3 militants, civilian killed in Baramulla

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 24: Police and security forces have killed three of the six Pakistani cadres of Lashkar-e-Toiba, holed up in three operations, in Baramulla district since last evening. Meanwhile, suspected militants have gunned down a private transport agent in Pattan area of the same district in north Kashmir.

Informed sources told the EXCELSIOR that the 24-hour-long joint operation of Sopore Police and Rashtriya Rifles 22 Bn has ended with the death of both the holed up militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba at Dangarpora village of Sopore this evening. They said that none of the troopers was killed or injured though three constables of Sopore Police---namely Kafeel Ahmed, Farooq Ahmed and Jasbir Singh---sustained injuries. Fighting in the forefront, they were evacuated and admitted to a hospital for treatment. Spokespersons of Army, Police and militants identified the slain militant duo as Abu Usama Pehalwan and Abu Sa'ad, both Pakistani nationals.

Spokesman at headquarters 15 Corps, Col Hemant Juneja, claimed that Abu Usama was Al-Mansoorain outfit's "Chief of Operations" while Abu Usman alias Sa'ad was a "District Commander". Al-Mansoorain, widely believed to be a front name of Lashkar-e-Toiba, confirmed the death of two of its militants but did not mention them as 'commanders'. Its spokesman, Aamir Mir, said over telephone that the area was "extremely tense and disturbed" and it was not immediately clear whether Army had suffered any damage or not. When Police and Army claim of no collateral damage was pointed out to him, he said: "If it turns out to be true, it will be Army's first encounter of zero-casualty with Al-Mansoorain". He claimed that troops had suffered damage in all gunbattles with Al-Mansoorain till date.

Officials, however, admitted that it was for the first time in the last 12 months that Police and security forces had engaged militants in an encounter in the jurisdiction of Police Station Sopore. They said that the last encounter in Sopore had taken place at Agriculture Complex on December 22, 2005. They also admitted that the militants, particularly those of Lashkar-e-Toiba, had established an effective network of underground and overground cadres in Sopore belt in the last over one year but "a better coordination" between Police and security forces was now turning the tables. They claimed that the militants were now on the run as Police and security forces had neutralised a number of them and the process of detaining over two dozen "overground activists" under Public Safety Act (PSA) was presently underway.

Officials further claimed that the same militants, who had been killed at Dangarpora today, had killed a large number of civilians and beheaded a Territorial Army soldier of Gund Brath in October last. According to them, these very militants had attacked Army's convoy at Sopore on Friday where two civilians had died in retaliatory firing and three more had been left injured. They said that Police and security forces swooped on the hideout at Dangarpora after learning that militants had constructed a concrete hideout of 10x12 ft at the house of Rashid Dar which had its entrance through a wooden almirah.

Meanwhile, a Defence spokesman claimed that two militants had been killed by troops of Rashtriya Rifles 29 Bn in the 30-hour-long gunbattle at Behrampora in Pattan area of Baramulla district. Spokesman of Al-Mansoorain militant outfit claimed that only one militant, namely Abu Omar, got killed. He claimed that another militant, Abu Tahir, managed to escape and reached back safely to his hideout. Police officials in Baramulla maintained that the search in the debris was still incomplete. They said that Police had neither spotted nor received any dead body of militants till late this afternoon. As already reported, Commanding Officer of RR 29 Bn, Col G S Sarna, had died in the same operation on Saturday afternoon. An 11-year old boy Aqib Nazir was also ignored when he was lit by a stray bullet in one of his legs. He has been hospitalised.

Sources said that the third operation at Sadpora was being withdrawn as Police and security forces didnot find any of the militants or their weapons in the search operation in the last 24 hours. This operation too had been launched last evening on a tip off that suggested presence of two militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba at the hideout.

Sources said that suspected militants gunned down one Ghulam Mohiuddin Dar S/o Abdus Sattar Dar of Turka Batpora, Pattan, when he was coming out of the village mosque after performing the afternoon prayers at Shooch Palpora in Pattan area today. Father of seven children, Dar had gone to the mosque after paying a visit to his in-laws at the same village.

Meanwhile, on specific information of an arms and ammunitions cache, four army coloumns were launched for search in area of village Sheri, Uri, Baramulla today. During search of the area, two AK rifles, 1084 AK ammunitions, seven AK magazines, four pistols, five pistol magazines, 32 pistol ammunitions, two UBGL, 57 UBGL grenades, one disposal RL, 40 hand grenades, seven anti tank mines, five anti tank grenades, four improvised explosive devices, three improvised explosive device charger, nine detonator, one binocular, four kgs explosives, three rocket propelled grenade shells and three radio sets.

With the recovery of such huge war like stores the militants have got a setback in carrying out their anti-national activities, a Defence spokesman said.

UPA planning major surrender on Kashmir, says Advani
*Autonomy like formula unacceptable to country

LUCKNOW, Dec 24: The BJP today claimed the UPA Government was planning a "major surrender" on the Kashmir issue and warned against any new move with Pakistan to resolve the dispute without taking Parliament into confidence.

Senior BJP leader L K Advani said his party feared that the ruling UPA could compromise on Kashmir and cited Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s recent remarks, made in the wake of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s four-point proposal to resolve the issue, that "new ideas" to normalise relations with Islamabad were welcome.

"I would like to warn the country that the UPA Government is planning to make a major surrender on Jammu and Kashmir," Advani said in his address at the BJP’s national council meeting here.

He also referred to Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri’s remarks in a recent TV interview that New Delhi has supplied to Islamabad a "non-paper" on the issue.

"I demand that the Prime Minister, the Government of India and the new Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee place that non-paper before Parliament," Advani said, adding that New Delhi should "take no step further on Jammu and Kashmir" until then.

He cited news reports from Pakistan that the non-paper that Kasuri had spoken about referred to granting Kashmir a pre-1953 status.

Advani alleged that the Prime Minister was open to Kashmir’s joint administration with Pakistan. He criticised Singh for his remarks in response to Musharraf’s offer saying the Prime Minister was "powerless" in running the Government.

"When Musharraf made his first public statement about a four-point formula for Kashmir, no one in our country took it seriously. But all those who have anything to do with national security were shocked to hear the Prime Minister welcoming the General’s formula. The formula amounts to granting Independence to that part of Kashmir which is with India," he said.

Advani, who recalled that the NDA cabinet had rejected a proposal from its ally National Conference to give Jammu and Kashmir pre-1953 status, warned that the country would not accept such a formula at any cost.

He remarked that the first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru had made a "historic blunder" when he referred to the UN Security Council the issue of the Pakistani aggression on Jammu and Kashmir after India’s partition.

"But he (Nehru) did not hesitate for even one moment in taking stern action against the then Chief Minister the moment he came to the conclusion that plans were afoot to make the State Independent," Advani said. (PTI)

Charges framed against 9 persons
J&K Bank duped of Rs 6.6 cr

NEW DELHI, Dec 24: Finding prima facie evidence, a Delhi Court has framed charges against nine persons, accused of cheating J&K bank of Rs 6.6 crore, including the interest, by allegedly floating fictitious companies.

"You all in pursuance of criminal conspiracy, cheated by inducing J&K Bank for granting loan for the purchase of machinery from supplier companies, which was recirculated to the accounts of the main company without purchasing any machinery," said Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kamini Lau on Saturday.

The court, while framing the charges under section 420 (cheating) of the IPC, took into consideration that the three companies, which were formed only to facilitate the act, had reportedly made fake invoices that were produced in the bank for sanctioning a loan of Rs five crore.

The court also charged the accused under section 120b (criminal conspiracy)of IPC, contending that all the nine accused had entered into a conspiracy to do illegal act by illegal means with an intention to cheat J&K Bank.

The prosecution had alleged that the Shamkeen Group of Companies (SGC), being managed by the prime accused amit Chaturvedi, which comprised four companies had passed a board resolution in November 2001 for obtaining the loan amount.

They hatched a conspiracy in connivance of the directors and partners of three other companies for procuring the fake invoices, which were later submitted to the bank for approval of the loan, it claimed.

After the J&K Bank, Okhla Branch, disbursed the loan, the money was re-circulated through the accounts of these three companies and eventually was deposited in the account of SGC, the prosecution alleged.

Besides SGC, other accused charged for the offence are—Amit Chaturvedi, Praveen Juneja, Sandeep Ahuja, Om Prakash, Mahavir Prasad, Suraj Bhan, Brahmanand, Pankaj Kumar— most of whom were the directors and partners in the said companies.

The court also charged them under section 201 (destruction of evidence) of the IPC as the accused reportedly removed and destroyed the books of accounts with an intent to causing disappearance of evidence. They had also allegedly removed the main server of the computer containing financial data and accounts. (PTI)

Poonch exchange suffers damage in lightning

Excelsior Correspondent

POONCH, Dec 24: Telecommunication link to entire sensitive border towns of Poonch and Mandi and adjoining areas has been snapped following extensive damage caused to local telephone exchange in lightening.

The link continued to be snapped for the last more than 100 hours now. Hardly 5 to 10 % of the numbers could be restored by this afternoon with the inadequate support of local engineers at the station. The engineering wing was on the job round the clock while strong resentment was prevailing among the locals as no additional staff from Jammu or Rajouri was sent to deal with the emergency situation. Even the senior engineering staff from the Circle headquarters did not bother to assess the situation.

The problem erupted on Wednesday afternoon when during rain and thunder storm, lightening struck a 300-year-old temple of Mahakali in the heart of Poonch town and also adjoining Telephone exchange of BSNL. It caused extensive damage to exchange and a nearby shop where several electronic items including several TVs were damaged.

The sources said that nearly 2400 telephone connections were lying out of order in the town for the last few days and people were facing lot of hardships. Even the Army authorities and Paramilitary forces were facing difficulties in absence of telecommunication facilities. The District Administration has also turned as handicapped while functioning of the banks has also affected.

Sub Divisional Officer of the BSNL, Poonch Girdhari Lal and Divisional Engineer/GM of BSNL Poonch/ Rajouri Circle, Mr Razdan were not available for comments. Another engineer in the Circle however, told that nearly 100 chords have been damaged and one chord costs around Rs 10,000. Besides equipment has also suffered damage. He said in first 48 hours, no restoration work could be taken up. It is hoped to restore nearly 50 % numbers in next 12 hours.

Chief General Manager, BSNL J&K Circle, T R Wadhwa however, disclosed that concerned engineering staff was on the job and all the telephone connections are likely to be restored by Monday. The CGM said that loss of property is being assessed and he will not be able to give the exact details of loss of property. He said the instructions have been issued to the Divisional Engineer to restore the link in the shortest possible time.

3 militants held with 11 kg RDX

JALANDHAR, Dec 24: Three members of a lesser known terrorist group - International Sikh Youth Federation - were today arrested here and a large number of arms and ammunition recovered from them, police said.

A huge cache of explosives, arms and ammunition including 11 kg of RDX, 11 detonators, four hand grenades, 11 timer devices, two pistols with four magazines, 100 live cartridges, 10 meter of wire and one walkie-talkie set was recovered from the arrested persons of Isyf-Rode group, Senior Superintendednt of Police, Jalandhar, Naunihal Singh told reporters.

The arms and other things had been smuggled into the country recently and were to be used for carrying out disruptive activities in the State in the coming days in the wake of the forthcoming Assembly election, Singh, who took charge as Jalandhar SSP two days ago, said.

Acting on a tip-off that some members of Isyf, who were carrying explosives, arms and ammunition, were moving in the district, a Special Police Operation was planned and Jaswinder Singh (23), a resident of Moga was arrested from the Chhotti Baradari area of the city and two kg of RDX, one hand grenade, two timer devices and two detonators were recovered from his possession, he said.

Subsequently, one Amolak Singh (52), a resident of Jagraon was arrested from Hardyal Nagar locality of the city and three kg of RDX, one hand grenade, three detonators, two timer devices, one pistol with two magazines and 50 cartridges were seized from him, Singh said.

On the basis of revelations made by the arrested persons, their third accomplice Paramjit Singh Dhaddi alias Punjab Singh (54) was also arrested from Ropar district and six kg of RDX, two hand grenades, six detonators, seven timer devices, one pistol with two magazines and 50 cartridges, walkie-talkie set were recovered from him.

Singh said that during the preliminary interrogation the arrested persons revealed that during the period of terrorism in the state Dhaddi remained active and a case under the provisions of TADA was registered against him.

Dhaddi went to England in 1970 and used to visit India frequently and had also been visiting Pakistan regularly to conspire revival of militancy in the state with his accomplices in the neighbouring country, Singh said, adding that this year too he had visited Pakistan twice and met a number of dreaded terrorists including Lakhbir Singh Rode, chief of Isyf-Rode group and Ranjit Singh Neet of Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF).

He claimed that the Pakistan based terrorists had also arranged Dhaddi’s meeting with operatives of the Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence Agency.

A case under various sections of the Explosives Act, and the Arms Act has been registered against the accused.

Singh did not rule out more arrests in the case and said the ISI link of the accused could be established after their interrogation.

On a query whether police have given clean chit to former Akal Takhat Jathedar Jasbir Singh Rode to whom all the accused were closely associated, he said his role was being investigated. (PTI)

17 houses gutted in Doda village

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 24: At least 17 houses were gutted in a fire which broke out in Ungai village near Paddar belt of Doda district last night.

Several cattle and other pet animals of villagers were also burn in the fire last evening, which engulfed thatched houses in the village, official sources said.

However, there was no report about any loss of human life, they said, adding that fire was controlled this morning. As many as 107 people of the village were affected as 17 houses were totally damaged in the fire, they said.

Tehsildar Paddar Vinesh Mahajan along with a police team have reached the village to ascertain the cause of fire and assess the damage caused by it.

Strictures against ex-DC Kathua, 2 others
CBI books NGO for Rs 30 lakh fraud

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Dec 24: The Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) have established a fraud worth Rs 30 lakh committed by a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and charge-sheeted five persons including two brothers running the NGO besides a Government officer. The agency has also passed serious strictures in its investigation report against two Central Government officers and a former Deputy Commissioner of Kathua and recommended Regular Departmental Action (RDA) against them.

Official sources said the Centre Government had released an amount worth Rs 54.82 lakh for execution of Watershed Development projects at Ghagwal in Kathua district in favour of a NGO "Be Sahara Village Industries", headed by Jia Lal Verma as chairman, who had contested last Parliamentary election from Udhampur-Doda segment as a national party's candidate.

Out of Rs 54.82 lakh released in favour of NGO, Rs 49.34 lakh were provided by Government of India and Rs 5.43 lakh were contributed by the State Government as its share.

Investigations concluded by the CBI revealed that out of Rs 54.92 lakh sanctioned in favour of the NGO, hardly Rs 20 lakh worth works were executed on ground and nearly Rs 30 lakh were misappropriated.

Accused charge-sheeted in the scam are Jia Lal Verma, NGO’s chairman, his brother Suresh Kumar, NGO’s Secretary, both residents of Hiranagar, Amarjeet Sen, Assistant Project Officer R/o Kishtwar, Doda, Anil Kumar and Ravinder Kumar Sharma, who had allegedly helped the NGO in procuring fake receipts to show that works had been executed on ground.

Accused have been booked under Sections 120-B, 409, 420, 465, 468 and 471 and Sections 5(2) read with 5(1)(d) of J&K Prevention of Corruption Act.

Sources said the CBI has also recommended initiation of Regular Departmental Action against a the then Director and Deputy Director Information Education and Communication, Union Ministry of Rural Development and a former Deputy Commissioner of Kathua. Letters to this effect have been written to the Government. These officers were not charge-sheeted as sufficient written material was not found to corroborate their involvement in misappropriation of funds but, according to sources, all these three officers had definitely helped the NGO knowingly that it was not going to execute work assigned to it.

According to sources, the NGO had no experience in the field of working in watershed projects. As the Centre had to accord work to experienced persons, the NGO managed to get a certificate from a concerned officer that it had successfully implemented many rural development waste land development projects in Kathua and that its past record had been excellent.

"The fact was that the NGO had not been entrusted with any such project with the project in question. It obtained a false certificate from former Project Officer, District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), K L Kakkar (now retired) that the agency had executed such works estimated at Rs 2 crore", sources said.

Investigations by CBI revealed that Dr Rama Krishnnaiah, the then Deputy Commissioner, Union Ministry of Rural Development and Lalitha Kumar, the then Joint Secretary, Department of Land Resources in New Delhi had repeatedly written to the State Government to either change the NGO or execute the work through a Government agency on the ground that the NGO had no experience in the field.

"Despite this, the DRDA Kathua had released funds to the NGO in contravention of the provision of the sanction order. The Union Ministry found this action of DRDA, Kathua as highly irregular, took serious note of irregularities and even threatened to cancel the project and recover released amount of Rs 49.39 lakh from DRDA, Kathua", sources said, adding since local officers were hand-in-glove with the NGO they didn’t bother about the objections raised by officers of the Centre Government and released amount in favour of the NGO for execution of work, most part of which was misappropriated.

They added that on the basis of complaints from villagers that the NGO hadn’t executed any work on the ground despite being released the amount in full, the CBI took up investigations in the case and established the fraud.

The CBI has also passed strictures against two Central Government officers, who were instrumental in release of funds and a former Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, who had gone out of way to help the NGO secure Central funds, sources said.

Lt Gen Panag replaces Kapoor as
GOC-in-C Northern Command

NEW DELHI, Dec 24:Lt Gen Deepak Kapoor has been appointed as the new Vice Chief of Army Staff.

He will succeed Lt Gen S Pattabhiraman, who is retiring on December 31, 2006.

Kapoor, currently the Northern Army Commander, is likely to become the next Chief of Army Staff when Gen J J Singh retires on September 30, 2007.

Lt Gen H C Panag, at present General Officer Command (GoC) 21 core, will be the new Northern Army Commander.

Lt Gen K S Jamwal, GoC Army Training Command, has been shifted as the Eastern Army Commander. He has the distinction of Commanding Desert Corp earlier.

Lt Gen M L Naidu, Commandant of Army War College, has been appointed as the new GoC-in-C of Army Training Command at Shimla. Naidu has commanded Leh-based 14 Core and also had a stint as military attache in Germany. (PTI)

Two children killed in blast

Excelsior Correspondent

POONCH, Dec 24: Two children were killed when they fiddled with an anti missile explosive device while playing at Jhalas in Poonch sector this evening.

Reports said the explosive device went off with a bang when the children played with it killing both of them on spot. They have been identified as Mohd Munshi, 12, son of Mohd Bashir R/o Jhalas and Munna, 10, son of Bittu R/o Bandi Chechian.

SHO Poonch Mohd Rafiq rushed to the site of blast along with a police party and shifted the victims to hospital.

Reports said three more anti missile devices were recovered from Jhalas nullah during searches by security forces.

Bodies of the children will be handed over to their families tomorrow morning after post-mortem.

Cameras at Rly Stn non-functional

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 24: Even after four months of their non-functioning, no step has been taken to replace ‘obsolete’ close circuit cameras at Jammu Railway Station despite the fact they are otherwise vital part of maintaining hawk’s eye on the activities of visitors.

Informed sources told the EXCELSIOR that majority of the total 16 close circuit cameras have turned non-functional since August 2, 2006 while the remaining are either static or not giving clear picture thereby not rendering the very purpose of their installation.

"The agencies responsible for the fool proof security at Jammu Railway Station, which has become target of terrorists a number of times in the past, have brought this problem to the notice of concerned authorities of the Northern Railway at Ferozepur Division a number of times but of no avail", the sources disclosed.

Even engineers deputed by the Ferozepur Division to make the close circuit cameras functional have conveyed to their seniors that all the cameras have outlived their utility and need to be replaced with new ones, the sources further said.

Terming non-functional close circuit cameras as a matter of serious concern, they said that since August only correspondence was being taken up between the Crime and Railway Police and Railway authorities. "It has not yet been decided as to whether the cameras would be repaired or replaced", the sources added.

Although the security agencies have been ensuring fool proof security even in absence of close circuit cameras yet the added advantage which they were deriving from the cameras was missing for the past more than four months, the sources said.

For Railways installation of new cameras should not be a major issue especially when the same can ensure security to its property as well as the passengers visiting the State from different parts of the country, the sources added.

CRPF jawan commits suicide

SRINAGAR, Dec 24: A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle inside a Company Headquarters here today, official sources said.

Head constable Ravinder Singh, a driver with 122 Battalion CRPF, fired upon himself by his service carbine at Company Headquarters Bemina here, the sources said.

They said Singh died on-the-spot and a case has been registered.

The motive behind his taking such an extreme step was not known immediately, the sources said. (PTI)

Two Army officers killed in Siachen

NEW DELHI, Dec 24:Two army officers were killed in a mysterious fire that destroyed a forward post at Siala area on the Siachen glacier, official sources said today.

Major Sudhir Chikara of the Dogra Regiment and Captain Arun Shankar, a doctor attached to the company headquarters at the post at an latitude of over 20,000 feet, died in the fire, they said.

According to the sources, the cause of the fire, which broke out yesterday afternoon, is yet to be ascertained. A court of enquiry has been ordered.

Most posts in Siachen are constructed with fiber material that is highly cumbustible but provide adequate shelter from temperatures can fall to minus 30 to minus 40 degrees celsius in December. (PTI)