‘More groups to be included in dialogue process’
Roots of militancy somewhere else: Azad

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 7: Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said the roots of militancy and terrorism "are somewhere else" but eradication of corruption and mal-administration was in our hands and "we will try to eliminate them".

Talking to mediapersons after taking salute on the opening of Civil Secretariat offices in the winter capital, Mr Azad said: "if we are mentally prepared and try to streamline developmental process, then the goal of political stability and corruption free society can be achieved".

"The Government will do its utmost to fulfill aspirations of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions and will ensure equitable distribution of resources without doing any discrimination on regional, religious or caste basis", he said, adding justice would also be ensured within the areas of a particular region.

The Chief Minister said many areas of the State are under-developed and their development has to be taken on priority basis for all-round development to usher the State in new era of ‘khushali’, which will be free from violence and corruption and pregnant with progress, prosperity and peace. "It should prevail from Chishool to Lakhanpur", he stressed.

"Good governance, peace and normalcy, equitable development of all three regions, political stability and fulfilling expectations of the people are some of the priorities of our Government", Mr Azad said.

Asserting that the State definitely witnessed an era of development during last three years, he said foremost priority now has to be given to peace process in which the State Government will play the role as facilitator of dialogue process.

"Development is possible only if normalcy prevails in the region. For the purpose, a joint effort by political leader, Opposition and members of different sections of society is most essential", he averred.

He complimented Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for taking keen interest in relief operations for earthquake victims. He also lauded State Government especially Punjab and Haryana, NGOs, armed forces and Air Force for extending timely help for the quake victims.

Reiterating the resolve of taking peace process forward, he said the Government of India has already taken the initiative to hold talks with Pakistan and Hurriyat Conference leadership. He expressed the hope that the Centre will include more groups in the dialogue process and broaden its space factor.

Mr Azad said that instead of short term, the long term measures will be taken for overall development of the State. He resolved that his Government will not end the regional discrimination only but also take steps to streamline the process of funds distribution to end the sub- regional imbalances within the regions.

He said as the Chief Minister of J&K he does not belong to a particular region but to all three regions of J&K and the place of birth should not come in the way of governance.

Maintaining that he does not favour the jumbo ministry, Mr Azad said neither the portfolios given to Council of Ministers nor the continuance of ministers are permanent. "Those with poor performance will be stripped off their posts and the portfolios will be allocated on the basis of performance", he added.

On the healing touch policy, he said it is the Congress manifesto and there will be no change in it. He, however, rejected going soft on terrorists saying those who are involved in killing of innocent people will not be tolerated by his Government.

The Chief Minister also announced that the custodial deaths will be brought to zero but at the same time no compromise will be made with those who have destroyed the State on gun point.

On the problems facing the displaced Kashmir Pandits Mr Azad said due care has been taken of them by the Congress Party and despite the party rules that no defeated candidate be nominated to Upper House or Lower House for two years after the elections, the KP candidate Khem Lata Wakhloo was an exception who was nominated to Assembly. The community has another elected member also in Lower House , he added.

He said the size of his Ministry will not be 40 but much less than that. "It will not be even 30", he added.

Earlier, the Civil Secretariat and other move offices reopened in the winter Capital, Jammu at 9 a.m. today. These were closed for move on October 27 at Srinagar.

Mr Azad, the Ministers, the Chief Secretary and other officers reached the Secretariat at 9 a.m sharp as per fresh directions of the Chief Minister to work for 8 hours instead of 7 hours earlier.

After receiving guard of honour from the contingents of J&K Police, the Chief Minister met his cabinet colleagues at Secretariat lawns. The reception was also accorded to the Chief Minister by the J&K Civil Secretariat Non-Gazetted Employees Union.

Later, he visited different offices of the Secretariat and met the employees and wished them best of luck.

"The administration is required to be fully geared up at all levels in order to provide practical, transparent, honest, responsive and pro-people governance with a definite aim to usher the State as a whole in a new era of progress, prosperity and peace", said Mr Azad while addressing a meeting of Financial Commissioners, Principal Secretaries and Commissioners/Secretaries at Civil Secretariat immediately after reopening of durbar move offices here today.

Chief Secretary Vijay Bakaya was also present.

The Chief Minister stressed upon all the senior officers to cultivate new work culture, which will be of exemplary nature henceforth. He said that he was surprised to know that as compared to other states of the country and other developed and developing places of the world, in Jammu and Kashmir State the office hours were far less. Therefore, he has decided to increase the working hours so that the people in general are benefited.

He advised that full concentration on official work should be given from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on official disposals, meetings and mutual discussions while after 3 p.m. all concerned should be available for meeting the general public till closure of the Secretariat.

Mr. Azad advised all the officers to decide all the pending matters and dispose off all the files within three days and maintain record of disposals. He asked the Chief Secretary to monitor daily disposals of these matters and advised all Commissioners/Secretaries to monitor the same in their departments.

The Chief Minister appreciated the role of civil servants and other employees during the phase of turmoil in the State when they worked with devotion inspite of threats to them and their families.

The Chief Minister said that Jammu and Kashmir has assumed an important significance as per its strategic location and geographical position, therefore, the central Government has always helped the State liberally. However, all the Commissioners/Secretaries have to work over time to take full benefit of various development schemes.

He said that the performance of all the officers will be judged on the basis of their initiatives in framing the people’s welfare schemes and their ability to get these sanctioned from different ministries of the Government of India and implement the same within a targeted frame work. He said that every body has to work in a cohesive manner to transform Jammu and Kashmir into an ideal State symbolizing peace and development.

Two LeT ‘commanders’ eliminated in Gool

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 7: Two ‘commanders’ of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed and an Army jawan was injured in an encounter at Dharam in Gool area of Ramban police district this afternoon while Army and police defused a powerful 10 kg IED on Doda-Bharat road averting a major catastrophe.

Official sources said troops of 58 Rashtriya Rifles and police carried out a search operation in Dharam forests, about five kms from Gool in Ramban police district in early hours of this morning. The operation was based on a specific information that two Lashkar ‘commanders’ were moving in the forest area.

A contact with the militants was established at 11 am. In heavy exchange of firing for next 70 minutes, both militants were eliminated by Army and police while an Army soldier was injured. Injured jawan was evacuated from the firing site and admitted in the Military Hospital.

Slain militants have been identified as Abu Adil, a ‘tehsil commander’ and Abu Aria, an ‘area commander’, both residents of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). They were active in Gool-Gulabgarh belt of Ramban for last five years.

Recoveries made from their possession include one AK-47 rifle, one AK-56 rifle, two wireless sets, six AK magazines and 70 rounds, two diaries, one digital recorder and two letter pads of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit.

The killed militants were involved in a series of militant activities including attacks on security forces, IED blasts and civilian killings, the sources said.

Army and police detected an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), planted by the militants, on Doda-Bharat road, about 10 kms from Doda, at 12 noon today. The IED had been concealed in a silver metal pot and kept in middle of the road.

Traffic on the road was suspended immediately after the IED was detected. After about an hour long operation, the IED was blasted by a Bomb Disposal Squad of Army.

A major tragedy was averted with timely detection of the IED, the sources said.

An encounter took place between militants and security forces at village Bharthi in Gandoh area of Doda this evening. The militants, however, managed to escape leaving behind one pistol, two magazines, 12 rounds and three grenades, which were seized by police.

BSF arrested 17 Bangladeshi nationals when they were trying to cross over to Pakistan via the International Border in RS Pura sector. They were moving towards the IB in Nikki Tawi area of RS Pura sector when they were arrested around 4.45 am today.

Those arrested include four women and three children. They are being handed over to police.

Natwar made Minister without portfolio

NEW DELHI, Nov 7: Amid mounting pressure for his exit, K Natwar Singh was today relieved as External Affairs Minister and made minister without portfolio hours after Government appointed a judicial commission to inquire into allegations of Iraqi oil pay offs.

Capping 10 days of high political drama ever since a UN probe committee named Natwar Singh and Congress as beneficiaries in the pay offs during Saddam Hussain’s regime, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wrote to the President that he would be minister without portfolio in the Union Council of Ministers.

In the face of a defiant Natwar Singh insisting that he would not step down because he had not done any wrong, the Prime Minister retained him as minister without portfolio apparently under a compromise worked out after hectic consultations Congress president Sonia Gandhi had with senior party colleagues.

Hours after the setting up of the Judicial Commission former Chief Justice of India, R S Pathak, Natwar Singh was called to Race Course Residence of the Prime Minister when the issue of his continuance in the ministry came up.

Shortly afterwards the PM’s Office issued a statement saying Natwar Singh requested the Prime Minister to relieve him of the External Affairs Ministry portfolio. "The Prime Minister has accepted his request and has written to the President that Natwar Singh will be minister without portfolio in the Union Council of Ministers."

Though the PMO statement did not make any mention of who the new External Affairs Minister will be, under the Cabinet system any unalloted portfolio remains with the Prime Minister. However, speculation was on whether a new Foreign Minister would be appointed in view of SAARC summit in Dhaka four days hence.

Despite Natwar Singh’s strong statement and his insistence that he would not resign, his continuance in the Government became increasingly untenable after the Government’s decision to constitute a judicial commission.

It was more so because today’s decision came on top of last night’s appointment of a special envoy to gather materials on the allegations made in the Volcker Committee report against Indian entities and individuals.

Though the terms of reference of the judicial commission are yet to be announced, the official statement said Pathak, a former judge of the Hague-based International Court of Justice, will "head the inquiry into matters relating to the report of the independent inquiry committee (headed by Paul Volcker) appointed by the UN Secretary General to inquire into the UN oil for food programme" in Iraq during 2001. (UNI)

India, Pak open LoC on historic note

From Dinesh Manhotra

CHAKAN DA BAGH (LoC), Nov 7: It was an historical event in Indo-Pak relations today as Line of Control (LoC) virtually melted and both sides opened the first frontier posts to provide relief to the victims of devastating earthquake which rocked many parts of Indian sub-continent on October 8 this year.

It was heartening to see when Brigadier A K Bakshi of Indian Army shook hands with his counterpart Brigadier Tahir Naqvi while on the other hand civilian Dr Jahangeer Abbas of Bandi Abbaspur (PoK) was hugging his cousin Mohammed Abbas Khan of Poonch who met each other after a long wait of 34 years. Tears rolled down from their eyes as both could not control their emotions.

"I can not describe how happy I am after meeting my cousin but the time is not appropriate to express happiness openly as our children and women folk are still in debris of damaged buildings", rued Dr Abbas, adding, "international community has done justice with us at the time of crises. We are also thankful to the Indian Government which has come out to mitigate our miseries. I have no words to express my gratitude towards Indian Government for its help", he said.

Although the event was confined only to send relief material through Kanchaman Post, hundreds of people converged on both sides to witness this historical moment which took place on the bank of Plust river. Poonch district has got its name from Plust river, which had witnessed division of this district in 1947.

On the banks of the historical river history was rewritten today. Some of the people managed to reach at ‘No Man Land’ and got the opportunity to interact with their relatives. Large number of people were seen gathered at village Titrinote located on other side of the LoC.

The event was really some thing more than just opening of LoC as it was rightly written on the sign board installed by Indian Army on No-Man Zone "Hum Ne LoC Nahian Dil Ke Darvaze Kholey Hain". The opening of this point has raised a ray of hope for those divided families which have been waiting from half a century to meet their relatives.

"We are tired so much. We want that the border should go away so that people from both sides can meet each other", said Tahir Khan, a senior journalist of Pakistan, adding "people should not be made hostages of Government policies". Mr Khan informed that inhabitants of not only from Titrinote or Hajira gathered on the other sides but people came from far-flung areas like Pindi and Texla to witness this historical event and to see their near and dear ones separated for half a century.

Army officers of both sides shed years of animosity, shook hands and exchanged pleasantries at this frontier point. They first exchanged white flags and then hugged each other as hundreds of locals and scores of journalists converged on both sides of the divide for the landmark occasion.

Not only people, some Indian and Pakistani scribes were also seen hugging each other and clicking photographs.

"It’s a good feeling," Army officer Santanu Ghose said after shaking hands with Pakistani Colonel Ali Khan across the white ribbon marking the LoC.

Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Brij Raj Sharma, who handed over the relief material to Sardar Mohammed Farooq, Deputy Commissioner of Poonch of PoK, said, "we have made elaborate arrangements to provide advanced medical treatment to those residents of PoK who want to avail this facility". "A ten bedded hospital has been opened for PoK residents while a hostel to provide boarding and lodging facilities to more than 100 people is also available for those who want to come here to meet their relatives", Mr Sharma said.

"Today what we have come here for is to basically to transport relief material across the LoC,", Mr Sharma said adding that trucks carrying rice, tents and medicines, had been lined up on either side for transportation. "As a first installment, 25 truck loads of tents, ration and medicines have been dispatched to PoK as per their requirement’’, he said and asserted that more relief material will be dispatched if demanded by Pakistani authorities.

Terming the event as historical, Mr Sharma expressed satisfaction that physical borders being moving down while as mental boundaries are removing.

Deputy Commissioner Po-onch of PoK also could not control his emotions. "57 year long wait has ended today", Mohammed Farooq said, adding, "let us pray on this occasion that India and Pakistan will jointly work for bright future of the people of this sub-continent".

Worthwhile to mention here India and Pakistan have decided to open three points on LoC to facilitate relief work in the wake of the October 8 quake which devastated both sides of LoC killing thousands of people.

The crossing point at Kaman in Uri will open on November 9 while Tithwal in Tangdhar on November 10.

All the three points were to open today but operationalisation of the other points has been delayed due to non-completion of work, including laying and clearing roads of landslide debris and demining in the areas.

Shortly after the official ceremony, some anxious moments were witnessed on the other side as people rushed to relief point in the hope of meeting their relatives, forcing Pakistani security forces to fire tear gas shells to control the mob.

A senior police official from this said that the arrangements on the Indian side were clear and it had been conveyed through the media that people wouldn’t be allowed to cross over today. "Probably there was some confusion on the other side and we saw many people had gathered and it was getting difficult to control them. The police on the other side had to use tear gas and fire in the air," he said.

Two militants among 5 killed

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Nov 7: Three civilians and two militants were killed in different militancy related incidents across Kashmir valley since last evening.

A defence spokesman said that troops of Rashtriya Rifles 09 Bn had laid an ambush near Kalipora, Frisal, in Kulgam area of south Kashmir late last evening. During the operation, a top-wanted commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, namely Shahnawaz Ahmed alias Nika Taxi S/o Abdus Salam R/o Tachhloo, Kulgam, got caught in the ambush. As the troops challenged him to halt, he opened fire. The spokesman claimed that in the retaliatory firing, Shahnawaz got killed. Police sources said that the slain militant had risen to the position of "district commander" after working with Hizbul Mujahideen for over 15 years. These sources said that two of Shahnawaz’s accomplices managed to escape even as their hideout was dismantled.

Sources said that troops of RR 18 Bn killed a Pakistani militant of Jaish-e-Mohammad, namely Mohammad Rustum, in an encounter at Warnow in Lolab valley of Kupwara district last night

Meanwhile, reports from north Kashmir said that some civilians were passing through a jungle in Quil Muqam area of Bandipore last evening. Suddenly, some of the civilians hit upon an IED which exploded, killing two persons. Two more civilians sustained injuries. They were rushed to Srinagar and admitted to a hospital for treatment. Two youth killed in the explosion have been identified as Irshad Gujjar S/o Mohammad Yaqoob and Majeed Gujjar S/o Ghulam Ali, residents of Quil Muqam, Bandipore.

In the afternoon today, unidentified gunmen appeared in an apple orchard near Indergam and they fired upon one Abdul Ahad Chopan S/o Abdullah Chopan R/o Yatipora, Pattan, killing him on spot. Unconfirmed reports said that Chopan had earlier worked with a counter-insurgent organisation.

Reports from south Kashmir added that a couple of pistol-borne youth appeared at a shop near Gol Chakri in Shopian township and they fired upon one Sheeraz Ahmed Tak S/o Ahsan Tak R/o Tak Mohalla, Shopian. Tak sustained gunshot wounds alongwith a confectionary owner, namely Babloo of Bihar. It was not immediately clear as to what made the suspected gunmen fire upon him. Reports said that both the injured shopkeepers were rushed to a hospital for medical treatment.

Farooq sees mid-term polls

JALANDHAR, Nov 7:Jammu and Kashmir former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today said that Ghulam Nabi Azad Government in the State was unlikely to last long and there was a possibility of mid-term polls in the State.

Talking to reporters here, Dr Abdullah stated that there were now differences between the Congress and its coalition partner People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and, thus, the Government would not last for long.

He, however, said that his National Conference would act as a creative opposition by extending cooperation to the new Chief Minister in advancing the peace process and development in the troubled State.

Dr Abdullah said the new Chief Minister had promised to fight out the menace of militancy, restore normalcy and advance the process of development.

The opposition NC would give reasonable time to the new Government to exhibit his performance and would cooperate in the process in the interest of the State.

On the Volcker Committee controversy, the NC leader said that External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh should have been dismissed from his post following such reports.

Dr Abdullah was in the town to formally receive the keys of special bullet proof van manufactured on order, by a leading body building firm here for his use during the election campaign for the next elections in the State.

Dr Abdullah also charged former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed with working on "pro terrorists policy" during the past three years and encouraging corruption in the public life.

He said that terrorists’ infiltration had increased along the LoC during recent months.

He demanded probe against corrupt members of previous Council of Ministers,including Mr Mufti.

He said that the previous Mufti Government’s regime in the State had harmed the State in a big way. (UNI)

HC quashes reservation ordinance for Muslims

HYDERABAD, Nov 7: The Congress Government in Andhra Pradesh today received a setback with High Court quashing an ordinance providing for five per cent reservations for Muslims in jobs and educational institutions.

Disapproving religion-based reservation, a five-member Bench, headed by acting Chief Justice Bilal Nazki, found fault with the procedure adopted by the state Backward Classes Commission whose report formed the basis for the quota order.

"The entire process is vitiated by arbitrariness and failure to adopt reasonable criteria. Thus the reservation act is ultra vires of the Constitution," Justice Nazki said.

In its 93 page verdict, based on a batch of writ petitions by some BC organisations and students, the Bench unanimously felt that the BC Commission did not do its job properly and failed to evolve any reasonable criteria for categorising Muslims as Backward Classes.

The Government had in May this year approved a report of the Backward Classes Commission recommending inclusion of Muslims in the list of Backward Classes by creating a separate category.

The quota ordinance was issued in June categorising Muslims, who constitute 9.2 per cent of the state’s total population of 7.5 crore, as BC ‘E’ group for the purpose of reservations.

The creamy layer among Muslims, with an annual income above 2.5 lakh, were excluded from the purview of reservations. The Reservation Bill was adopted by the state Assembly on October 5 during the monsoon session.

A larger Bench, comprising Chief Justice Bilal Nazki, Justice Raghuram, V V S Rao, N V Ramana and R Subhash Reddy, pulled up the BC Commission for giving "defective advice" to the Government and failing to adopt a proper methodology.

The court refused to set aside the admissions made to the professional colleges recently on the basis of the impugned ordinance. It said there will be a status quo as regards the admissions already made.

The BC Commission, which was entrusted with the task of identifying different castes which could be included in the list of Backward Classes, was made to address the only issue of identifying whether Muslims could be classified as Backward Classes for the purpose of providing reservations, the court observed.

Meanwhile, official sources said the Government would move the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s order.

The opposition BJP welcomed the judgement saying it was a "slap on the face" of both Congress and TDP which had indulged in competitive populism promising reservations for Muslims with an eye on votes. (PTI)

Kalam to visit Valley on Nov 10

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 7 : President A P J Abdul Kalam is scheduled to visit the quake-hit areas in Kashmir on November 10.

Official sources said that Dr Kalam would reach Srinagar on November 10 and head straightway for the earthquake-affected areas, including Tangdhar and Uri.

He would spend the day with the quake victims and enquire about their health. He was also scheduled to hold a meeting with Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and senior officers of the State administration to know about the relief operations in the quake-affected areas of the State.

Sources said Dr Kalam would stay for the night at Srinagar and fly back to New Delhi on November 11. (UNI)

Shailendra posted in CM's office

Excelsor Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 7: Shailendra Kumar, Managing Director, SRTC has been recalled and posted as Special Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Secretariat with immediate effect. An order to this effect was issued today.

Ultra linked to Delhi blast held

KOLKATA, Nov 7: A Pakistani national suspected to be involved in the New Delhi blasts and other subversive activities in India was arrested by the Border Security Force at Balurghat in North Bengal.

Pakistani national, Ali Mohammad alias Abu Ali Haider, was arrested yesterday from Balurhat in South Dinajpur district soon after he allegedly sneaked in from Bangladesh, BSF sources said here.

About arrested militant’s links with Lashkar-e-Toiba and the October blast in Delhi, the sources said interrogation was on to ascertain this.

The man would be handed over to the West Bengal police at Balurghat after the interrrogation, the sources said.

He was suspected to have stayed for some time in Delhi early this year.

He was on his way to Kashmir to meet his contact man for a new assignment, a source said.

Intelligence agencies were hopeful of getting some clues to a number of important operations he was allegedly involved in. (PTI)

Shahabuddin sent to Bhagalpur jail

SIWAN, Nov 7: Controversial RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin, facing criminal charges in as many as 34 cases, was today remanded to 14 days judicial custody by a local court and sent to Bhagalpur central jail.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate T Dubey sent Shahabuddin to judicial custody in connection with 10 criminal cases relating to murder, abduction, power theft and possessing illegal firearms after he was produced at the former’s official residence.

Shahabuddin was taken to the Siwan jail for completing legal formalities from where he would be taken to Bhagalpur central jail in a State Government chopper, Superintendent of Police R S Bhatti said.

The RJD MP, who was flown to Siwan this morning from Patna, has been externed from Siwan district by District Magistrate S K Mal.

Hundreds of supporters of Shahabuddin had assembled at the police line helipad here but he was whisked away by the security personnel for production before the ACJM. The RJD activists raised slogans against Siwan district administration and EC adviser K J Rao, alleging their leader was implicated in "false and fabricated cases".

Police resorted to baton-charge to disperse RJD men when they tried to block the production of Shahabuddin at the gate of the ACJM’s residence.

Shahabuddin’s lawyer Bangali Singh said the RJD MP would apply for regular bail before the Chief Judicial Magistrate and concerned magistrates on November nine.

Shahabuddin was sent to judicial custody in connection with eight cases, in which he was arrested from his official residence in Delhi following issue of non-bailable warrants of arrest by the Siwan court, and two others.

Two fresh cases related to cancellation of bail granted earlier by the court as the RJD strongman failed to appear before the court even after issuing of summons several times, Singh said.(PTI)

Pak national shot dead

BATALA, Nov 7: An unidentified Pakistan national was shot dead by BSF personnel near Nangali border post in Dera Baba Nanak sector in Gurdaspur district today.

Police said that Pak national was trying to cross over India-Pak border from Pakistan near Nangali BOP and BSF personnel asked him to stop there but he was shot dead when he ignored the signal.

The BSF handed over the body to Dera Baba Nanak Police and his body was buried after a post mortem examination from civil hospital here. (PTI)

Manekshaw's condition stable

NEW DELHI, Nov 7: Airdashed to Army’s specialised research and referral hospital here following complaints of traces of Pneumonia and acute chest congestion, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw today showed improvement in his health which doctors said was "stable".

"His condition is stable and he is responding to treatment," Major General OP Mathews Commandant of the hospital said in a medical bulletin issued on the health of the 92-year-old Field Marshal, who was flown here this morning from his home near Wellington in Tamil Nadu.

"We plan to undertake extensive investigations of his health condition," the bulletin said as the Marshal, veteran of Second World War Burma campaign and hero of 1971 Bangladesh operations had a brief tete with a number of VVIP callers on.

The Army Chief Gen JJ Singh as well as other top services brass called on the Field Marshal briefly in his Intensive Care Unit ward.

Manekshaw was admitted to the military hospital at Wellington Cantonment following complaints of breathlessness four days ago. The doctors attending on him advised that he be flown to Delhi for specialised treatment, Army sources said.

Manekshaw was the first officer to be appointed Field Marshal in the Indian Army after retirement in 1973 in recognition of his role in the Bangladesh operation.(PTI)

Relatives of PDP legislator shot dead

JAMMU, Militants today shot dead two relatives of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Tassadique Hussain in Rajouri district, official sources said here today.

A group of ultras swooped over village Larkuti in Rajouri district and barged into the house of Hussain's brother Mohammad Ashraf, head constable of Jammu and Kashmir police, early this morning, the sources said.

The militants tortured Ashraf and his wife Nasreen Bano and later fired upon them killing the duo on the spot, they said adding the ultras managed to escaped following the incident.

Police recovered the bodies from the spot and handed them over to relatives after post mortem, the sources said.

The slain constable was posted in the Rajouri police lines. An operation has been launched to track down the militants. (PTI)

Families desirous of crossing LoC asked to fill forms

SRINAGAR, Members of divided families in Jammu and Kashmir, interested in meeting their quake-affected relatives in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, have been told to fill the requisite forms to facilitate their travel.

On the eve of the opening of the second of the five designated points along the LoC for joint quake relief operations at Kaman-Chakoti point in Uri sector, authorities have asked families desirous of meeting their relatives to file their completed application forms at the regional passport office here.

The decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of all concerned agencies last evening, Regional Passport Officer S L Sriramlu said here today.

The Poonch-Rawalakot crossing point in Jammu region was opened yesterday with only relief material allowed to be ferried across the Line of Control as the documents for the people willing to travel were not ready, officials had said.

In the Kashmir valley, the Kaman-Chakoti point in Uri sector and Teetwal-Nauseri point in Tangdhar sector are scheduled to be opened tomorrow and the day after respectively. The other two points would be opened after clearing of impediments like landmines and subject to demand from local residents.

India and Pakistan had last month agreed to open five crossing points along the Line of Control to allow relief and members of the divided families to cross over in view of the devastating earthquake that struck the region leaving nearly 75,000 people dead on either side of the divide. (PTI)

Relief for PoK via Aman Setu

SRINAGAR, After making history at Chakan Da Bagh yesterday, India and Pakistan are all set to open the Line of Control (LoC) at Kaman Post in Uri tomorrow to facilitate movement of relief supplies to quake-ravaged Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

As part of the bilateral agreement to open the 742-km-long LoC at five points, the Kaman Post or the Aman Setu (Peace Bridge) is the second point to be opened for divided families to cross and ferry relief and reconstruction material across the LoC for survivors of the devastating October 8 earthquake, which killed tens of thousands of people and rendered millions homeless.

Billed as a historic breakthrough between India and Pakistan, the decision is the second major initiative by both the countries to soften the LoC after this year's agreement to run a bus services between Srinagar-Muzaffarabad without passports and visas.

The "Karvaan-e-Aman (Caravan of Peace)" started running on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road from April 7 this year, linking the two sides of the eastwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The bus service, which made international headlines as it was the first link between the two Kashmirs in almost 57 years, has been temporarily suspended since the catastrophic temblor.

The LoC, the de facto ceasefire line, divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

Initially, the two countries had decided to open five relief points along the LoC for crossing on foot by members of the divided families on both the sides at five points -- Nauseri-Teethwal, Chakothi-Uri, Hajipur-Uri, Rawalakote-Poonch and Tattapani-Mendhar -- on November 7.

However as per the revised scheduled, the External Affairs Ministry, in a statement in New Delhi on Saturday, said all the points will not be opened November 7, but one by one on separate dates.

The Chakan Da Bagh point in Poonch was made operational on November 7, the Kaman Post will be opened on November 9 and Teethwal in Tangdhar on November 10, the statement said.

It said the work on other two points-- Hajipur-Uri and Tattapani- Mendhar-- will continue but they will be opened only when there is popular demand.

Relief material for earthquake victims will be sent through these points and the people can start using them to cross the LoC as soon as their names are approved by both the sides. (UNI)

Over 100 aftershocks recorded after Oct 8 killer quake

SRINAGAR, More than 100 aftershocks, including 65 with moderate intensity, have been recorded till date since the 7.4 magnitude devastating earthquake struck Jammu and Kashmir and its adjoining areas on October 8 morning.

Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) officials here told UNI that 65 aftershocks with above five magnitude on the Richter Scale have been recorded since October 8.

However, they said no aftershock with magnitude over six on the Richter Scale was recorded in the state so far.

The officials said all the 65 aftershocks could be categorised under the moderate category as they were between five and six magnitude on the Richter Scale.

Besides several minor shocks could not be recorded due to overlapping.

The IMD officials said the last powerful aftershock of 5.3 magnitude jolted the quake-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir on November 6.

The aftershock had its epicenter at 34.8 degrees North latitude and 74.00 degrees East longitude in Pakistan, and occurred at 0741 hrs, they added.

However, no casualties or damage to property were reported except that the temblor triggered panic among the survivors.

The region has been experiencing a series of aftershocks after the October 8 massive quake wreaked death and destruction in Jammu and Kashmir and its neighbouring areas in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), killing tens and thousands of people and rendering millions homeless. (UNI)

| home | state | national | business| editorial | advertisement | sports |
| international | weather | mailbag | suggestions | search | subscribe | send mail |