Two ultras, girl among 5 killed
Villagers hack militant to death in Mendhar

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 15: Taking cudgels against militants, local people of village Chandiyal in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district hacked to death an Al-Badr militant of Pakistan after he along with his associate kidnapped a young girl from her house. The second militant, however, gunned down the girl before fleeing from the spot.

In other incidents, Doda police gunned down two Hizbul Mujahideen militants this evening at Thanala, Bhadarwah while two Bangladeshi exfiltrators were gunned down by Border Security Force (BSF) when they were trying to exfiltrate to Pakistan through fencing in Arnia sector.

IGP Jammu Dr Shesh Pal Vaid said a Pakistani militant Ishtiyaq of Al Badr was killed by the villagers at Chandiyal last night. This was an encouraging sign and a clear indication that people were coming forwards boldly against the militants, he added.

Official reports said two militants entered into the house of Mohd Misri at village Chandiyal in Sangiot area under the jurisdiction of Gursai police station in Mendhar tehsil last night and kidnapped his young daughter Gulshan Bano.

Bano’s brother Bablu sounded the neighbours as the militants left their house. A number of people carrying rods and ‘kulharas’ chased the militants and intercepted them nearly half a kilometer from the house of Misri.

People caught hold of one of the militant and hacked him to death. His associated, while fleeing to survive wrath of the angry villagers, fired upon Gulshan Bano killing her on spot. The second militant managed to escape under the cover of darkness.

Villagers also snatched one AK-56 rifle, one pistol, a radio set and ammunition from the slain militant.

Slain militant has been identified as Ishtiyaq, an activist of Al-Badr outfit. Security forces have launched a search operation to eliminate the militant, who escaped from the village.

Official sources said this was after a long time that the villagers boldly faced the militants and killed one of them without fearing for their lives as both ultras were equipped with AK rifles.

Sources said names of the villagers, who killed the militant, are being recommended for cash reward. Some of them are likely to be recruited as Special Police Officers (SPOs) and Village Defence Committee (VDC) members, they added.

Body of Gulshan Bano was buried this evening after post-mortem. A large number of local people and officials joined her burial. Reports said strong resentment prevailed among the villagers over the killing of young girl by the militants.

Doda police and troops of 4 Rashtriya Rifles shot dead two Hizbul Mujahideen militants at village Thanala in Bhadarwah tehsil of Doda district this evening after a two hour long fierce gun-fighting.

SSP Doda Manohar Singh said the operations was launched on a specific information of two militants’ presence at Thanala this evening. Army and police killed both of them without suffering any casualties on their side.

Police party in the operation was led by SHO Bhaderwah Inspector Ajay Jamwal.

Slain militants have been identified as Shahid Hussain son of Noor Mohd R/o Basti, Bhadarwah and Abdul Hafiz Batt alias Hikmatyar son of Bashir Ahmed Batt R/o Thanala, Bhadarwah. Recoveries made from their possession include one sniper rifles, three magazines, 34 rounds and one .303 rifles besides a large quantity of incriminating documents.

Meanwhile, jawans of BSF’s 52 battalion noticed two exfiltrators trying to breach fencing to cross over to Pakistan from Arnia sector last night. As the exfiltrators didn’t stop even after being challenged, they were gunned down by the security personnel.

Bodies of the jawans were recovered this morning from the fencing. Both of them were Bangladeshis. Some currency was recovered from their possession.

SSP Border Rajinder Gupta visited the spot and sent the bodies for post-mortem. Identity of slain Bangladeshis has not been established so far.

Militants snatched a .303 rifle from a VDC member and beat-up his family at village Jaglanu in Rajouri district last night.

Three militants entered into the house of Mohd Sadiq at Jaglanu and beat-up his daughter Sabina and son Arif. They escaped along with .303 rifle of the VDC member.

Azad lists priority sectors for next annual plan

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Dec 15: Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that road communication, medicare and education would be the three top priority sectors in the next annual plan to usher rural and far-flung areas in a new phase of development aimed at connecting cut- off areas bringing everyone under medical cover and universalizing education.

He was addressing a public meeting at Budhal about 225 km from here in Rajouri district. He said since he took over as Chief Minister attention has been focused on integrated development of hitherto left under-developed areas.

He said various schemes have been launched in these areas, which have now started showing results on ground. "It has been felt that inaccessibility, poor roads, inadequate medicare facilities and drop-outs from schools at the elementary level have contributed reversely in the process of development making far-off, hilly and backward areas away from speedy economic growth.

To address this problem and open avenues of progress for backward areas more widely road connectivity, expansion and upgradation of health facilities and universalization of education at elementary level and its expansion on higher levels have received significant fillip", Mr. Azad maintained.

The Chief Minister said within next five years every village would get connected with roads and covered under health-cover and education schemes. He said large scale infrastructure development in almost all sectors has already started with the liberal financial assistance from the centre for which he expressed gratitude of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to UPA Chairperson Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Mr. Azad said it is a great matter of pride and pleasure for people of J&K that central government and Planning Commission of India approved the state’s proposal for pre-poning budget session enabling to pass the annual plan in the month of January. He said this will help in a big way to complete development works within the prescribed time frame especially in the areas where because of cold weather working season remains lesser.

Referring to the traditional brotherhood and amity between various sections in Budhal, Chief Minister said that the state’s speciality and greatness is in its secular temperament. He said the pluralistic culture of J&K nurturing in an atmosphere of love and tolerance is unique and renowned throughout the world.

The Chief Minister said that in order to create lasting peace and remove all bottlenecks and hurdles being created by violence, all matters are being settled through negotiation and dialogue process between India and Pakistan is also going on.

Mr. Azad said that five working groups announced by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to deal with all issues pertaining to people of Jammu and Kashmir are deliberating and suggesting recommendations to create peaceful and development-oriented atmosphere in the state.

Mr. Azad was accorded a rousing reception by thousands of people who had come from far-off areas to listen to Chief Minister.

MLA Thakur Puran Singh speaking on the occasion highlighted the achievements of Mr. Azad during the past over one year.

Among those present on the occasion were Minister of State for Industries and Commerce Dr. Romesh Chander Sharma, Member Parliament Madan Lal Sharma and Vice-Chairman Pahari Board Shabir Ahmad Khan.

Top wanted Munna Janwari escapes again
LeT arms consignment seized

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 15: Sopore's most wanted Lashkar-e-Toibba militant, Shaukat Janwari alias Munna, has once again managed to escape from a Police operation even as his arms consignment has been seized and some functionaries of the organisation arrested. In another dramatic operation, Police have seized Lashkar money worth Rs 1.50 Lakh from Palhalan, Pattan, and arrested three operatives of the guerrilla outfit.

Informed sources told the EXCELSIOR that over a specific information, Sopore Police and SOG conducted a raid on Batpora locality of the appletown last evening. According to the tip off, Lashkar-e-Toiba's most wanted militant of Sopore area, Shaukat Ahmed Janwari alias Munna Janwari, was present at a particular place alongwith some of his associates. As Police swooped on the locality, Munna and his associates escaped. While running away, they rolled a truck tyre down into the Jhelum which remained afloat.

Failing to establish contact with the militants, Police recovered the rubber tyre. A huge arms consignment, including 18 hand grenades, 19 rifle grenades, 10 magazines and 300 rounds were found in the tube. Though Munna managed to escape, his associate and discharged J&K Police constable Ghulam Nabi Dar S/o Abdur Rehman Dar R/o Chogul, Handwara was arrested alongwith a truck driver, namely Feroz Ahmed Dar S/o Ghulam Ahmed Dar R/o Handwara, who has been living at his new house in Zainakot area in Srinagar outskirts.

During sustained interrogation, Ghulam Nabi Dar and Feroz Ahmed Dar revealed to Police that north Kashmir's most prominent militant, after Salah-ud-din alias Bilal, Furqan of Lashkar-e-Toiba had sent the arms consignment to Munna Janwari. Ghulam Nabi Dar, who has himself been discharged as constable in J&K Police in 1993 and whose brother has been a militant, divulged to his interrogators that Furqan had packed the arms and ammunition in two pouches and concealed the same in the stepni of Feroz Ahmed Dar's truck, bearing registration number PB 10C-9588. Two AK-56 rifles were tied to the bottom of the vehicle.

As directed by Furqan, Ghulam Nabi carried the consignment all the way to Sopore in Feroz Ahmed's truck. As the rifles and the tyre containing 37 grenades were being received by Munna and three more of his associates, Police reached the spot. Munna and his men escaped with two AK-56 rifles but they threw the tyre into the river which was successfully seized by the Police party.

Meanwhile, Police in Baramulla district conducted another raid over a specific information at Palhalan in Pattan area and arrested two Lashkar operatives. Cash worth Rs 1.50 Lakh was recovered from them. During sustained interrogation Ghulam Mohiuddin Sheikh alias Noor Khalid of Hanga, Handwara, revealed to Police that Furqan had handed over the money to another Pakistani militant, Janbaz, who sent it to one Fayaz of Palhalan through Noor Khalid. It surfaced that as per the Lashkar instructions received on his cellphone, Fayaz passed on the money to one Suhail Ahmed Mir of Malpora, Sopore, who had been similarly directed to hand over the cash to another Pakistani militant, namely Usman, in Palhalan area. Suhail and Fayaz were arrested and the cash seized.

In yet another operation, Baramulla Police claimed to have arrested a militant of Al-Barq outfit, namely Zahid Ahmed Dar alias Doctor S/o Sonaullah Dar R/o Seeloo, Sopore, who had been evading arrest after he caused a scooter blast near St Joseph School at Baramulla on June 13 this year. Sources said that Zahid revealed how Zahid had received the scooter in Rafiabad-Sopore belt and driven it to Baramulla to cause the blast. Zahid revealed that the scooter had been handed over to him by one Naseer at Marazigund, Watirgam, and told on behalf of "Al-Barq chief Hyder" (a Pakistani militant) to target an army convoy in Baramulla.

Sources said that Naseer had already been arrested by Police and one AK-56 rifle had been recovered from his home in Sopore.

Centre competent to enact laws for J&K: HC

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Dec 15: Justice YP Nargotra of State High Court Jammu wing has decided a constitutional point and held that the Parliament was legally competent to enact the Motor Vehicle Act for the state of J&K under amendment order 1965

The constitutional point was raised in a writ petition challenging the advertisement issued by Jammu and Kashmir Service Selection December 29, 2005, wherein it invited applications for the post of Motor Vehicle Inspector (survey) and Motor Vehicle Inspector (Tech) for the State Cadre as well as for the Divisional Cadres of Jammu Division and Kashmir Division.

In response to this notification, the petitioners alongwith other candidates submitted their application.

However, the prescribed qualifications for the post were changed and a corrigendum was issued.

The petitioners being not satisfied with modified eligibility qualification, challenged the legality of corrigendum on the apprehension that they may be thrown out of the competition on account of their ineligibility to appear under the new criteria setout by the corrigendum.

According to the Advocate Daleep Kumar Bangotra appearing for the petitioners, the post of Motor Vehicle Inspector (survey) and (tech) are governed by the Jammu & Kashmir Transport controller’s (subordinate) service recruitment rules 1974 and are referred to in clause (IV) under category ‘B’ of Schedule ‘A’ appended to the rules, in which the qualification prescribed is the same as was in the original notification of December 29, 2005, therefore, the qualification prescribed by the corrigendum being contrary to the recruitment rules and was invalid.

Justice YP Nargotra after hearing Advocate Bangotra, Additional Advocate General BS Salathia appearing for the State, Advocate SK Shukla and Advocate Abhinav Sharma appearing for the other respondents observed that the post of Motor Vehicle Inspector is in the cadre of Transport Department. The state in exercise of the powers under section 124 of the constitution of J&K has enacted the J&K Transport Controllers (Subordinate) Service Recruitment Rules 1974 for regulating the recruitment into this cadre. As per the schedule the eligibility qualification is Diploma in automobile engineering atleast with five years experience. From the bare reading of section 213 (4) it is manifest that Central Govt has been empowered to prescribed the minimum qualification for the officers who may be appointed in the Motor Vehicles Department.

According to the Central Act, the minimum general educational qualification of a pass 10th standard and diploma in automobile engineering or diploma in mechanical engineering (3 years course).

The question arising for consideration was which out of the two qualifications can be validly deemed to be the necessary eligibility qualification for the post of Motor Vehicle Inspectors for the purpose of recruitment.

Justice Nargotra referred a judgment of Supreme Court titled S Satya Pal Reddy Vs Govt of AP and held that from the observations of Apex Court, it stands firmly settled that the State Govt as a necessary adjunct is entitled to prescribe the qualification for the recruitment of conditions of service for the officers to be appointed in the Transport Department. However, while prescribing the same, the State Govt may accept the qualification or prescribed higher qualifications but in no case can prescribe any qualification less than the qualification prescribed by the Central Govt under sub section 4 of section 213 of the Act.

In the present case by the recruitment rules, the State Govt has now prescribed the eligibility qualification for the said post, but the same was lesser than the qualification prescribed by the Central Govt. Therefore, in view of the provisions made in sub section 4 of section 213 of Motor Vehicles Act 1988, the qualification prescribed by the Central Govt has to be treated as the minimum qualification, and the qualification prescribed by the State Govt in the recruitment rule has to be taken as the additional qualification to the extent it is not included in the qualification prescribed by SO 443 (E) of June 12, 1989.

However, the contention of advocate appearing for the petitioners was that this said position of law would apply in the State of J&K only if the provisions of Motor Vehicles Act are held to be applicable to the state. His contention was that the power to enact the Motor vehicle Act follows from entry 35 of concurrent list of seventh scheduled of the constitution of India. The Court held that the contention of the counsel for the petitioners though is attractive but without any force. The same appears to be based on misconception of law. the Justice held adding that Article 246 of the Constitution of India, is extended to the State of J&K by the constitution (application to J&K) order 1954 in its modified form is that 246 Subject-matters of Laws made by the parliament and by the Legislature of States. Not withstanding any thing in Clause (2) Parliament has exclusive power to make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in list I in the seventh schedule (in this constitution referred to as the union list), Justice Nargotra held.

He observed that undisputedly, the Motor Vehicles Act comes within entry 35 of the concurrent list. It may be appropriate to mention here that Article 246 has been extended to the State of Jammu and Kashmir under constitution, order, 1954 issued under Article 370 of the constitution, the relevant part of the Article 370 of the constitution provides that Article 370, temporary provisions with respect to the state of J&K, the provisions of Article 238 shall not apply in relation to the state of J&K and the power of parliament to make laws for the state shall be limited.

The Court further said that amendment order, 1964, entry 35 was omitted, meaning thereby the power to legislate to mention against this entry was withdrawn by the State. However, by the constitution (application to Jammu and Kashmir) amendment order 1965), the entries for which the Parliament could legislate were redefined and certain sections out of this lists were omitted and by application the rest of the entries were restored meaning thereby the power for legislating in regard to the said entries, included entry 35, was conferred upon the Parliament. In view of the law laid down by the Supreme Court both the qualifications have to be taken side by side. On one hand the state is empowered to prescribe the qualification in the recruitment rules in terms of J&K Constitution and on the other hand the Central Govt is empowered to prescribe the minimum qualification in exercise of the power vested in it under sub section 4 of section 213 for acquiring the eligibility to the post of Motor Vehicle Inspector. It is therefore, necessary that the candidates must possess both the qualifications as prescribed by the State as well as Central Govt, the the Court held.

With these observations Justice Nargotra dismissed the petition along with CMPs being without merit with the direction to respondent Selection Board to proceed with the selection process and interim direction if any shall stand vacated.

2 PP Div officials arrested by VOK

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 15: Two officials of the Pir Panjal Division of Forest Department were arrested today after they were caught red handed while demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 3,000 from a small scale entrepreneur at the Divisional Forest Office at Budgam by sleuths of Vigilance Organisation Kashmir (VOK).

SSP Vigilance, Anantnag-Pulwama-Budgam, Naseer-ud-din Wani told the EXCELSIOR that one Mohammad Ibrahim Bhat of Udeena, Sonawari, approached him the other day with the complaint that his maimed brother Ghulam Hassan Bhat had applied for licence to set up a plainer and small scale joinery unit but the officials of Forest Department were demanding huge amounts of money as bribe from him. His application had been routed to DFO PP Division Budgam through Conservator of Forest's Office for necessary report. On the receipt of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from PP Division, CCF Kashmir was supposed to issue the licence.

Even as DFP PP Division, Ghulam Sibtain Kirmani, had marked the application to the incharge Lease Clerk and junior assistant, Firdaus Ahmed Bhat, and asked him to process the same favourably and quickly, Bhat told the applicant that he would write a positive report only if he received a sum of Rs 8,000 which, according to him, was the "fixed amount" for such cases. The junior assistant did not relent when the applicant's brother requested him to lower his demand to just Rs 2,000-3,000. VOK registered case FIR No. 51/2006, P/S VOK under section 52 of Prevention of Corruption Act, read with section 161 of Ranbir Panel Code and launched the investigation over Ibrahim's complaint.

A VOK team, headed by Inspectors Mohammad Shafi Dar and Mohammad Yasin, arranged an independent witness from the State Health Department and laid a trap to catch the identified junior assistant red-handed. Rather than accepting the bribe directly from Ibhaim, the Junior Assistant Firdaus Ahmed Bhat S/o late Mohammad Sultan Bhat R/o Palpora Noorbagh, asked helper-cum-dispatcher Azmat Ali Qureshi S/o late Mohammad Yusuf Qureshi of Lal Bazar, to receive "eight" from the applicant in a separate room. While Qureshi, himself brother of a DFO and in close relation of two more senior Forest officials, received the "first installment" of Rs 3,000 from Ibrahim, he was caught red-handed by the VOK team in presence of independent witness. As he revealed that he had done the "mistake" of acting on behalf of the Lease Clerk, Firdaus was also arrested on the spot.

Mr Wani said that the VOK team recovered about Rs 6,000 from Firdaus and about Rs 5,000 from Qureshi during their physical frisking. He said that VOK would soon complete its investigation and produce a challan before the designated court against the two accused.

Meanwhile, sources said that the VOK raid on PP Division caused a flutter at the nearby DC's Office and Sheikh-ul-Alam Environmental Hall where the Minister of Transport Hakeem Mohammad Yasin was addressing a meeting of officials. On this occasion, many officials lamented that a network of clerks having its nucleus in CCF Kashmir's office and spread over all the three Kashmir valley circles and many territorial divisions was openly fleecing all applicants, including department's own employees, and some senior officials of the department were the real beneficiaries and patrons of these broad daylight collections.

Tosha Khana safe
Devastating fire at Mubarak Mandi complex

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 15: A mysterious and devastating fire broke out in that portion of historical Mubarak Mandi complex which houses treasury of Maharaja’s period, commonly called " Tosha-Khana".

The Tosha-Khana, which reportedly has valuable articles, gold ornaments and decorative materials, utensils, etc, was, however, saved from any damage.

This historic complex is witness to four devastating fires that reduced most of its wood work items to ashes during the past 20 years and caused extensive damage to this grandeur.

As the cause of the fire could not be ascertained, an inquiry is being ordered into the incident and police directed to record the statements of the staff present in the complex at the time of incident.

Though about a dozen rooms surrounding Tosha Khana suffered extensive damage and all sorts of paper record of Hospitality and Protocol Department, maintaining the treasury, were destroyed yet Tosha Khana was saved from being gutted after four hour long fire-fighting operation.

Eye-witnesses and staff of Hospitality and Protocol Department told the EXCELSIOR that dense smoke started emitting from the rooms in the backside of the complex at around 2.05 pm and they immediately ran out of the complex for safety.

Staff of the State Archives Department’s branch on the upper floor of the Tosha Khana also came out of the complex and ran for safety as the fire was spreading at a fast pace. Director Archives Khurshid Ahmed Qadri called Fire and Emergency Services Department and informed about the fire in the Mubarak Mandi complex.

Director Fire Services G M Bhat and Joint Director R S Sodhi alongwith several fire tenders rushed to the spot and started fire-fighting operation. Sensing gravity of the situation, they pressed more fire tenders from almost all the fire stations thereby raising the strength of fire tenders to 14.

Inspite of hectic efforts of the firemen the official record of the Hospitality and Protocol Department could not be saved as the entire complex was chocked with dense smoke. However, the record in the branch of State Archives Department was saved.

Two firemen—Mohd Iqbal and Jagpal fell unconscious because of inhailing of carbon monoxide gas while several others complained of pain in the chest and sedation.

Despite this, they continued fire-fighting operation by pressing all modern equipment into service. At around 5 pm, the fire was controlled but it was not possible to reach upto the main entrance of the Tosha Khana because of smoke chocked rooms.

This prompted the firemen to use smoke exhausters and lighting towers to pave the way for the entrance upto Tosha Khana’s main entry point. After about one hour long smoke exhausting operation, the firemen reached upto the intended portion.

As the keys to open the door were not available with the staff of Tosha Khana at that time, the locks were broken in presence of Additional Deputy Commissioner Rajinder Singh and Tehsildar Mahesh Misri. In the meantime, Divisional Commissioner Parmod Jain also reached the spot to take the stock of situation.

The locks of the Tosha Khana were broken to ensure that the precious items of Dogra rulers remain intact. As no damage to the Tosha Khana was noticed, the treasury was again sealed in presence of senior officers.

When contacted, Minister for Roads and Building Gulchain Singh Charak, who was in Delhi, said that an independent inquiry would be ordered.

"How the devastating fire broke that too when staff and security personnel were there is a matter of concern", he said.

Veteran journalist and former Member Parliament D C Parshant, when approached, said "it’s not Tosha Khana but Toshak Khana. It’s the place where the Maharajas and Maharanis used to keep all their precious articles and ornaments".

The door of ‘Toshak Khana’ was such a huge that even elephants used to enter the same for decoration especially on the occasion of festivals. "What happened to the articles like gold chairs, palkis and large number of highly costlier decorative pieces after 1947 is not known to anyone", he regretted.

It is worthwhile to mention here that three incidents of devastating have already been reported from the complex in past. In all the earlier incidents major portion of the complex got badly gutted and their remains are still a testimony of neglect of the complex which has historical importance.

HC for Dal Conservation Fund

SRINAGAR, Dec 15: The State High Court has directed the authorities to set up a ‘Dal Conservation Fund’ and appealed to the people to contribute in it to save this world famous lake from extinction.

A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Bashir Ahmed Khan and Justice Bashir Ahmed Kirmani, also asked the State Chief Secretary to submit a fresh status report on the Dal Lake.

The court gave fresh directions on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Syed Iqbal Tahir Geelani.

The Bench directed the Chief Secretary to immediately convene a meeting of the high level co-ordination committee set up under the court orders and ask its nodal agency (Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department) to submit a fresh status report by the next date of hearing.

The court said the time was being granted subject to the payment of Rs 25,000 by the Urban Development Department which should be deposited with the Registrar (Judicial).

The Bench directed Registrar (Judicial) to open a "Dal Conservation Fund" and deposit the amount (Rs 25,000) in it. The fund would be open to the public for contributions.

The Bench also heard the arguments put forth by the LAWDA vice- chairman, who took over recently and brought to its notice the difficulties being faced by him in implementing court orders.

The court authorised him to submit his suggestions within one week to the Chief Secretary who was directed to consider these in the meeting of the high level coordination committee so that the practicable demands were fulfilled.

The status report filed by the State Pollution Control Board noted that all Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) of UEED, SKIMS and some other hotels, including the Grand Palace and Centaur, were not conforming to the requisite standards.

The bench directed the hotel management to be present in person on the next date of hearing and asked the PCB Chairman to monitor these STPs periodically and submit a fresh report to the court. (UNI)

3 more J&K Haj pilgrims die

SRINAGAR, Dec 15 : Three more Haj pilgrims from Jammu andKashmir have died at Mecca in Saudi Arabia during the past few days,taking the toll to four so far, officials said today.

They said in all 28 pilgrims from India have died so far.

The officials said 71-year-old Abdul Gaffar Khanday (passportnumber 45732 and cover number jk-1608-2) died of cardio respiratoryarrest due to hypoglycaemic coma at Mecca yesterday.

Earlier, 59-year-old Abdul Aziz Bhat (passport number 46648 andcover number jk-2000-2) had died of multi organ failure due to acuterenal failure at Mecca on December 10.

Also on the same day, 65-year-old Ali Mohammad Dar (passportnumber 105576 and cover number jk-2492-1) died of cardio respiratoryarrest due to ischaemic heart disease at Mecca.

Before that on December 9, 79-year-old Ahadullah Sheikh (passportnumber 41012 and cover number jk-33-4) died of hypovolamic(haemorrhagic) shock due to polytrauma following road accident atMecca, the officials added.

The other casualties from India include eight from Kerala, sevenfrom Uttar Pradesh, five from Karnataka and one each from Bihar,Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. (UNI)

Azad visits Northern Command

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 15: Chief Minister Ghulam Nazi Azad today visited Northern Command Headquarters in Udhampur and reviewed security scenario on Line of Control (LoC) and hinterland with General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Lt Gen Deepak Kapoor.

Official sources said Mr Azad was briefed by Lt Gen Deepak Kapoor on counter infiltration operation on LoC and anti-militancy operations in hinterland.

The Chief Minister was also apprised about the Army’s initiative to win hearts and minds of the people through friendly projects like ‘Operation Sadhbhavna’.

Various aspects of co-ordination between the Armed forces and the State administration were also discussed in the meeting, sources said.

The Chief Minister was also accompanied by his Principal Secretary Anil Goswami.

No quota in defence services: Army Chief

HYDERABAD, Dec 15: Chief of Army Staff General J J Singh today said the defence forces would not allow ‘minority’ quota in the defence services as they were against reservation in providing employment, based on socio-economic factors of certain communities.

Speaking to newspersons here, on the sidelines of a combined graduation parade of Air Force Academy, Mr Singh said "merit is the only criterion for recruitment to the defence forces. There is no reservation for any community. We are against minority quota in defence forces".

Stating that the efficiency in defence forces would be maintained with ‘merit’ only, he said "we will not allow minority quota in defence".

Conditions in the defence services would be improved to attract more women, he also announced. To a query, Mr Singh said there was perfect coordination between the three forces.

There was no shortage of officers in the defence as all defence academies were full with new cadets every year, he added. (UNI)

Retd ACP gets death penalty

NEW DELHI, Dec 15: A Delhi court today awarded death penalty to a former Assistant Commissioner of Police for torturing two persons to death in judicial custody nineteen years’ ago.

Terming the offence as "rarest of rare", Additional Sessions Judge Rajinder Kumar ordered that accused Rishi Prakash Tyagi be hanged till death.

The court found him guilty under sections 302 (murder), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.

The court also slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 on Tyagi for causing death of Mahender Kumar and Ram Kumar in Vivek Vihar Police station in east Delhi in 1987.

The court also rejected Tyagi’s mercy plea on the ground that he was a 65-year-old man and already undergone two cardiac surgeries.

Two close associates of Tyagi, former ACP K P Singh and a sub-inspector Tej Singh, though absolved of the murder charges were awarded one and three years of rigorous imprisonment respectively for protecting accused Tyagi and destruction of evidence.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 and Rs 30,000 respectively on K P Singh and Tej Singh.

Holding K P Singh and Tej Singh guilty of conniving with Tyagi, the judge observed, "it is evident that both of them did not obey directions of law intending to save his fellow policeman from legal punishment."

As per the prosecution, the victims, during the Janmasthami celebrations on August 16, 1987, entered into a scuffle with a constable posted at Circular Road, Vivek Vihar in east Delhi.

Later a case of assaulting a policeman was lodged against them and for forcing their surrender the cops arrested their family members and neighbours.

Subsequently both victims were taken into custody and policemen at the instance of convict Tyagi subjected them to torture following which they died at a hospital. (PTI)

Terrorist infrastructure in Pak intact: Antony

NEW DELHI, : Advising armed forces not to be complacent, Defence Minister A K Antony today said the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan was still intact despite a fall in infiltration.

"’There has been a decrease in infiltration.... But we should not be complacent," Mr Antony told a press conference after paying homage to martyrs of the 1971 Indo-Pak war on Vijay Diwas.

"Terrorist infrastructure across the border is still intact.... The terrorists are still getting support from the neighbouring country," he said.

The Minister said India remained fully committed to maintaining peace and stability with its neighbours in the region and in the global context through effective diplomacy, backed by credible military deterrence.

On the question of purchase of 126 fighter aircraft for the Air Force, he said these would be bought as soon as possible. (UNI)

Kashmir is under control despite insurgency: Army

SRINAGAR, : Despite the influx of militants across the Line of Control (LoC), security situation in Kashmir was "absolutely" under control, a senior Army official said today.

Speaking to the reporters here on "comparitively improved situation" in the valley, General officer Commanding of the Army’s 15 corps Lt Gen A S Sekhon said about 200 militants might have managed to sneak into this side during this year, similar to the related figures of previous one to two years.

But, the infiltration of militants was certainly on the decline, he said while referring to the measures taken like fencing of the LoC with night vision devices to stop the ultras from crossing the border.

Patrolling has also been intensified for the past three years, for which the security situation in the State was under control, he said.

He also credited "developmental activities" taking place incessantly in the valley for the betterment of the situation.

A good tourist season, a successful Amarnath yatra and decline in militancy-related incidents were all indicators of improving situation in the Valley, he said.

"However, the terrorist infrastructure like training camps, launching pads and communication hubs were intact across the LoC," Lt Gen Sekhon said, referring to Intelligence reports.

There has been a substantial decrease in killing of civilians, IED blasts, car bombs and other insurgent activities over the past year but only the number of grenade attacks have gone up, he said.

Sekhon said the ceasefire between Indian and Pakistan along the LOC is holding good and there has been no violation in this regard.

"We are glad that our neighbours (Pakistan) have also stuck to the ceasefire which has allowed the developmental activities and also facilitated the relief work after the October 8 earthquake last year," he said.

"The security forces have managed to neutralise 844 militants in the past year which includes 112 youth," he said describing about the militants who have surrendered before the forces.

A total of 76 Army personnel have been punished for their involvement in human rights violations, which included dismissal from service and rigorous imprisonment depending on the gravity of the offence, he said.

"Nevertheless, the track record of Indian Army is perhaps the best in the world compared to armies operating in similar conditions as that of Kashmir," he asserted. (PTI)