150 held up in Kargil, 4 houses collapse
Highway closed, 500 stranded

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Dec 5: Continuous and heavy rainfall in the plains and snowfall in the hilly areas for the past three days have sent normal life out of gear with about 500 Kashmir-bound passengers stranding at different places following closure of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway due to massive landslides.

About 150 people, mostly labourers and their family members were also stranded at different towns of Kargil since November 15 when the Srinagar-Drass-Kargil-Leh National Highway was officially closed for winter months due to massive snowfall.

The rainfall, however, had no impact on air traffic with all the airlines operating their flights as per the schedule on Delhi-Jammu-Srinagar route.

A spokesman of Traffic Police told the EXCELSIOR that due to heavy rainfall major landslides took place at seven places—Seri, Kela Morh, Marog, Digdol, Panthial, Nachlana and Rattanbas between Ramban and Banihal thereby leading to the closure of Jammu-Srinagar Highway late last night.

"Even at those places which were not so vulnerable the landslides took place forcing the concerned authorities to send messages to traffic police personnel at Jammu and Srinagar with the directions not to allow any fresh movement of vehicles", he added.

Due to the closure of highway, about 500 passengers got stranded at different places. While the passenger vehicles were safely taken to Ramban and Banihal, the heavy vehicles carrying essentials for the Srinagar were kept at Chanderkote.

The heavy rainfall also led to the blockade of Doda road from Kandori Nullah to Khoda Pani for sometime this morning.

Road connecting twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch was also blocked in Kali Dhar area due to landslides. Though BRO personnel made attempts to reopen it yet the heavy and continuous rainfall hampered the work.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kargil Garib Dass said that as 150 people mostly labourers and their family members remain stranded at Kargil since November 15, the civil administration was making arrangements for their airlift to Srinagar. "At present no aircraft can land at Kargil airport because of massive snowfall on run-way". Mr Dass added.

While the plains of the State continued to be lashed by the heavy rainfall, the hilly areas experienced fresh snowfall thereby further dipping the day as well as night temperature. Reports said that upper reaches of Kathua, Doda, Rajouri and Poonch witnessed fresh snowfall.

The heavy and continuous rainfall also led to collapse of four houses in Poonch district in which six persons including a one-year old child received injuries. They have been admitted in the District Hospital Poonch and their condition was stated to be out of danger. One year old child of Surjeet Singh, son of Gian Singh remained under the debris of house for about four hours but he survived with minor injuries.

Our Srinagar Correspondent adds: Entire Kashmir valley was covered by as thick as seven feet of snowfall barring Srinagar and some other plains which were lashed by incessant rains since last night as winter tightened its grip.

The twin districts of Kupwara and Baramulla in north Kashmir experienced the first heavy snowfall of the season with both district headquarters experiencing eight inches of snowfall till this morning.

In the high altitude areas of the two districts, six to seven feet of snow was reported. While seven feet of snow had accumulated in Z-Gali area of Machil near the Line of Control, six feet each was recorded in Karnah, Farkiangali, Sadna Top in Kupwara and seven feet in Gurez and adjoining areas in Baramulla district.

Nearly three feet of snow had covered the famous ski resort of Gulmarg in Baramulla. The famous Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas witnessed six feet of snowfall, while it was five inches in famous hill resort of Pahalgam.

In other parts of south Kashmir districts of Pulwama and Baramulla, five inches to two feet of snowfall was reported in Shopian, Duksum, Kapran, Jawahar Tunnel, Qazigund Saidpora, Harpora and Kokernag belts. However, there was no snowfall in Anantnag and Pulwama towns, the sources said. They said another famous health resort of Yousmarg received nearly two feet of snow alongwith other parts of Central Kashmir since last night.

Civilian killed, 15 hurt in Baramulla blast

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 5: One civilian got killed and 15 others sustained injuries in a grenade explosion in Baramulla township today.

Informed sources told EXCELSIOR that a grenade blast occurred at Azad Gunj chowk in Baramulla town at 1045 hours today. As many as 16 persons sustained splinter injuries. Three persons, who were critically wounded, were rushed to Srinagar and admitted to SKIMS where one of them later succumbed to injuries. He was identified as Munir Ahmed Bhat S/o Abdul Majeed Bhat, Stadium Colony, Baramulla. Two more of the critically injured, namely 40-year-old Habibullah Lone S/o Ghulam Rasool Lone of Nadihal, Rafiabad, and 20-year-old Masooma D/o Ghulam Hassan Wani R/o Khanpora, Baramulla, were reportedly battling for life at the hospital in Srinagar.

Sources said that 13 of the injured men and women were treated at District Hospital Baramulla and most of them had been discharged by late tonight.

SSP Baramulla, Viplav Kumar, claimed on the basis of the statements of 'eyewitnesses' and a soldier, who was on the ROP duty at that moment that the hand grenade fell from the person of Munir Ahmed Bhat and exploded. He said that Munir was among the 12 civilians who sustained injuries in the explosion. Later, he succumbed to injuries on way to a Srinagar hospital. Army officials corroborated SSP's version of the incident and claimed that Munir was either carrying the grenade for militants or had removed its safety pin with the purpose of throwing it on a patrol party or convoy of security forces.

However, civilian eyewitnesses insisted to the EXCELSIOR that 32-year-old Munir Ahmed Bhat was walking towards Azad Gunj like many others when the blast took place. According to them, the grenade appeared to have been thrown by an unidentified militant in the direction of a soldier on ROP duty. However, it fell short of the apparent target and went off, causing injuries to 16 civilians. "Had he been carrying the grenade, he would have been blown into pieces. We saw just splinters all over his body like many of the victims", one Abdul Majeed Mir said about Munir Ahmed Bhat.

Inquiries revealed that the younger brother of eminent television anchor and producer, Mohammad Amin Bhat, Munir had pursued his studies while running a shop simultaneously. After completing his B Sc, he had undertaken a diploma in computer software and management. Of late, he had begun to work with Jammu-based Chowdhary Motors and was looking after their marketing and booking of vehicles in Baramulla. All the residents interviewed in Baramulla maintained that Munir had never associated himself with militancy or separatist politics. Police officials confirmed that he had neither been arrested in the past nor found involved in any subversive activity. They said that he had also neither disappeared from his residence nor figured as a suspect in official records.

In reaction to the official version, Mohammad Amin Bhat lamented that the authorities were seeking to demonise an innocent civilian and a victim of the blast even after his death. He pointed out that none of the militant organisations had either claimed the blast or described Munir as their worker. "We are four brothers and he was the most polite, most responsible and the most domestic. He was the one who had not shown even the slightest of inclination for any political ideology. His wedding was fixed in April next. We don't want him die with a stigma", Bhat said about his brother while taking dead body back to his home. "Does any militant throw grenades in the vicinity of his residence where everybody can identify him, that too in broad daylight?" Bhat asked.

Govt accepts findings, to take action
Jail probe panel submits report, indicts staff

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Dec 5: An Inquiry Commission, which probed smuggling of SIM cards and mobile hand sets in high security Kot Bhalwal jail, has submitted its report to the State Government indicting jail authorities and staff for negligence.

"We have received the Inquiry report of Sahibzada Rafiq, DIG Prisons. We have gone through the report and accepted it. Action on the basis of report will be taken shortly", Financial Commissioner (Home) B R Kundal told the Excelsior.

Recommendations made by the probe panel will also be looked into and efforts made to implement them not only in Kot Bhalwal jail, but, if required, in other jails of the State as well, he said.

Declining to comment on findings of the report, Mr Kundal said: "the report will be kept secret till action is initiated on the recommendations and corrective measures suggested by it".

"I have done my job. I have completed my work and submitted report to the Government. It is for the Government to take action", Sahibzada Rafiq said, when approached for his comments.

Reliable sources, however, said the Inquiry Commission has clearly held the then Kot Bhalwal jail authorities and staff responsible for smuggling of at least three SIM cards and mobile telephones in high security jail despite the fact that a number of foreign as well as local militants were lodged there.

The Commission has also recommended action against the ‘erring’ officials and staff besides scores of ‘corrective measures’ to prevent ‘breach of jail security’ in future.

Sources said the Inquiry Commission has also made mention of the report given by CID staffers, posted in Kot Bhalwal jail, in February this year indicating use of mobile telephones inside the jail. Following CID reports, senior Prisons Department officers had visited the jail but ruled out any search or other efforts to trace the mobile phones "on the ground that the CID report was not substantiated on ground".

Words like "lapses" and "bad governance" were reported to have been used against a senior officer in the report, sources said.

It may be recalled the Government had ordered an inquiry into the security lapses leading to smuggling of mobile telephones and SIM cards inside the jail after two mobile telephones were recovered from the possession of Gurmeet Singh, an under-trial in a murder case and a resident of Mandlik Nagar, Tope Sherkhanian and Altaf Choudhary of Rajouri, a former police constable. The third SIM card which was in the possession of a Pakistan militant Abdul Hai, was destroyed by him after the recovery of two phones. Hai had admitted destroying the telephone during his arrest and questioning by the CID.

The CID authorities didn’t find any evidence of any other mobile telephone or SIM card in the possession of other prisoners.

From inside the jail premises, the militants had used mobile telephones to stay in touch with their colleagues and pass directions for executing the tasks. It was also inside the jail that Abdul Hai had received directions from a Pakistan based Hizbul Mujahideen militant to assassinate Kathua Jail Superintendent Vinod Sharma and Deputy Superintendent Jagdish Kotwal besides former Superintendent of Kot Bhalwal jail Sheikh Rashid for being strict with Pakistani and other militants in the jails. Two Kashmir based militants including Sajjad had paid a pistol and Rs 50,000 advance to contract killer Akash alias Makora for executing the assassination of Vinod Sharma. The deal was struck for Rs 7 lakh.

Meanwhile, CID authorities, who along with Jammu Police, were investigating criminal part of the case, have summoned more Kot Bhalwal jail staffers, who were presently in Srinagar. The CID had already interrogated a number of jail staffers upto the rank of Assistant Superintendents.

Besides Abdul Hai, another Pakistani militant Jaffar Jamali, a Kashmiri militant, Raja Muzaffar, Altaf Choudhary of Rajouri and two local criminals Gurmeet Singh and Sanjeev Kumar Samyal, under-trials were arrested by the CID during investigations.

Gurmeet Singh was today shifted to District jail Udhampur, sources said.

Shibu Soren gets life sentence

NEW DELHI, Dec 5: Shibu Soren, former Union Minister and JMM chief, was today sentenced to life imprisonment in a murder case, earning a dubious first of its kind at the national level, after CBI made a strong plea for awarding him capital punishment.

The 62-year-old tribal leader from Jharkhand, who was forced to quit as Coal Minister in the Manmohan Singh Government last week on his conviction, was also fined a sum of Rs five lakhs which would go to the mother and two daughters of the victim, Shashinath Jha. He was killed 12 years ago.

"Convict Shibu Soren is awarded life imprisonment for hatching conspiracy to kidnap the victim and later killing him with the help of other convicts," Additional Sessions Judge B R Kedia said in his order as his supporters shouted slogans outside the court.

A sixth time member of Lok Sabha, Guruji, as Soren is called by his supporters, can retain his membership of the house if he goes in appeal against his conviction and sentence for which he has three months time.

Four others convicted in the case were also awarded life sentence by Additional Sessions Judge B R Kedia who imposed a lesser fine of Rs 15,000 each.

In the news in the nineties for his vote in Lok Sabha in support of the then minority P V Narasimha Rao Government after taking bribe, Soren was present in the jam-packed courtroom to which he had come from Tihar jail, his residence for the last three days. Shocked by the sentence he looked pale after the judge pronounced the order.

Soren is the first Union Minister to be convicted in a murder case and to get life sentence.

Earlier in the day, the court heard arguments on the quantum of sentence from both CBI and defence lawyers.

Seeking maximum punishment of death sentence for murder, Special CBI Prosecutor A K Singh contended that the case fell in the rarest of rare category as the crime was committed in the most gruesome manner.

He said the manner in which Jha was kidnapped and murdered reflected the brutal nature of the offence against Soren and the other convicts and demanded that retributive punishment be given in the case.

Citing judgements including in the Parliament attack case, Singh said Soren could be given the maximum sentence.

However, JMM chief’s advocate R K Anand said Soren did not deserve death penalty as the case did not fall in that category and argued for lesser punishment maintaining that the 65-year-old leader played a key role in the creation of tribal state of Jharkhand.

He said Soren did not have previous conviction against him and sought his release on probation saying his age, personality and his health should be considered while pronouncing the quantum of punishment.

Earlier, in his tenure in this Government, Soren had to resign after a Jamtara Court in Dumka district in Jharkhand issued a non-bailable warrant against him in connection with Chirudih massacre case during Jharkhand movement agitation in 1975 in which 10 people were killed.

He is on bail in the case and was reinducted into the cabinet early this year. (PTI)

Govt to reform Civil Services

HYDERABAD, Dec 5: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the UPA Government would reform civil services by laying more emphasis on domain expertise, training, rigorous performance assessment and greater tenure stability.

Participating in the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Administrative Staff College on India (ASCI) here, Dr Singh said the Government would make service conditions of the civil servants more competitive, while cutting waste and over-manning in the country for imbueing the Government service with a new vision.

Stating the Centre was committed to promote a Code of Conduct that defines the relationship between the civil service and the political executive, he said ‘we need a public service that ensures security for women and children to live in peace.’

Calling upon the citizens of the country to play an active role in exposing inefficiency, resist corruption in public life and take forward public programmes that benefits the nation, Dr Singh said the business of governance rests on the shoulders of the Government and equally on the citizens to make the Government function better.(UNI)

Sex racket case posted for Dec 21

CHANDIGARH, Dec 5: A court here today posted for December 21 the Jammu and Kashmir sex racket case on an application moved by alleged accused seeking its transfer to the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate in Srinagar.

Shabbir Ahmed Langoon, Shabbir Ahmed Lawa and Masood Ahmed alias Maksood Ahmed moved an application contending that under section 205 (D) of CrPC of Jammu and Kashmir the CJM was not supposed to commit the case to sessions court.

The CJM is to hear the matter before committing the case to the sessions court, the applicants contended adding that the alleged accused were not represented by their counsels following the boycott call given by the Kashmir Bar Association.

"Now, when the alleged accused are represented by counsels the case be send back to the CJM at Srinagar," the application mentioned.

On the application of the alleged accused, district and sessions judge B S Mehndiratta issued notice to the CBI for filing its reply on December 21.

One of the alleged accused, Iqbal Khandey an IAS officer, also moved a application seeking the copy of the chargesheet filed by the CBI in this case.

The CBI brought to the notice of court that Langoon’s friend had threatened a witness in this case not to depose before the judge.

The CBI sought protection and shelter for witnesses in this case.

However, the Judge directed the CBI’s DSP C L Gupta to meet the Chandigarh Home Secretary on the issue of providing shelter to witnesses when they come her for deposing before the court.

Barring Sabina and her husband Abdul Rashid Mullaha, 12 alleged accused were on bail in this case. The couple had not moved any bail application and are lodged in the high security Burail jail here.

Two former ministers and sitting MLAs Raman Mattoo and Ghulam Ahmed Mir, former Supreme Court judge R P Sethi’s son Anil Sethi, former BSF DIG K C Padhi, bureaucrat Iqbal Khandey were among others facing trial in this case.

The case was transferred to Chandigarh by the Supreme Court on September 4 after the 14 accused were chargesheeted by the CBI.(PTI)

All parties, except Geelani's Hurriyat, readjusting stand on Kashmir solution
Politicians welcome Musharraf's 3rd step of flexibility

From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Dec 5: Even as the common Kashmiri is watching the developments with his fingers crossed, Gen Pervez Musharraf's third step of flexibility over Jammu and Kashmir has instantly met with drawingroom approval of all political parties--- with the obvious exception of Syed Ali Shah Geelani's faction of the Hurriyat Conference.

Most of the separatist parties are neither jubilant nor enthusiatically inclined to welcome Musharraf's fresh slew of suggestions for obvious reasons: These are not only far away from their slogan of Azadi but in fact a blatant negation of the cause they say Kashmiris have espoused and given "over one hundred thousands lives" for. But, at the same time, most of the separatist politicians are not ignorant of the velocity of change taking place with respect to global tensions all over the world, including south Asia.

"We are aware that Pakistan's mark of identification---terrorism---had already helped India get diplomatic dividends in the US and the UK. European Parliament and European Commission, who used to call Kashmir the world's most beautiful prison just four years ago, are now fully supportive of New Delhi", said a senior separatist politician with painful reference to recent transformation at Brussels. On the record, none appears to accept that the balance was tilting fast in favour of India and Musharraf's package of flexibility was directly proportional to the changing ground realities both in Europe and America as well as in Kashmir itself.

"I'm really concerned about one thing. If India continued to humiliate the General with her rhetoric and cool response, the situation may one day lead to war", said another young separatist leader, on condition of anonymity again. He said that New Delhi would be seen to be pursuing a vested national interest in Kashmir's turbulence---keeping Pakistan away from scienctific and economic development---if she failed to grab this occasion. "This can well be Musharraf's last step of flexibility. If you are asking for more, you are asking for his physical suicide".

With a guarded reaction on record, Chairman of the so-called moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, is programmed to be supportive of everything that comes from Gen Musharraf. "This is what the Pakistani President has been saying for months now. We have been in support of flexibility, anything that leads to an amicable solution. But New Delhi-Islamabad axis is incomplete until it is turned into Delhi-Srinagar-Muzaffarabad-Islamabad axis. Any suggestion, any package must cover both parts of Jammu and Kashmir. And, the involvement of the Kashmiri leadership is pivotal to the whole peace process", Mirwaiz observed.

"We have been emphatically supportive of Musharraf's urge to solve Kashmir. But, it can't continue to be one-way traffic. Unless and until the people of Jammu and Kashmir are supportive, no peace process can succeed. Let's hope, it gets a proper response from Government of India", Chairman of the Mirwaiz Hurriyat constituent of People's Conference, Bilal Gani Lone, said. Chairman of PC's breakaway faction, Sajjad Gani Lone, who has stayed away from both factions of the Hurriyat Conference after his father's assassination in 2002, sounded equally supportive of Musharraf's "extremely bold step" and said: "This is high time that Delhi reciprocates in an equal measure. I believe there is absolutely no room across the border for any further deviation from Pakistan's traditional stand on Kashmir", Sajjad Lone remarked.

JKLF Chairman Yasin malik's body language does not support what he says in a formal reaction to Musharraf's proposals. But, he neither wants to be isolated like Geelani nor to hold back his "realistic" image. "We have been appreciating Pakistan's flexibility. We again welcome it. But, as regards the aspirations of the people of jammu and Kashmir, let there be a discussion across the table between the three parties---Delhi, Islamabad and the Kashmiri leadership". Not inclined to comment on Musharraf's outright rejection of Azadi, Yasin asserted that any solution acceptable to the three parties would be acceptable to all".

Though Geelani could not be reached over telephone, sources close to him said that his faction of the Hurriyat would hold a thorough discussion on Musharraf's fresh suggestions and come out with its reaction at a news conference on Thursday. He is likely to go critical of Musharraf's "one-sided flexibility". Geelani, according to sources, would also like to put it on record that New Delhi would "as usual" chose to be lukewarm and this "rigidity", according to him, would only damage Pakistan as well as the Kashmiris.

In the mainstream political camp, Omar Abdullah's National Conference (NC) and Mehbooba Mufti's People's Democratic Party (PDP) are outdoing each other by asserting that Musharraf was coming close to 'autonomy' and 'self-rule' respectively. "Omar says autonomy, Mehboobaji says self-rule, but Musharraf has gone two steps beyond to say just self-governance", a PDP leader observed. PDP's Spokesman, Basharat Bukhari, said that Musharraf's statement was pregnant with plentiful positivity. "But, all eyes are on New Delhi's response. It has got to be positive and perhaps more emphatic in the interest of peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir", Bukhari said.

PDP's General Secretary Kashmir, Nizam-ud-din Bhat, said that not only Islamabad and New Delhi, but also all political parties would have to contribute to the peace process and demonstrate emancipation in their consideration of the new suggestions. He too said that New Delhi's response would largely determine the fate of Musharraf's continued flexibility. He, however, added that PDP high command would discuss the new development and evolve party's response in a couple of days.

NC President, Omar Abdullah, sounded to be equally, or perhaps much more, pessimistic of New Delhi's possible cold-shouldering of Musharraf's proposals. He said it was no easy to take such a bold step and declare on television that Pakistan would withdraw its claim on Jammu and Kashmir if India agreed on self-governance, joint supervision and withdrawal of troops in a phased manner. "It merits a serious consideration. There can be certain misgivings but let us concentrate on the positive features alone at this moment. "In my opinion, none other than Musharraf can deviate from UN resolutions, plebiscite and even Azadi. We must note that Musharraf has said it all months before general elections in Pakistan", Omar said but sounded pessimistic about the UPA Government's "unwise response" to the Pakistan proposals.

ICP to be built at Wagah

JALANDHAR, Dec 5: Union Home Secretary V K Duggal today revealed that to improve the bilateral trade and people-to-people contact between India and Pakistan, an Integrated Check Post (ICP) would be built at Wagah border with an estimated cost of Rs 85 crore.

‘Union Government has sanctioned total 13 ICPs with an estimated cost of Rs 800 crore, but of which four including one at Wagah (Punjab), one at Peterpol (West Bengal), one at Racksol (Bihar) and one at Morray (Manipur) will be built on the basis of fast track’, Duggal, who was here to inaugurate Punjab Police Games, told reporters.

He revealed that the Cabinet Committee on Security has recently approved the setting up of the Land Ports Authority of India to oversee the construction, maintenance and management of ICPs on the borders.

Regarding the ICP at Wagah, Duggal said that State Government has been instructed to acquire required land for the purpose and to improve the facilities at Wagah border modernize immigration counters, custom counters, bank, guest houses would be built apart from widening the roads from the International Border.

RITES, Indian Railways’ Technical Engineering Services has been engaged for the purpose and even Attari Station would also be developed with an estimated cost of Rs 19 crore, out of which 50 per cent would be borne by the Union Home Ministry, he said adding that travelers’ facilities at station would be upgraded to a modern one.

Objective of building an ICP and modern railway station was to give quick custom clearance to international passengers and to improve trade relations, he said revealing that even facility for scanning of the loaded truck would be established at the check post for smooth flow of goods.

Pointed out the recent incident of smuggling of arms through Samjhauta Express, Duggal said that there were efforts to destabilize the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) but on the one hand strict notice would be taken of such incidents and on the other hand people to people contact would be developed between the two countries by initiating CBMs.

About the possibility of opening of Punjab’s another border of Hussainiwala, Duggal evaded a direct reply and said at present the border works’ project was on Hussainiwala border.

Asked whether the issue of most wanted accused of serial Mumbai blasts, Dawood Abrahim’s presence in Pakistan would be discussed during the forthcoming bilateral Indo-Pak talks, Duggal said that as there was long back in 1989 that federal investigating agency of Pakistan and Central Investigation Bureau (CBI) had official talks and in the absence of extradition treaty, nothing could have done in this regard.

‘But since the talks between the two agencies have revived, agenda regarding such wanted fugitive will be included in the bilateral talks and the issue of extradition treaty will also be discussed’, he said revealing that Home Ministry has provided a reviewed list of such fugitive to Pakistan and efforts would be made in the meeting to take up the issue.

On the coming Assembly poll in the states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttranchal, Union Home Secretary said that if needed, central forces would be deployed to conduct free and fair election.

‘By and large, Punjab has record of peaceful assembly election, but if required central forces can be deployed to conduct free and fair poll’, he said claiming that role of Union Government in conducting the free and fair election could be gauged from the elections in Bihar, JK and West Bengal conducted in last year.

About the Naxalism in the country, Duggal claimed that situation has improved than the last year’s, but there were some troubles in the states including Jammu Kashmir and North Eastern States and steps would be taken to control the same.

He revealed that a meeting of Directors General of Police (DGPs) of such States has been scheduled for December 27 to review the situation of Naxalism.

The Union Home Ministry during his two days visit of the State would also review the various schemes administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs, including the police modernization of Punjab Police.

‘Tomorrow I will have meeting with the Chief Secretary and other senior officials of the State to review the schemes regarding the modernization of the state police’, he said.(PTI)

India opposes redrawing boundaries

NEW DELHI, Dec 5: Giving a cold response to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s suggestions to resolve the Kashmir issue, India today said it was committed to peace and removal of distrust but not in favour of redrawing of boundaries.

"India does not want this region to remain in conflict. We want people of Pakistan and India and this region to enjoy fruits of economic development which can only come when conflict and distrust are removed," Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma told reporters when asked about Musharraf’s remarks in an interview to NDTV.

While disfavouring "Independence" for Jammu and Kashmir, Musharraf had said his country would give up claim on the State if India accepts his four-point solution that includes demilitarisation and "self-governance with joint supervision mechanism".

Sharma said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had made India’s position clear by stating the two countries should make the borders "irrelevant".

"We cannot redraw the map but we can make borders irrelevant," Sharma quoted the Prime Minister. "I think that remains India’s position. (PTI)

Army bid to prevent suicides

NEW DELHI, Dec 5: The armed forces are working on measures to prevent suicides in their ranks, Defence Minister A K Antony said here today.

"The suicides are being investigated and we are taking this kind of incidents seriously", the minister said here when asked to comment on the suicide by senior officer Lt Col Pankaj Jha in Udhampur over the weekend.

Jha’s suicide was the 100th instance reported in the armed forces in the last one year and according to figures tabled in Parliament, the suicide rates are hovering around this number for the last four years.

Asked why there was a sharp rise in suicide cases in the forces and the allegations by the family members of the late officer that he was harrassed by his seniors, Antony said "the Army is also taking it seriously".

He said two inquiries were being conducted simultaneously, one by the police and the other by the Army and "suitable actions will be taken only when reports are received".

"We are concerned over the incident and will try to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future", Antony said.

Army Chief Gen J J Singh, who was also present on the occasion of flagging off of the first ever Indo-Myanmar car rally, said figures of suicide in the Army hovered around 100 every year.

"However, every life is precious. We are concerned over this and taking all possible measures in this regard", he said. (PTI)

BJP walk-out on Afzal issue

NEW DELHI, Dec 5: The BJP today walked out of the Rajya Sabha protesting vociferously against the projection of terrorists Mohammad Afzal Guru and Abdul Nazir Madhani as "national heroes" by two parties in Kerala byelections.

Shouting slogans and showing newsreports during the zero hour, the BJP members trooped into the well of the house demanding that the Government should give a statement as to why these two parties were trying to make these terrorists as national heroes.

Charging the two parties of feeling ashamed in singing national song and embracing terrorism, the BJP members kept raising slogans against the two parties. They were naming the parties but on the protests of the ruling parties Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan said that the names would not go into the records.

The Deputy Chairman said that the Government could not be asked to respond on the issue during zero hour. If the opposition wants a debate on the matter then they should give prior notice.

However, the BJP members kept on insisting over their demand for the Government’s statement. They continued shouting slogans and insisted on the debate. When their entire efforts to force the Government to respond to the issue failed, the party members walked out of the house. The house, meanwhile, continued discussing the bill to provide central university status to the Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages, Hyderabad.

Earlier, raising the issue BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi expressed his shock to find during recent byelections in Kerala the projection as national heroes of Guru, condemned to the death penalty by the Supreme Court in the Parliament attack case, and Maulana Madhani, who is in detention for the Coimbatore blast case, by the two parties while campaigning. (UNI)

Pak intruder killed in Ferozepur

AMRITSAR, Dec 5: A Pakistani intruder was shot dead when he entered the Indian Territory with the consignment of heroin worth Rs 10 crore and constantly ignored the warnings given by Border Security Force (BSF) to surrender, a BSF officer said today.

He said ten kilograms of high quality heroin worth Rs 10 crore in the international market was seized from his possession.

The consignment of narcotics was brought from Pakistan.

The incident occurred last midnight at Ferozepur sector of the Indo-Pak border of Punjab region.

The BSF officer said that in the current year, 51 intruders, who entered in the Indian Territory from Pakistani side, were arrested when they ignored the warning to surrender on reaching in Indian Territory.

Out of the 51, there were 45 Pak nationals, four Bangladeshi and one Afghani.

BSF also arrested 71 persons trying to cross the border from Indian side to Pakistan. Out of these 71, there were 24 Bangladeshis, 2 Myanmarese, 44 Indians and one Nepali.

BSF also killed 10 Pak nationals when they ignored the warning to surrender on reaching in Indian Territory in the current year.

On the other side, five Indians were killed when they tried to cross over to Pakistan.

The BSF officer said that Rs 67 crore worth of narcotic drugs including heroin and opium and arms and ammunition, coming from Pakistan, has been seized. (PTI)

Kashmir cut off for second day, hundreds stranded on highway

SRINAGAR, : Hundreds remained stranded on the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu National Highway for the second day today after the road was closed due to landslides and shooting of stones, triggered by heavy rains.

Official sources said fresh landslides were reported between Ramban and Ramsu due to heavy rains since last evening.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintainance of the highway and the only road linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, has pressed into service about 250 labourers and other workers to clear the highway.

About seven sophisticated machines are working round the clock to clean up landslides and stones on the highway, sources said.

However, continued rains in the area are triggering more landslides.

A traffic police official said that no vehicle was allowed from Jammu or Srinagar today. Traffic will be resumed only when a green signal is received from traffic officials posted at different points on the highway, he said adding that stranded vehicles would be given preference to move towards their respective destination once the highway is reopened.

Official sources said more than 300 trucks loaded with essential commodities and fruits and passenger vehicles are stranded on either side of the highway.

The district authorities in north Kashmir have also pressed into service snow clearance machines and engaged labourers to remove the accumulated snow on the road. (UNI)

Three CRPF jawans among 15 injured in grenade attack

SRINAGAR, : At least 15 persons, including three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans, were injured when militants hurled a grenade towards a CRPF picket near a bus stand here this afternoon.

Militants hurled the grenade around 2.50 pm causing injuries to three jawans and 12 pedetrians, official sources said.

They said the injured were immediately rushed to SMHS hospital where condition of one of the civilians was stated to be serious.

Police and CRPF immediately cordened off the area and a hunt has been launched to nab the militants involved in the attack, the sources said.

No militant outfit has so far claimed responsibility. (PTI)

3 jawans among 6 dead in avalanches

SRINAGAR, Dec 6: Six persons, including three army jawans, were killed as avalanches triggered by snowfall struck a forward post in Uri and Karnah sectors of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said today.

An avalanche trapped four army personnel manning a forward post at Dokhi-Bahak in Bijhama area of Uri sector in North Kashmir Baramulla district last night, a defence spokesman said.

While one of them was rescued alive by a rescue team, three others found unconscious later succumbed, the spokesman added.

In another incident, official sources said, three personnel of General Road Engineering Force were burried alive under a snow avalanche while they were returning to their camp after road clearance at Zalrah in Kupwara district last night.

They were travelling in a snow-clearance machine when the avalanche trapped them, the sources said adding the rescue parties have launched an operation to retrieve their bodies.

The high altitude areas of Kashmir valley experienced heavy snowfall in the past few days ranging between three feet to seven feet.

The unstable snow was the cause of the avalanches, the sources said adding authorities have already asked people in far-flung areas to take precautionary measures. (PTI)

Militants reject Musharraf’s four-point solution to Kashmir

SRINAGAR: The Muzaffarabad-based United Jehad Council, an umbrella organisation of several militant outfits operating in Jammu and Kashmir, has ‘’regretted and rejected outright’’ Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s four-point solution to the vexed issue.

In a statement here, the conglomerate of militant outfits described Gen Musharraf’s new plan as ‘’unilateral concessions’’ to India by Pakistan.

‘’The people of Jammu and Kashmir cannot compromise on their right to self-determination. Options such as joint control can only be acceptable if these are a stepping stone for right to self- determination,’’ it added.

Firebrand leader and breakaway Hurriyat Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani will formally react to the proposal at a news conference here tomorrow.

A spokesman of the Geelani-led Hurriyat said a meeting of the amalgam was held here yesterday. During the meeting, Gen Musharraf’s statement was discussed threadbare, he added.

The spokesman said it was decided that the Majlis-e-Shoura, the highest decision-making body of the Hurriyat Conference, will deliberate on the issue during its two-day executive meeting.

However, moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said the ‘’concessions’’ offered by Gen Musharraf would help make Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) ‘’more free’’.

‘’India should respond to the flexibility shown by Pakistan and ease the sufferings of people of Jammu and Kashmir. Otherwise, the concessions by only one party to the dispute would not be of any help,’’ the Mirwaiz said.

In an interview to NDTV, President Musharraf had said his country was prepared to give up its claim to Jammu and Kashmir if India reciprocates and approves self-governance for the strife-torn state.

‘’Compromise inherently means stepping back by both sides. Both sides have to give up their positions and step back. If one of us is not prepared to step back, we will not reach a solution,’’ he said.

Gen Musharraf said Pakistan supports a four-point solution that would give the region self-governance or autonomy, maintain Jammu and Kashmir’s borders, produce a withdrawal of troops and create a mechanism for running the territory between India, Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir.

‘’We are at the moment, both India and Pakistan, on the same position as we were since 1948. We both ought to be prepared to give up all that we have been saying. Pakistan will change its stance in the event India leaves its stated position also,’’ he added.

The Pakistan President said self-governance would not be a first step toward independence for Jammu and Kashmir. ‘’We are against independence....And so is India,’’ he added.

National Conference president Omar Abdullah said India should consider Gen Musharraf’s proposals.

He said the independent efforts by India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue did not yield much.

‘’The Pakistan President has proposed a four-point proposal, dropped the demand for plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir and talked about forgetting UN resolutions. Although there are some bitter things in the proposals, but I feel that India must grab the golden opportunity and consider the proposals,’’ the NC chief added.

Mr Abdullah, a former Union Minister of State for External Affairs, said there was no guarantee that after him (Gen Musharraf) the rulers of Pakistan would show the same flexibility on the contentious Kashmir issue. ‘’It is the best time for the resolution of the Kashmir issue,’’ he added.

Welcoming the proposal, CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami asked India to respond positively to Gen Musharraf’s suggestions.

‘’The people of sub-continent are eagerly watching the situation in the region. President Musharraf’s proposal deserves serious consideration by India. Though the proposal needs certain details, it provides a frame for resolving the Kashmir issue,’’ he added.

Peoples Democratic Forum (PDF) Chairman Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen asked New Delhi to discuss the proposal in detail and positively respond to it. ‘’The proposal is historic and should be discussed.’’

The PDF Chairman said the announcement by Gen Musharraf was one of the major Confidence Building Measures (CBMs).

Lauding the efforts of the Pakistan President, Hakeem Yaseen said Gen Musharraf has shown ‘’unexpected flexibility’’ and now both the countries should carry forward these initiatives for the just and meaningful solution to the Kashmir issue.

‘’With Gen Musharraf’s statement, the people of Jammu and Kashmir are expecting that peace will once again knock at their doors. All mainstream and separatist parties should sit together to chalk out a common agenda on Kashmir,’’ he added.

Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Forum (JKDF) chief Pandit Bhushan Bazaz also welcomed the proposal and urged India to use the opportunity to accelerate the dialogue process aimed at resolving the Kashmir issue.

‘’The proposed four-point formula put forth by Gen Musharraf will be fruitful only when guaranteed by India and Pakistan in areas under their control in the present scenario and this is the only acceptable solution to the Kashmir issue,’’ he added.

Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) convener Javed Ahmed Mir said it was a welcome development but maintained that the final solution should be left for the people of the state to decide.

‘’We always welcome suggestions, but what could be the final solution should be left for the people of Jammu and Kashmir to decide,’’ he added. (UNI )

Sidhu gets three years RI in road rage case

CHANDIGARH: Navjot Singh Sidhu, former international cricketer, was today given three years rigorous imprisonment in a case of road rage death but the sentence was suspended till the end of the next month to enable him to appeal.

The 43-year-old high-profile wisecracking former Indian opener, who resigned as BJP member of Lok Sabha last week after being convicted of causing the death of an elderly man on a Patiala street 18 years ago, heard the sentencing in a jampacked Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Suspension of the sentence till January 31 means that Sidhu, currently on bail, will avoid the jail for now.Reacting to the judgement, Sidhu, who was also fined Rs one lakh to be paid to the widow of the deceased Gurnam Singh, maintained he was not not guilty but came to the court in deference to law.

He said he would definitely appeal against the judgement. "For me what is not not morally correct is also not not politically correct and I am happy that the entire nation is with me," he said.

Co-convict Rupinder Singh Sandhu was also given three years rigorous imprisonment by Justice Mehtab Singh Gill and Justice Baldev Singh, who had held the two guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder which carries a maximum of 10 years imprisonment, a term strongly demanded by the prosecution this morning.

The court directed both the convicts to furnish a bail bond of Rs 10,000 each with the surety of like amount before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) at Chandigarh on or before December eight while suspending the sentence till January 31 to allow them a file an appeal in the Supreme Court.

Sandhu was directed to pay Rs 90,000 out of the total fine of Rs one lakh to the widow and remaining Rs 10,000 to prosecution witness Jaswinder Singh.

The court observed that in default of payment of fine the convicts would further undergo a RI for six months. In addition to the three years RI, Sandhu was also sentenced three months of RI under section 323 of IPC (causing injuries to the witness).

"Both the sentences of Sandhu will run concurrently," the court directed. While the prosecution demanded the maximum ten-years of imprisonment for the former MP, the defence sought imposition of fine or granting probation to his client.

"Everything happened on the spur of the moment," Sidhu’s counsel argued saying "this is the fittest case for imposing fine" on the accused.

He also gave references of three different cases where crimes were committed with a knife, a fire arm and a wooden hammer, but the Supreme Court had reduced the sentences to six months, one year and three years respectively after the accused were granted severe punishments by the lower courts.

"My client did nothing pre-meditated. Everything happened on the spur of the moment without any animosity. He (Sidhu) was not armed at all. It was just a blow with the fist," the counsel argued saying "appropriate sentence in this case can be imposition of fine".

BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley, party’s legal cell incharge and former MP Satyapal Jain, several advocates and supporters of the former cricketer were present in the court room when the judgement was pronounced. (PTI)