PM seeks support for ‘difficult’ decisions
Govt determined to control inflation in 5 pc level: PM

NEW DELHI, Dec 9: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today sought states support for ‘difficult’ policy changes for attaining ambitious albeit feasible nine per cent growth during the 11th plan, saying agriculture sector was in crisis and there were ‘major constraints’ on the infrastructure front.

"There are major constraints we have to overcome, many of which require difficult policy changes by the Central and State Government," Singh said inaugurating the 52nd meeting of the National Development Council for approval of the Draft Approach Paper to the Eleventh Plan.

Lauding the performance of the economy during the 10th plan, where growth in the last four years, would be over 8 per cent taking India firmly among front ranks of fast growing developing countries, Singh said, "the world has a very favourable assessment of our prospects and this is reflected in the fact that FDI flows are buoyant."

Admitting that inflation had presented a problem, he said, "We are determined to control it within the 5 per cent level", and added that "the Plan must give top priority to redressing the weaknesses in the agriculture sector... We cannot expect inclusive growth if we do not revitalise agriculture."

"Agriculture as a whole is in crisis", Singh said pointing out that growth in the agriculture sector, on which half of the rural population is dependent, has been less than 2 per cent per annum since the middle of the 1990s.

Detailing the road map for the average annual nine per cent growth during 2007-12, Singh said, private sector investment would have to be stepped up for infrastructure sector, which the approach paper has identified as a "major constraint" on achieving the double digit growth.

Stating that roads, railways, ports and airports and the power sector all needed massive expansion and quality improvement, the Prime Minister said, "investment requirement of such expansion are massive and cannot be met from the public sector alone".

He pointed out that public private participation "cannot be a solution if the power sector is financially unviable", and added that the public investment would be used to develop infrastructure in areas where the private sector is reluctant to enter.

"Much of the investment needed for rapid growth will come from the private sector and this calls for maintenance of a sound macro economic framework, an investor friendly environment and a strong and innovative financial sector capable of responding to the needs of new entrepreneurs."

Singh, however, cautioned that gross budegtary support should not come at the "cost of fiscal prudence and stability. He said that 2.5 percentage point increase in GBS both by the states and the Centre was perhaps the "smallest increase that will accommodate ambitious agenda we have for public investment in agriculture, infrastructure and the social sector."

In this context he appealed for the Chief Ministers support saying, "a critical issue we have to face relates to the sharing of responsibilities between the Centre and the states."

He said over a period of time, much of the Centre’s resources have been going to areas, which are the primary responsibility of states. "Such programmes must involve a significant state contribution to total costs. This would enhance a sense of ownership and efficiency in implementation.

On its part, the Centre should give flexibility to the states in designing and implementation of centrally sponsored schemes, he said pointing out that fortunately, the resource position of states makes it possible to mark credible efforts in this direction.

Referring to possible shortage of skilled manpower in coming years, the Prime Minister said the country would have to go "beyond primary education to secondary and higher education."

In addition to general education, he said, "we need to do much more on skill development" and added the Government was planning the upgradation of 500 ITIs but would require doubling and upgradation of 6000 ITIS over the next five years. He appealed to the states to play a "major role" in this area.

Expressing concerns over country lagging behind other Asian developing countries in health, he said: "Public Private Partnership in higher level of health care also needs serious consideration, especially in view of our resource constraints."

Singh also reiterated the Centre’s commitment to expand the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP) to all districts to provide "a social safety net by guaranteeing employment in rural areas."

Emphasising the need for inclusive growth, he said, "we will have to devise innovative plans to ensure that minorities, particularly the Muslims, are empowered to share equitably in the fruits of development." (PTI)

Azad compliments Approach Paper on 11th Five Year Plan

Excelsior Correspondent

New Delhi, Dec 9: Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad complimented the Planning Commission for preparing a comprehensive 11th Five Year Plan ‘Approach Paper’ which will establish a framework and clear road map for the process of planned socio-economic development in the country for the next five years.

"I would like to sincerely compliment the Planning Commission for having prepared a very comprehensive Approach paper", Mr Azad while addressing National Development Council meeting at Vigyan Bhawan today.

He appreciated the ‘vision’ for the 11th Five Year Plan for restructuring broad-based policies for growth and development. "This is the only way to reduce poverty and focus on bridging various divides that continue to fragment our society". The Approach Paper, he said consistently makes a strong case for bringing about necessary policy, structural and strategic changes in the design and implementation of various sectoral sachems to realize this vision.

Mr. Azad said the clear recognition in the ‘‘Approach Paper’’ of the need for greater emphasis on employment generation, as a focus of planned economic development during the 11th Five-Year Plan is a positive change in the right direction.

" In this context, I fully support the emphasis to target employment growth as a key variable because of our experience that rate of economic growth per se does not necessarily lead to commensurate increases in employment opportunities", he said.

Mr Azad said that the need for addressing the crises of stagnation in agriculture is imperative, as this sector provides livelihood to nearly 60 per cent of people and remains vital for food security. " I fully agree with the policy initiatives and strategies recommended".

Saying that a greater focus is needed for encouraging diversification of agricultural activities towards production of high value cash crops, not only for the domestic markets but also for exports in an increasingly liberalized and competitive environment, he said this will require investment and technological upgradation.

He said that development of production and marketing value chains with the support of the private sector and a friendly policy environment, including easy availability of credit and significantly upgraded rural infrastructure is need of hour.

The Chief Minister said, the unorganized sector of the economy is of very special importance to my state which has rich tradition in handloom and handicrafts. The recommendation for infusion of appropriate technology, design skills, modern marketing capacity building and providing easier access to credit for self-sustaining employment are very appropriate. "We fully support the proposal for significant branch expansion of SIDBI to cover all specialized clusters of small and micro enterprises and expansion of its credit guarantee scheme in order to obviate the need of the banks seeking collaterals", he said.

"While infrastructure inadequacies in both rural and urban areas are major factor constraining India’s growth, the situation in my state demands focus of attention. Even as a programme of economic reconstruction is ongoing with liberal support of the Central Government, we are still constrained in many ways. This is specially true of the two key sectors of great relevance to my state namely power and road connectivity", Mr. Azad maintained.

He said, "in case of the power sector, we have fallen far short of harnessing our assessed potential, and have a lot of catching up to do with our neighbouring state of Himachal Pradesh. A number of power projects have now been included in the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Programme, but most of these have very long gestation periods. However, we still have a large number of relatively small and medium scale projects, which can be implemented quite speedily on public private partnership basis if adequate resources become available. If we are given more flexibility to borrow from the market, we can quickly raise productive assets in the power sector and add significantly to our revenue earning capacity", he added.

He said Bharat Nirman is a particularly relevant scheme for J&K where cost of developing road network in far-flung and widely dispersed habitations is prohibitively high and. the scheme does not provide for the cast of land acquisition.

Supporting the focused attention recommended in the paper for increasing the outreach of the basic health and education services to all disadvantaged areas and groups and for improving their quality, Mr. Azad described it most appropriate. "Emphasis on encouraging public and private partnership in these areas is also fully justified. We also support the recommendation for greater resource allocations for improving the quality and outreach of secondary education, vocational education and technical education", he said.

He said to start with, there is an urgent need to atleast consider modifying the financing pattern of all centrally sponsored schemes for the special category states in such a manner as to provide that these States would be expected to contribute only 10 per cent of the cost as their share. "This will help them to take full advantage of these schemes within the constraint of resources facing them" , he said.

HM div comdr Hekmatyar, another ultra shot dead
*Jawan, civilian killed, 2 soldiers injured

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 9: Two militants including a ‘divisional commander’ of Hizbul Mujahideen, an Army jawan and a civilian were killed and two soldiers were injured in two encounters at Gool and Mendhar today.

Inspector General of Police, Jammu range, Dr Shesh Pal Vaid told a news conference this evening that Hizbul Mujahideen ‘divisional commander’ Mohd Sharief alias Hekmatyar son of Kaka Gujjar, a resident of Thuroo, Mahore was gunned down by police in a fierce exchange of gunbattle at Lancha in Gool area of Ramban police district at 1.30 pm today.

Dr Vaid described the slain militant as one of the most wanted ultra, who was operating in Gool-Gulabgrah-Mahore belt for last more than 12 years. He was involved in a series of subversive activities including killings, kidnapping, extortions and attacks on security forces, he said.

Police party in the operation was led by DySP Gool Randeep Singh and was supervised by DIG Udhampur-Doda range Lalat Indu Mohanty and SP Ramban Basant Rath.

Mr Mohanty said police was looking for Hekmatyar, who was ‘boss’ of another hardcore Hizbul militant Billoo Gujjar, who was gunned down by police sometime back. Hekmatyar’s movement was being observed in Lancha for last two days and finally he was zeroed in on a house this morning, where he had stayed for the night.

In the neat operation, Hekmatyar was eliminated this afternoon. Police didn’t suffer any casualties in the operation. One AK-47 rifle, two magazines and one radio set were recovered from the scene of encounter. Possibility of Hekmatyar’s body-guards hiding in some adjoining houses was not ruled out. Police carried out searches for them but they remained untraced.

With the killing of Billoo Gujjar and Hekmatyar, Hizbul Mujahideen has suffered a major jolt in Ramban police district.

Troops of 39 Rashtriya Rifles, 150 CRPF and police launched a search operation at village Banola in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district last night after developing an information about the movement of three to four militants in the area.

At 5.30 am today, Army and police personnel spotted the militants at Kanati, Banola. On observing movement of the security personnel, the militants took shelter in the house of Mohd Rafiq son of Nazar Hussain.

Army and police jawans maintained a strict vigil on the house and evacuated the house inmates. In the resultant heavy exchange of gun fighting, an Army jawan and a civilian were killed while two soldiers were injured.

The house was completely destroyed in the firing. Body of one militant was recovered from debris of the house this afternoon. While debris were still being searches, the possibility was that the other militants had slipped away.

Army jawan, who was killed in the operation, has been identified as Varinder Singh of 39 RR while injured include Subedar Jehangir Ali and Sepoy Mohd Showkat. Injured have been hospitalised.

A civilian, who was trapped in cross firing and got killed, was identified as Mohd Sharief son of Mohd Sher R/o Banola. Slain militant has been identified as Abu Salam, an ‘area commander’ of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit. One AK-47 rifle, one pistol, four AK magazines, one pouch, two hand grenades, one buoynet and one diary were recovered from the scene of encounter.

Search operation in the area was still on.

Police party in the operation was led by SDPO Mendhar Yogesh Sharma and SHO Mendhar Inspector Brij Mohan Sharma.

Extortion, blackmailing FIR registered; Rs 90,000 recovered
Zee, ETV stringers caught in sting operation

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 9: In a dramatic operation, Police in Anantnag district have arrested two television reporters, claiming to be working with Zee Kashmir and Enadu TV, for the offence of blackmailing the President of a Sumo Taxi Stand, and recovered from them Rs 90,000 which had been collected by extortion. What has added more drama to the whole story is that the hapless Sumo Stand President did a meticulous sting operation and caught the two stringers on his secret camera when they were demanding more money and benefits from him.

SSP Anantnag, Abdul Gani Mir, told the EXCELSIOR that Anantnag Police was surprised to watch a "baseless story" in a Zee Kashmir news bulletin last fortnight which showed "documentary evidence" to claim that the local operators of Sheikh Noou-ud-din Noorani (SNDN) Sumo Stand were regularly paying "hafta" to certain Police officials and politicians. He said that Police took immediate cognizance of the Zee Kashmir story and quizzed the SNDN President, Abdul Majeed Rather, who claimed that the Zee Kashmir story had actually shown "fake and fabricated documents".

Rather, according to SSP, revealed that two local television journalists, namely Majid Jehangir of Zee News/ Zee Kashmir and Zahoor Ahmed Sodagar alias Zahoor Rizvi of Enadu TV, had approached him last month with a "fake ledger" and sought to blackmail him for the purpose of extortion. He revealed to Police that Majid and Rizvi showed him "a fake ledger" mentioning the account of the money "being paid on monthly basis" to certain politicians and Police officials. The reporters told Rather that the "ledger" and its "videography" had gone to IB and others. They threatened him that if the story was telecast, he would be arrested and the Sumo Stand would be locked for ever.

"On the day of Kashmir shutdown against Gulmarg land lease, they called me over telephone and asked me to immediately provide them Rs 90,000 and also accommodate some of their favourites' Taxis at our stand. I arranged Rs 90,000 and paid them money with the request that I should not land in trouble. I, in fact, told them that there was neither any such ledger with him nor was any amount of money being paid to politicians or Police officials but they threatened to agitate the matter and accentuate the trouble for me", Rather has reportedly told Police in his statement.

He further revealed to Police that even after making the payment of Rs 90,000, the reporters demanded more money and asked him to accommodate at least one Tata Sumo at the SNDN. Thereafter, Rather called the two television reporters at their residence in Anchidora locality of Anantnag town where he installed a secret video camera and got the whole conversation of blackmailing and extortion recorded. He produced the tape, as also the real audited registers of the last four years, to Police.

Even after extorting the money from Abdul Majeed Rather, Majid Jehangir sent the "story" to Zee Kashmir which telecast the same in its news bulletin last week. Zee Kashmir story showed "documents" with the claim that the SNDN Sumo Stand had been regularly paying "hafta" to certain politicians and Police officials in Anantnag.

SSP Anantnag confirmed that Police registered case FIR No: 719 of 2006 under sections 342, 467, 384 and 420 RPC against the two reporters, arrested them both and recovered Rs 30,000 from Zahoor Rizvi of ETV. He said that Rs 60,000 were in the process of seizure from Majid Jehangir of Zee News/ Zee Kashmir. Police also took up the matter with Srinagar representatives of Zee Kashmir and ETV and asked them to clarify their position in this matter.

Sources said that late in the afternoon, Srinagar correspondent of ETV Mr Manoj Kaul wrote to DIG Anantnag that Zahoor Rizvi, one-time stringer of Radio Kashmir's 'Sheherbeen' programme, had been working as a stringer with different media outlets and he was not associated with his organisation as an authorised reporter. Similarly, Srinagar Bureau Chief of Zee News, Mr Naseer Ahmed, wrote to DIG, SSP and SHO Anantnag that Majid Jehangir was not on the payrolls of Zee News/ Zee Kashmir. Requesting a "correction" in the FIR, he wrote to Police that Majid Jehangir was working with Take One Television which produces programmes , including its daily news bulletin, for Zee Kashmir.

Naseer Ahmed told the EXCELSIOR that Majid Jehangir was working as a stringer with Take One TV and he had no association with Zee News or Zee Kashmir. "He doesn't belong to us. We have no association, whatsoever, with him directly. He is a stringer with our Zee Kashmir alliance partner,Take One TV", he said.

On the other hand, Take One TV's Vice President, Mr Irfan, claimed that Majid Jehangir had been initially working as a stringer with Mr Naseer and Zee News. Later on, he also happened to work as stringer with Zee Kashmir for which, he said, Mr Naseer had appointed the staff, including Majid Jehangir. "He doesn't belong to us. I have never seen him. Take One doesn't make news programmes", he said and claimed that the editorial and administrative responsibility of Zee Kashmir news bulletin lay with Mr Naseer. He said that he was surprised to hear that Mr Naseer has written a letter to Police while disowning the arrested stringer and projecting him as a Take One liability.

Military should be ready for nuke, chemical war: Kalam

DEHRADUN, Dec 9: Asking the armed forces to equip themselves for "technology-driven" warfares of the future, President A P J Abdul Kalam today said the military should be prepared for nuclear and chemical attacks as well as "electronic encounters".

"Walk through during a space attack, chemical attack, nuclear attack and electronic encounters need to be visualized and proper counter measure needs to be practiced," he said after reviewing the passing out parade at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) here.

Kalam said the military personnel need to be trained in virtual reality based simulated warfronts on all terrains and extreme conditions.

The future battlefield will require a synergized team work "with joint services operating and use of land, aero space and ocean as important war theatres," he said, adding the new role is "to equip ourselves to combat the technology driven warfare".

"The whole war environment will be a network centric and it could be electronically controlled combined with space encounters, deep sea encounters and ballistic missiles."

Kalam said national security was dependent on economic growth and prosperity and the capability of a nation to defend itself against all types of threats.

Stating that India was progressing on both fronts, the President said "there are, however, forces opeating to derail this process."

"They do not want India to succeed economically and become self-reliant in military capability. There will always be a dynamic environment along our borders needing eternal vigilance by our armed forces," Kalam said.

The President said the winners of the future warfare will be those who can visualize the strength of the enemy, "not based on the previous war but based on the current capabilities and technological advancements in the global scenario".

"Now you have got greater responsibilites of keeping an eye on the technological advancements in addition to keping on the borders of our country," Kalam said.

He asked the army officers to develop all round capabilities in all their assignments so that Indian army can emerge as the best and most powerful force in the world.

Recalling his experiences in Siachen in 2004, Kalam said the Indian army has the unique "distinction of serving from minus fifty to plus fifty degrees centigrade".

"Our soliders are giving the best part of their youth for the defence of the nation," he said. (PTI)

Three flights cancelled, others delayed
Highway re-opens for one way traffic

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 9: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was reopened for one way traffic this afternoon after remaining closed for five days thereby providing sigh of relief to several stranded passengers.

However, flights of three Airlines were cancelled due to very poor visibility at Jammu Airport till 1 pm and others were operated beyond the scheduled time.

Deputy Inspector General of Traffic Police, Mohd Amin Shah told the EXCELSIOR that highway was reopened for one way vehicular traffic at around 3 pm and about 100 stranded passenger vehicles and equal number of trucks carrying essential commodities successfully crossed the landslide prone area of Panthial.

Even 60 passenger vehicles, stranded at Qazigund, were also allowed to ply towards Jammu following and they successfully crossed the vulnerable 300 metre stretch of the highway at Panthial where huge potholes have developed, the DIG said.

Within one and half hours of reopening of the highway, the shooting of the stones after regular intervals again started at Panthial forcing the Traffic Police personnel to stop the movement of the vehicles at once.

"Whenever the shooting of stones stopped, we allowed trucks carrying essentials to cross over the point and this practice continued till late this evening when the plying of vehicles stopped because of spurt in shooting of stones", the DIG said, adding not even a single passenger vehicle was stranded on the highway till this evening.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Traffic Police National Highway M H Wadroo, the work to clear the shooting stones which have accumulated on the stretch would start at 7 am tomorrow and decision about plying of vehicles would be taken tomorrow morning only after assessing the latest situation.

It was due to the frantic efforts of the Border Roads Organisation that one way traffic was restored after five days. Despite shooting of stones, the BRO personnel reopened the highway for one way traffic.

Since Monday, about 1000 vehicles, mostly carrying goods, were stranded at different points on the route. The Tourism Department had also brought to Srinagar as many as 208 tourists stranded on the highway yesterday.

Meanwhile, the foggy weather conditions reduced the visibility at Jammu Airport considerably thereby forcing the suspension of flights of all the Airlines till 1 pm.

"No flight could be operated because of poor visibility till 1 pm when taking off flights of different airlines started. Though all the flights operated several hours beyond the scheduled time yet one each of Air Deccan, Air Sahara and Go Airways had to be cancelled because of delay in their operations", Director, Airport Authority of India (AAI) G Chandermooli said.

He disclosed that one Leh-bound flight also operated successfully.

18 injured in Pulwama clash

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 9: Police used baton charge, tear smoke and even firing in air to disperse a demonstration which turned unruly with slogans against Power Development Department (PDD) officials over absence of power supply in Kakapora area today.

Residents of over a dozen Pulwama villages today took to the streets and blocked Srinagar-Shopian Road with the complaint that PDD had failed to provide electricity to consumers even after "extorting" fees from them. While staging the demonstration, they shouted slogans against the coalition government and PDD officials, particularly Chief Engineer Electricity Maintenance Kashmir Kh Nisar Ahmed and PDD officials in Pulwama-Pampore belt.

They lamented that the PDD officials were providing uniterrupted power supply to over two dozen illegal stone crushers in Pampore area against huge bribes but the ordinary consumers were made to suffer with hundreds of power cuts every day.

Police used force to disperse the crowds when they refused to clear the road. Sources said that 18 persons, including some Police personnel, sustained injuries in ding dong clashes.

Reports of demonstrations against PDD Kashmir authorities were received from Sopore, Budgam and half-a-dozen other places in Valley today.

Militant killed in Ganderbal

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 9: Ganderbal Police and CRPF 42 Bn have killed an unidentified militant in an ambush between Kharnagh and Waskura in Ganderbal area last night. Sources said that Police-CRPF combine had laid the ambush on the basis of a tip off.

PM speaking Jinnah’s language: RSS

NEW DELHI, Dec 9: The RSS and the BJP today flayed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his remarks that plans for minorities, Muslims in particular, must have the first claim on resources.

"This is precisely the language used by Mohammad Ali Jinnah before the partition," RSS leader Ram Madhav said. "It is unfortunate our leaders have not learnt lessons from the tragic partition. They are pursuing the same politics of religion for electoral benefits".

His comments followed Singh’s call at the National Development Council (NDC) meeting for devolution of resources for development of minorities, especially Muslims.

BJP chief Rajnath Singh also opposed the Prime Minister’s suggestions.

"This is very unfortunate, appalling for a Prime Minister to say so. India’s resources are not to be divided on religious lines. Every Indian, irrespective of his or her religious background, has equal claim on the country’s resources," he said.

Last month, both the Sangh and the BJP came down heavily on the Prime Minister for suggesting "fair share" for minorities in Government and private jobs. (PTI)

Airports put on high alert

NEW DELHI, Dec 9: Security has been stepped up at airports across the country after intelligence inputs warned that Pakistan-based terorists could hijack an aircraft to Bangladesh.

A high alert has been sounded and emergency anti- hijacking measures and multi-layered security arrangements put in place at all the airports as the level of threat has been raised, official sources said here.

Intelligence inputs suggested that terrorists may attempt to hijack an aircraft to Bangladesh to seek the release of Mohammed Afzal Guru, sentenced to death in the 2001 Parliament attack case.

They said the plane could be taken to Bangladesh to avoid international focus on Pakistan.

CISF, which is guarding majority of the airports, stepped up vigil and deployed additional personnel after the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security sounded the paramilitary force about the danger.

The alert comes exactly a month after several airports in southern cities received a threat from Al-Qaeda that it would attack the Chennai airport with sophisticated technology as it had done in Thailand.

An anonymous letter had also warned of similar attacks in Tiruchirapalli, Madurai, Coimbatore, Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi airports in Tamil Nadu and Kerala respectively, after which all the airports were put on alert. (PTI)

Haj pilgrim killed, 25 hurt

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 9: A retired Tehsildar from Kishtwar was killed and 25 other Haj pilgrims were injured in a road accident, about 70 km away from Mecca in Saudi Arabia today.

An official communication received here said that 26 Haj pilgrims were injured when a vehicle in which they were travelling met with an accident today.

It said the injured were admitted to Al-Haira and Al-Zehra hospitals where one of the injured pilgrim succumbed to his injuries.

He has been identified as Ahad Ullah Sheikh, a resident of Kitchloo Mohalla in Kishtwar tehsil of Doda district. Sixty five year old Sheikh was a retired Tehsildar.

The conditions of the injured were stated to be out of danger, the official communique said.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is in constant touch with concerned authorities and has directed for ensuring all sorts of treatment to the injured. He also expressed shock over the incident and expressed sympathies with the family of Ahad Ullah Sheikh.

The Haj pilgrims, injured in the accident, have been identified as Ghulam Fatehma, Hanief Sheikh, Naseema Begum, Abdul Gaffer, Ghulam Mohiuddin, Rashida Begum, Arbaz Wani, Mohammad Abdullah Wani, Ameena Begum, Abdul Lateef, Ghulam Mohiuddin Naik, Zaina Begum, Kamal-u-Din, Sajida Begum, Mohammad Rabu, Ghulam Mohammad Ganai, Rubeena Akhtar, Parveen Iqbal, Zara Begum, Badshah Begum, Arza Begum, Habibullah, all resident of Doda district of Jammu region while the three others belonging to Baramulla district of Kashmir were identified as Habibullah Bhat, Mohammad Abdullah Reshi and Zaina Begum.

Highway again blocked for traffic

JAMMU, : The Jammu-Srinagar national highway, connecting the Valley with rest of the country, was again blocked due to landslides, police said here today.

The 300-km highway, which remained closed for five days due to landslides between Banihal and Ramban sectors was reopened for vehicular traffic around 4.15 pm yesterday.

Traffic authorities had allowed 1,000 stranded vehicles, mostly goods carriers, to move towards their respective destinations, police said, adding that landslides at Panthial, 150 kms from here, forced the authorities to again stop the vehicular movement on the highway.

Only 300 vehicles had managed to move on this sector during the three hours after the highway was opened before it was again blocked around 7 pm yesterday after a truck got stuck at Panthial due to a landslide.

The Border Road Organisation, which maintains the highway, said the highway would reopen for vehicular traffic after it was cleared debris, stones and other hurdles. (PTI)

Over 50 JKLF activists arrested on Human Rights Day

SRINAGAR, : More than 50 activists of both the factions of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) were taken into preventive custody while on way to the office of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) here to submit a memorandum on the International Human Rights Day today.

A JKLF activist, Ashraf bin Salaam, said the pro-independence outfit, led by Yasin Malik, had proposed to take out a silent march from its headquarters at Maisuma to the UNMOGIP office at Gupkar Road near Sonawar here.

The JKLF leaders would have then submitted a memorandum on the alleged human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir to the UNMOGIP officials, he added.

Salaam said hundreds of JKLF activists had gathered at Maisuma this morning to proceed to the UNMOGIP office. As the silent march, led by JKLF vice chairman advocate Bashir Ahmed Bhat, reached Regal Chowk, the authorities prevented the activists from proceeding to the UNMOGIP office, he added.

Salaam said at least 30 JKLF activists were later taken into preventive custody and detained at the Kothi Bagh police station here. Besides Bhat, others arrested included JKLF General Secretary Ghulam Rasool Dar, Showkat Bakshi and Sheikh Abdul Rashid.

Talking to UNI, the convenor of a rival JKLF faction, Javed Mir, said activists of his group were also prevented by the authorities from proceeding to the UNMOGIP office for submitting a memorandum.

He said as many as 21 activists of his group were arrested and detained at the Kothi Bagh police station here.

"In the memorandum, we had mentioned that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured zero tolerance as far as the human rights violations in the state are concerned. At the same time, a dialogue process was going on to resolve the issue, but then the human rights violations are continuing unabated. We want an immediate end to such abuses," Mir added.(UNI)

Antony arrives in Poonch

JAMMU, : Defence Minister A K Antony arrived here this morning on his maiden one-day visit after taking over the charge of his ministry.

Mr Antony will tour the areas near the Line of Control (LoC) to review the security situation. He will also inaugurate a military-civic project at Khari Khrama in Poonch district.

Before flying back to New Delhi the Defence Minister will also hold a meeting with the top Army commanders including GOC-in-C Lt General Deepak Kapoor and GOC XVI corps Lt General T K Sapru. (UNI)