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.'We are just close to zero
custodial killings, disappearances in J&K' From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz SRINAGAR, Aug 2: Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today contradicted the figures projected by separatist as well as mainstream political parties regarding the strength of armed forces personnel in Jammu & Kashmir. He claimed with proud that India's human rights record was better than any country's all over the world as Police and security forces in J&K and elsewhere were strictly accountable. In a forceful contradiction to Justice Ali Mohammad Mir's allegation that Government had not implemented even a single recommendation of the State Human Rights Commission in the last three years, Azad claimed that necessary action had been taken in as many as 383 out of 440 recommendations received from the Commission. Speaking on a special discussion on the human rights situation and July 31 resignation of Justice Ali Mohammad Mir as Chairperson of State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), Ghulam Nabi Azad claimed on the floor of Legislative Council that situation in the trouble-torn State had begun to improve after the democratic Government of National Conference took over in 1996. He said that another phase of improvement in the human rights situation commenced after 2002 elections when the coalition Government assumed power. He said that the process of improvement was going on notwithstanding fluctuations in the graph of violence and delinquencies by individuals in Police and security forces. Responding to several Opposition members' apprehensions and remarks over Justice Mir's resignation, Azad admitted that some of the SHRC recommendations had not been implemented due to certain factors. He, however, asserted that most of the recommendations had been implemented and for better pace of implementation his Government had constituted a Cabinet sub committee in July. Financial Commissioner (FC) Home and Director General of Police, he said, had been directed to hold fortnightly and weekly review of the cases pointed out by SHRC and other sources. "There was no point in ignoring the (SHRC) recommendations as most of these pertained to disbursement of ex gratia money and allotment of Government jobs to the families of the victims of violence", he said. Chief Minister claimed that out of 440 SHRC recommendations, as many as 383 had been implemented by the State Government in the last few years. He elaborated that 57 cases had been disposed out of 175 in Srinagar district, 36 out of 119 in Pulwama, 49 out of 74 in Anantnag and 16 out of 37 in Budgam district. "There has been 30% to 60% disposal. It is not correct that not a single recommendation had been implemented by the Government". He said that the Cabinet sub committee had been constituted after a thorough discussion on the Human Rights situation at a Cabinet meeting on July 7th and it had held the first meeting on July 27th. Chief Minister claimed that his Government was close to zero level in custodial disappearances and killings. According to him, 60 cases of custodial disappearance had been established from 1996 to 2002. "In 2003, just 7 of such cases were reported and established, 3 cases were established in 2004 and only one each in 2005 and 2006". As regards custodial killings, Chief Minister said that 67 cases had been established in 1996-2002 period. He said that 8 cases had been established in 2003, 9 cases in 2004, 7 cases in 2005 and only 2 cases in 2006. Azad explained to the members that wrong figures and statements made by them could be exploited to the hilt by Pakistan and supporters of militants in PoK Legislature, Pakistan Parliament, United Nations and other world bodies. He said that imprisonment and dismissal of service had been awarded to 5 J&K Police gazetted officers, 7 gazetted officers in paramilitary forces and 16 gazetted officers in Army for their delinquencies in respecting Human Rights in Jammu & Kashmir. Number of non-gazetted convicts was 17 in Police, 8 in paramilitary forces and 27 in Army. He said that in addition to this, 154 personnel of other ranks had been punished by the Government and their own organisations, making the total number of such defaulters 209. For the first time, Chief Minister denied that 600,000 troops were present in the border State. He claimed that the total number of Army personnel engaged in internal security was 100,000 in J&K while as the total number of J&K Police, CRPF and BSF personnel in counter-insurgency operations was 105,000. "Thus a total of 2.05 Lakh personnel are engaged in internal security in the entire State", he asserted. He claimed that all officers and soldiers in armed forces were under strict instructions that no incident of Human Rights abuse would be tolerated. "It's because of these orders that maximum number of arrests of militants has been recorded in the current year with minimum number of complaints from the common masses. He declared 2006 as the year of best Human Rights record in the last 17 years of militancy. He said that Union Home Ministry was paying monthly financial succour of Rs 750 each to 5,100 children rendered orphans during many years of armed conflict. Azad claimed that peace process with Pakistan as well as New Delhi's talks with Kashmiri separatist leadership were progressing well. He asserted that opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Road, as also other cross-LoC communication links and meeting points, were indicators of change and improvement. A number of MLCs including Prof Bhim Singh, Nizam-ud-din Bhat, Ghulam Rasool Kar, Basharat Bukhari, Sakina Itoo, Abdul Gani Vakil, Ghulam Nabi Lone, Fareeda Mir, A R Tukroo, Ashok Sharma, Nazir Ahmed Mir, Abdur Rasheed Qureshi and P Namgyal participated in the discussion. Among them all, Qureshi demanded withdrawal of troops, amendment in PSA, revocation of Armed Forces Special Act as also "lasting solution to Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of people". Most of the speakers, however, suggested that security forces should adopt people-friendly behaviour and SHRC should be strengthened so that no Chairman in future would feel constrained to quit. |
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Two ultras, jawan killed; one
captured alive Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Aug 2: Army and police today gunned down two militants of Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HUJI) and apprehended another as troops suffered a fatal casualty in day long operation at village Kochal in Chatroo area of Doda district while 20 persons were injured, two of them seriously, in a blast at Surankote Bus Stand, minutes before the arrival of a Buddha Amarnath yatra convoy from Jammu, at 5.10 pm. Official sources said troops of 11 Rashtriya Rifle and police launched a search operation at Kochal in Chatroo area in early hours of this morning after developing an information that four top HUJI militants including a ‘section commander’ have descended to the village from upper reaches for carrying out an attack on the security personnel. A contact with the militants was established at 7 am. In about two and a half hour operation, two militants were eliminated by Army and police. An Army jawan Sepoy Jitender Singh also sacrificed his life while fighting bravely with the ultras. DIG Udhampur-Doda range Lalat Indu Mohanty, SSP Doda Manohar Singh and SP Doda (Operations) Varinder Sharma supervised the operation along with senior police officers. Sources said two militants were still hiding in the areas. The operation was on to eliminate them. Slain militants have been identified as Izaz Ahmed alias Mubbassir, 21, son of Ghulam Ahmed R/o Gadol, Anantnag and Ashraf Ahmed Malik alias Khalid Zubair son of Rashid Malik R/o Kochal, a ‘section commander’ of HUJI outfit. Zubair was a Pakistan trained militant and was operating in Doda for last few years. Recoveries made from the spot include two AK-56 rifles, four magazines, 12 rounds, two Chinese hand grenades and two pouches were recovered from the slain militants. A militant of HUJI Ashiq Ahmed Dar alias Ishaq S/o Ghulam Nabi Dar R/o Kokernag, Anantnag was captured alive by Army and police from Titwan, Chatru alongwith two grenades. Two BSF cops of 4th battalion were injured in firing by the militants at Dharam in Gool area tonight. An unidentified militant lobbed a grenade at Surankote Bus Stand minutes before the arrival of Shri Buddha Amarnath yatra convoy from Jammu at 5.10 pm causing injuries to 20 persons, three of them seriously. The yatra convoy had reached Jharan Wali Gali (JWG) when the grenade blast took place. The convoy was stopped at JWG and was released at 6.30 pm under tight security arrangements made by security forces and police after the area was fully sanitised. All 20 persons injured in the blast were civilians. Thirteen of them with minor injuries were discharged after first-aid from Sub District Hospital in Surankote while seven others were admitted. Three seriously injured were referred to Medical College, Jammu. They have been identified as Mehmood Khan son of Fayaz Mohd R/o Potha Surankote, Zakir Hussain, a Nursing Orderly in SDH Surankote and a resident of Kalakote and Ghulam Mustafa. Other injured, undergoing treatment in Surankote hospital, have been identified as Amit Kumar son of Krishan Lal R/o Surankote, Mohd Javed son of Ismayil R/o Samot, Asha Begum wife of Subhan R/o Kalar Morha, Mendhar, Showkat Zahangir son of Showkat Ali R/o Surankote, Ghulam Mustafa, Mohd Rashid, Parvez Sarwar, Mohd Jameel, Nanida Akhter, Hasan Mohd, Mohd Hanief, Shahid Iqbal, Mohd Sageer, Mohd Maskeen, Mohd Khurshid, Pummy Kumar and Soni Rashid. A 17 year old girl has allegedly been kidnapped by a militant from village Nagni in Keshwan area of Doda, the sources said identifying the militant as Nazir Ahmed. A search was on to apprehend the militant and rescue the girl. |
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Scheme to be extended to towns SRINAGAR, Aug 2: The State Government will increase the wages of Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers in the State, Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig said today. Mr Baig also announced a similar scheme for the unemployed youth of the cities and towns since the ReT teachers are for far flung areas only. Replying to a question asked by Panthers Party member and former Education Minister Harsh Dev Singh during Zero Hour in the Legislative Assembly, Mr Baig said the salary of Rs 1500 per month being paid to ReT teachers, was less. He said the matter of increasing their wages would be taken up in the next cabinet meeting. Mr Baig, who is also Finance Minister, said it was proposed to have two scales for undergraduate and graduate ReT teachers. "Now we are seriously thinking to enhance their wages to Rs 2000 and Rs 3000 per month for undergraduates and graduates respectively, he said. I will get the cabinet approval to enhance their wages, he said adding that though he had no idea where the money would come from. However, he immediately added that the ReT teachers salary will be increased even if it is not a zero deficit budget this year. Mr Baig said a similar scheme on ReT pattern will be launched for the unemployed youth of cities and towns of the State. There are unemployed youth in cities and towns who also need our immediate attention before they are over aged, Mr Baig said. Earlier, Mr Harsh Dev Singh raising the issue during Zero hour said it was very unfortunate that ReT teachers with doctorate, double MA and other degrees were being paid Rs 1500 per month while a casual labourer was getting Rs 2100 per month. Other members including Ashwani Sharma, MLA State Morcha and Jugal Kishore (BJP), cutting across the party lines also joined the issue and demanded increase in the wages of ReT teachers. Mr Sharma said the ReT teachers demand for pay hike was very much justified. Harsh Dev Singh threatened that he would forget that he was a member of the coalition partner and would troop into well of the House to protest in the Assembly if the ReT teachers wages were not increased. A proposal to increase ReT teachers wages was first approved by Harsh Dev Singh when he was Education Minister. It was awaiting a Cabinet nod now. Responding to another issue, Mr Baig said the PDP supports the decision of the previous National Conference regime to enforce the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and Disturbed Areas Act in the State. "I support your decision to extend the acts in the State and you were not wrong. The situation demanded it ... Even (separatist) Jamaat-e-Islami would have done the same," senior PDP leader and Dy CM Baig said in the Assembly. He said the National Conference Government had extended the two acts to Jammu region on August 10, 2001. Baig was making a statement following a challenge by leader of opposition Abdul Rahim Rather, who had said that he would resign from the Assembly if the Deputy Chief Minister did not admit that he supported the decision of the previous Government to bring the AFSPA and Disturbed Areas Act to the State. "I do not want Rather to resign from the Assembly and I do not want to hurt anyone but just to set the record straight," he said. However, as soon as Baig finished his speech, PDP member Sartaj Madni, Abdul Gaffar Sofi, A R Veeri and Shanti Devi rose from their seats and demanded that Rather resign from the House as he promised yesterday. Rather, in his reply, said he stood by his challenge that NC did not apply the acts in the State and that he had been supported by the Deputy Chief Minister himself on that. PDP came to power on the promise that they will repeal the two acts but they have not even mentioned these acts in the Legislature during their three years of rule but are now making noises that the acts should be revoked, he said. (Agencies) |
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Shariq suspended for rest of
session Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Aug 2: The State Assembly today passed the Office of Profit bill excluding some posts held by elected members of the House from disqualification and empowering the Government to notify other offices to bring under its purview. Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig, who moved the bill, said the chairmen of various Corporations holding the status of a Minister were never under the ambit of the Office of Profit specified by the Supreme Court. He said the bill is "declaratory in nature" and the state Legislature has full power of making laws with retrospective effect other than that of panel nature. As many as 10 members of the Assembly were appointed as Chairmen of various Corporations with the rank of Cabinet Ministers and Minister of State by the coalition Government in 2004. He said Corporation Chairmen are by no means deemed to be disqualified as such organisations do not come under the ambit of the Office of Profit since they enjoy autonomous or statutory powers. Baig said the state bill provided for declaring 26 posts out of the ambit of Office of Profit against the 69 declared by the Union Act. The bill was passed by voice vote after incorporation of word ‘vice chairman’, an amendment moved by Panthers Party MLA Harsh Dev Singh. Mr Baig said that since the Supreme Court has given verdict in a case of Mrs. Jaya Bachchan it was required that legislation is brought to declare which office is deemed to be under the Government. Citing the reference from Basu's constitutional law book, the Deputy Chief Minister said that Legislature has full power of making retrospective legislation explaining that only panel legislation can not be of retrospective nature. Taking a dig on opposition for depicting double standard while speaking on the bills of same nature saying that when a bill of enhancing the salary of Legislators with retrospective effect the opposition supports it and when similar bill with retrospective effect is put to vote they create unnecessary hue and cry. This is just like "Jethae Sada Noor Jamal uthae Ghoda Gadha Sab Halal", Baig satirically said. The Deputy Chief Minister said bill provides for declaring offices out of the ambit of Office of Profit specified by Supreme Court, reiterating that present Chairmen were neither in past nor in present or future covered under any Office of Profit specified by Supreme Court of India. Earlier, when the bill was being discussed in the House there was some heated discussion between the members of opposition and treasury bench. The members from treasury bench demanded suspension of Mr. Sharief-ud-Din Shariq for using unparliamentary language. Speaker Tara Chand adjourned the House for 10 minutes. However, when the House again met the members of Treasury bench continued to stress for suspending the member and came into the well. At this time all the National Conference members walked out from the House. Deputy Chief Minister proposed suspension of Shariq from the House for rest of the session which was seconded by a number of members from the treasury bench. Putting the resolution to vote and receiving the node from all the members present in the House, Speaker Tara Chand suspended Mr Sharief-ud-Din Shariq for next two days of the session. Leader of the Opposition and senior National Conference legislator Abdur Rahim Rather argued that the proposed amendment to the 1962 law was "completely unconstitutional" as Legislature was not competent to make laws for the past. He contended that G M Saroori, Mohammad Shafi Bhat, Haji Abdur Rasheed and few others stood disqualified by 1962 law in 2002 when they had assumed charge of the Offices of Profit. He claimed that NC had already submitted a petition to the Speaker calling for dismissal of the MLAs who had occupied Government's Offices of Profit before today's proposed amendment. He said that Offices of Profit exempted by 1962 law, taking only compensatory allowance and no salaries, had been specified in the law which does not exempt the offices held by heads of several Corporations in coalition Government. "All laws are made for prospective effect. This amendment makes it for retrospective effect", Rather said and warned that the whole world would laugh over such a legislation. He asserted that it was completely unconstitutional that courts were being stripped of their powers to adjudicate on the Offices of Profit held by particular individuals of the coalition Government. "We are making our own Constitution's provisions redundant", Rather said and pointed that most of the Corporations and even private banks headed by the blue-eyed MLAs had suffered losses in the last three years. According to him, it was unprecedented that the heads of two banks had been granted the status of a Minister in this State. NC sources tonight told EXCELSIOR that their Legislature Party would hold an emergency meeting at Assembly premises tomorrow morning and take a decision whether it should participate in the proceedings or stay away in protest against Shariq's suspension. |
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Two militants killed while making IED, 3 injured Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, Aug 2: Two militants were killed and three others injured when they were manufacturing an IED which exploded accidentally in a village in Tral. Elsewhere, two more militants were killed in separate encounters at Awantipora and Bandipore while as four civilians were injured when an IED exploded in Sumlar, Bandipore on Wednesday. Highly placed sources told the EXCELSIOR that two militants were killed and three others were injured when the militants were manufacturing an IED in Bochoo Kamla, Tral today. Sources said that IED exploded accidentally, which led to the death of two militants identified as Irshad Ahmed Bhat of Tral and Akbar Bhai a foreign mercenary. Sources said that troopers during search operations found a fake identity card from the pocket of dead Akbar Bhai revealing his identity as Nazeer Ahmed of Khrew. According to well informed sources, a huge explosion was heard near Bochoo forests of Tral, which alerted the nearby forces' camps. Sources said that BSF personnel accompanied by SP Awantipore Sardar Khan later set out to look for the place of explosion during which they intercepted a Tata Safari bearing number JK13-6859. The BSF jawans tried to stop the vehicle. The persons in the vehicle immediately jumped out of the vehicle and fled in the darkness. Upon search operations, BSF and police found two bodies in the vehicle, which were believed to be of the militants identified above. Sources believed that three militants who fled from the spot were injured in the blast. BSF later discovered the hideout where explosion had occurred and recovered large quantities of edibles, an RPG, one IED and some beddings from the hideout. Defence PRO Colonel Juneja while detailing out the incident said that troopers in the said village intercepted a Tata 407 bus early on Wednesday morning. However, driver of the bus didn't respond to the call and moved on. Juneja said that fire was opened from the bus while troops tried to chase away the bus. He said that despite heavy firing from both sides, Army followed the bus, which led them to a militant hideout. He said that two militant bodies were found in the hideout. However, PRO CRPF, Dalip Singh giving a different version of the incident said that five militants were engaged in creating an IED, which exploded accidentally killing two militants on the spot. Three of the injured militants have reportedly fled from the spot. Later troops from 53 Battalion BSF in a joint operation with 42 RR cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to nab the injured militants. Search operations were on till reports last came in. One militant was killed in an encounter between militants and troops at Kadoora in Bandipora late last night. Defence sources said that troopers on some specific input about the presence of militants launched an operation in the area. Sources said that troopers came under heavy firing from the hiding militants when they were about to zero in on a residential house where militants were believed to be hiding. Army returned the fire and in the ensuing fire fight one militant believed to be affiliated with HM militant out fit was killed. Slain militant has been identified as Abdul Rashid of Tarsoo, Sopore. Four civilians were injured when an IED planted near Sumlar, Bandipore went off. Sources said that militants, perhaps using remote device, exploded the IED when a patrol party of 14 RR just passed by. Though no casualty or injuries were caused to Armymen, however, four pedestrians were injured, source said, adding one of the injured, Mukhti Begum of Shokbab Sahib was referred to SKIMS in critical condition. A militant was killed in an encounter at Awantipore. Sources said that Army launched a search operation in Awantipore during which gunfight broke out between Army and holed up militants. The gunfight was on till reports last came in. Four militants were arrested in separate raids at Bemina, Srinagar and Pattan, Baramulla, sources said. |
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100 kept under ‘surveillance
list’ By Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Aug 2: As many as 100 police constables have been kept under "surveillance list" by Jammu Police for their suspected links with different militant outfits especially Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). Fifty of them have been posted out of the districts where they were reported to have militant connections during past few days. The police action, which has the approval of Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu zone, Dr Shesh Pal Vaid comes close on the heels of the arrest of five police personnel and three Army jawans last month for their ‘direct links’ with the LeT outfit. When approached for comments, Dr Vaid confirmed that he has shifted a number of police personnel, mostly the constables, out of Doda and Poonch districts as their were reports that they could be working for the militants. "Action was taken on the recommendations of district SSPs", he said. Activities of a number of other constables are being watched in entire Jammu region, he added. Official sources told the Excelsior that number of constables and other ranks upto Havaldar, who have been kept in "surveillance list" for their links with the militants has exceeded 100. According to them, 50 constables were recently moved out of militancy-infested districts of Doda and Poonch where they were said to be working for the militants but there was no evidence against them to take them into custody. "It was not possible for police to arrest the constables due to lack of evidence against them", the sources said, adding the police authorities, in a bid to crack their ‘nexus’ with the ultras, shifted them out of the districts. Area police officers, where these constables have been posted after shifting, have also been directed to keep a hawk’s eye on the suspects. "SSPs of all six districts in Jammu region have been directed by the police authorities to appoint special police officers for maintaining a strict vigil on the activities of constables, kept under surveillance for terrorist links", the sources said. "Possibility of these cops leaking vital information about security operations to militants as well as coded messages, which help ultras to get information about police strategy, is what worrying the police authorities more than the smuggling of weapons", they asserted and added that the cops providing the militants material for making mobile and other bombs was another disturbing factor. The authorities were, however, of the view that it was not easy to detect links of a policeman with the militants. "It’s a difficult task. Some of them can be lured with huge amount the militants are offering". On Sunday, police had arrested two constables and a SPO posted in Kishtwar police station for smuggling weapons out of ‘Malkhana’ for supplying them to Lashkar militants. Prior to that two constables were arrested from Kathua and Rajouri for providing SIM cards and other required material to Lashkar network of Abu Osama and Noor Illahi alias Tipu. Three Army personnel, all residents of Gursai, Mendhar, were also under detention for working for Osama and Tipu group of the LeT outfit. Police authorities have decided to show no leniency with the constables, who were in-league with the militants and have been arrested. "Once the charges are established against them during their questioning in Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC), cases will be prepared for their dismissal from the services", the sources said. Presently, they are under suspension. |
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Peace process not to be affected DHAKA, Aug 2: Disagreeing that there was a stalemate in the peace talks with Pakistan, India today said its endeavour was to ensure that the process was not affected in any manner. "There is ongoing dialogue between the two countries," Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran told a press conference here while disagreeing that there was a stalemate in the peace process. He made it clear India’s endeavour was to make sure through "whatever appropriate actions which are required that peace process does not in any way get affected". In this context, the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries have decided to remain in touch, Saran said. On Islamabad’s demand that India should provide evidence about linkages of terrorists with Pakistan, he said New Delhi has provided considerable amount of evidence in the past, most recently at the home secretary-level talks. "There are certain actions which could be taken very easily (by Pakistan) to convince people of India that when Pakistan says it is very serious about curbing terrorism it is going to take some action to do that," Saran said. Referring to Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), Saran said everybody knows it is a reincarnation of Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist outfit. "We have seen him (JuD chief Hafiz Mohammad Sayeed) going around freely in (Pakistan). Jamaat-ud-Dawa continues to profess that it will carry out Jihad against India. Hizbul Mujahideen chief (Syed Salahuddin) is also moving freely in Pakistan. Certainly, no effort seems to have been made to arrest them," Saran said. He said India has openely stated that "we should be able to see some evidence of Pakistan fulfilling the solemn commitment made at the highest level concerning terrorism." Saran said there was common understanding between India and Pakistan that the peace process is very important and the two countries should try and take it forward. "This is what people of Pakistan and people India want," he said. On Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri’s statement that the ball was in India’s court regarding resumption of composite dialogue, Saran said, "we can get into a long argument on whose court the ball is. We can throw the ball back and forth between the two sides." He said it was important that the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries had met and agreed to remain in touch. "We had an opportunity to discuss with certain degree of candour and certain degree of frankness the concerns we (India) had," Saran said referring to cross-border terrorism. (PTI) |
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Assembly witnesses noisy scenes SRINAGAR, Aug 2: The Legislative Assembly today witnessed noisy scenes when Speaker Tara Chand did not allow opposition National Conference to raise the issue of water shortage in the city. The NC members wanted to ask question on water shortage in the city during question hour on behalf of Shahjehan Dar who was not present in the House. However, Speaker did not allow them to raise any question on the subject since Mr Dar was not present in the House. On this the NC members Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mubarak Gul and Mohammad Sayeed Akhoon, representing three down town constituencies were on their feet demanding that they be allowed to raise the issue. The other members also joined them but the Speaker ruled that since he took up the next question he could not allow the discussion on the question asked by a member who was absent in the House. The NC members continued protest despite repeated directions from the Chair to resume seats. Later the order was restored in the House after NC members resumed their seats. (UNI) |
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Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Aug 2: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president and Member Parliament, Mehbooba Mufti today called on Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and discussed with latter the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir. During the 30 minute conversation, Ms Mufti hailed the initiative taken by India to hold talks with Pakistan in achieving the objective of peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir. She, however, maintained that Pakistan should also reciprocate by helping create a conducive atmosphere for making the peace process fruitful and result-oriented. Reiterating her party’s stand that "bullet for bullet" policy will not achieve results, Mehbooba advocated measured reduction of troops from the internal security and handing over the responsibility to the State Police. She said that an experimental basis for particular area of the State could be selected for systematic troop reduction and if it proves successful, the process could be then extended to other areas in phased manner. The PDP leader also took up the issue of granting Scheduled Tribe status to Paharis and demanded construction of civilian commercial airport for Kargil. She also advocated the cause of students studying in Dental Colleges in Bihar. |
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Prithvi, Agni inducted into forces NEW DELHI, Aug 2: The Prithvi and Agni strategic missile systems, as well as their variants, have been inducted in the armed forces, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told Rajya Sabha today. In a written reply, he said the development of the Akash and Trishul surface-to-air missiles and Nag anti-tank missile is complete and the armed forces have been requested to place orders for them. The Brahmos supersonic cruise missile has completed successful flight trials for the Navy and Army from ships and mobile land platforms. Production orders for it have also been received, he said. Mukherjee, however, clarified that there was no missile project named Sagarika. Reports have suggested that Sagarika is a submarine-launched cruise missile. He said the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme begun in 1983 consists of five missiles-Agni, Prithvi, Akash, Trishul and Nag. The strategic Agni and Prithvi missiles have been completed along with their variants for the armed forces. Mukherjee said there were "certain technical problems" with the Trishul, Akash and Nag, but these were subsequently solved. (PTI) |
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Woman awarded life imprisonment
apprehended Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Aug 2: Nowshera police today arrested a woman from Jhelum Resorts in Trikuta Nagar, Jammu, who was absconding for last 13 years after confirmation of life imprisonment to her by the Supreme Court for killing her husband in 1975. The woman, identified as Nirmala Devi alias Jaswanti, a resident of Seot, Dharamshal had murdered her husband, Girdhari Lal in 1975. A FIR No. 25/1975 was registered against her at Dharamshal police station. She had murdered her husband for his opposition to prostitution, police said. She was arrested and convicted by a lower court in 1980. She was awarded life imprisonment for the murder. The State High Court confirmed the sentence in 1988. Her appeal against the sentence was dismissed by the apex court in 1993. The woman, who was on bail, went underground in November 1993 soon after the Supreme Court dismissed her appeal. Since then, she was being searched by police. A hue and cry notice was also issued for her and a reward of Rs 10,000 was kept on her head. Police said during her bail, she had also contested election as an independent candidate from Nowshera Assembly segment in 1987 and was polled 47 votes. In 1998 also, she was traced in a hide-out but when police raided the hide-out, she had managed to escape after pelting stones on the cops. A Nowshera police station party led by SDPO Mubassar Lateefi under the supervision of SSP Rajouri Farooq Khan raided Hotel Jhelum Resorts in Trikuta Nagar early today and arrested the woman with the help of Trikuta Nagar police. She was taken to Nowshera this afternoon and produced before the Sessions Court which sent her to Dhangri jail for serving life imprisonment. 75 cross over to PoK in Karvaan-e-Aman bus SRINAGAR: he Karvan-e-Aman bus today left here with 75 passengers for Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK), official soruces said. They said the passengers in two buses left here under tight security arrangments for Kaman post, the last Indian military post on the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector. The 25 passengers, including 14 male and 11 females, are going for the first time to PoK to meet their relatives after about 60 years since partition. They said 50 passengers, including 30 male, 17 female and three children will return to their homes in Muzzafarabad and other areas in PoK after meeting their relatives here. The passengers have to deboard the buses at Kaman post where their documents will be checked before allowing to cross over to PoK. They had to cross the Aman Setu bridge on foot and later board the buses of PoK for Muzaffarabad. Official sources said the arrival of fresh passengers from PoK had increased during summer as compared to winter when the entire Kashmir remains under snow. The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, resumed after 58 years, was started on April 7, 2006 when Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayed flagged off the first bus from Sher-e-Kashmir cricket stadium. However, the service remained suspended for about two months when the Kaman bridge and major portion of road on the other side were damaged in the October 8 killer quake in which more than a lac people were killed and the same rendered homeless. (UNI) Opposition get maximum security in J&K : CM SRINAGAR: aintaining opposition leaders that in Jammu and Kashmir were getting maximum security, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said persons having threat perception will be provided security and other facilities. The protected persons included some separatists leaders from Hurriyat Conference and journalists also. Irrespective of the recommendations from the Centre, all such persons having threat perceptions will be provided security by the government which include safe accommodation, security and personal guards and vehicles wherever necessary, Mr Azad said. However, he said some people have made security cover as a status symbol and not as a genuine need. Speaking in the Legislative Council, he dispelled the contention of opposition that security cover is not being provided to their members, saying 666 persons have been provided security cover, 548 vehicles provided to protected persons and 430 persons have been provided hotel accommodation. Giving party-wise details, he said opposition leaders received the maximum security cover. UNI) |
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