Security, quake relief scenario reviewed
Loopholes lead to Lone's killing: Home Secretary

SRINAGAR, Oct 19: The Centre today admitted that there were some loopholes in the security apparatus at the heavily-guarded Tuslibagh area that led to the assassination of Minister of State for Education Ghulam Nabi Lone by the militants, who also made an unsuccessful attempt on the life of CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami yesterday.

"Somewhere there were some loopholes that is why they (militants) got better of the security personnel and killed the Minister and made an abortive bid on Mr Tarigami by breaching the heavy security bandobast," Union Home Secretary V K Duggal told reporters here.

He said it was almost impossible to have 100 per cent foolproof security in such situations.

"In any given situation there is 100 per cent foolproof security till the incident actually happens," Mr Duggal said.

The Union Home Secretary, who rushed here this morning to review the security situation in the Kashmir valley in the wake of killing of a State Minister, said several measures were suggested to ensure foolproof security in the high-profile areas.

"The security of the high-profile and sensitive areas would be tightened besides the access henceforth controlled and the frisking strengthened," he added.

Mr Duggal condemned Dr Lone’s killing in strongest terms, saying such incidents were "unacceptable".

He said the security situation in the State was completely under control.

"Except for yesterday’s incident, the security situation is totally under control," the Home Secretary added.

This was the first major strike by the militants in the uptown area of the Srinagar city after the Border Security Force (BSF) handed over the security command to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in September.

Earlier, a high-level meeting today reviewed the security situation in the State.

The meeting, held at the Nehru Guest House here, was attended by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, General Officer-in-Commanding (GOC) 15 Corps Lt Gen S S Dhillon, state Director General of Police (DGP) Gopal Sharma, Border Security Force DGP Moosahahary, Central Reserve Police Force DGP J K Sinha besides other senior civil, police, Army, and para-military officials.

The meeting took several decisions on upgrading the security apparatus in the State and also suggested several measures to prevent recurrence of incidents like the one that happened yesterday.

Over 20 villages mostly affected due to earthquake that rocked northern parts of the Kashmir are being adopted by various central agencies to develop them as model villages with all basic amenities, Mr Duggal said.

He appreciated the role of State administration, Army and para-military forces for timely responding to the needs of people and launching relief, rescue and rehabilitation programme in a coordinated manner. He said 100 per cent affected areas have been covered under the relief operation reaching out there either through road links, via choppers or on foot.

The Home Secretary said that in order to help divided families living across the LoC to inquire whereabouts of their relatives, four BSNL telephone centres have been established at Srinagar, Uri, Tangdhar and Jammu where from these people can contact their relatives across the LoC via telephone free of charge. He said the telephone exchanges have started working from today and the arrangement will remain operative for 15 days. He said for trunk booking there is already telephone number 186 operative in the State.

He said the focus is now on providing semi permanent shelters to the houseless people to enable them to withstand the vagaries of ensuing winter. He said besides providing Ist instalment of Rs 40,000 cash to each family whose houses have collapsed in the quake for constructing dwelling units, a gigantic programme of providing pre-fabricated shelters to the large number of houseless people by erecting community halls with kitchen and bathroom facilities is being launched in the affected areas.

He said while discussing earthquake related issues in a meeting with the Chief Secretary and high level State officers here today he has been apprised of the arrangements, State Government has made for making available building material especially timber, CGI sheets, cement etc. to the affected people in the quake hit areas. He said the cash payment has also begun in the affected areas and over Rs 3 crore per day are targeted to be disbursed amongst the affected families.

So far as availability of blankets, medicine essentials etc. are concerned, he said there is no dearth of such commodities in the areas however, requirement of tents still exists which will be met within a couple of days, he added.

The Vice Air Marshal Mukul, Union Joint Secretary for Home, Ms Mittali, Director General of Police, Gopal Sharma were also present in the press conference, besides other central and army officers.

The relief and rehabilitation measures were reviewed by Mr V K Dugal at a high level meeting of State officers headed by Chief Secretary, Vijay Bakaya here today. A team of Central officers, State Financial Commissioners, Commissioner Secretaries and other high ranking civil and police officers participated in the meeting.

Mr Bakaya while presenting detailed resume of the relief works conducted during the last about 10 days said that almost all villages affected by the devastating earthquake have been reached out and sufficient relief material distributed amongst the affected families. He said the operation is continuing unabated and special medical teams have been deployed in the affected areas to ensure 100 per cent coverage of healthcare. Adequate supply of essential commodities including fuel and kerosene oil have been ensured in such areas and every family is being reached out to provide the required succor, he added.

It was stated that 600 cft of timber have already been deposited in six timber depots at Uri, Lagama, Nambla, Dacchi, Salamabad and Syedpora while as 1500 cft of timber has been placed at 4 depots of Tangdhar, Gabra, Chiterkot and Tad. The JK Cements is supplying 2000 cement bags daily to Uri and Tangdhar to meet the requirements there while as 40 tonnes of CGI sheets have already been dispatched to Baramulla and 100 tonnes of these sheets are being dumped at Uri and Tangdhar.

Burqa-clad militant strikes on highway
2 civilians killed, 10 injured in Pampore

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 19: Two civilians got killed and 10 others, including a Sub Inspector of Police sustained injuries when a burqa-clad militant opened fire on a Police party at Kadalbal in Pampore township on Srinagar-Jammu national highway this afternoon.

Informed sources told the Excelsior that a burqa-clad militant took out his AK-56 rifle and fired volleys of fire on a Police party, comprising a Sub Inspector and two constables at Kadalbal Chowk in the saffron-rich Pampore township on the highway at 1505 hours today. SP Awantipore G M Dar’s cavalcade was heading for Pampore and it was about 500 yards short of Kadalbal when the shootout took place. A middle-aged woman, namely Rehti W/o Ghulam Qadir Teli R/o Kadalbal and one Shamsheer Singh S/o Dalip Singh R/o Hafoo, Tral, got killed and 10 persons sustained gunshot wounds.

The injured were quickly evacuated to different hospitals for medical treatment. They included Sub Inspector Abdur Rahim, who appeared to be the militant’s target. Eyewitnesses said that Police failed to retaliate, as all the three personnel were unarmed. SI Abdur Rahim was battling for life at SMHS Hospital here this evening. The injured under treatment included Masoom Ahmed of Uttar Pradesh, Tejinder Singh of Jullundar and Jamila of Jammu.

Some of the residents believed that SHO Pampore, Manzoor Ahmed, could have been the real target as he was on the spot for a long time before the shootout. Minutes before the attack, he had withdrawn.

Asked why Police failed to react, SP Awantipore said that the 3-member Police party was on the spot for managing the vehicular traffic on the highway. He said that all the three Police personnel were carrying just the batons.

The newly introduced Hamadania Brigade, which the officials believe is a front name of a major guerrilla organisation, claimed responsibility of the Pampore shootout. Somebody, who identified himself as Zubair, claimed to a local news agency KNS that it was a "fidayeen attack" in which two Police personnel got killed and three more—including the SHO—sustained injuries.

Meanwhile, all the three militants who had got killed in a joint operation by 3-Para and 8-Assam in Shopian area last evening, have been identified as Manzoor Ahmed Dar of Gadoora, Pulwama, Shakil Ahmed Dar of Baba Mohalla, Shopian, and Ayaz-ud-din of Tangmarg , Kulgam. Sources, as well as the Jaish-e-Mohammad spokesman, said that one of the slain militants was from Jaish-e-Mohammad and two more belonged to Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. The Jaish spokesman claimed that one soldier got killed and three more injured. Officials, however, insisted that troops killed three militants and they did not suffer any damage.

Militants’ call to Anantnag traced
Vital lead in Kathua attack

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Oct 19: Some vital clues have been achieved by police in Saturday morning’s militant attack on a Territorial Army camp at Kathua on Jammu-Pathankote national highway. A telephone call made by the militants from a PCO on the highway to Anantnag has been traced, which could give police identity of the attackers as well as their contacts in the Kashmir valley.

"A call was made by the two militants from a Public Call Office (PCO) at Hatli Morh in Kathua on Jammu-Pathankote highway, about one hour after the attack, to Anantnag", police officers, investigating the first militant attack in Kathua town, told the Excelsior tonight.

The telephone number of Anantnag where the call was made has been traced, they said, declining to reveal the number saying it has been kept a secret for the purpose of investigations.

The PCO owner’s record was verified by the police today. The call had been made for about two minutes during which the militants had reportedly conveyed to their contacts that the task assigned to them has been executed and sought some fresh directions in their escape from Kathua.

The militants later left the PCO in a waiting vehicle.

"What exactly transpired during the telephonic call is being ascertained. For the purpose, the BSNL authorities have been approached by the investigators", the sources said, adding with the help of telephone number, "we are in the process of carrying out identity of the militants as well as their contacts".

The help of Anantnag police has also been sought, they said.

Investigations by the police, which are being conducted by SSP Kathua Johnny Williams under the supervision of IGP Jammu Dr Shesh Pal Vaid, revealed that the militants had escaped in a waiting vehicle after carrying out the attack on Territorial Army camp on Saturday morning in which two Army jawans were killed and six others were injured.

After the attack, both the militants had changed their clothes which included a Kashmiri phiran and salwaar-kameez at a tube well near the site of encounter and left the spot in pant-shirt so that they were not exposed.

"The direction in which the vehicle left is being ascertained", the sources said, adding a faster moving vehicle was used in escaping instead of a truck as believed earlier.

It has been confirmed that the militants were activists of Al Mansoorian, an off-shoot of Lashkar-e-Toiba. The militants were not the foreign mercenaries. They could be hailing either from Anantnag or from the areas falling in upper reaches of Billawar in Kathua district, the sources said

"There was a definite possibility that the militants had been helped locally. Possibility of the help coming from a belt force is also not ruled out", they said.

According to sources, the militants were desperate to carry out an attack in Kathua town following surrender by four militants in Malhar last week in which two women were also killed.

People await relief in Kupwara, Handwara

KUPWARA, Oct 19:About seventy per cent villages, affected by the killer quake on October 8, in the Kupwara and Handwara tehsils in north Kashmir still await Government relief, particularly tents and are spending nights in the open.

"Over 80 per cent houses were damaged completely or partially due to the earthquake, forcing us to spend chilly nights in the open", villagers of the affected areas said.

They said a local Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) besides junior revenue officials visited them after the quake but without any relief.

"We urgently need tents so that we could save our family members, particularly children and women from the icy winds sweeping the entire area after upper reaches witnessed snowfall," the agitated villagers said.

At Gogloosa, 15 km from here, the villagers said all the houses were completely damaged or have developed big cracks. The remaining houses are not safe as they have big cracks and can collapse anytime, they said.

Abdul Rashid, a villager said some people have purchased tents of their own while few lucky ones managed it from the Army. However, majority villagers are still without any roof on their head.
Kupwara Additional Deputy Commissioner Sheikh Ghulam Rasool admitted that they are facing shortage of tents.

He said out of 130 villages in the Kupwara Tehsil, 123 were affected by the killer quake while in the Handwara Tehsil the damage was much less. Out of 230 villages, only 95 villages have been affected, he said.

Mr Sheikh said all the members of the field staff have been directed to visit the affected villages for preparing a list of those whose houses have been damaged.

About the complaints that no senior officer visited them since the quake hit the State, Mr Sheikh said he visited Dardpora after trekking the entire hilly area on foot. He said only one person died in the tehsil.

He said since winter is fast approaching we want to complete the survey of damage so that relief work could be undertaken immediately.

Mr Sheikh said the field staff and villagers have been directed to photograph their damaged houses so that relief cases could be settled.

As per the Government order Rs ten thousand will be paid to those whose houses have been partially damaged while Rs one lac will be paid for fully damaged houses.

However, the villagers said not a single house in the tehsil is safe for living. "We have to dismantle all the houses and start fresh construction," they said and demanded full compensation from the Government.

Mr Sheikh said the people of two tehsils—Kupwara and Handwara— do not need any rice. There was a bumper paddy season this time and people of both the tehsils have enough stock of rice, he said adding there was no shortage of anything.

He said the Kupwara tehsil has been divided into three zones for speedy relief work. (UNI)

Several ACDs, POs transferred

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 19: The Government today ordered transfers and postings of Assistant Commissioners Development (ACD), Project Officers (PO) and District Project Officers (DPO) of Rural Development Department.

Showkat Ahmed Beigh, ACD Srinagar has been transferred and posted as Deputy Director, Rural Development Kashmir while G R Wani ACD Pulwama was transferred and posted as ACD Kargil vice A W Tak.

Mr. Tak has been transferred and posted as ACD Kupwara vice B A Wani.

Adit Rashid Naqash, Deputy Director RD Kashmir also holding the charge of ACD Anantnag has been transferred and posted as ACD Anantnag.

B A Wani, ACD Kupwara was transferred and posted as ACD Budgam vice M A Janwari.

Mr Janwari, ACD Budgam has been transferred and posted as Project Officer DRDA Kupwara vice G H Khan.

Muzaffar Ahmad Hakeem whose services were placed at the disposal of RDD by GAD, has been posted as ACD Srinagar vice Showkat Beigh.

Nasir Iqbal, ACD Kathua was transferred and posted as ACD Doda vice Shyam Bijyal.

Mr Bijyal has been transferred and posted as ACD Kathua vice Nasir Iqbal.

Altaf Ahmed Mir, PO, DRDA Anantnag has been transferred and posted as ACD Pulwama vice G R Wani.

Zaffarullah Bhat PO, DRDA Srinagar has been transferred and posted as PO DRDA Baramulla.

R K Kundal, PO/ACD CAD, Jammu has been transferred and posted as Assistant Director Rural Sanitation vice N K Khurana who, will report to Director Rural Development, Jammu.

G M Khan, PO, DRDA Kupwara has been transferred and posted as PO, DRDA Budgam against an available post.

M R Bafoo, DPO Doda has been transferred and posted as PO, DRDA Anantnag while R C Puri, DPO Kathua has been transferred and posted as PO, DRDA Kathua against a vacant post.

S C Sharma, DPO Rajouri has been transferred and posted as PO, DRDA Rajouri.

G M Barkboo, DPO Kargil has been transferred and posted as PO, DRDA Kargil against vacant post.

Chazeafer Ali, DPO (Pub) Srinagar has been transferred and posted as PO, DRDA Srinagar vice Zaffar Ullah Bhat.

M A Khan, DPO Baramulla was transferred and posted as DPO Kargil vice G M Barkboo while Mohammad Younis Malik, BDO Tangmarg has been transferred and posted as DPO Baramulla vice M A Khan.

G N Wani, BDO Bhaderwah has been transferred and posted as DPO/ACD, CAD Jammu.

Indu Kanwal, BDO Gagwal has been transferred and posted as DPO Kathua vice R C Puri.

Qazi Sarwar, BDO Ganderwal has been transferred and posted as DPO Kupwara against a vacancy while Raman Kumar, BDO Ghordi has been transferred and posted as DPO Udhampur vice G N Balwan.

PS Rathore, BDO Barnote has been transferred and posted as DPO Rajouri vice S C Sharma.

Vikas Sharma, BDO Hiranagar has been transferred and posted as DPO Jammu against vacant post.

Shafaqat Iqbal, BDO Pampore has been transferred and posted as DPO Srinagar (Publicity).

Mohinder Singh, BDO Bhagwa has been transferred and posted as DPO Doda vice R R Faloo.

Mohammad Saleem, BDO Poonch was transferred and posted as DPO Poonch against vacancy caused by retirement of Nazir Ahmed Khan and Iman-ud-Din, BDO Baleesa has been transferred and posted as DPO Anantnag.

Tele links across LoC restored; free booths installed

By Sarwar Kashani

Srinagar, Oct 19: While as the move to partially restore the telephone lines across LoC has been appreciated by all and sundry, the scenes at the telephone booth in Police Control Room (PCR) Srinagar were all emotions and tears. Lucky ones who could make it broke down with brightness brimming from their dampened eyes and for those who couldn’t talk to their loved ones fell into tears out of disappointment.

Earlier Government announced the partial restoration of telephone links between divided Kashmirs. Home Secretary V K Duggal at a press conference here today declared that Government has announced 15 days free telephone service for the needy ones who wish to know about the post-quake conditions of their families living across LoC in Muzaffarabad and other places. Mr Duggal said that four free-of-cost telephone booths have been installed at PCR Srinagar, PCR Jammu and one each Tanghdar and Uri, where people can avail the service from 9 am to 5 pm daily for next 15 days.

Though the news was yet to be floated in public circles, however, PCR Srinagar still witnessed a good rush of anxious relatives - curiously waiting to hear voices of their dear ones living just less than 200 Kms away but of course across the Line of Control.

At least 15 families gathered at PCR Srinagar in the afternoon to avail the free facility of the telephone services of which only five lucky ones got through.

Mohammed Abdullah Bhat of Lal Bazar Srinagar had his pendulum of luck swinging back and forth. After several tries at last the phone across the LoC rang and bliss on his face was but natural. Voice choked and tears rolling out of his joyful eyes, Abdullah asked for his daughter. As he was calling to a PP number of his daughter in Muzaffarabad, the voice from the other side could only tell him that there was nobody in the house of his daughter situated at Showkat Lane Muzaffarabad.

Again the disappointment swapped his joy and Abdullah had to hang up the phone in what he later described as "anticlimax" of his hopes. "I had come with hopes that I may talk to my daughter, son in law and their children but it wasn’t my day as I couldn’t make it despite luck favoring me partially," discontented Abdullah said. Pertinent to mention here Abdullah was among the first passengers of Karavan-e-Aman to travel to cross LoC for Muzaffarabad to meet his daughter.

Obaidullah had come all the way from Yaripora Anantnag to Srinagar with the hopes. And he, of course, had his sheer of luck. He dialed, got connected and talked to his cousin Shaista. "Thank God! They are alright, though they’ve lost every thing including the house but all are alive," Obaidullah heaved a sigh of relief. He was of the opinion that the telephone lines across LoC be restored permanently.

Zakir Hussain of Kupwara had to return in utter disappointment. His finger tips felt tired after dialing continuously for several times and at last he gave up and thought to come back on Thursday to try his luck again. In sheer distress, Zakir took a dig against the Government orders of snapping the telephone links between divided Kashmir. "If they held us as integral part why this pain then?" he asked, adding, "I don’t want to comment on politics of it but holding us integral part is humane and on those humanitarian grounds I appeal Government of India to allow us to talk to our families living across," Zakir said.

Abdul Ghani Reshi of Tangmarg again proved to be lucky and got to talk. He was heard saying, "Let’s talk rather than howling in grief. We are alright and tell me about yourselves, I am worried."

Abdul Qayoom of Nowgam connected but unfortunately the other side couldn’t hear him properly. "Speak I am getting you. Are you alright? How is everybody?" Qayoom shouted and shouted until he dropped the phone. Tears rolling, Qayoom returned regretting his ‘bad luck’.

No security risk in opening LoC: Centre

NEW DELHI, Oct 19: The Government today dismissed fears that the opening of the Line of Control (LoC) for earthquake relief work would open channels for Pakistan-based militants to cross over into Jammu and Kashmir, keeping in view the killing of State Minister Ghulam Nabi Lone in Srinagar yesterday.

"It is not that the entire LoC will be thrown open. Only a few routes will be opened which will be sufficient for sending help to earthquake victims. Opening of the LoC is needed to provide succour to the people," in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), said Dr D K Sankaran, Secretary (Border Management) in the Union Home Ministry, who is looking after the relief operations for J and K quake victims.

Dr Sankaran, who was briefing reporters on the relief situation, said he would be visiting the Valley tomorrow to take stock of the situation and the security scenario in the wake of yesterday’s terrorist attack.

He would also see if more security forces were required.

Lt Gen Madan Gopal, Director General Military Operations (DGMO), who was also present at the press conference, also discounted the security apprehensions saying there would be no let up in the security.

"Rest assured. Security is totally under control. There will be no let up in security...There is no question of opening up the entire LoC," he asserted.

He, however, reiterated that there had been two or three infiltration attempts from across the border and also some violent incidents after October 8.

"No one has said things have changed," he added.

Lt Gen Madan Gopal also played down the assertion that the damage to bunkers on the border by the October 8 earthquake would come in the way of opening of the LoC.

"Bunkers are needed in conventional war. For relief operations bunkers will not be required. Moreover, it is not that all the bunkers have been damaged. Some are still there," he added.

Dr Sankaran also rejected reports about the shortage of tents for the victims and said some more tents would be sent shortly. About 30,000 tents would be sent to the Valley before October 24. (UNI)

PM meets President on J&K situation

NEW DELHI, Oct 19: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today called on President A P J Abdul Kalam and discussed the law and order situation in "some states".

The hour-long meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan comes a day after militants killed J and K Minister of State for Education Ghulam Nabi Lone and two security officials by militants in the high-security zone in Srinagar.

"It was part of regular interaction between the two leaders," S M Khan, Press Secretary to the President, said.

He said "the general law and order situation in some of the states was discussed during the meeting".

The relief and rehabilitation work in J and K following the recent devastating earthquake also figured during the discussions. (PTI)

Dillawar Mir joins PDP

Excelsior Special Correspondent

Srinagar, Oct 19: Former Minister Mohammad Dillawar Mir, who recently resigned as a National Conference member from the Legislative Assembly, today joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) pledging his support to the party under the leadership of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

Mir said ever-since the trend-setting election of October 2002, he has been urging for realignment of political forces in Kashmir so that collective urges and opinion got projected in an appropriate manner. "In my bid to look around for alternatives, it became obvious that PDP under the leadership of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was the party that had unambiguously pursued an agenda that could lead to the resolution of the Kashmir tangle," he said.

Mir said J&K was getting under the right focus both for its developmental requirements and political engagement. The State had in fact been able to set a new agenda of peace and reconciliation not just for itself but also for the entire sub-continent. He expressed the hope that all like-minded people, who wanted a peaceful solution to Kashmir and restore the dignity of the people of the State, would join hands and be united at this crucial juncture of the history. "We have to rise above considerations of party interest and power ambitions and make a fresh and bold attempt to present the Kashmir case in various forums and at all levels where it is getting discussed," he said.

The leadership of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Mir said, during the past three years has been synonymous with progress on the Kashmir resolution. He said Sayeed has been able to put across the feelings of the Kashmiri people in the correct perspective. He said it is the visionary policies of the Mufti that have helped the implementation of a new political agenda on the Kashmir’s political landscape.

Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and PDP president, Mehbooba Mufti have hailed the entry of Dillawar Mir into the PDP-fold. Minister for Finance, Muzaffar Hussain Baig and Minister for Tourism, Ghulam Hassan Mir were also present.

Aftershocks jolt J&K, HP

SRINAGAR/SHIMLA, Oct 19: A series of aftershocks, measuring around 5 on the richter scale, shook parts of quake-hit Jammu and Kashmir and neighbouring Himachal Pradesh today, but no loss of life or property was reported from anywhere.

The Seismological Department described the tremors as aftershocks of the devastating October 8 earthquake that killed more than 41,000 people in Pakistan and PoK and 1,300 in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Met Department in Srinagar said two quakes of magnitude 5.2 occurred at 0002 hrs and 0250 hrs, another measuring 5.3 on the richter scale was felt at 0803 hrs and two more of 5.4 magnitude at 0846 hrs and 1817 hrs. All were centred in northern Pakistan.

Terrified people rushed out of their houses as the aftershocks rattled the region.

Reports from the worst-hit Uri and Tangdhar areas of Kashmir said the tremors caused terror-stricken survivors to scramble out of their tents and makeshift shelters in alarm.

Seismology metro laboratory in-charge R S Negi said more such aftershocks could be expected in the next few days.

Kangra ADM P D Chaudhary said no loss of life and property has been reported from anywhere in the district due to the quakes.

Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh falls in the fifth category of the active seismic zone. (UNI)

SAC notice to Vigilance Commissioner

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 19: State Accountability Commission (SAC) today issued notice to Vigilance Commissioner for not sending case file of former Director Rural Development Department with regard to multi-crore scandal in the electrification of Panchayat Ghars.

Sources in Accountability Commissioner told the EXCELSIOR that State Vigilance Commission was issued directions by the Chairman of SAC Justice (Retd) R P Sethi to produce before him the file of former Director Rural Development Department Asghar Ali, who was arrested by Vigilance Organisation on October 15 in rural electrification scam.

"But the State Vigilance Commission refused to produce file before the SAC on the ground that it has to seek the permission of court of law prior to handing over file to SAC", the sources said and added that the SAC in a notice to State Vigilance Commissioner asked him to reply as to which law debars the Vigilance Commissioner from producing record before the Accountability Commission.

They further said that under Section 14 of State Accountability Commission Act, the Chairman of SAC has the powers to demand official record from any Government agency and added that the SAC has directed the Vigilance Commissioner to file reply on October 25 in Jammu.

Meanwhile, the Accountability Commission has fixed November 16 for further hearing the case of rural electrification scam after the advocate of former Director Rural Development Department Asgar Ali sought time to file reply.

The Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, who were pulled up by the SAC for delay in responding to the directions of Accountability Commission in connection with the scam, today expressed regrets over the delay.

Sources in SAC disclosed that there was every possibility of involvement of more persons in the corridors of power and the officers of the RDD had made fake contractors after inflating the rates for electrification of Panchayat Ghars.

Jawan killed, 3 hurt in blast

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 19: One Army jawan was killed and three others were injured when a grenade exploded as the soldiers were cleaning their weapons at 120 Brigade in Bhimber Gali in Poonch district this evening.

Official sources said Lance Naik Om Parkash was killed while Sepoy Parveen Kumar sustained serious injuries when a grenade went off during cleaning of the weapons. Two other jawans sustained minor injuries.

Lance Naik Om Parkash succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. Three other injured jawans have also been hospitalised.

Meanwhile, security forces have unearthed two militant hide-outs and recovered ammunition and explosives in Doda and Rajouri districts today.

Acting on intelligence reports, Rashtriya Rifles busted a hide-out located in a cave at Kundan Nallah, eight kms from south-west of Banihal in Doda district.

One Chinese hand grenade, two mattresses, three blankets and six kgs of ration were seized from the site, the sources said.

Another hide-out was busted by security forces during search operation at Junglee Mohallah in Hari-Budha area of Rajouri district, they said, adding recoveries from it included 160 rounds of AK ammunition, one AK magazine, nine rounds of pistol ammunition, four hand grenades, one UBGL grenade and two radio sets.

Kashmir killing: CRPF chief concedes laxity in security

NEW DELHI CRPF Director General J K Sinha today conceded that some kind of laxity in security had been witnessed at the VVIP Tulsi Bagh residential area of Jammu and Kashmir where two militants sneaked in and killed a state minister on October 18.

"There has been some failure on one side. One militant managed to enter from one side whereas the other was gunned down by our men," he told reporters here on the sidelines of 30th Annual General Body meeting of BSF's Tear Smoke Unit.

He observed that since Tulsi Bagh is inhabited by politicians and thronged by a large number of people, it was difficult at times to frisk everyone going inside.

"We have to strike a balance as so many people visit the area to meet ministers and elected representatives," he said two days after militants entered the high-security Tulsi Bagh area and killed Minister of State for Education Ghulam Nabi Lone and a security personnel, raising questions about the arrangements.

He said the security arrangements at the complex had been reviewed and corrective steps taken to plug the loopholes that may exist.

"We have reviewed the security situation of the whole city after this serious incident and tightened the security apparatus," Sinha said

Disagreeing that terrorism has increased in the valley, the CRPF chief said "one serious incident has happened, but on the whole violence has not gone up." (PTI)

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