No visible change in Pak attitude: Lt Gen Kapur

Excelsior Defence Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 26: General Officer Commanding, 16 Corps Lt Gen Ashok Kapur has said that no visible change in the attitude of Pakistan has been observed despite the fact that dialogue process between the two countries has begun to ease the tension and restore peace in the region.

Talking to media-persons at the Corps headquarters on Infantry Day here today, the GOC said that despite ceasefire along the borders and ongoing efforts from every quarter for improving relations between the two countries and restoration of peace in the region, no change in the attitude of Pakistani authorities is visible. The terrorist activities are going on, infiltration attempts are also being made from across the LoC and the International Border and moreover, the support is continued to the terrorist groups operating on this side of the border.

"We don’t think there is any change in the ground situation. No exchange of fire between the troops of both the countries has taken place for several months. Encounters with the terrorists operating close to the borders and also in depth area, with massive support from that side are going on. Pakistan continues to impart training to the militants in camps operating along the LoC and IB and they are still being launched from different locations in Pak held areas," he maintained.

While quoting intelligence inputs, Lt Gen Kapur said about 3000 terrorists are reportedly undergoing training in various Pak camps along the Line of Control and the International Border. They may be pushed into the Indian side but intrusion is very difficult, rather impossible as most of the areas along LoC and IB are fenced. Some gaps at the nallahs and rivers are also well covered by the security agencies and advanced gadgets and censors have been installed to keep a check on any movement on either side of the border.

Referring to infiltration, the GOC claimed that there has been zero level in the intrusion in his area of operation right from Pathankot to Poonch. He said in the month of October up to now, no incident of any attempt of infiltration was reported. He claimed that the level of infiltration in the Valley as well as in 16 Corps area has been reduced considerably. Justifying his claim, the GOC said that it could be possible with the fencing of borders, launching combat operations in insurgency areas and of course by launching civic action programmes under ‘Operation Sadbhavana’.

To a question, the Army Commander said it is not easy to breach the fencing and even no such incident has been reported so far. He said the censors and most advanced night vision devices procured from various countries have been installed all along LoC and it is impossible to escape without being traced by the equipment installed at various border posts and sensitive naka points besides general fencing area. Every possible measure has been taken to keep a check on infiltration, he added.

When asked about the locations of the Pak militants training camps, the GOC said such camps are in operation at least in five different areas, close to the LoC along Rajouri-Poonch and about 54 % of the ultras there are locals from J&K while about 46 per cent are foreigners. He said some camps under two major areas of Sialkot and Zaffarwal are also in operation. He claimed that about 800 ultras as per inputs available, are operating in 16 Corps areas and now their number was decreasing day by day.

The GOC disclosed that Army lost at least 50 soldiers in various counter insurgency operations up to October this year in his area of responsibility. Out of the total, nine were killed in the operations along LC and 41 in depth areas. The troops killed 73 militants along LoC/IB and 268 in depth areas during this years while during last year up to October, 157 were eliminated along LoC/ IB and 428 in depth area by the troops. It clearly shows the level of decrease in the infiltration, he maintained.

The Army Commander denied having recruited surrendered militants in army battalions and said that some of them are working with them alongwith SPOs and policemen during operations. The troops are also seeking intelligence inputs from them besides locals. They will be provided benefits as per the surrender policy of the Government, the GOC maintained.

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Oct 26: The people in Jammu and Kashmir are not leading a suppressed life and what is being felt by the Pakistanis is contrary to the ground realities in this Indian State.

"Before visiting Jammu and Kashmir there were horrifying pictures in my minds about the fate of people of this State but on reaching here I came to know that what we have been thinking about J&K is not true", said Malik Mukhtar Ahmad, one of the 12-members delegation of pilgrims from Pakistan while talking to the EXCELSIOR after paying obeisance at various shrines of all religions in the City of Temples.

He further said: "Pakistanis citizens feel that people in Jammu and Kashmir are spending their lives under constant danger and security forces are killing innocent people at their will and whim. Before arriving here I was also of the opinion that I would encounter with several fear stricken faces but all my misconceptions got vanished as soon as I reached Jammu. The walk from Raghunath Bazar to Khatikan Talab Mosque has for a while made me to feel as if I am walking in the streets of my home town in Pakistan".

Describing the situation as very cordial, Mr Mukhtar, who is basically the resident of Kupwara district in Kashmir and visiting the State after 40 years, said "the thought of Pakistani nationals about this State and the ground situation here are poles apart. The communal harmony among the people despite several blasts and other incidents of violence in their shrines has amused me a lot".

To a question, he said "the Hindu shrines in Pakistan are in excellent position. Our Government is properly taking care of them. How can anybody claim that the Hindu shrines in Pakistan are in bad condition without paying any visit there", he questioned.

Mr Mukhtar, who is a renowned literary figure of Pakistan, said that the delegation has arrived on a peace mission. "Since Kashmir is the motherland of many of the visiting Pakistanis, we want that lasting peace be restored immediately. Let all issues be resolved through dialogue because violence is not going to lead us towards peace and harmony", he added.

In reply to a question about the Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf’s new formula to solve Kashmir issue, Mr Mukhtar said "J&K is not the property of anybody. The people of undivided State either on this side or on other side are the real sufferers and the ultimate solution lies in their wishes".

Strongly advocating opening of all doors to enhance people-to-people contact, the literary personality of the Pakistan said the interaction between people of both the countries would clear their misconceptions and evolve a consensus for the final solution.

To another question, he termed Hurriyat Conference as "Jageerdar" and said "Aaj Kal Ke Politics Mein Jageerdar Hi Logon Ki Numayandigi Karte Hai. Lekin Yeh Logon Ko Hi Sochana Hai Ki Enko Kis Taraf Liya Jaa Raha Hai. (In the present day politics people are being represented by influencial but people will have to think that on which direction they are being taken to).

Army vehicle seized, 3 held
Pak militant, jawan killed

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 26: A Pakistan militant and an Army jawan were killed in two separate encounters in Rajouri and Poonch districts since last night while security forces unearthed a hideout of the militants in a natural cave.

An Army truck was seized by Mandi police in Poonch last night in which 30 timber sleepers were being smuggled. Two Army personnel including driver of the truck have been arrested. Two other Army trucks reportedly escaped with timber sleepers.

Official sources said the militants opened heavy firing on an Army naka picket of 16 Rashtriya Rifles at village Pattan in Surankote tehsil in Poonch district late last night. The Army personnel retaliated.

In about 20 minutes exchange of firing, an Army jawan Sepoy Ram Raj was killed while the militants managed to escape taking cover of darkness.

Troops rushed to an adjoining hill after the operation where the militants had taken positions. Searches in the area continued till late this afternoon but the militants, numbering between four to five, remained untraced.

Another encounter took place between a group of militants and security forces at village Broh in Kalakote tehsil in Rajouri district early this morning.

Encounter ensued when the security personnel surrounded a hideout of the militants after getting a tip off that two to three militants were hiding there.

A contact with the militants was established at around 4 am in which one militant was killed. Two others reportedly managed to escape. Body of the slain militant has been recovered from the hideout. Identity of the slain militant has been established as Zulfikar Sayeed alias Mohd Ali R/o Ras Mohalla, Pakistan. He was an activist of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit.

One AK rifle with ammunition was recovered from the possession of militant.

During a search operation at Kalassan, Poonch, Army unearthed a hideout of the militants in a natural cave and recovered two pistols with four magazines and 12 rounds, six kg RDX, three RPG, six hand grenades, one box full of IED material, 40 AK rounds and one binocular.

Meanwhile, Mandi police in Poonch district last night intercepted three Army vehicles smuggling timer from Sathra. Army and police personnel brought out their weapons when the latter wanted to seize the Army vehicles, smuggling timber.

Amidst tension on both sides, two Army vehicles slipped away while another vehicle was seized from which 30 timber sleepers were recovered, the sources said.

Three Army personnel, Zulfikar Ali Shah, driver of truck, Havildar Baljeet Singh and Sepoy Shakeel Ahmed of TA battalion 156 were taken into custody by the police along with the truck and the sleepers.

A FIR No. 70/2004 under Sections 6/39 Forest Act, 379 and 353 RPC has been registered in this connection.

Brigade Commander, DIG Rajouri-Poonch range S M Sahai and SSP Poonch Mukesh Singh visited Mandi police station this morning for investigations.

Lok Pal, IMDT Act to figure in Cabinet meet

NEW DELHI, Oct 26: The much-talked Lok Pal Bill which is likely to bring the Prime Minister in its purview to check corruption in high places and the controversial Illegal Migrants (detection by tribunals) Act in Assam are among the main issues to be discussed by the Union Cabinet here tomorrow.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had recently suggested that the person occupying the highest executive post should be brought under its ambit, a suggestion already made by the Standing Committee of Parliament.

The previous NDA Cabinet, while passing the Lok Pal bill for presentation in Parliament in its last leg, had kept the Prime Minister’s office out of the purview of Lok Pal.

However, the UPA Government might go along the recommendation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee report with minor changes, the sources said.

They said the Government was likley to bring a separate legislation to check corruption in higher judiciary but the Cabinet meeting tomorrow is unlikley to deliberate on it.

The other crucial piece of legislation, IMDT Act, has already generated considerable heat between the Congress and BJP with the two sides taking diametrically opposite stands on the issue. The previous NDA Government had introduced a bill in the last session of the previous Lok Sabha to repeal the Act saying it had not proved effective in identifying the illegal migrants from Bangladesh into Assam.

However, the Bill was sent to a Select Committee headed by senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee.

The Congress, on the other hand, has held that the Act proved to be a bullwark against arbitrary detection and deportation of Bengali speaking Indian nationals from Assam.

The UPA Government, however, is likley to pitch for its continuance, the sources said.

The Act came into force in Assam on October 15, 1983 for detection and deportation of illegal migrants who came to the State on or after the March 25, 1971, without lawful authority.

The then Governor of Assam, Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha, had submitted a report on illegal migration into Assam in November, 1998, voicing concern over the threat of demographic changes posed by migration and wanted the repeal of the Act saying it facilitated continued stay of illegal migrants. (PTI)

Govt slaps entry tax in GMCs

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 26: The State Government today slapped entry tax on all persons visiting the Medical College hospitals in Jammu and Srinagar to see the patients.

As per a Government order No. 433-HME of 2004 received today by the Medical College authorities, the Government has directed that Rs 5 per person should be charged from the visitors in Medical College hospitals of Jammu and Srinagar.

Signed by Additional Secretary to Government, Health and Medical Education Department Mohd Yusuf Dar, the order said the Government directive should be implemented with immediate effect.

"Revenue realised on account of money realised from the visitors will go to the Hospital Development Fund", it said.

10 infiltrators killed in Kupwara

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 27: Ten infiltrators were gunned down by the Army at Gulab Post in Kumkari Haihama area of Kupwara sector late this evening.

Official sources told the Excelsior that troops of 5/3 Gorkha Rifles spotted a group of 10 militants heading towards Indian territory from Line of Control (LoC) taking advantage of snowfall late this evening.

In heavy exchange of firing, all 10 infiltrators were killed, they said, adding a large quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants.

However, only four bodies have been recovered so far. Other bodies were believed to be lying near LoC and would be recovered tomorrow after the weather improves.

In another incident, the militants intercepted a bus in Ashmuqam area and kidnapped a civilian Shakeel Ahmed Bhat son of Mohd Abdullah R/o Hapatnar. He was gunned down in captivity by the militants. His body was recovered this evening from village Salia.

Bhat was reportedly working as an informer for 3 Rashtriya Rifles.

India for joint action against insurgency

NEW DELHI, Oct 26: India today expressed its readiness to carry out "joint or coordinated action" with its neighbours to ensure that no Indian insurgent group finds willing sanctuary or sustenance and that their supply and transit routes are totally cut off.

This significant step was mooted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his first-ever interaction with top commanders of the armed forces where he cautioned that India, in addition to conventional threats, was now facing "newer and non-conventional challenges".

"We are for cooperation and dialogue with all our neighbours, including joint or coordinated action on the ground, to ensure that no Indian insurgent group finds willing sanctuaries and that the supply and transit routes are totally cut off," Singh told the day-long combined commanders conference, where the recent upsurge in militancy was in sharp focus.

The Prime Minister’s remarks assume importance in the wake the recent military operation carried out by the Royal Butanese Army against Ulfa militants and New Delhi’s efforts to seek cooperation of Myanmar and Bangladesh to carry out similar coordinated anti-terrorist drives.

Upholding the country’s decision to exercise the nuclear option, the Prime Minister said this had helped remove potentially dangerous ambiguities in the region. India, he said, would be guided by "restraint and reponsibility" and no first use of nuclear weapons.

Outlining that the many layered security scenario facing the country imposed the need to integrate resources and assets, Singh emphasised that the country "will have to enlarge instrumentalities and capacities to respond to these".

In this context, the Prime Minister asked the armed forces to rise to the challenges by carrying out broader reforms in all the three services through "qualitative upgradation" of its manpower base.

The Prime Minister called for faster integration of the three services, need for effective perspective planning so that gaps do not appear in the force structures and for improved career prospects and better career management in the armed forces.

"Reforms also involve cognition of the fact that our Navy, Air Force and Army can no longer function in compartments with exclusive chains of command and operational plans," he said.

For the first time, the Prime Minister suggested that as India’s armament purchases were large and substantial, the country must leverage this to serve its larger political and diplomatic ends.

Warning that failure to anticipate strategic trends and specific events vital to the country’s security interests had made India pay a price in the past, Singh said particular focus has to be made for anticipation of such events.

Besides the Prime Minister, the conference was addressed by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Finance Minister P Chidambaram. (PTI)

Impose President’s rule in UP: Maya

LUCKNOW, Oct 26: Alleging large-scale rigging and misuse of official machinery by Mulayam Singh Yadav Government in Uttar Pradesh in just-concluded bypolls, BSP chief Mayawati today demanded imposition of President’s rule in the State.

"The manner in which the bypolls were rigged, booths captured and official machinery was misused, it is clear the UP Government has no faith in democratic norms and traditions," Mayawati told reporters here.

"Therefore, the President’s rule should be imposed in the State to save democracy," she said.

"It is the duty of the Union Government to take stern measures against the SP-led Government. Otherwise, the people of the State will never pardon Congress which is leading the Government at the Centre," Mayawati said.

"The SP indulged in gross irregularities as it was aware that in case of free and fair elections it will fare very badly," she said.

If there were fair elections, the BSP would have won all the seats wiping out the SP, she said.

Mayawati, who earlier in the day addressed a meeting of party workers, refused to spell out BSP’s strategy on BJP’s plans to bring a no-confidence motion against the Mulayam Singh Yadav Government in the Assembly.

"We will discuss our strategy when they will bring the motion," she said.

On her party’s performance in the Maharashtra Assembly polls, Mayawati said though the BSP failed to get even a single seat, its vote percentage had improved there.

It had emerged as a force in the State, she said. (PTI)

Deadlock in Maharashtra prolongs

NEW DELHI, Oct 26: Reluctance of Congress to give two posts of Deputy Chief Ministers to NCP reportedly demanded by it in lieu of Chief Ministership prolonged the deadlock over new Government formation in Maharashtra.

Though the NCP leader Praful Patel dismissed as "baseless" reports that his party was demanding two Deputy Chief Ministerships to give up its claim on the top post, sources in his party as also the Congress admitted that the issue has become the bone of contention between the two sides.

Patel told reporters that senior leaders of the NCP would be having a meeting tomorrow with party chief Sharad Pawar to take a decision in the matter. Such a meeting was scheduled today, but was deferred apparently due to failure of any response from the Congress.

"We are still not agreeing to an additional deputy chief ministership for the NCP", a senior Congress leader involved in the talks with the Sharad Pawar-led party said tonight.

There was optimism in the Congress circles early in the day that the 10-day old deadlock would be resolved by tonight and senior leaders Pranab Mukherjee and Ahmed Patel made statements to that effect after a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

NCP sources said that senior Congress leaders had a meeting with Pawar on Sunday night and had assured him that they would report back within a day on the proposals discussed to resolve the deadlock, but had not done so till now.

Reluctance of the Congress to give two deputy chief ministerships to the NCP came in the backdrop of a section of party leaders from Maharashtra staunchly opposing any such move.

In Mumbai, senior Congress leaders met at the residence of caretaker Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde to give feedback to the party high command on various proposals to resolve the deadlock.

Besides Shinde and PCC chief Prabha Rau, others present at the meeting included Vilasrao Deshmukh, Patangrao Kadam and Gurudas Kamat.

Sources said that some state Congress leaders also expressed apprehensions at the meeting of the likely "imbalance of powers" if the party opted for the post of the Chief Minister in lieu of crucial portfolios to NCP.

A senior Congress leader in Delhi said that the party was opposed to giving any of the key portfolios— urban development, housing, cooperation and revenue— to NCP. These portfolios are with Congress since the 1999 power sharing arrangement between the two parties. (PTI)

RBI stance not to hamper growth: FM

NEW DELHI, Oct 26: Welcoming the "measured and balanced" approach of RBI to stem inflation, Finance Minister P Chidambaram today said the credit policy stance would not hamper growth and investment.

"I am very happy with RBI’s projections and policy stance. I think this is a measured and balanced approach to the situation. By and large, it is a very good policy," Chidambaram told reporters here after the policy announcement by RBI Governor Y V Reddy.

"I am happy that RBI is in broad agreement with Government approach that nothing warranted at this stage that will discourage investment or hamper growth," he said.

Investment is taking place, he said pointing to the more than doubling of non-food credit at Rs 92,000 crore from Rs 44,000 crore, and growth in incremental credit-deposit ratio at 96 per cent of banks.

"Nothing has been done to hamper growth... Investment growth momentum will continue," he said. "Repo rate hike is a marginal adjustment presumably because RBI thinks that there is excess liquidity that needs to be sucked out and the Government is happy with the stance," he said.

The repo rate hike of 0.25 per cent was meant to suck excess liquidity and help in reining inflation, he said, adding "as I see the situation, nothing will affect growth." However, Chidambaram admitted that repo rate hike may put pressure on the yields on Government securities and push up the centre’s cost of borrowing "marginally".

Asked whether the Government would go ahead with its borrowing schedule, he said "I go (to the market) and borrow. We have to borrow at whatever rate market decides. The cost of borrowing may go up marginally."

On the pegging down of economic growth projection, Chidambaram said "if monsoons are deficient by 13 per cent and global oil prices at 56 dollar a barrel, one would not have to be extremely optimistic that this will not have an impact on growth rate."

"I am a realist. In the beginning of the year, the Met Department had projected 102 per cent monsoon but it turned out to be 87 per cent. We have no quarrel (over the projections). We have to live with that," he said.

Asked about RBI’s lowering of GDP projection, he said in the given situation, particularly with surge in global oil prices "anything is a guestimate. I am not in the business of forecasting." (PTI)

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