Some incidents of violence, bogus voting
65 pc cast votes in JMC elections

Excelsior Team

JAMMU, Feb 1: Sixty five per cent voters exercised their right to franchise for the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) elections held after a gap of nearly 25 years amid some incidents of violence and allegations of bogus voting.

Police had to open lathicharge at Bakshi Nagar in Ward No. 28 after the people took to streets and blocked road in protest against slapping of a woman by Minister of State for Youth Services and Sports Yogesh Sawhney. Several people were injured in the lathicharge.

In Satwari Ward No. 23 also, police had to use mild lathicharge to disperse the crowd protesting against what they called "last minute booth capturing" by a Congress leader in favour of his nephew, who was a contestant.

Allegations of bogus voting, coercions, verbal duel and scuffles were reported from several ward but there were no reports of any injuries.

Chief Electoral Officer, Rakesh Gupta in the evening said that 65 percent polling has been recorded in JMC polls. Talking to reporters after completion of the polling, Mr Gupta said barring some minor incidents and heated exchanges at some places polling remained peaceful in Jammu City. He said that for 71 wards of JMC, 537 candidates were in the field.

Mr Gupta admitted that some reports of scuffles and protests have been reported. He, however, asserted that polling remained peaceful as adequate arrangements were made by the authorities.

He informed that some complaints have been received regarding bogus polling at some stations including polling station number 7 of ward number 4, polling stations number 2 and 3 of ward number 4, polling stations number 3, 4 and 5 of ward number 41, ward number 12, polling stations number 4 and 5 of ward number 3 and polling stations number 5 and 6 of ward number 1.

"All these complaints have been referred to the Deputy Commissioner for investigations", Mr Gupta said, adding, "reports will be sought from the concerned Presiding Officers for taking a final decision". "Proper procedure will be adopted before taking any decision", he said while replying to a question whether repolling will be ordered in these polling stations.

In reply to a question, Mr Gupta said that the incident at Bakshi Nagar occurred after polling was completed. "We are investigating whether the incident was related with the polling or not", he said.

He, however, admitted that about two bundles of ballot papers have been found missing in polling station number 1 of ward number 57 of Gangyal. He said that the Deputy Commissioner Jammu has directed the concerned authorities to take steps in this regard.

Ward No. 50 with a total electorate of 3228 recorded highest turn-out of 81 per cent while Ward Nos. 22 and 64 recorded lowest percentage of 42.

In Ward No. 1, 63 per cent electorate exercised their franchise while in Ward Nos. 2 and 3, 65 and 55 per cent people cast their votes respectively. In Ward No. 4, the polling percentage stood at 59.5. Sixty eight per cent people cast their votes in Ward No. 5. Turn-out in Ward No. 6 was 60 per cent.

In Ward Nos. 7 and 8, 65 per cent turn-out was recorded while in Ward No. 9, the turn-out was 60 per cent. Fifty eight per cent people cast their votes in Ward No. 10, 65 per cent people in Ward No. 11, 68 per cent in Ward No. 12, 70 per cent in Ward No. 13, 65 per cent in Ward No. 14, 64 per cent in Ward No. 15, 60 per cent in Ward No. 16, 70 per cent in Ward No. 17, 65 per cent in Ward No. 18, 63 per cent in Ward No. 19 and 66 per cent in Ward No. 20.

Fifty three per cent polling was recorded in Ward No. 21, 42 per cent in Ward No. 22, 57 per cent in Ward No. 23, 60 per cent in Ward No. 24, 55 per cent in Ward No. 25, 65 per cent in Ward Nos. 26 and 27, 63 per cent in Ward No. 28, 71 per cent in Ward No. 29, 64 per cent in Ward No. 30, 65 per cent in Ward No. 31, 67.1 per cent in Ward No 32, 70 per cent in Ward No. 33, 70.1 per cent in Ward No. 34, 63.4 per cent in Ward No. 35, 69.9 per cent in Ward No. 36, 61 per cent in Ward No. 37, 59 per cent in Ward No. 38, 65 per cent in Ward No. 39, 64 per cent in Ward No. 40 and 57.5 per cent in Ward No. 41.

Seventy five per cent voters exercised their right to vote in Ward No. 42, 60 per cent in Ward No. 43, 67 per cent in Ward No. 44, 62 per cent in Ward No. 45, 71.7 per cent in Ward No. 46, 77 per cent in Ward No. 47, 64 per cent in Ward No. 48, 79 per cent in Ward No. 49 and 81 per cent in Ward No. 50.

The voting turn-out stood at 75 per cent in Ward No. 51, 77 per cent in Ward No. 52, , 67 per cent in Ward No. 53, 54 per cent in Ward No. 54, 77 per cent in Ward No. 55, 73 per cent in Ward Nos. 56 and 57, 76 per cent in Ward No. 58 and 70 per cent in Ward Nos. 59 and 60.

Sixth three per cent cast their votes in Ward No. 61, 71 per cent in Ward No. 62, 66 per cent in Ward No. 63, 42 per cent in Ward No. 64, 72 per cent in Ward No. 65, 69 per cent in Ward No. 66, 72 per cent in Ward No. 67, 65 per cent in Ward No. 68, 59 per cent in Ward Nos. 69 and 70 and 70 per cent in Ward No. 71.

At Bakshi Nagar, police resorted to heavy lathicharge after people blocked road against alleged manhandling of some women voters by Minister of State Yogesh Sawhney. Police action led to stampede and more than two dozen people, including women, sustained injuries in the incident. In the melee, one CRPF jawans also sustained a deep wound on his chin. He was hospitalised immediately.

Cops also roughed up Jammu Mukti Morcha president Prof Varinder Gupta and dragged him on the road only to arrest him. Some passers-by, including ladies and PA of a senior officer of Crime and Railways, also faced the wrath of police action.

The trouble erupted around 3.15 pm when Yogesh Sawhney, along with his wife, a Traffic Police Inspector and security guards, entered the Government Girls Higher Secondary School premises where polling for Ward number 28 was going on. Claiming that there were some bogus voters among the people standing in queue at the polling station, he allegedly manhandled some women voters. Inspector Anita Chopra, who was accompanying the minister, allegedly slapped Jammu Mukti Morcha candidate from the ward, Tripta Jamwal.

The Minister’s action irked the people who gheroed the former and started raising slogans against him. The polling was stopped about half an hour earlier before the schedule time and sensing trouble, Yogesh Sawhney fled the scene.

However, the agitated people continued to protest against the Minister and they blocked the road at Bakshi Nagar Main Stop. They were demanding immediate registration of police case against Yogesh Sawhney who had entered the polling station without any authority and manhandled voters.

Police reached the spot after more than one and half hour. And after a little effort to persuade the mob to lift the road blockade, police did not wait much to resort to heavy lathicharge. Cops chased the agitating people to lanes and by-lanes which followed brief brickbattings between policemen and youth.

Though some youth reassembled near the Gurudwara and started proceeding towards the main Chowk raising slogans against Police and Yogesh Sawhney, they were again chased by lathi yielding cops. JMM president Prof Varinder Gupta, who was leading the mob, was forcibly whisked away and dragged to police vehicle by cops.

A high voltage drama was witnessed at Government Higher Secondary School Sarwal where polling for ward number 18 was being held. Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Hridesh Kumar Singh, SSP Jammu Kamal Saini and SP City (North) Prabhat Singh visited the polling station after people protested against alleged bogus voting by the supporters of Congress candidate. Alleging misuse of official machinery and bogus voting, they were demanding repoll in the polling station. Even as all candidates, except that of Congress and PDP, sought repoll, the DC turned down the demand.

A visiting correspondent of the Excelsior met a number of voters who had to return from the polling booth without exercising their franchise as their vote had already been cast by someone else. They also complained that the Returning Officer also not allowed them to cast tender vote.

In ward number 38, BJP candidate Pummy Bhat was reportedly manhandled by some supporters of Congress when she prevented them from polling bogus votes in the booth situated at Government Primary School Ploura.

In some wards, candidates complained that they were not being allowed to enter the polling stations by cops.

Meanwhile Jammu Praja Parishad president Chander Mohan Sharma has demanding repolling in the polling station (Statistical Office) of ward number 35. He also demanded repolling in poling station number 1 and 2 of ward number 66.

National Conference candidate from ward number 44, Ravinder Kour alleged bogus voting by supporters of PDP candidate Surjit Kour and demanded repolling in booth number 1 and 2 (sector 7) of the ward.

Meanwhile, polling in 24 wards of Gandhi Nagar constituency, by and large remained peaceful but some incidents of protest and alleged bogus polling were reported. As the election was fought keenly, there was excitement and enthusiasm among the voters. Long queues of voters were seen outside the polling stations.

Tension gripped polling station number 1 of ward number 57 when Presiding Officer found two bundles of ballot papers missing. People lodged protest against missing of ballot papers. People alleged that a supporter of candidate entered the polling station and took away the ballot papers. Before the situation could take an ugly turn, senior officers immediately rushed to the spot and pacified the people. Later, it was decided that missing ballot papers-comprising serial number 200 to 300 will be treated as invalid.

Deputy Commissioner Jammu Hardesh Kumar Singh, while giving details of the incident said that the concerned Presiding Officer has declared missing serial 200 to 300 as invalid.

Some supporters of Congress candidate Dr Vijay Sharma, ward number 55 along with independent candidate Arvinder Singh stormed into the Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) where press conference of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) was going on. They alleged that supporters of BJP candidate cast bogus votes in bulk. They demanded repolling in the ward.

Polling at ward number 20, Gandhi Nagar was also disrupted as independent candidate Bansi Lal Gupta lodged protest against casting of votes by some outsiders. He alleged that some bogus voters cast votes. Senior police officers rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

High profile ward number 71 of Sidhara also witnessed excitement among the voters. Since morning, VIP voters were seen standing in the queues waiting for their turn to cast vote. Senior bureaucrats including Chief Secretary, Dr S S Bloeria, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Vijay Bakaya, Chairman of the Public Service Commissioner, M S Pandit and Commissioner Health Najmus Saqib cast their votes from this VIP ward. Dr Bloeria exercised his franchise at about 12.55 pm.

Noisy scenes and protest were also witnessed outside Satwari High School, where polling was going on for ward number 23. Police used some mild force to disperse those who were protesting against, what they called, bogus voting by former MLA and Congress leader Balwan Singh in favour of Congress candidate. They alleged that police was ‘hand in glove’ with Congress candidate to exercise bogus voting.

Congress and National Panthers Party candidates clashed at Roopnagar over the issue of alleged bogus polling while two B.Ed. College students hailing from Himachal and Punjab were arrested for alleged bogus voting for Congress candidate Dr Roop Lal of Ward No. 62 this afternoon.

The trouble started in Roopnagar polling station when NPP candidate Rahul Kohli objected to the bogus voting by some B.Ed college students in favour of Dr Roop Lal of Congress. The Panthers activists asked the Presiding Officer Tarsem Singh to stop polling and scrutinise properly the actual voters reporting at the station. After sometime, Congress candidate Roop Lal also reached the station and during verbal duel with NPP candidate, he allegedly slapped Mr Kohli.

The NPP workers also got provoked and sensing trouble, the Police intervened. DySP Rajesh Kumar rushed to the spot and arrested two students for bogus voting from the polling station. They were identified as Jagchand of Kullu in Himachal Pradesh and Sandeep Kumar of Patiala in Punjab. They were said to be the students of Trikuta B.Ed college near Raipur. Though NPP workers tried to disrupt the polling but police ensured the smooth conduct of the electoral process. Except this incident, no bigger incident of clash or any violence was witnessed in several wards of Raipur-Domana area.

In Ward No. 61, Patta Bohri, several complaints of bogus voting and missing of names of voters were raised by the independent and NC candidates.

The complaints of bogus polling were received from almost all the wards falling under Jammu East Assembly constituency. A large number of genuine voters had to return to their houses without exercising their right to franchise.

"What’s the fun of conducting these elections when someone is casting others vote. It is for the first time during the past 30 years that I have been denied of my right to franchise", Surinder Nath of Ward Number 1 said.

Another middle aged man—Sat Pal Sharma, a resident of Ward Number 4 was astonished to know from polling staff that his vote had already been cast. "This is the mockery of democratic system. If this is the way to elect representatives of the Municipal wards, I doubt there would be any change on development front", he said.

Even the BJP candidate from Ward Number 4, Chander Parkash Abrol, his wife and some relatives could not cast votes because their votes had already been polled. "I along with my wife and relatives reached polling station at about 8.30 to exercise right to franchise but much to our chagrin our votes had already been cast", he said and added that the bogus voting in Corporation elections has surpassed all previous records.

In the same polling station, a minor boy was also caught by the police while casting vote. He was immediately whisked away by police personnel to avoid situation from becoming out of control.

Reports of bogus voting were also received from other wards of the Jammu East constituency where no violent incident took place. None of the contesting candidates left any chance to go in for bogus voting in their favour.

No Azadi processions, no firing, no blasts
After Baramulla, Srinagar shocks Hurriyat

From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Feb 1: With the National Conference patriarch Farooq Abdullah campaigning for Om Prakash Chautala in Haryana and heads of both the factions of the separatist Hurriyat Conference—Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani—camping in Delhi, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s government today conducted elections for Srinagar Municipal Corporation without a single incident of separatist violence or anti-election demonstrations. Firing, blasts and pro-Azadi demonstrations had earlier marred almost all Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in this capital city, which had largely remained lukewarm to all democratic processes in 1990-2004 period.

Authorities today conducted polling to elect the peoples’ representatives to 68-ward Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC). After the successful polling in Baramulla and Kupwara districts on January 29th, this was phase-II of the civic body elections, being held in Jammu and Kashmir first time after 1978. Chief Electoral Officer, Rakesh Gupta, and District Election Officer, Shailendra Kumar, said that the turnout was around 20 percent. Over 4.42 lakh voters of the walled city had right of franchise in today’s elections.

Response was fairly positive to the election in all the urban localities—with the glaring exception of Srinagar downtown—as hundreds of male and female voters thronged the polling stations in utter disregard to militants’ threats and a sustained anti-election campaign of the separatist leaders. Few people, however, opted to exercise their democratic right in a densely-populated downtown, where Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is believed to be enjoying a strong public support.

While both the Hurriyat factions, JKLF chairman Yasin Malik and the Democratic Freedom Party supremo Shabir Shah had run a sustained campaign, asking the people to completely boycott the elections, militants had killed three people and left over a score others wounded in the capital alone. In all two candidates and three supporters of yet another candidate have been killed in the Valley, three more candidates and 16 supporters of a candidate left injured and residences of five more candidates subjected to grenade attacks in Kashmir valley in the last three weeks.

Braving all these threats and attacks, residents of uptown and the entire periphery around the Capital city flocked to polling booths with tremendous enthusiasm. With also the weather favouring the elections, the situation was so hostile for the separatist leaders that none of them chose to come out for a pro-Azadi and anti-election demonstration. Heads of the two Hurriyat factions were reportedly in New Delhi but all others—except Prof Abdul Gani, attending his ailing brother at his Sopore residence—were very much present at their houses in Srinagar. Unlike the earlier seven Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in 1996-2004 period, none of them had been put under ‘home detention’ by the authorities today.

Hot and cold Maisuma

One-odd demonstration was staged by leader of the J&K Liberation Forum, Javed Ahmed Mir, in Maisuma locality where about 50 people shouted anti-election slogans and burned rubber-tyres to the satisfaction of some television cameras. Police used mild baton charge to disperse the crowd. For about an hour, it created a situation in which none of the Maisuma voters walked to the three polling booths behind the old KMD bus-yard.

Maisuma, residential locality of the JKLF chief Yasin Malik, did not seem to be completely indifferent to the elections. Nearly 300 people came out and cast their votes at polling booth No: 3, 4 and 5, which had a total electorate of 2,535. About 500 others exercised their franchise at the two polling booths inside Tyndale Biscoe School and Mallinson Girls School. NC’s Lalchowk-Maisuma candidate, Ghulam Mustafa Bhat, explained that he had been a party worker for the last 22 years. He is an advocate, continuously living without any kind of security at Court Road—less than 300 yards from that of the JKLF chief in Maisuma. "I have no fear. I have the protection of these people", Bhat points towards the columns of his voters from Maisuma, Abi Guzar and Court Road.

A 75-year-old woman, Raja, who is a resident of Maisuma, said that she had been a National Conference follower for the last 50 years. "I have always voted for the National (Conference). Bloody Mufti (Chief Minister) put me in Police lock-up when I came to cast second vote last time (in Lok Sabha elections of April 2004)", said the Maisuma woman. How many did she cast this time? "As many as I could", she added without an iota of hesitation. The polling officials, however, insisted that she turned up only once. Asked why she didn’t regard her neighbour’s call for boycott, Raja used words that can not be written in this text.

The NC candidate claimed that he had been declared as ‘elected unopposed’ by the Returning Officer Mr Banday when none else filed nomination papers against him unto the last date. "On the day of scrutiny, I was stunned to find that on the written note of DC Srinagar, the RO had entertained two more nominations from the PDP and Congress candidates. But, I didn’t press my complaint as I thought it was better to win in the contest. The PDP and Congress candidates are both outsiders. It’s going to be my cakewalk victory", added the NC candidate Mustafa Bhat.

Around Hurriyat hqs

And imagine the scene in the immediate vicinity of the so-called "Freedom Colony" at Rajbagh! The day’s highest degree of enthusiasm was witnessed on the two ends of the cluster of posh mansions, housing the headquarters of both the Hurriyat factions as also the head offices of Shabir Shah’s DFP and other separatist groups. More than 400 votes had been polled at the polling station at Child Care Public High School, Rajbagh, upto 2.15 p.m. Over 100 men and about 60 women were still in long queues, all waiting for their turn. Unlike Maisuma, here the crowds were predominantly in favour of the PDP candidate of Ward No:5, Abdur Rasheed alias Jigga. On the other end, there was a scene of the village fair at Government Higher Secondary School Rajbagh. Over 450 men and women cast their votes at this polling station, most of them in favour of the local Imam and NC’s candidate for Ward No:7, Mohammad Maqbool Khaksaar.

The situation was just plus minus in other localities like Jawahar Nagar, Pandraithan, Pantachowk, Athwajan, Nishat, Bren, Shalimar, Harwan, Dal Lake islands, Rainawari, Hazratbal, Zakoora, Habbak, Batmaloo, Qamarwari, Parimpora, Shalteng, Zainakoot, Mustafa Nagar, Khoshipora, Sozeth and Bemina. There was modest turnout even in the interior city localities of Kralkhud. Still, the polling was extremely poor at Burn Hall station, where just 10 people including NC President cast their votes, Aloochibagh, Hyderpora and some other uptown localities.

Response was poor or extremely poor in the downtown localities. It was interesting to observe that the PDP’s potential candidate for the prestigious Mayorship of Srinagar city, Ishtiaq Qadiri, and his son, Yasir Ishtiaq, were the two-odd voters who turned up at a polling station in Nalbandpora, Safakadal. Even the PDP candidate’s wife and other family members did not venture to exercise their right of franchise. Turnout remained between 1 and 2 percent in Nalbandpora, Maidanpora and Safakadal. Only 10 voters turned up, among 964, at a polling station in Lalbazar. It was this poor response which prompted Hurriyat and other separatist groups to thank the residents of Srinagar for "total boycott" to the polling.

Bitter ‘friendly’ clashes

Proportionate to the voters’ enthusiasm, there was chaos and confusion at dozens of polling booths. There were compelling reasons to believe that the authorities had been seriously irresponsible in making the electoral rolls and identifying the polling stations for respective electorate. Hundreds of names of the bona fide voters were mysteriously missing from the electoral rolls. Besides, there were glaring discrepancies between the rolls supplied to the candidates and their agents and those provided to the polling staff.

A typical example of the deletion of names surfaced at polling station 1/6 at DAV School Jawahar Nagar. Mother-in-law of the state Congress president and Minister for Rural Development, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, was disappointed to learn that her name did not exist in the electoral roll. As her daughter and the Minister’s wife, Dr Tabbasum, turned up for help, the NC’s female agents put their foot down. They made it clear that Tabbasum’s mother could not cast her vote as her name did not figure in the rolls. They admitted that the elderly woman had been living in the locality for the last 60 years but asserted that it was "her own Government’s mistake".

There was a heated exchange between the Minister’s wife and the NC’s agents. Dr Tabbasum allegedly abused the NC agents and hurled a chair on their supporters but still the old woman had to return empty-handed. Later, at a news conference at his residence, Peerzada complained that "gross irregularities" had been caused by the officials in the electoral rolls. He demanded an inquiry into and pressed for necessary punishment to the delinquent officials.

On account these irregularities and complaints of "bogus voters", bitter clashes were witnessed between NC and PDP, and even PDP and Congress, at about 20 places in town. Senior NC leader and former Minister, Ali Mohammad Sagar, alleged that over 100,000 names of bona fide voters had been deleted by the authorities with an attempt to keep away his party’s supporters. At 62-Palpora, an Independent candidate, Abdus Salam Wani, failed to cast his own vote. He alleged that 195 names had been mysteriously deleted from the rolls, including the candidate’s. Rivals exchanged Kangris and grappled with one another amid accusations and counter-accusations. At several stations, voters displayed their identity cards of the Election Commission of India while lamenting that their names did not figure in the electoral rolls and they were not allowed to vote.

NC leaders alleged that PDP activists manhandled Sagar’s son, Salman, near Khayyam Chowk. They complained that three Ministers, namely Raman Matoo, Qazi Afzal and Javed Mustafa Mir, were openly facilitating and escorting "bogus voters" at different places. According to them, Police had put over 300 SPOs on the task of casting fake votes. The PDP activists complained that Sagar himself beat up one of the PDP woman candidates, namely Arifa, in Khanyar area. SSP Srinagar, Syed Ahmed Sayeed, confirmed that a written complaint against Sagar had been received by Police and an FIR was being lodged. In Rajbagh locality, PDP and Congress activists clashed bitterly at two polling stations.

Even as the activists clashed, voters in Srinagar did not seem to be voting in favour of or against any particular parties. They appeared to be voting for the candidates of their choice, paying little attention to his or her party affiliation. Srinagar has been a traditional stronghold of the NC, though the party has lost four of the eight Assembly segments in the last elections.

At the end of the polling, ballot boxes were safely deposited at the counting centres. Counting is scheduled to begin at 8.00 a.m on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in a statement this evening extended his gratitude to the residents of Srinagar for making today’s elections a remarkable success. Minister for Housing & Urban Development, Ghulam Hassan Mir, pointed out that earlier the voters’ turnout in Srinagar city had been just around 5 percent in all elections. JKPCC chief and Minister for Rural Development, Peerzada Sayeed, thanked the Srinagar electorate at a press briefing. He claimed that today’s elections were "end to the long era of insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir".

Hurriyat (Geelani) thanked the people for "staying indoors and rejecting the bugus drama of elections with their boycott". It claimed that holding elections "under the guns of 800,000 troopers" was nothing but "an exercise of fraud and manipulation". It claimed that the current elections had no legal or moral sanction. It implored the UN to assert so that the people of Kashmir would get an opportunity to determine their political future in a referendum

Need to reach out to people in J&K: Army Chief

NEW DELHI, Feb 1: Army has been directed to carry out anti-militancy operations with a more "humane" touch, new Chief of Army Staff General J J Singh today said emphasising that there was a need to "reach out to the people in Jammu and Kashmir and North East to spur the movement towards normalcy."

"Counter-terrorism operations can be optimally effective while being polite," was the message of new Army Chief to his troops after taking over as the 22nd Chief of the Army Staff after a ceremonial Guard of Honour.

"Army units have been directed to use minimum force while carrying out anti-militancy operations to avoid innocents being hit and to avert collateral damage," he said.

Asserting that ceasefire along the volatile Line of Control with Pakistan was holding and the two armies observing restraint, J J Singh said any fresh withdrawal of troops in Jammu and Kashmir would be carried out after a review of the situation once the snow starts melting on the high Himalayan ranges and ascertaining the "intentions across."

Singh, the first Sikh officer to don the mantle of Army Chief, said his task would be to reach out to the people in Jammu and Kashmir by winning their hearts and minds.

In his first wide-ranging interaction with the media, Singh outlined his priorities saying that operational readiness of the Army would be made more reactive and his efforts would be to speed up the transformation of the Army into a hi-tech force, which used satellites and Information Technology to be in command of battlefields.

Joginder Jaswant Singh, the first Sikh to become the Army Chief, has two years and ten months as his tenure at the top.

As part of new humane measures, Singh said that Army units deployed in anti-militancy have been told not to use the word "kills" for militant casualities for citations and it was proposed to get a first-hand civilian feedback on the conduct of the units in inhabited areas after their turn-over.

‘J J’, as the new Army Chief is called in the Army, said the time has come for carrying out restructuring in the force to make it "more leaner and meaner" but he said this would depend on the progress of peace movement in Jammu and Kashmir and North East.

Among his other priorities, the new Army Chief listed that henceforth there would be a high state of training for formations in peacetime cantonments to make them ready for future low intensity role as well as for high technology battlefields.

"We have to give impetus to transition of the Army into 21st century futuristic battlefield force and this would include carrying out mechanisation of logistics and bringing in rapid use of Information Technology," he said.

Labelling the it warfare as being detrimental in any future warfare, he said the Army had recently made moves to make formations familiar with this technology.

Singh said as part of new modernisation measures, his focus would be on bringing a satellite beaming image to field formations to use it as a force multiplier in a battle.

While informing that a new armed forces joint doctrine was on the anvil, Singh said the recently released new Army war doctrine would be refined and battle tactics and war manoeuvres practiced on the ground.

Replying to a volley of questions on the recent spurt of indiscipline in the force, the new Army Chief maintained that for such a huge force these were "miniscule".

"We do not condone such mistakes. Prompt and stern disciplinary action follows any complaint," Singh said adding that in addition an introspection was also being carried out.

"There is a drive to analyse these cases. There is no cover up. We are taking the bull by the horn," he said.

On the continuing problem of shortage of officers, Singh said the armed forces academies were facing no shortage of volunteers but efforts were on not to dilute parameters.

He said the shortage was being overcome by recruitment of more women in non-combat units and increasing the quota of giving Commission from the ranks.

The Army Chief asserted that in time of emergency or conflict, there would be no shortage of officers in combat units as officers from other branches would be enrolled for combat command duties.

Outlining his thrust on welfare measures, Singh said he would lay greater emphasis on upgrading life in cantonments.

He said a fair deal would be given to the ranks and some pilot projects started for economic empowerment of ex-servicemen.

The new Army Chief said he would lay special emphasis on sports and physical fitness in the Army to bring back its youthful profile. (PTI)

Strengthen police, intelligence network: Patil to NE states

GUWAHATI, Feb 1 : The Centre today asked the North Eastern States to strengthen its police forces and intellegence networks to deal with the insurgency problem of the region suggested better coordination among security agencies.

"It was underlined that the State governments should strengthen their police machinery and also improve intelliegence setups. The Central Government is committed to help them in this respects," Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil told reporters immediately after emerging from the meeting of the Chief Ministers of the North Eastern States held here.

"We discussed what should be done to the State Police, Central Paramilitary Forces and how to bring coordination between these forces and how to make the state governments more dependent among themselves rather than on Central forces and military," he said.

However, any time the Central Forces are required, they would be available. There would be no difficulty," Patil said.

Assuring help to the State Governments in modernising their police forces, Patil said "we have kept enough money for the modernisation of the police forces and we are providing funds to the State governments for modernisation, for increasing its strengthen, for procuring modern arms and bringing modern communication technology."

The Home Minister also asked the North Eastern States to set up a Cabinet Sub Committee on Disaster Management in their respective states as well as at district level to deal with any emergency.

Patil said there is an urgent need to have more coordination between the army, para-military forces and State Police to effectively deal with law and order in the Northeast.

He said the Union Home Ministry was also in favour of increasing the role of the State Police in maintaining law and order particularly after its modernisation. The state governments should rely more on the police force and become self-reliant, though the army and para-military forces were there.

Considering the fact that the Northeast was a natural calamity prone area, the Ministry suggested to the State Government to set up a Disaster Management Committee in line with the National Disaster Management body, Patil said.

"The states of North East are prone to natural calamities like floods and earthquake. The Central Government has decided to set up a National Disaster Management Authority," he said.

Patil said the Central Government was also committed to development of North East and there would not be any problem of funds for this .

"The development issues pertaining to this region have been discussed. The Central Government is committed to provide all possible help in this regard. The need for prompt and efficient utilisations of funds especially under the non-lapsable central pool of funds was emphasised. The need to develop electronics, it and genetic expertise in this area also emphasised," he said. (PTI)

Nepal King sacks Govt, assumes power

KATHMANDU, Feb 1: In a dramatic development, Nepal’s King Gyanendra today sacked Premier Sher Bahadur Deuba’s Coalition Government, assumed all executive powers for the next three years and declared a state of emergency, plunging the country battling Maoist insurgency into a crisis.

Armoured vehicles with mounted machine guns patrolled the Capital amidst reports that several politicans were put under house arrest. Kathmandu airport was closed and all telephone lines, including mobile phone services, were disconnected soon after the Royal announcement.

59-year-old Deuba, who was nominated by the king as Prime Minister in June last year, termed the action as "anti-democratic" which will throw the country into a "grave crisis" and said "we will oppose this step."

Charging the Deuba Government with failing to hold talks with Maoist rebels and conduct Parliamentary elections by April, the King in a televised address to the nation said "I hereby dismiss Deuba Government and assume all executive powers, in line with the constitution".

"The Government has not done anything with seriousness to start the election process within the stipulated time frame," he said announcing Deuba’s second dismissal in three years.

The 55-year-old monarch, who assumed the throne in 2001 following the gunning down of his brother King Birendra, declared that a new Government would be formed under his leadership that "will restore peace and effective democracy in this country within the next three years."

Later, the state-run television reported that a state of emergency has been declared in the country and all fundamental rights of citizens have been suspended.

King Gyanendra, who is also the supreme commander of the 78,000-member strong Nepalese Army, said security forces would be given more power to maintain law and order.

Accusing the King of indulging in "a flagrant violation of the constitution of Nepal," Deuba in a statement, said "we strongly denounce this anti-democratic step."

He said various political leaders, including himself and secretary-general of NCP-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal have been put under house arrest.

Deuba’s Nepali Congress Democratic Party called for a broad opposition to the King’s move for the "cause of the nation, democracy and constitution."

Education Minister in the ousted Government Bimalendra Niddhi said that the monarch’s action was "a coup against democratic practices."

The King had appointed Deuba as the Prime Minister in June 2004 and asked him to conduct parliamentary elections and hold peace talks with the Maoist rebels.

Holding the politcal parties responsible for the present crises facing the country, including the Maoist insurgency, King Gyanendra said "they (politicians) were only after power and neglected peoples’ interest."

The King had also called the Maoists to surrender by laying down arms and promised to grant amnesty to those who do so.

On October 4, 2001, Gyanendra had dismissed Deuba terming him as incompetent after he recommended to defer the election date due to Maoist threat. (PTI)

CM assures full support to Corporators

Excelsor Special Correspondent

Jammu, Feb 1: Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has expressed satisfaction over the successful completion of the second phase of civic polls in the state during which polling was held for Srinagar and Jammu Municipal Corporations today.

In a statement, the Chief Minister complimented the people of the two capital cities for making the democratic process a resounding success by their participation in large numbers. He said the voters’ enthusiasm in the ongoing civic elections reflects their intense urge for managing their civic affairs. He said the people’s response to the government’s efforts for empowering them at the grassroots level is highly encouraging for the Government and also for him personally.

The Chief Minister assured that his Government would extend all support to the elected corporators in effectively discharging their duties in the service of the people.

Mufti Sayeed said the overwhelming response to the civic polls by the youth and women in particular is a promising development in the process of decentralization of power in the State. He said the 33 pc reservation to women in the civic polls would ensure better representation to them in local bodies.

Omar alleges rigging by coalition

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Feb 1: Alleging rigging in the Municipal polls, National Conference president Omar Abdullah has termed these elections a "farce which is a mockery of the democracy perpetuated blatantly and brazenly by the ruling coalition".

In a statement issued here, Omar Abdullah said that the present electoral process has further shaken the faith of the people of the State in the democratic process and is likely to alienate them.

The statement asserted that the entire exercise of Municipal polls was defeated by the ruling coalition by rigging the election in its favour without any regard and respect for the people of the State and their sentiments. " It was unfortunate that the State administration has been a mute spectator to all the electoral malpractices committed by the ruling party and in fact facilitated the anarchy unleashed by ruling coalition", the statement said.

Omar Abdullah said that National Conference is a party which has always been committed to democracy and fought for upholding the democratic rights of the people of the State and shall continue to do. The NC workers, the statement said, will go to each and every nook and corner of the State and expose ruling party and its nefarious anti-people designs.

Madan takes over as new DGMO

NEW DELHI, Feb 1: Lt Gen Madan Gopal today took over as the new Director General Military Operations (DGMO) succeeding Lt Gen A S Bahia.

Commissioned into the 9 Gorkha Rifles in 1967, he has rich experience including commanding a battalion of the 9 GR in Kargil and during ‘Operation Rakshak’ in Punjab and raising and commanding a Rashtriya Rifles sector in J K. He also headed a Mountain Division in eastern sector, engaged in counter-insurgency operations.

Earlier the Director General Infantry, he has been succeeded in this post by Lt Gen Devraj Singh.

Lt Gen Singh, of the Sikh Regiment, was earlier the Chief of Staff at the Army’s Central Command in Lucknow.

Lt Gen Bahia will take over as the new Quarter Master General succeeding Lt Gen V G Patankar, who has retired.

Commissioned in the Kumaon Regiment in 1967, he has seen active service in the field in different border areas as well as the proxy war scenario in J K, with his command assignments including 1 Naga battalion deployed on the Indo-China border, command of an RR sector in J K and 10 Infantry Division on the LoC.

He was Addl DGMO, before succeeding Lt Gen B S Takhar as the DGMO last year.

Lt Gen Surendra Kumar Sahni has taken over as the Director General, Supplies and Transport. He was Commandant of the Army Service Corps Centre and school before assuming his new appointment. (UNI)

Farooq Abdullah praises INLD

SONEPAT, Feb 1: Accusing Congress of misleading the people of Haryana on development front, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah has asked the voters to reject the Congress and vote for the ruling Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in the ensuing Assembly elections in the State.

Addressing an election meeting in the Idgah Maidan here last evening, he said Congress would not be able to deliver the goods. This party, he said, was responsible for the price-rise during its seven-month rule at the Centre.

The Congress, he said, was misleading the people on development and other fronts.

Abdullah said Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) was the only party which could safeguard the interests of the people and the State on the SYL canal and other issues.

He said that the Chautala Government had done a lot of development work in the State during its five-year rule and the people should give Chief Minister Om Parkash Chautala another term. (PTI)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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