33 killed as bridge collapses on train

BHAGALPUR, Dec 2: At least 33 people, including seven women and four children, were killed and 16 others injured, four of them seriously, when a nearly 150-year-old pedestrian overbridge collapsed crushing a coach of an express train near here today.

Twenty-seven bodies have been brought to the Bhagalpur Railway Station for identification, Ajay Verma, DIG (railways) said.

He said so far 32 bodies have been recovered including that of seven women and five children and operations were on to look for passengers in the badly mangled S-8 coach.

The tragedy occurred at 7.50 am when a portion of the third arch and the pillar of the overbridge known as ‘Ulta Pul’ being dismantled by the railways collapsed on a sleeper coach of the Hawrah-Jamalpur Express.

The injured have been admitted to Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital here, where condition of four was stated to be serious.

The tragedy occurred at 7.50 am when a portion of the third arch and the pillar of the overbridge known as ‘Ulta Pul’ being dismantled by the railways collapsed on a sleeper coach, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad said.

The Railway Minister said of the 18 injured, admitted in Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital here, eight were in serious condition.

The bodies of the dead in the accident have been kept at the police station at Bhagalpur Railway Junction for identification.

Railway sources said the rescue operations were on full swing and the rescuers were using gas cutter to ensure early completion of work and maximum safety to the ones trapped inside the mangled coach.

The Railway Minister, who was campaigning for the bypoll in Manihari in Katihar at the time of the accident, announced an ex-gratia of Rs one lakh to the next of kin of each of the dead besides a railway job to an eligible member of each of the bereaved family.

He said railways would meet entire expenses for the treatment of the injured.

Prasad also asked Commissioner of Railway Safety, Eastern Railway, to inquire into the mishap.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the State Government will probe the criminal angle of the incident and take appropriate legal action.

Two Railway Engineers supervising the dismantling of the bridge have been suspended and Railway Board Chairman has been directed to get cases registered against them for their alleged lapses.(PTI)

Azad, Soz advocate heritage preservation

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Dec 2: Describing Valley of Kashmir as the epitome of great composite civilization, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said that since he took over, it has been his personal desire to revive the pristine glory of all heritage sites in all parts of Jammu and Kashmir.

He said Srinagar is a living heritage and unfortunately Dal Lake which is the face of its beauty, has reached a dead end and we all have to combine our efforts to revive all water bodies and other sites for which Kashmir is famous world over.

He said he has launched a programme at Jammu for protection of old palaces and other heritage sites and emphasized all intellectuals and opinion makers to play their role in revival of such sites in the Valley as well.

The Chief Minister was addressing a seminar held in connection with Kashmir Heritage Day at SKICC here today organized by UNESCO and People's Empowerment Mission.

Union Minister for Water Resources, Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz, Minister for Education, Haj and Auqaf Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, Minister for Forests, Housing and Urban Development Qazi Muhammad Afzal, Honarary Secretary Bombay Environmental Action Group, Shyam Chainani, senior officers, intellectuals, UNESCO experts and prominent citizens were present on this occasion.

The Chief Minister said there is an increasing level of awareness about the strength of our culture and heritage and recent initiatives at the local level are worth appreciating, however, more concrete steps are needed.

He expressed hope that the seminar will lead to specifying the issues, articulating the response of the society to these and recommending a job chart to the Government. He said that strength, diversity and range of the Kashmir civilization are phenomenal in impact and all the major religions and thoughts ranging from Shaivism to Sufism have thrived here.

The interaction of religious thoughts and cultural streams made Kashmir a unique cultural commodity adding that Srinagar has been designated as a living heritage.

Mr Azad said development has taken a toll of environment, ecology and heritage and Srinagar the dazzling icon of cultural assets also suffered on these and many more accounts. Violence also took its toll. He expressed hope that the deliberations of the seminar would evolve ideas and suggestions which will help in preserving our heritage.

The Chief Minister said the Government has decided to launch a vigorous drive against encroachers occupying State land and added that illegal structures in Dal lake and Jehlum banks would be demolished. He said about 20 lakh kanals of State land costing Rs. 25,000 crore have been encroached in Jammu and Kashmir and announced that from January a drive is being launched to retrieve this land. He said people having encroached State land would be allowed one kanal against 25 percent market value for residential purpose and another nine kanals would be allowed when they pay 50 percent of the market value. In no case, more than 10 kanals of such land would be allowed and this land would be retrieved.

Mr Azad said attention should be paid for preservation of literary assets in different languages like Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, Urdu and of course Kashmiri and asked the University of Kashmir and Academy of Art, Culture and Languages to work in this direction. He stressed for digitization of valuable manuscripts. He said a modern museum and heritage park have been sanctioned and these will come up soon. He appreciated the initiative taken by Union Minister for Water Resources Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz for environment conservation as well as heritage preservation.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister for Water Resources, Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz said the State is endowed with rich heritage and the preservation of the natural heritage which includes water bodies and forests needs more focussed attention as Kashmir is known more for its natural heritage than for the monumental assests.

Prof. Soz said for proper preservation of heritage a model law needs to be initiated for which opinion from the public and experts needs to be galvanized. He said on this proposal heritage conservation, top priority must be accorded for conservation of water bodies and announced that Rs. 12 crore would be utilised for restoration of the world famous Jehlum river to regain its past glory. He stressed for collective efforts to preserve heritage and said ecological councils, representatives from the respective fields and People’s ecological council need to be framed.

He said monuments with heritage value like Khankhahi Moula, Jama Masjid ,Parihaspora, handicrafts like Khatamband and the cultural heritage with special ethos needs proper care for which a proposal for their conservation and preservation is on the anvil.

Prof. Soz hoped that a well conceived plan will be formulated by the State forest department for promoting the world famous Chinar. He said new master plan for Srinagar should be comprehensive enough and all land mass in and around the water bodies must be declared as eco-sensitive zone.

Minister for Forests Qazi Muhammad Afzal in his welcome note stressed need for preserving heritage, which includes language and culture. He said the efforts of the present generation in this regard are worth appreciating.

Honorary Secretary, Bombay Environmental Action Group Shyam H. K. Chainani delivered the keynote address.

A Pakistani's journey in 7 States before arrest

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Dec 2: Claims of a high alert against Pakistanis notwithstanding, a Pakistani youth visited more than eight Indian States without any visa and spent several days in different capital cities and trains, travelling from one place to another, before being arrested by Army and Jammu Police in Kanachak.

More surprisingly, the Pakistani youth travelled through all these States including J&K, Punjab, New Delhi, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Gujarat with just Rs 1750. In all these States, most of which are considered to be sensitive from militancy point of view, the Pakistani moved and stayed freely. It was only in Jammu that he landed in police lock-up after being detained by Army at Kanachak border, official sources said.

Identified as Mirza Noor Rehman, 22, son of Mohd Ashraf Bengali, a resident of Hyderabad, Pakistan, had crossed over illegally to Indian territory via Wagah border in Attari Express without any visa. He managed to give a dodge to Custom authorities at Wagah. He had Rs 1300 in Pakistani currency with him which he exchanged for Rs 1750 in Indian currency with a police constable at Wagah and left for Ajmer Sharief in Rajasthan in a train.

Sources said that after staying at Ajmer Sharief for three days, he changed three trains and two buses and reached Kolkatta in West Bengal where he searched for some touts to cross over to Bangladesh. He managed to meet one agent, who helped him cross over to Bangladesh for just Rs 100.

At Bangladesh, sources said, he stayed with his uncle Sumat, who stayed put in Bangladesh when Noor Rehman’s father, Mohd Ashraf Bengali (Sumat’s brother) left for Pakistan during 1971 war. After meeting Sumat, he returned to Kolkatta.

In Kolkatta, he was briefly detained by police but he managed to come out of their custody speaking Bengali and giving a fake local address.

From Kolkatta, he travelled to Union capital, New Delhi and stayed there for few days. Then, he took train and boarded off at Rajpura in Punjab. At Baroda, he worked for four days posing as a Bengali labourer and earned some money.

From Baroda, he again left for Ajmer Sharief and stayed there for three days. This time from Ajmer Sharief, he reached New Delhi and stayed in Seemapuri locality along with Bangladeshi nationals, sources said, adding from New Delhi, he boarded a Mumbai bound train and stayed at Haji Ali Majar.

From Mumbai, he took train to reach Suratgarh, Gujarat and made an attempt to cross over to Pakistan but failed.

Again from Suratgarh, he reached New Delhi and from New Delhi to Jammu. At Jammu also, he stayed at Railway Station for two days and inquired about the international border.

Finally, he was arrested at Kanachak when he was trying to cross over to Pakistan on the international Border and handed over to Jammu Police. A case against him was registered at Kanachak police station.

Sources said after sustained interrogation, Pakistani youth’s involvement in militancy or any other undesirable activities has not been established though it was reported that he did meet Pakistani militants Billal Ahmed and Ghulam Rasool during his brief stay in District Jail, Ambphalla.

The militants were now lodged at Kanachak police station lock up. Police authorities have written to the CID to take up his case with External Affairs Ministry for handing him over to Pakistan. A response was awaited.

Sources admitted that it was a big security lapse on the part of police of different States where the Pakistani stayed without any check. A detailed report on Pakistani’s activities is being sent to police of concerned States.

The Pakistani disclosed during questioning that he mostly travelled free in the trains and stayed in ‘dargah’ where he took free food. It was only after he spent all Rs 1750 he had with him that he worked as labourer for four days in Baroda.

Hurriyat distances from PDP's self rule

SRINAGAR, Dec 2 : Seeking to distance itself from the "self-rule" concept of PDP, the moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference today said it espoused "self-governance" for Jammu and Kashmir outside the ambit of Constitutions of India and Pakistan.

The amalgam also said it was ready to hold dialogue with the Centre, provided the parleys "are meaningful and the effort sincere".

Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq told an amalgam meeting here "our idea of self-governance is not the same as self-rule of People’s Democratic Party or internal autonomy of National Conference. Self governance is a solution outside the ambit of constitutions of India and Pakistan".

On Thursday, Hurriyat’s former chairman Abdul Gani Bhat had said the concept of self-rule needed to be debated by the people on both sides of Line of Control.

However, the Mirwaiz claimed the mainstream political parties were creating confusion among the people that "internal autonomy, self-rule and self-governance were same and that Hurriyat had no agenda left".

"Their (NC and PDP) solutions lie within the ambit of Indian Constitution and it is just an attempt to stay in power or grab it. They have no interest in resolution of Kashmir issue... They do not want a resolution," he said.

The Mirwaiz said the amalgam was ready to hold talks with the Centre for resolution of Kashmir issue.

"We are for talks but these should be meaningful and sincere, aimed at resolution of Kashmir issue according to the wishes and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir."

The chairman of the Hurriyat, which boycotted the round table presided by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in May this year, termed it as a "futile exercise".

"By organising the round table conference, New Delhi wants to talks about concessions, economic packages, Centre-state relations. It is a futile exercise," the Mirwaiz said.

Apparently referring to the criticism by leader of hardline faction of the Hurriyat Syed Ali Geelani on the amalgam’s talks with the Centre, the Mirwaiz said "we have entered into the dialogue process with India as we want an end to the conflict which has consumed so many lives."

Asserting that the Kashmir issue cannot be resolved without the involvement of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the Mirwaiz said "bilateralism has failed in the past... Be it Simla Agreement, Tashkent Agreement and Lahore Declaration or Indira-Abdullah Accord and Rajiv-Farooq Accord (between Centre and State Governments led by National Conference)."

He said "a solution has to be acceptable to all three parties to the dispute — India, Pakistan and people of Jammu and Kashmir".

"Without the inclusion of Kashmiris in the resolution process, the issue cannot be resolved," the Hurriyat chief added.

The Mirwaiz said during their meetings with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, the Hurriyat leaders made it clear Kashmir dispute involves five regions — Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Northern Regions — which need to be resolved.

Musharraf has said whatever solution is acceptable to people of Jammu and Kashmir would be acceptable Pakistan as well, he said.(PTI)

NC sabotaging J&K's interests: Mehbooba

Excelsior Correspondent

Budgam, Dec 2: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today said the party is working on a comprehensive political and economic formulation for permanent settlement of Kashmir problem, paving the way for long-lasting peace in the region.

Addressing a party convention here today, PDP President, Mehbooba Mufti said the most remarkable feature, which has a bearing on its sustainability, of the ongoing resolution process is that for the first time in J&K’s history, the State Government has initiated, catalysed and driven the process. "From being a passive recipient of bilateral initiatives, the State Government, immediately after the Assembly election of October 2002, took the centre-stage to drive the process," she recalled.

In doing so, Ms Mufti said the Government revived social collaboration, political reconciliation and democratic participation through innovative historic steps. "Be it opening of Srinagar-Muzzaffarabad or Poonch-Rawalakote roads, or allowing of travel on permit and not passport basis, it all added up to a collective political engagement and consequent reduction in structural and individual alienation," she said adding that these were not events but processes that catalysed the peace process.

The PDP president said the reversal of roles - the State Government driving the process and the Union Government endorsing it - has had tremendous impact on the ground, which has been seen, felt and heard in the State. Such positive steps, she said, have increased local stake in the peace process and generated consensus among principal stakeholders on the resolution of the problem.

"Our party’s believed that time has come to work-out a solution to the Kashmir problem that is practical, realistic, and last but not least acceptable to all the parties," Ms Mufti said and added this is the underlying concept of the self-rule.

Blaming National Conference (NC) for sabotaging political and economic interests of the State, Ms Mufti said it would take centuries together to undo the damages caused by NC to its people. Quoting an instance of NC’s anti-Kashmir policy, she revealed that Shahtoosh trade was banned in Jammu and Kashmir at the behest of NC president, Omar Abdullah, who in his capacity as Union Minister of Sate for Commerce enforced ban in the State setting a blow to this traditional trade and depriving thousands of Kashmiris of their bread and butter.

Referring to recent statement of NC patron Dr Farooq Abdullah demanding revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, Ms Mufti said it sounds music to our ears to hear this from a person, who promulgated POTA in Jammu and Kashmir, even before it was implemented anywhere in the country. "Even then we welcome this transformation of Dr Abdullah, if he really means it," she said adding that a votary of obliteration Dr Abdullah had once even used strong words for Government of India for not attacking Pakistan.

Ms Mufti said NC leadership is a "confused" lot today as they don’t have any policy to follow. "The confusion and frustration of the NC leadership is reflected by their own statements," she said and added that after contradictory statements on Self-Rule, the same people who are going from door-to-door in New Delhi accusing PDP of being pro-militant, have of late started labelling it as anti-militant – of course in their discourses within the Kashmir valley only.

"Perhaps the NC leaders do not know that the world has been rendered a small place by the media and people know what is being said in Delhi, in Jammu and then in Srinagar," she said and advised NC leaders to play the role of an opposition instead of indulging in issues that only adds to their erosion.

Senior PDP leaders, Ghulam Hassan Mir, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjoora and Peerzada Mansoor Hussain also addressed the convention.

China building maritime battlefield around India

NEW DELHI, Dec 2: Naval Chief Admiral Suresh Mehta today said China was creating, with the help of its neighbours, a maritime area around India that could prove to be inimical to the country’s interest in the future.

Addressing an annual press conference on the Naval Day, Adm Mehta said India was surrounded by countries which were inclined towards China, such as Myanmar, and they were building up a maritime area.

"At present, these countries are not against India, but after 20 years they could turn against us, who knows," he said.

The Naval chief said China had been strengthening ties with Myanmar over a long period of time. Its naval interests were linked to Sri Lanka. It already had good relations with Pakistan, and was trying to build up close ties with countries on the African coast.

Expressing strong opposition to the inclusion of Chinese companies in the maritime infrastructure projects, he said these companies might misuse sensitive information such as hydraulic data.

"Some sensitive hydraulic information can go out which should not," he said, adding: "The Chinese companies should not be allowed to operate from our shores."

He said there was hardly any country that was not buying Chinese products.

"At a time when majority of these products are being transported through the Indian Ocean, a maritime area favourable to China could further its economic interest."

On the reported sale of Pakistani submarines to Bangladesh and its effect on the situation on the Bay of Bengal, he said India should deploy anti submarine missiles at strategic positions. (UNI)

Rs 2 lakh reward in Chopra killings

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 2: Police today announced a cash reward of Rs 2 lakh for any person giving a clue leading to arrest of the killers in murder case of Rajinder Bushan alias Raju Chopra and four others in Chopra’s Trikuta Nagar residence on September 17 night.

The award was announced by IGP Jammu Dr Shesh Pal Vaid.

Few days back, DGP Gopal Sharma had constituted a Special Investigating Team (SIT) in the killings following CBI refusal to take over the case.

It may be recalled that a day after the killings, police had announced Rs 1 lakh reward for clues. Though a number of persons called police officers on telephone or through other means of communication, but none could give concrete information.

The SIT has started its job. During last three days, it has questioned some important persons in connection with the killings. Same persons had, however, earlier also been questioned by the previous SITs.

Furnish details on undertrials: HC

SRINAGAR, Dec 2: Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the State Government to furnish, within ten days, details about undertrials not produced in the trial courts.

A division bench comprising Justices B A Kirmani and J P Singh passed the orders on a writ petition filed by the Kashmir High Court Bar Association which sought details about the detainees, their condition and why they were not produced before trial courts.

The court asked the State to indicate steps taken, if any, on the court directions on lodging of under-trails in the jails nearest to trial courts.

The Additional Advocate General M A Rathore submitted before the court that the State would furnish the updated statements of under-trails not produced in the trial courts as directed by the court within 10 days and copy of the information will be given in advance to petitioner’s counsel.(PTI)

15 doctors transferred

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 2: The Health and Medical Education Department today ordered transfers and postings of 15 doctors.

Dr Subash Abrol, B Grade Surgeon, has been transferred from Sub District Hospital (SDH) Akhnoor to SDH Bishnah. Dr Rajinder Singh, B Grade Surgeon, has been transferred from SDH RS Pura to SDH Samba while Dr C R Shubgotra, B Grade Surgeon, under orders of transfer to Kalakote, has been posted in SDH RS Pura.

Dr Dev Raj, B Grade Surgeon, has been transferred from SDH Suanjana to SDH Ramgarh while Dr SP Singh, B Grade Surgeon, has been transferred from SDH Ramgarh to SDH Akhnoor.

Dr N K Pargal, B Grade Pediatrician, has been transferred from SDH Ramgarh to SDH Bishnah while Dr Raj Sharma, B Grade Pediatrician, has been transferred from SDH Bishnah to SDH Samba. Dr Sunil Dutt Sharma, B Grade Pediatrician, has been transferred from SDH Samba to SDH Ramgarh.

Dr K R Sangra, B Grade Pediatrician, has been transferred from SDH RS Pura to SDH Suanjana while Dr Farmanullah, B Grade Pediatrician, has been transferred from SDH Suanjana to SDH RS Pura.

Dr Vinod Sachar, B Grade Anesthetic, under orders of transfer to SDH Suanjana, has been posted in Gandhi Nagar Hospital while Dr Sangeeta Singh, B Grade Anesthetic, has been transferred from Gandhi Nagar Hospital to SDH Ramgarh. Dr Rakesh Dogra, B Grade Anesthetic, has been transferred from SDH Ramgarh to SDH Suanjana.

Dr Anil Arora, Assistant Surgeon, has been transferred from CHC Kalakote to PHC Parmandal while Dr G M Naqib, B Grade Anesthetic, has been transferred from SDH Bhadarwah to SDH Kishtwar.

14 killed in Solan bus mishap

SHIMLA, Dec 2: At least 14 people were killed and 29 others injured, three of them seriously, when a Delhi-bound Himachal Pradesh Roadways bus rolled 600 feet down the hill near Solan area today, police said.

The bus, carrying about 50 passengers, was on its way from Shimla to Delhi when the accident took place near Kandaghat, 10 kms from Solan on Shimla-Kalka National Highway, Additional Superintendent of Police Varinder Kanwar said.

Eleven people died on the spot, one on the way to hospital while two persons succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. The dead included seven women as also the driver and the conductor of the bus, Kanwar said.

All the bodies were recovered and the injured have been shifted to hospital. While most were admitted to a Solan Hospital, two persons were sent to Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) in Shimla.

Chief Minister V B Singh, who was on his way to Solan, stopped at the spot and directed the district administration to provide all possible help to the victims.

Senior District and Police Officers went to the spot and conducted the rescue operations. The bus tore apart after rolling 600 feet down and parts of the vehicle were scattered all around.

People from surrounding areas rushed to the spot and helped in rescue operations. The bodies have been brought to Solan and would be handed over to family members after post-mortem, police sources said.

The cause of the accident was not known immediately and a magisterial inquiry had been ordered.

The Chief Minister expressed deep shock over the accident and conveyed his condolences to bereaved families. Later, he also visited the injured in the hospital.

Singh directed the district administration to provide relief to next of kin of the deceased and the injured persons.(PTI)