rules. In J&K, the Forest officers are being posted in the PCB for the posts of Regional Director and even the Secretary but it is not the case in any other State and the Central Board. A secretary is the full timer from within the Board and moreover, Regional Directors or the Zonal officers are among the senior scientists and the highly qualified environmental engineers. Even the persons working in legal capacity or any other cadre are not eligible for this position.

Responding to a question, Mr Swatantra said as per the charter of Coimbatore conference, a Chemical Engineer or a Scientist in Chemistry should be given preference for the post of Regional Director in the PCBs of various States and he or she should be qualified to enforce the Acts and Rules of the Boards. Here, no body earlier bothered about the fact and the things were just allowed to move on. In the past, some ‘incompetent’ people managed postings here through backdoor and thus made this organisation weak. It is need of the hour to go by the norms and appoint right people for the better job and effective functioning of the SPCB and it will also provide more strength to the organisation.

Minister for Environment and Forests, G M Sofi when contacted said, "we have already taken a decision to appoint competent people in enforcing Rules and Acts of the PCB for the posts of Regional Directors and a proposal is being sent to the Cabinet for approval. Earlier, Forest Officers were being deputed to the PCB as RDs and even for the post of Secretary. But now following Central PCB rules and guidelines, the efforts are being made to streamline the system. For this, either fresh recruitment can be made or senior scientists from the Board can be promoted. A move by a few backdoor appointees and incompetent people in the Board has already been rejected and justice will be done to highly qualified and competent people," he maintained.

Siachen Army official concedes mistake

JODHPUR, Oct 19: An eye witness who participated in the fake killings of enemy troops staged by an Army officer in Siachen glacier last year conceded in a military court here today that it was ‘a mistake on my part to participate in the act’.

Nayab Subedar Phatta Bahadur Thapa who was commander of Bhutali forward post in Siachen told the court holding General Court Martial proceeding against Maj. Surinder Singh that he was asked to submit application for premature discharge from the Army for participating in fake killings.

"However my letter, seeking premature discharge, was returned after Maj. Singh lodged complaint against Commanding Officer Col K D Singh," Thapa said during his cross examination by defence counsel R S Randhawa.

The seven member jury, headed by Brig. A D S Grewal, overruled the prosecution objection to Thapa’s reply to question from defence if his application for premature discharge was returned after Maj. Singh lodged complaint against Col. Singh.

The witness said Maj. Singh pressurised him to participate in the fake encounters being staged by him last year. For the August 24, 2003 fake encounter Maj. Singh personally came to the post to take us into confidence in the name of god and warning me that I will suffer if I revealed the whole thing to any one.

To a question if he was again pressurised for the September 21, 2003 fake encounter, he said Maj. Singh had telephoned him to know the situation at the post and used abusive language against him.

In reply to another question from defence counsel, Thapa said Col. Singh also used foul language but ‘only when we committed some mistakes’.

Replying to cross examination by defence counsel, Thapa said he did not remember how missile fired in fake encounter on August 24 last year was brought to the post.

To a question as to who brought missile, he said he did not remember. Some one brought it three or four days before the fake encounter, he said.

To a specific query if he himself brought the armament, Thapa said he did not remember.

He replied again ‘mujhe yaad nahin’( I don’t remember) when Randhawa asked him if Maj. Singh told him that he was staging fake encounter on the orders of Col. Singh.

Replying to other questions, Thapa said Col. Singh had visited Bhutali post in July end last year.

To a question if there is mention in the visitor book at the post maintained by him that the Colonel wanted report of killing by July 30, witness said he could not read English but there were words like ‘killing report’.

He said when he took charge of Bhutali post, the outgoing commander had briefed him that there had been no enemy shelling on new Bhutali post but there had been instances of enemy shellings in old Bhutali post.

He replied in negative when defence counsel asked him if any one from base station came to the forward post to confirm when reports were filed about enemy shellings.

The court later adjourned the hearing till tomorrow.(PTI)

Veerappan’s killing a great achievement: Jaya

CHENNAI, Oct 19: Describing the killing of forest brigand Veerappan and his associates by the Tamil Nadu STF last night as the "greatest achievement" of her Government, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today announced out of turn promotions and cash award to each of the 752 STF personnel involved in the operation against the brigand.

"The police have not let me down. Once again they have added to the glory of the Tamil Nadu Police Force," Jayalalithaa told a press conference here.

Jayalalithaa announced out of turn promotions to the next grade, cash award of Rs three lakh and housing plots to the STF personnel.

Giving credit to the Tamil Nadu STF for killing the brigand, Jayalalithaa said the operation against Veerappan was carried out by the Tamil Nadu STF in Tamil Nadu area.

"There was a big contribution made by Karnataka Police also over the years. This particular operation was carried out in Tamil Nadu by Tamil Nadu STF. Karnataka Chief Minister Dharam Singh spoke to me this morning and congratulated me. I thanked him for all the cooperation rendered by Karnataka Police and Karnataka Government," she said.

"When K Vijayakumar, chief of STF, Tamil Nadu, informed me about the killing of Veerappan last night, I felt that it was very good news for me after taking over as Chief Minister in 2001," Jayalalithaa said.

Jayalalithaa said the STF had complete operational freedom during her tenure as Chief Minister. "My only brief to them was capture Veerappan dead or alive. After that I never interfered. I left them to work out their own strategies and this paid off," she said.

Asked whether many "political secrets might have died" due to the killing of the brigand and his associates by the STF, she said "well that cannot be helped. We have rid the society of the big menace. Now the people of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka can live in peace," she said.

Having a dig at the previous DMK Government, she said the previous Government did not "really" disband the STF but it had happened "in effect."

STF was there only for namesake, which allowed Veerappan to gain strength, she alleged adding during her earlier tenure as Chief Minister from 1991 to 1996, STF clashed with Veerappan and his men 28 times and his strength had been reduced from over 100 persons to just five. In 1996, Karunanidhi, after becoming Chief Minister, never allowed the STF to function, she charged. This had emboldened Veerappan to abduct Kannada matinee Idol Rajkumar, she said. (PTI)

20 Incharge X-Ens transferred

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 19: In partial modification to the earlier order number 378-PW (Hyd) of 2004 dated 24-9-2004 and order number 401 PW (Hyd) of 2004, the State Government today ordered transfers and postings of 20 incharge Executive Engineers (Hyd. wing).

According to Government Order number 406 PW (Hyd of 2004) dated 19-10-2004, F A Shah, under orders of transfer to Irrigation division Sumbal has been transferred to Irrigation Division, Anantnag, Uttam Singh Dour, under order of transfer to PHE Div Nowshera, has been transferred in PHE Div Akhnoor vice V K Abrol who has been posted in PDC against available vacancy.

Virander Badyal, under orders of transfer, will continue in PHE Nowshera, Hem Chand Jerath, under orders of transfer to PC Div Samba, has been posted in PHE Div Jammu vice M S Jamwal, who has been transferred in PDC. Prem Lal, under orders of transfer to TO to Chief Engineer, UEED, has been transferred in PHE Samba, V K Verma, under orders of transfer to PHE Div. Samba , will continue in Samba.

G N Sheikh, attached with Chief Engineer, I&FC, Kashmir, has been transferred in Irrigation Div. Tral vice Ghulam Mohammed Wani who has been posted in Irrigation Div. Sumbal against available vacancy. Ghulam Mohammed Sheikh, under orders of transfer to Data Collection Division, UEED Srinagar, will continue in PDC, GA Thakur, under orders of transfer to PDC, will continue in the Data Collection Division Srinagar. Shibanji, PHE Div Rural-II Jammu has been posted in Irrigation Div Kathua against available vacancy, M A Lanker, Irrigation Div. Tangmarg, has been transferred in Master Plan Div, Srinagar, Saleem Iqbal, under order of transfer to Master Plan Div. Srinagar, will continue in PDC, G Q Bhat, PDC has been transferred in Irrigation Div. Tangmarg, Mohinder Paul Bhagat, PDC, has been transferred in PHE Div Rural-II Jammu, RC Gupta, under orders of transfer to PDC, has been transferred to RTIC Jammu, Gian Chand Parihar, under orders of transfer to PDC, has been transferred to Irrigation Div. Bhaderwah, Sohan Lal Adalti, under orders of transfer to PDC, will report to PHE CE for further orders.

One SE, 11 X-Ens of PWD transferred

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 19: The State Government today ordered transfers and postings of one incharge Superintendent Engineer (SE) and eleven incharge Executive Engineers (Xens) of the Public Works Department (PWD).

According to Government Order number 405-PW (R&B) of 2004 dated 19-10-2004, H K Koul, incharge SE, PWD (R&B) circle Udhampur is transferred and posted as SE, PWD (R&B) Jammu-Kathua circle. He will hold the charge of the post of SE, R&B, Udhampur till further orders.

Tahseen Mustafa, incharge Xen, R&B division, Udhampur is transferred and posted as incharge Xen Div No II, Jammu vice S P Pandoh who has been transferred and posted as incharge Xen, Special Division Mahore.

D V Koul, incharge Xen, Special Div. Mahore is transferred and posted as incharge Xen, R&B division, Udhampur, M L Bogia, incharge Xen, R&B Div. Reasi is transferred and posted as incharge Xen, JDA vice Alok Mengi who has been transferred and posted as incharge Xen, R&B Div.II Jammu vice Abdul Hamid Sheikh. Mr Sheikh has been transferred and posted as incharge Xen R&B Div, Reasi.

T K Bhat, incharge R&B Div. Katra is transferred and posted as incharge Xen, Basholi in place of T R Bhagat who has been posted as incharge R&B Div. Katra. M C Bhagat, incharge Xen, Housing and Urban Development Department is recalled and posted as incharge Xen, R&B Div. Nowshera. S N Bhat, inchage Xen. Nowshera is posted in the Vigilance Organisation Jammu in place of R K Gupta, who has been transferred and posted as T O to Commissioner/Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department.

Civilian killed, HM comdr surrenders

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 19: A civilian was kidnapped and killed by the militants at Sailan dhok in Surankote tehsil in Poonch district while a Hizbul Mujahideen militant surrendered before security forces in Reasi today.

Official sources said a civilian Khurshid Ahmed son of Jalal Din R/o Morha Bachai, Surankote was kidnapped by the militants from his residence few days back. His bullet riddled body was today recovered from Sailan dhok in Surankote.

A Hizbul Mujahideen militant Abdul Lateef son of Faiz Mohd, a resident of Kangri and an ‘area commander’ of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit surrendered before security forces at Rod nullah in Reasi today.

He handed over one AK-47 rifle, three AK magazine, 94 rounds and two hand grenades to security forces at the time of surrender.

Security forces destroyed two militant hideouts at Hill Kaka in Marhote area of Surankote and recovered 25 AK rounds, four mortar bombs, 10 Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGLs) and three detonators.

CBI recovers Rs 2.2 cr more from EC

NEW DELHI, Oct 19: In fresh raids, the CBI today recovered over Rs 2.2 crore from a flat of Central Excise Commissioner in Thane, P K Ajwani, in Mumbai’s Khar district raising the total cash seized from him to over Rs five crore.

During investigations, the CBI came to know about the flat following which searches were conducted today. This led to a huge cash recovery to the tune of Rs 2.2 crore, CBI sources said.

The counting was still on, they said adding the total figure would go up.

Some jewellery and documents pertaining to purchase of property were also recovered, the sources said.

In September, the CBI registered a case and carried out searches at Ajwani’s premises for allegedly accepting bribe of Rs 60 lakh to show undue favours to a person.

Ajwani, an IRS official of 1976 batch, was arrested and is now in judicial custody.

With today’s haul, the cash seized from him crossed over Rs five crore as the CBI had already seized currency to the tune of Rs 3.04 crore, the sources said. (PTI)
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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