Army asked to be liberal in granting leave
High level committee to probe fratricidal incidents: Antony

NEW DELHI, Dec 6: Concerned over growing incidents of fratricide in armed forces, Government today announced constitution of a high-level committee under the chairmanship of Director Defence Institute of Psychological Research to probe the causes.

"The committee will identify factors which lead to these incidents and suggest remedial measures," Defence Minister A K Antony told the Rajya Sabha.

The committe has been asked to submit its report within two months, the Minister said as he outlined various other preventive and welfare measures including liberal granting of leave to armed force personnel particularly jawans.

Antony said most of the 23 cases of fratricide involving three officers and 16 jawans this year had taken place in Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East where Army was engaged in counter-insurgency operations.

Courts of inquiries orderded to probe each of these cases attributed these killings to perceived grievances due to harassment by senior officers and arguments between colleagues.

A K Antony said there were 23 cases of fratricide involving three officers and 16 jawans this year.

He said the Government was concerned over the well being of armed force personnel and commended their efforts in guarding country’s borders in tough conditions.

The minister said he would write to Chief Ministers to provide assistance to armed personnel from their respective States.

Stating that more measures have been taken to redress grievances of armed forces, Antony said "armed forces have agreed to relax certain conditions with regard to grant of casual leave and annual leave".

Antony said instructions have been given to be more liberal in granting leave to personnel to enable them to attend to domestic work.

The Army has also initiated increased formal and informal interaction between senior and junior officers.

Identification and counselling of persons who are at higher risk of combat stress by regimental medical officers, junior leaders and unit commanders and counselling by religious teachers are among other administrative and welfare measures taken to prevent incidents of fratricide, the minister added.

The Army is facing shortage in the ranks of Lieutenant Colonels and below in the officer’s cadre, he said.

"The main reason for shortage in the Army is non-availability of sufficient number of suitable candidates meeting the Army’s laid-down criteria for selection," Antony said.

However, constant efforts are made to make the Army an attractive career, he added.

"Officers, including officers in the Short Service Commission (SSC) are now eligible to hold Captain, Major and Lieutenant Colonel ranks after two, six and 13 years of reckonable service respectively," the Minister said.

Sustained image projection through print and electronic media is also launched, he added.

Antony said the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP-2006) and Defence Procurement Manual (DPM-2006) have been promulgated with effect from Sept 1, 2006.

While DPP-2006 covers all capital acquisitions (except medical equipment) undertaken by the Ministry of Defence, DPM-2006 covers revenue procurements including medical equipment procurement of the Defence Ministry.

The objective of Defence Procurement Procedures is to ensure speedy procurement of approved requirements of armed forces in terms of capabilities sought within time frame prescribed by optimally utilising allocated budgetary resources.

While achieving this objective, these procedures would demonstrate the highest degree of probity and public accountability, transparency in operations, free competition and impartiality.

The provisions incorporated in Defence Procurement Procedures for achieving this objective include an "integrity pact" between the Government department and the bidder for all contracts above Rs 100 crores.

It also calls for dealing directly with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) or Authorised vendors or Government sponsored export agencies (applicable in case of countries where domestic laws do not permit direct exports by OEMs).

The Defence Procurement Procedure rules calls for prohibiting the engagement of any individual or firm to recommend to the Government the award of a contract to the seller, and the payment of any amount in respect of any such recommendation.

In reply to a query, Antony said measures are also on to improve export of items produced by Ordnance Factories, Defence PSUs and private companies.

This includes review of setting up of Export Houses in target countries, active involvement of Defence Attaches posted in Indian Missions abroad in export opportunities and appointment of nodal officers in Defence PSUs and the Ordnance Factory Board for better coordination among production units, Ministry of External Affairs and Service Headquarters.

He made it clear that the Government would not allow middlemen in defence deals and details of Defence Procurement would be published and put on website.

"There was a time when Defence Procurement was classifed as a secret," Antony said adding the UPA Government had decided to make it transparent.

In reply to a query from SP member Amar Singh, Antony said there would be no middlemen in arms deal.

He said the new guidelines on Defence Procurement were adopted after consultations with Comptroller and Auditor General, Central Vigilance Commission and Parliamentary Standing Committees. (PTI)

Enhanced role for grassroot workers: CM

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 6: Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said here today that nambardars and chowkidars would be involved in helping the Revenue Department for early settlement of cases of encroached State land.

Addressing a convention of All Jammu & Kashmir Nambardars and Chowkidars Association at Abhinav Theatre, he said that policy with respect to encroached State land already has a mention of role for nambardars and chowkidars.

Mr Azad disclosed that he has also issued instructions to the Revenue Department to ensure distribution of application forms through these grass-root level workers.

The Chief Minister also announced setting up of a Commission to fix their responsibilities for achieving good governance. The Commission would also a second look at their honorarium.

The Commission will be formed within next two or three days. It will submit detailed report to the Government before March 31, 2007. On April 13, 2007 the honorarium will be announced as Baisakhi gift.

The Commission will also have representation of nambardars and chowkidars, the Chief Minister announced. He also gave a detailed account of the process being adopted for retrieval of encroached State land by vesting ownership rights.

Mr Azad also announced that promotional and other benefits will be given to those officials of the Revenue Department, nambardars and chowkidars, who will settle maximum cases within short span of time.

The Chief Minister added: "I feel that nambardars and chowkidars can be of immense help in proper development of rural and far-off areas. Their role is imperative in giving practical shape to the road-map of over-all development".

He expressed the view that nambardars and chowkidars can keep a check on the practice of absenteeism in the Government departments in the rural and far off areas.

Earlier, Minister for Road and Building Gulchain Singh Charak, who is also the patron of All J&K Namberdars and Chowkidars Association and president of Dogra Sadar Sabha, which organised the convention, submitted a memorandum of Namberdars and Chowkidars demands to Mr Azad.

The demands include apart from increase in honorarium, telephone facilities, issuance of identity cards, uniform and accommodation allowances and granting of active role in Panchayat administration.

Highway remains closed
6 killed in avalanches

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 6: Six persons, three each from Army and Project Beacon of Border Roads Organisation, were killed as snow avalanches hit them in a forward post in Uri and Karhan sectors.

An official spokesman said that an avalanche trapped four Army personnel of 7-Maratha Li manning a forward post at Dokhi-Bahak Salamabad in Uri sector in Baramulla district when they were patrolling in an area close to the Line of Control (LoC).

While one of them was rescued alive by a rescue team including men from Bijhama Police Station, three others found unconscious and later, they succumbed.

In another incident, three persons working with 109 RCC General Road Engineering Force (GREF) were burried alive under a snow avalanche while they were busy with snow clearance at Zerila near Sadhna Top, on Kupwara-Tangdhar Road.

Meanwhile, 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 spokesman said, adding authorities have already asked people in far-flung areas to take precautionary measures.

Our Jammu Correspondent adds: Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed for vehicular traffic for the third day today due to landslides at several places.

An official spokesman said that with the improvement in the weather conditions this morning, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) pressed its men and machinery into service to clear the highway of landslides.

Though landslides at Seri, Kela Morh, Marog, Digdol and Rattan Pass were cleared till this evening yet the same at Nachlana and Panthial could not be removed due to intermittent rainfall throughout the day which caused shooting of the stones and hampered the work repeatedly, the spokesman said.

Due to blockade of the highway between Ramban and Banihal, around 250 Srinagar-bound vehicles including Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) carrying around 400 people remained stranded on the highway.

While the passenger vehicles were moved to the places where eatables and other necessary articles were available, the trucks carrying essentials to the Kashmir valley were stranded at Chanderkote.

The spokesman said that while Pir Panchal range experienced heavy snowfall along with the parts of upper reaches of Doda district, heavy rains were witnessed in Jammu region particularly in the hilly areas of Doda and Udhampur districts.

As there was no rainfall in the plains today, fog started gripping the areas in the evening leading to the movement of vehicles at snail’s pace.

Sidhu gets 3 years RI

CHANDIGARH, Dec 6: 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 guilty but came to the court in deference to law. He said he would definitely appeal against the judgement.

"For me what is not morally correct is also 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 8 while suspending the sentence till January 31 to allow them 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)

22 X-Ens, 49 AEEs shifted

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 6: Minister for Road and Buildings, Gulchain Singh Charak in a major reshuffle again, has issued orders of transfers and postings of 22 Executive Engineers (X-Ens) and 49 Incharge Assistant Executive Engineers (AEEs Civil) in the Public Works department today.

Tahseen Mustafa, Xen has been transferred from R&B Div-II Jammu to R&B Div-I Jammu. Mr Mustafa has also been asked to supervise and look after the works of Mubarik Mandi complex.

K D Salaria has been shifted from Leh R&B Div to R&B Div -II Jammu, S D Deol from R&B Spl S/D Nyoma to REW Jammu vice P L Saproo who will go to Nyoma. Bashir Ahmed under orders of transfers to LRCR Sgr is posted to JKPCC Sgr, Reyaz Ahmed Shah under orders of transfer to SKIMS is no posted to Sericulture Deptt, Farooq Ahmed Indrabi under orders of transfer to Project Circ Div Ist Sgr will continue in SDA, Qazi Khalil Mohd under orders of transfer to SDA is now adjusted in City Roads Division Sgr, Fari Ahmed Khan to Estates Div Kashmir, Mubarik Ahmed Jan from Bandipora Div to R&B Div Sopore, Umar Farooq from, Uri Spl S/D Uri to R&B Div Qazigund, MA Nawchoo from SKIMS Kashmir to LRCR Sgr, Manzoor Ahmed to JKPCC Sgr-I, Bachan Lal to JKPCC Rajouri, K L Hoshiyar to JKPCC Kathua, G Q Pintoo from R&B Spl S/D Gurez to Spl S/D Bandipora, Shahid Rasool from JKPCC Anantnag to Doodpathri Development Authority, Mohd Ashraf Zoonga to SKIMS Santokh Singh under orders of Transfers to Poonch is posted to JKPCC Anantnag, Reshi Kumar Sharma from JKPCC to PMGSY Doda-II while Chamail Singh Rana under orders of transfers to PMGSY Doda-II will continue to work in JKPCC Jammu.

Vidhu Kumar AEE, under orders of transfer as Technical Officer (TO) to Executive Engineer (Xen) R&B Division Reasi has now been posted in newly created dedicated Division PMGSY Doda-II, K K Barore under orders of transfer as Technical Officer to Xen Rajouri is posted in PMGSY Div Rajouri, Ashok Kumar Sudan, under orders of transfer as TO to Xen Construction Div-II Jammu, has been sent to PMGSY Doda-I, R K Makroo under orders of transfer as TO to Xen R&B Div Katra is now posted in PMGSY Div Poonch, Pawan Gupta, under orders of transfer as TO to Xen R&B Div-IV Jammu is also posted in PMGSY Udhampur Div-II and OP Sharma under orders of transfer as TO to Xen R&B Div Kathua has been posted in PMGSY Udhampur-II.

Sunil Gupta, AEE under orders of transfer as TO to Xen Medical College Div Jammu is adjusted in R&B S/D Doda, M L Thappa has been shifted from R&B Div Med College Jammu to PMGSY Jammu vice Madan Lal who has been sent to R&B Div III S/D Marh, V R Angurana under orders of transfer to Med College Div Jammu is now adjusted against Mohan Lal Thapa in Med College Div Jammu, Rajesh Gandotra has been shifted from R&B Div III S/D Marh to Med College Div Jammu, R P Gupta under orders of transfer to PMGSY Udhampur-II is now adjusted in Forest Protection Force, Nissar Ahmed Pandit TO to Xen Landscape Srinagar is shifed and posted to R&B Div Anantnag S/D Khannabal, M Y Tramboo from R&B Div Anantnag (S/D Khannabal) to R&B Div-II Sgr S/D Vailoo, Showkat Ahmed Dar under orders of transfer to R&B S/D Boulevard is now posted in Right River Circular Road Div Sgr and Niyaz Ahmed Bandey from Patnitop Development Authority to PMGSY Udhampur-II.

Kishore Kumar under orders of transfer as TO to Xen R&B Div-III Jammu and Ajay Kumar Raju, under orders of transfer as TO to Xen R&B Div Jammu-I have been attached with the office of Chief Engineer, R&B Jammu till further orders, Mushtaq Ahmed under orders of transfer as TO to Xen R&B Div Kupwara has been posted in S/D Karalpora, Gurdev Singh under orders of transfer to R&B Div Kupwara S/D Karalpora has been posted to R&B SD Kupwara, Ishtiaq Malik under orders of transfer to PHC Srinagar has now been posted to Chadoora Sub Division, Nazir Ahmed Tak under orders of transfer to R&B S/D Div Chadoora is posted PDC, Farooq Ahmed Khandey under orders of transfer to Spl S/D Bandipore to PMGSY Anantnag, Bashir Ahmed Khandey under orders of transfer to PFP now to R&B Division Kishtwar, Showkat Ahmed Wani under orders of transfer as TO to Xen Pulwama is posted R&B S/D Hazuri Bagh, Hashim-ud-din Malik to continue in R&B S/D Pulwama, Shabir Ahmed Shah to R&B SD Hq Const Div-I Sgr, A K Kapoor to Medical College Div Jammu, Ravi Raina from Med College Div to PMGSY Doda-II, Sunil Gupta under order of transfer as TO to Xen Med College Div Jammu now posted in R&B S/D Doda, Muneer Ahmed Sherwani to NH S/D Baramulla, Reyaz Ahmed Parrey from NH S/D Baramulla to R&B Spl S/D Tangdhar, Amin ud-Din from Police Housing Corp to the office of CE Kashmir, Zaffar Hussain Baba to PMGSY Kishtwar, P N Koul to Kishtwar Development Authority, Peerzada Afaq Ahmed to R&B Div Handwara S/D Ramhal, Nazir Ahmed Shah to R&B Div Pulwama S/D Tral, Reyaz Ahmed Ghasi to R&B S/D Truck Terminal Sgr, Abdul Hafiz Malik to Achhabal Dev Authority, N A Wani, Zahoor Ahmed Rehsi and Aftab Ahmed Bandey to ERA Kmr, Ch Mohd Shabir to Poonch Development Authority, B A War and Mushtaq Ahmed Shah to PDC Kashmir, Daleep Bazaz to PMGSY Doda-I, A G Gadroo to PMGSY Udhampur-I, H L Bhagat to PMGSY Udhampur-II and Reyaz Ahmed Dobi under orders of transfer as TO to Xen R&B Div Badgam is now been posted to Left River Circular Road Div Srinagar. Out of the forty- nine orders of AEEs issued today, thirty seven are modifications made in the R&B Civil wing.

Army officer visited Katra not Bhopal
Distress SMS took the life of Lt Col Jha

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Dec 6: In an important breakthrough in the suicide of a senior Army officer Lt Col Pankaj Jha, police have traced a distress SMS on his mobile telephone number, which was the last message or call received by him after which he ended his life with a service weapon.

Police, which have been investigating the suicide by Lt Col Jha in his official quarter at Mahore in Udhampur district, have also discovered that the Army officer had visited Katra town and not Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh as stated by him while availing a week’s casual leave.

"It was a SMS and not any work pressure or harassment by his superiors, as alleged by his mother Lalita Jha, which forced the senior Army officer to take the extreme step", official sources told the Excelsior.

During further investigations, police have found that the SMS was done from mobile telephone number of an employee of Deccan Airlines, which was operating helicopter service between Katra to Sanji Chhat. Contents of the SMS were not clear, sources said.

Lt Col Jha had taken casual leave for one week from November 29 to December 7 for visiting his house in Bhopal. However, he returned to his unit in 15 Sector Rashtriya Rifles, headquartered at Mahore, on December 1, around 11.30 am. At about 12.30 pm, he shot himself dead with his service weapon.

Sources said a number of SMS had been recorded in mobile phone of the Army officer from the same number but last one was the distress SMS, which compelled the Lt Col to end his life.

Presently, a case under Section 174 RPC has been registered at Mahore police station in the death of Army officer.

Reasons behind the Lt Col’s visit to Katra and his prolong stay in the office of Deccan Airlines have also been established but they have been kept a secret pending investigations, sources said, adding the Deccan employee, from whose mobile the SMS had been made, is also being called for questioning in connection with investigations of the case. Lt Col Jha was said to be a frequent visitor to Katra.

They, however, ruled out charging the Deccan employee with abettment to suicide. "Under the circumstances, we have come across, the employee can’t be booked for abetting suicide", they said, adding the employee was, however, required to be called for questioning and recording her statement.

In addition to police investigations, Army have also ordered an inquiry into the incident.

Lt Col Jha’s widow, when approached for her comments on mobile telephone in Bhopal, declined to say anything. "At this stage, I will not offer any comments", she said.

Earlier, the Army officer’s mother, Lalita Jha, in a statement to national newspapers, had alleged that his son was under extra work pressure and was being harassed by his superiors. His mother had also claimed that when her son visited Bhopal, he was looking tense.

It is not clear why the Army officer’s mother said that her son had been to Bhopal while, according to police, there was no such transportation between Jammu and Bhopal which could make the Army officer to return to Mahore at 11.30 am on December 1 after leaving the same station on November 29. Moreover, his leave was due till December 7.

Investigators said there has been no substance in Lalita Jha’s allegations. As Lt Col Jha had been assigned the task of maintaining logistics, there was no work load on him, they asserted. Also, there was no reason for his harassment by the superiors, they added.

Further investigations in the case by police are in progress.

SC clears decks for politicians’ prosecution

NEW DELHI, Dec 6: In a significant judgement, the Supreme Court today ruled that there was no requirement of prior sanction for prosecution of public servants, including Chief Ministers and ministers, in corruption cases.

The Apex Court’s verdict has come as a blow to senior politicians, including Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi, former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, former Kerala Chief Minister K Karunakaran and Punjab deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who had filed petitions in the court.

Dismissing the petitions, a bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and S H Kapadia, in a concurring judgement, found as totally "untenable" the plea of the petitioners that their trials under the Prevention of Corruption Act were vitiated for want of proper sanction.

The court held that "acts of omissions and commission committed during porported exercise of discharge of official duty under the collar of office cannot form part of bonafide discharge of official duty by a public servant."

In the case of K Karunakaran, the Apex Court directed the petitioner to place entire material related to malafide on the part of the state and directed the state High Court to decide the plea within 3 months.

"There is no scope for taking different view in case of Karunakaran," the court said.

The Apex Court also directed the petitioners to raise the plea before the High Court as it was not raised before it.

The Kerala Chief Secretary had filed an affidavit on November 24, 2005 stating that the state wanted to withdraw the case against Karunakaran but the idea was discharged with taking over of the Left Front Government in the State.

Former Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal is facing allegations of amassing assets worth about Rs 3,500 crores during his tenure.

Karunakaran is facing allegations of causing a loss of about Rs 2.8 crores to the state exchequer in palm oil import scandal case.

Lalu and Rabri are facing corruption cases for their alleged involvement in the fodder scam case.

The Apex Court while vacating the stay granted against the trial of the petitioner, made it clear that the protection of the provision of sanction is not available in corruption cases.

"Corruption and bribe taking cannot have any nexus with the bonafide discharge of official duty by a public servant," the court said, clarifying that the protection of sanction under section 197 CRPC is available only for bonafide discharge of official duty and hence the plea of applicability of section 197 CRPC is equally untenable.

Other politicians who could get affected by the Apex Court ruling also include former ministers in the Badal Government namely Sohan Singh Thandal, Tota Singh, Ratan Singh Ajnala, Sewa Singh and Gurdev Singh Badal. (UNI)

Antony to visit LoC on Dec 10

JAMMU, Dec 6: Defence Minister A K Antony will inaugurate a model village constructed by the Army near Line of Control in Poonch district during his visit on December 10, Defence sources said.

Antony, who will visit the State for the first time as Defence Minister, will also review border fencing, ground sensors, thermal imagers, battle field surveillance equipment used to check infiltration along LoC, they said.

Besides, the Minister will interact with the field commanders and along with senior Army officers review the security situation, counter insurgency operations and suicides by Army personnel, they said, adding he will also address a press conference at Jammu at the end of his one-day tour to the State. (PTI)

15 injured in grenade blast

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 6: As many as 13 civilians and two CRPF personnel sustained splinter injuries when suspected militants hurled a hand grenade on a paramilitary unit in Batmaloo area today.

Informed sources said that suspected militants hurled a hand grenade in the direction of some CRPF personnel of 164 Bn at General Bus Stand in Batmaloo this afternoon. It exploded close to the apparent target, causing splinter injuries to two CRPF personnel. As the attack was carried out at a crowded public place, as many as 13 civilians sustained injuries. A number of them were evacuated and rushed to different hospitals for medical treatment. They included a retired J&K Police Sub Inspector, Abdul Qayoom of Uri.

Sources, quoting officials, said that the suspected militant vanished immediately after the blast. Police and CRPF conducted a search operation but failed to get any clue about the escapee.

Meanwhile, unidentified persons have stabbed to death a Punjabi carpenter, Daleep Singh S/o Iqbal Singh R/o Jiwin Chak Dorangal, Gurdaspore at Tibetan Colony, Devi Angan, in the capital city. His dead body has been recovered and the post mortem has been performed. Reports said that the slain individual had been staying in Bachhpora area while working as carpenter in different localities. Officials said that Police had registered a murder case and launched investigation. According to them, it did not necessarily appear to be a militancy related killing.

Grenade attack on Gool PS

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 6: Militants lobbed a grenade at Gool police station under the jurisdiction of Ramban police district this evening but failed to cause any casualties or damage.

Reports said the grenade hit boundary wall of the police station and exploded at 7 pm. All police personnel inside the police station and guard duty were safe, they added.

Despite heavy rains, police cordoned off the area and launched a search operation for the militant. Two suspects have been rounded up for questioning.

Army today recovered a large quantity of explosive material from Dushnan forests in Doda district and apprehended an Over Ground Worker (OGW) of Hizbul Mujahideen, who had help HM militant Mohd Javed alias Jishan escape from village Parshola in Prem Nagar, Doda on December 3 afternoon during an operation conducted by the troops.

Official sources said troops seized 50 gelatin sticks, each weighing 125 grams, during a search operation in Dushnan forest area of Doda today.

Army also recovered four hand grenades, one I Com radio set and ration items from Nalian forests in Poonch this evening.

A Hizbul OGW Ghulam Rasool Ahli, 38, son of Abdul Lateef, a resident of Parshola, Prem Nagar in Doda was apprehended by Army and handed over to police today.

He had reportedly leaked the information of Army’s presence to HM ‘section commander’ Mohd Javed alias Jishan when he was hiding in the house of his in-laws at Parshola on December 3 afternoon. Jishan along with his wife Shama Begum was fleeing the hide-out when his wife fell down into a nullah and died. Jishan, however, managed to escape.

Security forces destroyed a hide-out of the militants at Danna, Surankote in Poonch district and recovered one 12 bore gun, one I Com radio set with three antennas, 100 Pika ammunition, one Chinese hand grenade and two swords.

Indian diplomats maltreated in Pak

NEW DELHI, Dec 6: Indian diplomats in Pakistan have been subjected to "maltreatment and intimidatory tactics" despite protests by New Delhi of violation of provisions under the Vienna Convention and a bilateral accord, Government told the Lok Sabha today.

Constant surveillance of officers of the Indian mission in Islamabad continues, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said.

"These incidents have been taken up with the Government of Pakistan at various levels and protests lodged. Government of Pakistan has stated that it concurs with the position that there should be no intimidation of diplomats of either country. However, the surveillance of our officers continues," he said.

Noting that officers and staff members of the Indian mission were subjected to "constant surveillance" by Pakistani intelligence and security personnel, he said "there has often been close, visible and occasionally even aggressive tailing of officers of the mission and their spouses.

"There have also been other forms of maltreatment and intimidatory tactics," the Minister said in a written reply.

Giving details of some of the recent incidents, Mukherjee said in October this year there was an attempted break-in into the residence of an official, while in August, an official was illegally detained and interrogated.

In March last year, an official was intercepted and assaulted and in February that year, the residence of an official was broken into, Mukherjee said.

"Such actions are in violation of obligations under the Vienna Convention of 1961 and the bilateral ‘Code of Conduct for Treatment of Diplomatic-Consular Personnel in India and Pakistan’ signed by the two countries in 1992," he added. (PTI)

Serious thought must be given to
Musharraf’s proposal: Mufti

NEW DELHI, Dec 7: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP Patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today called for "giving a serious thought" to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s fresh proposals on Kashmir and said a "beginning" must be made for the peaceful resolution of the vexed issue.

"The cost of not doing it will be much higher than the cost of doing it," Mr Sayeed said.

Pakistan President Musharraf in an interview to a news channel 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.

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.

The People Democratic Party (PDP) has been advocating the formula of self-rule in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The aim should be on shifting the focus to more practical policy-oriented discussion of a possible solution to the issue for which PDP’s self-rule formula provides a sound basis," Mr Sayeed said.

The PDP Patron today called on External Affairs Minister Parnab Mukherjee here this morning and discuss the prevailing situation in the sub-continent vis-a-vis Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Sayeed told the External Affairs Minister that the operational challenge in Jammu and Kashmir is to establish innovative institutional arrangement that will have political, economic and security character.

"Our basic premise is that the search for a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue could be possible only by giving the institutional arrangement both a political and economic basis," he said.

"Instead of allowing the borders to become a barrier for the movement of people, commodities and capital, we must allow the markets to override the dividing lines," he added

The former Chief Minister said though the State of Jammu and Kashmir is an important political centre, it has not been made an economic partner either by India or Pakistan.

"This fact can be attributed mostly to the legacy of partition," he observed.

Reiterating that India and Pakistan should work out an institutional arrangement and move forward, he said a beginning has to be made in the larger interest of peace.

"Even though the arrangement design may appear to be constitutionally and legally incomplete and politically premature, a beginning has to be made," he added.

He said in view of the emotional surcharge, a one-point-one-time solution for resolution of the contentious issue is a near impossibility.

"What is required is a sequence of measures, which would resolve the situation... A step-by-step practical approach is needed for the extrication of the State from the tragic muddle. Substantial progress should be made on the ground," he emphasised.(UNI)

Valley remains cut off for third day

SRINAGAR, Dec 7: The Kashmir valley remained cut off from the rest of the country for the third day today after the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway was closed due to landslides and shooting of stones, triggered by heavy rains.

The closure of the highway, only road linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, has led to a price rise of almost all the essential commodities.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway has pressed into serive more than 250 labourers and about a dozen machines to clear the landslides triggered by the continued heavy rains between Ramban and Ramsu.

Heavy rains during the past 24 hours had triggered more landslides and there was also threat of shooting of stones, forcing authorities to declare the highway unsafe for travel, official sources said.

They said the BRO personnel are working round the clock to make the highway safe for undertaking the journey. If weather improves and there is no fresh rains the BRO will be able to clear the landslides, the sources added.

They said that hundreds of vehicles, mostly trucks loaded with essential commodities and fruits are stranded on either side of the highway.

The stranded vehicles would be allowed to move towards their respective destinations after the BRO clears the highway.

No vehicle was allowed to move from Srinagar or Jammu this morning, a traffic police official said.

Truck drivers stranded at different points on the highway alleged that authorities have failed to provide them any facility and check the price rise of the essential commodities.

A cup of tea costs Rs 7 to Rs 10, a truck driver Gurnam Singh said adding similarly the cost of other eatables has gone up on the highway. There is no check from anybody and police personnel deployed there are getting

The prices of vegetables has increased many folds after the highway was closed. There was also shortage of other essential commodities including meat, chicken, milk, eggs and building material.

A report from Baramulla said several roads to far flung and remote areas remained closed for the fourth day today due to heavy snowfall.

The upper reaches in north Kashmir, including Machil, Keran, Karnah, Salamabad and Teetwal also recorded heavy snowfall during the past two days.

The BRO has pressed into service machines and labourers to clear the snow at Sadhna top, where three labourers were buried alive yesterday.

About two to five feet of snowfall was also recorded at world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, Khilanmarg, Affarwat, worlds highest downhill ski point Kongdori and seven springs. Reports of heavy snowfall were also received from holy Amarnath cave and its periphery, Mahaguns, Pisso top and Sheshnag.

However, weather remained dry in the city and its adjoining areas since last evening.(UNI)

Army launches operation to rescue 1000 stranded people

KARGIL, : A massive operation has been launched by the Army to airlift more than 1000 people, mostly porters and labourers working with the troops, who are stranded at Drass and Kargil after the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway was closed for six winter months due to heavy snowfall on November 15.

Meanwhile, the authorities have given up the hope to recover the body of a Kashmiri teacher who was buried alive in a snow avalanche on the highway at Zero point on November 25. However, the body of another teacher was recovered jointly by the local residents of Pandras and Matayen and the police.

The rescue operation could not be resumed because the area witnessed heavy snowfall and there was also bad weather prevailing in the entire belt. About a dozen vehicles are stranded on the highway at different places because of the snowfall.

Official sources said local authorities have sought the Army’s assistance to airlift the stranded passengers from Kargil and Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia.

However, the snow on the runway of the Kargil Airport was not removed and about 250 stranded pessengers were taken to Leh by road and later airlifted to Srinagar.

The number of outsiders, mostly porters and labourers working with troops, has been increasing. These people, mostly from the plains including Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Jammu want to leave for their respective states becuase of the severe cold weather due to heavy snowfall on the upper reaches.

The authorities have decided to issue kerosene oil to stranded passengers.

However, there is an acute shortage of essential commodities, particuarly eggs, onion and butter in Kargil and Drass.

The authorities claimed there was sufficient stock of gas cylinders, kerosene oil, rice, atta and sugar for winter months.

The rescue teams, searching for the body, have returned without making any breakthrough.(UNI)

Musharraf is in a state of mental depression: Geelani

SRINAGAR, : Firebrand separatist leader and breakaway Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani today came down heavily on Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf for floating new proposals on Kashmir every day, saying the military ruler has "lost self- confidence" and is in a "state of mental depression".

Addressing a news conference here, Mr Geelani rejected outright Gen Musharraf’s four-point solution to the vexed Kashmir issue.

"After 9/11, there is a change in the foreign policy of Pakistan’s military regime. The Pakistani military ruler is not only scared of the US, but also of India’s growing economy and the strength of armed forces.

"He (Gen Musharraf) has lost self-confidence and is in a state of mental depression...That is why, he is coming up with new proposals and ideas on the Kashmir resolution every day," he said.

Mr Geelani said the Pakistan President’s decision to ally with the US after 9/11 was a result of that "loss of self-confidence".

Mr Geelani said the recent proposals of Gen Musharraf were his own and did not have the sanction of the Pakistan Cabinet, the opposition parties and the people of the country.

"Even the Pakistan Foreign Office later said that there is no change in the country’s stand on Kashmir," he added.

The hardliner said there was a "dispute within" President Musharraf over his foreign policy. "That is the reason why all his decisions within the country and on Kashmir have proved to be failures," he added.

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 had 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.

Mr Geelani, however, thanked Pakistan for its continued moral, diplomatic and political support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and expressed the hope that Islamabad would never change its basic policy on the long-festering issue.

"Let me tell you...Ours is an indigenous struggle for freedom. And even if those presently at the helm of affairs in Pakistan stop supporting us, we will continue with our struggle in a more determined and sustained manner," he added.

The firebrand leader reiterated that the people of Jammu and Kashmir would continue with their fight for seeking the right to self-determination to decide their "fate and future". (UNI)