Ceiling limit for farmers increased, payment reduced
Govt gives a new look to Roshni scheme
Refugees, other categories out of purview of scheme
‘J&K will turn bankrupt & I don’t want that to happen’

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 28: Following resentment shown by some sections of society against recently introduced Roshni scheme, the coalition Government today revised guidelines of the scheme extending more concessions to farmers including enhancement of their ceiling limit from 10 kanals to 100 kanals and reduced payment of the Government land held by them from 15 per cent of market value to 10 per cent.

The Government also exempted several categories from the purview of Roshni scheme which include LB6/C 1958, LB7/C 1958, land allotted in 1950 and 1976 besides all refugees of 1947, 1965 and 1971. Inhabitants of all unauthorised colonies, which have been regularised by the Government upto 2005, have also been taken out of the ambit of Roshni.

The revised scheme was described as a "historic step" of coalition Government after 1950s decision of the then Chief Minister Sheikh Mohd Abdullah granting land to the tiller by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad while addressing a press conference at his official residence here this afternoon after presiding over a Cabinet meeting in the morning.

The changes which were made in Roshni ordinance today will be introduced in the form of a legislation in ensuing budget session of the Legislature.

Mr Azad, flanked by Health and Education Minister Mangat Ram Sharma, Minister of State for Revenue Prem Sagar Aziz and Chief Secretary C Phunsog, said today’s Government decision was even more significant than land to the tiller order as it will not only help the farmers but other household owners as well.

Pointing out that Roshni scheme was first introduced by Farooq Abdullah Government in 2001 but it couldn’t be implemented due to some reasons, he said the scheme was revised by the coalition Government a month back. However, due to misgivings in understanding the ordinance as well as situation created by some vested interests including land grabbers, a section of the society had been agitating against the scheme.

Giving details of the revised scheme, the Chief Minister said the ceiling of 10 kanals agriculture land for the farmers has been increased to 100 kanals. "If a farmer has 70 kanals of his own land, he can keep with him 30 kanals of Government land, if it is under his possession. Similarly, if he has 30 kanals of own land, he can keep 70 kanals of Government land being irrigated by him", he said, adding as per the original Roshni scheme of 2001, the farmers had to pay 100 per cent charges of market rate while "we have fixed only 10 per cent charges of the market rate". In previous ordinance, issued about a month back, the Government had kept these charges at 15 per cent.

The Government has decided to keep several categories out of the purview of Roshni scheme which meant that the people under these categories were not required to make any payment for regularisation of their land.

These categories include State land on which tenancy rights were granted to the cultivators in terms of Government Order No: LB 6/C of 1958 dated 05-06-1958 and proprietary rights were to be conferred in terms of Govt. Order No: S/432 of 1966 dated 03-06-1966 irrespective of the fact whether mutations in favour of the occupants have been attested or not; state land allotted for cultivation to the landless agricultural labourers and petty land holders by virtue of Government Order No: LB-7/C dated 05-06-1958; State land which escheated to the Government by virtue of Big Landed Estates Abolition Act, 1950 and Agrarian Reforms Act 1976 and is in possession of various persons; State land which was allotted to displaced persons of 1947, 1965 and 1971 in terms of Cabinet Order No. 578/C of 1954 dated 7-5-1954 over which ownership rights were conferred on the displaced persons in terms of Cabinet Order No. 254/C of 1965 dated 7-7-1965 read with Cabinet Order No. LB-40 of 1969 dated 01-01-1969; and land under unauthorized residential colonies regularized by the Housing and Urban Development Department upto 2005, shall not fall under the ambit of the Roshni scheme.

Besides, residents of all unauthorised colonies, which have been regularised by the State Government upto 2005, were also not required to make any payment for regularisation, Mr Azad announced.

Regarding people holding lease land in their possession, they will be required to pay a sum of 25 per cent of market rate upto 2 kanals, 40 per cent between 3 to 9 kanals and 100 per cent above 10 kanals.

The people, whose lease period has expired, will have to pay 35 per cent charges of market rate for 2 kanals of land, 50 per cent charges between 3 to 10 kanals of land and 100 per cent for above 10 kanals of land. In 2001 Roshni scheme, charges for both categories of land on lease had been fixed at 100 per cent of market value.

For encroachments made on Government land for residential purpose (i.e. the people having no lease or allotment), the charges have been fixed at 40 per cent of market rate upto 2 kanals of land and 50 per cent between 3 to 10 kanals of land. Beyond 10 kanals of encroached land will be evacuated by the Government.

In Commercial land category where land is on lease, the Government has fixed 30 per cent of market rate charges and 45 per cent if the lease had expired. For Government land encroached for commercial purpose, charges have been fixed at 60 per cent of market value.

As far as institutions including educational, religious, non-profitable organisations, social charitable trusts, societies and political parties which were recognised by the Election Commission are concerned, they will be charged 15 per cent of market rate for land on lease, 25 per cent in cases where lease period has expired and 50 per cent for unauthorised occupation.

As earlier, in all schemes, different incentives will be given to the people for making payment upto a period ranging between 3 months to 1 year and disincentives for period between 1 to 2 years. The scheme will be closed in two years.

The State land, other than agricultural land, occupied in excess of 10 kanals in the areas under Jammu Development Authority (JDA) and Srinagar Development Authority (SDA), will be retrieved by the Government. The State land in possession for 60 years, which is barred by limitation (adverse possession) has also been kept outside the purview of the Act. Vesting of ownership will be applicable only for State subjects.

The Chief Minister said the Government has also tied up with Jammu and Kashmir Bank Ltd (JKBL) to help people secure loans for making payments under Roshni scheme. The JKBL is working on three schemes of 5 years, 10 years and 15 years return payments. The schemes will be known to the people soon.

Replying to a question, Mr Azad said the Government hadn’t worked out any amount which it would realise under Roshni scheme. However, he added the amount recovered from the scheme will be spent on development of the State.

Declining to take any political question including the one on self-rule, he said while "we are giving different slogans, we must know that even the salary we pay to the Government employees is given by New Delhi.

"Ours is the only State where 100 per cent salary of the employees come from Delhi", he disclosed.

"While we want road, power and water, we will also have to mobilise our resources. I was surprised to know from my Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra counterparts that their revenue from State resources was Rs 35,000 and Rs 32,000 crore per year while we earn a revenue of only Rs 250 crore a year", Mr Azad said.

"We can’t always survive on slogans. We will have to develop infrastructure, healthcare, education and road. Healthcare was worst in rural areas and bad in cities due to over congestions. There were no road connections in many areas", he pointed out.

He added that idea of the coalition Government is to spent the money generated from Roshni scheme on development. Otherwise, he said, all this money was going into the pockets of few hundred racketeers.

Mr Azad cautioned that if revenue generation was not improved, the State may turn bankrupt one day and will have to be mortgaged as it had taken huge loans. "I don’t want that stage to come".

In reply to a question that concessions are being given to land encroachers, the Chief Minister said the Government had to take a realistic view of the entire scenario. During last 5 year when Roshni scheme was introduced by the NC Government, only 17 cases have come so far for regularisation.

"We have to be practical. We have given concessions and we expect people will respond. Still if they don’t, the encroachments will have to be removed", he warned.

Regarding some discrepancies in the scheme, the Chief Minister disclosed that outcome of the scheme will be reviewed after every one to two months and problems will be sorted out.

Army’s operational preparedness at 95 pc: VCOAS

NEW DELHI, Dec 28: The Indian Army is at its "highest stage" of defence preparedness, and set to meet any challenge, outgoing Army vice chief Lt Gen S Pattabhiraman today said.

"I’m leaving the Army in good condition... The force’s operational preparedness is at the highest stage. This can be gauged by the percentage of the men, material and equipment ready for any eventuality... The figure is currently 95 per cent," the VCOAS, who demits office on December 31, told mediapersons after inspecting a Guard of Honour here.

Lt Gen Pattabhiraman — the first Engineer Officer to become vice chief — noted he had been closely associated with the efforts to increase the force’s efficiency and in its modernisation for the last few years.

"In the last five years, I dealt with these issues and modernisation in an array of posts — Additional Director-General Military Operations, XI (‘Vajra’) Corps GoC, Director General Information Systems, and GOC-in-C, Western Command, prior to this," he said, adding that modernisation was ‘firmly on track’ while the force’s firepower would soon get a massive boost with the selection and induction of the new 155-mm Howitzer set to begin "very shortly."

On the recent spate of suicides and fratracidal killings in the force, especially in high tension-areas such as J&K, Lt Gen Pattabhiraman, terming all these incidents as "saddening," said a range of measures were being implemented, with the active support of the Defence Ministry, to deal with the situation.

"In the last two to three months, there have been several such cases... We feel sad... However, the Army has a lot of resilience and I am sure we will get over the problem," he said.

To a query on the "increasing" infiltration from the soft and porous borders with Nepal and Bangladesh, he said that the trend had been noticed and was being dealt with.

"So long as the terrorist infrastructure is intact, there is bound to be infiltration. They are not succeeding in J&K because of the fence, the surveillance devices and heightened guard, so they have to try elsewhere," he said.

However, Lt Gen Pattabhiraman noted that there was no "reason for alarm," as both the civil intelligence agencies and military intelligence were tackling the situation.

"MI, as well as intelligence agencies under the MHA, are working on this jointly," he said, adding that they were undertaking "intelligence-based operations to deal with the situation." (UNI)

Tax sops to J&K, NE may continue

NEW DELHI, Dec 28 : Excise duty and other tax exemptions for attracting industries to hilly States including Jammu and Kashmir, may not go away, but could be limited to fresh investments in the Union Budget for 2007-08.

"Government may fine-tune the (industrial package) scheme in 2007-08 budget by limiting tax concessions only on fresh investment. It will blunt the criticism of the scheme and check shifting of the industrial units (from plains to hilly States)," official sources said.

They said that the Government is also likely to retain the tax sops offered to Jammu and Kashmir and the North Eastern States considering them as special cases, sources added.

Meanwhile, Central Board of Direct Taxes spokesperson A K Sinha said that "there is no proposal in the Finance Ministry at this stage to withdraw tax concessions to Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal."

The Centre had, in August, exempted new investments made in these two States before March 31, 2010 from excise duty. The scheme was to have expired on March 31, 2007. Besides, the Government has notified Income Tax Holiday for units in these States up to March 31, 2013.

Admitting that these tax concessions were opposed by neighbouring Punjab and Haryana, Sinha said: "tax concessions have been given to investors, considering geographical disadvantage of these States. The purpose of these concessions still remains to be achieved."

He said only certain pockets in Uttaranchal and Himachal like Rudarpur and Baddi have benefited from these concessions, and industrial houses are reluctant to invest in other areas.

According to Finance Ministry sources: "considering the political fall-out of withdrawal of these taxes, especially in Uttaranchal where Assembly elections are scheduled by March, Finance Minister P Chidambaram has ruled out any possibility of withdrawal of these tax exemptions."

Although these area-specific tax concessions cost the exchequer about Rs 1,500 crore in 2004-05, these exemptions were extended considering that only few industries have so far invested in the hilly States.

Industries in Uttaranchal and Himachal enjoy a number of sops, including a 10-year excise holiday and 100 per cent income tax waiver for first five years.

Besides new industrial units can also avail of a 15 per cent capital subsidy or a maximum of Rs 30 lakh.

Referring to shifting of some industrial units from Punjab, Haryana and neighbouring States, sources said: "Government may fine-tune the scheme in 2007-08 budget by limiting the tax concessions only on fresh investment..."

While officials in Uttaranchal insisted that there was no proposal to do away with or limit tax concessions, Himachal officials said they had taken such reports to the notice of the Chief Minister. In his recent visit to Punjab, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced a special package for the border area industrial units. (PTI)

Sachar report to be implemented in toto: Govt

NEW DELHI, Dec 28: Centre today said that the recommendations and observations of the Sachar Committee on Muslims will be implemented fully next year.

Minorities Affairs Minister A R Antulay’s remarks came a day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s assertion that the Government was committed to the uplift of minorities.

"We will not only implement the recommendations of the Sachar Committee but also its observations," Antulay told reporters after addressing an international conference of Dalits and Muslims here.

"They will be implemented in toto in 2007," he said when asked about a specific time frame for their implementation.

He also spoke about plans to carry out amendments in the Wakf Act to give more powers to the Central Wakf Council. Such an amendment, aimed at clearing Wakf properties worth thousands of crores from tresspassers, is expected to be brought about in the budget session.

In his address to the conference, the minister mounted a fierce attack on the BJP, saying it "hates" the word minority. "You were in power for six years and you did not create any ministry for minority welfare. You hate the word minority," Antulay remarked without naming the BJP.

He maintained that it was the Government’s key responsibility to ensure welfare of minorities, both linguistic and religious, who he said, make up more than 30 per cent of the country’s population.

"If minorityism does not have to be in India where else should it be in the world," he asked. (PTI)

3 militants, civilian killed in Baramulla

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 28: Three infiltrating militants and a civilian have died in two separate incidents of violence in Baramulla district since last evening.

Defence sources told the EXCELSIOR that working on intelligence inputs, troops of 23-Rajput laid an ambush in Banwali area, in general area of Boniyar, close to LoC in Uri sector last night. In the wee hours today, troops observed the movement of some militants infiltrating into the Valley. As they were challenged to halt, militants opened fire which evoked retaliation from Army. Troops killed three militants of the group and recovered arms and ammunition, including three AK-56 rifles, from the site of the encounter. Officials said that Police received the dead bodies of three unidentified militants.

Sources said that troops had extended the search operation to a vast area to look for other militants of the group. They said that the failed infiltration attempt was part of a series of intrusions of trained and armed guerrillas from PoK. These sources said that at least 500 Pakistan-trained militants had infiltrated into the Valley from different launching pads in PoK in the last six months. Even as about 100 of them were killed in different interceptions by security forces in areas close to the LoC and 120 more surrendered before Police and security forces, nearly 300 are believed to have successfully reached their destinations in the hinterland. Of them over a hundred more are believed to have been eliminated by Police and security forces in the Valley plains in different operations.

Meanwhile, reports from Baramulla added that unidentified gunmen, believed to be militants, appeared at Nadihal village in Rafiabad area last evening and they called out one Shehnawaz Ahmed War S/o Sonawullah War. Shehnawaz was gunned down at first site. While militants of the area have spread word that Shehnawaz was a counter-insurgent, sources working with Army, civilians insisted that he was a former counter-insurgent who had snapped his relations with the armed forces. Some of the officials declined to deny or confirm Shehnawaz's counter-insurgent background. They said that he had died on the spot.

Reports from south Kashmir said that Tata Sumo drivers did not operate passenger bus services in Shopian area following the death of a Sumo driver in a clash between militants and security forces at Rakh Littar village on Tuesday evening. As already reported, troops had hired one Mukhtar Ahmed Sheikh's Tata Sumo, allegedly forcibly. He got killed, alongwith a soldier, when militants ambushed the vehicle near Rakh Littar. Later, militant outfit Al-Mansoorain claimed to have left three soldiers dead and five more injured in the ambush. On the second consecutive day today, Tata Sumo drivers suspended operations in Pulwama-Shopian belt, raising allegation that troops had been forcibly hiring their vehicles and pushing the drivers into the jaws of death.

The drivers organised a sit-in at Shopian and urged the civil administration and Police to ensure that no more vehicles were forcibly hired by troops and no more drivers got killed in such incidents.

At Patlibagh, Sambora, near Pampore township, hundreds of people gathered on the road in protest against the manhandling of a sawmill owner, Noor Mohammad Bhat, by CRPF. Residents shouted slogans and demanded an end to the atrocities allegedly being perpetrated on civilians by Police and security forces.

Agencies adds:

A police spokesman said a hand grenade was recovered from an orchard at Naslapora village in the Central Kashmir Badgam district last evening.

He said second Rashtriya Rifles apprehended a militant of Al-Badr Mohammad Yousuf Dar alongwith two Chinese hand grenades and one damaged wireless set at Wadwan Budgam. Another Al-Badr militant Mohammad Sultan Wani was arrested at Kupwara while Fayaz Ahmad of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) was nabbed at Doorsa Lolab in North Kashmir alongwith two wireless sets.

Troops of Baramulla Brigade arrested 9 OGWs of Lashkar-e-Toiba from Khadniyar, Jalsheri and Drangbal and recovered a huge quantity of arms and explosives from their possession, Brigadier Manjit Singh said.

3 more mobile phones, SIM seized in jail

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Dec 28: There was no let up in recovery of mobile handsets and SIM cards from high security Kot Bhalwal jail with authorities today effecting recoveries of three Nokia mobile telephones, one more SIM card and a Nokia battery charger from inside a barrack of the jail during searches.

While six SIM cards seized earlier by CID and police from Kot Bhalwal jail and three others burnt by three militants belonged to a private telecom company, the SIM card recovered today was a pre-paid connection of Bharatiya Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), official sources told the Excelsior.

During continued frisking of detenues especially the militants and searches inside barracks, jail authorities today seized three Nokia mobile telephones (all 1100 models), one BSNL SIM card and a battery charger.

The mobile telephones, charger and SIM card had been kept by the militant detainees on blades of ceiling fans. The new place of hiding mobile telephones and SIM card had been chosen by the militants as all places, both inside and outside the barracks, were being thoroughly frisked by the jail staff and police personnel after December 17 crackdown in which 21 detenues and 15 cops were injured, sources said.

One of the mobile handset had been slightly broken, they said, adding they were, however, in working condition. The BSNL pre-paid card was also activated.

According to sources, searches were still going on inside the jail even after the recovery of a large quantity of luxurious items including wall to wall carpets, television sets and coolers etc on the day of police crackdown in the jail to restore discipline among unruly detenues, who had been refusing to go inside the lock-up.

With today’s recovery of SIM card, a total of seven SIM cards have so far been recovered by jail staff, CID and police teams while three others along with hand sets were burnt by the militants after the recovery of first two mobile phones and SIM cards.

While two SIM cards were recovered in the middle of October when Kot Bhalwal jail came into limelight, two SIM cards were recovered on the day of crackdown and two others the next day. Three militants including Abdul Hai, a Pakistani, Aftaab Ahmed Abbasi of Srinagar and Altaf Khan of Poonch had admitted during questioning by CID that they had burnt their mobile telephones and SIM cards inside the jail after two mobile phones were recovered from Gurmeet Singh and Altaf Choudhary in October.

Sources said today’s recoveries indicated that some militants hadn’t mend their ways even after December 17 crackdown which was evident from the fact that they had hidden mobile handsets, SIM card and a charger atop ceiling fans.

Pointing out that all ceiling fans had been removed on the day of crackdown for searches and installed again, sources added that mobile handsets, SIM card and charger might have been kept by the detenues in their pockets as it was not possible to physically frisk all 340 detenues and kept atop fans later.

Possibility of some more mobile phones and SIM cards inside the jail is also not ruled out. Searches will continue inside the jail premises after a gap of some days to completely sanitise the jail.

Police have, meanwhile, identified 51 militant detainees including 40 Pakistanis and 11 locals, for indulging in rioting on December 17. Since they were already in judicial lock-up, police authorities will approach the court on whether to question them at jail premises or Ghrota police station where a FIR was registered against them charging them with a criminal conspiracy and rioting, sources said.

After allowing family members to meet detenues in the jail for last three days, jail authorities have again asked families and relatives of the jail inmates to now report to jail after Eid festival. This was decided keeping in view the ongoing construction work of damaged barracks, walls and gates, which were damaged in police crackdown and vandalism by the detenues on December 17.

Bhagat posted RTO Jammu

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Dec 28: Government has ordered transfer of Faqir Chand Bhagat, Joint Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation and posted him as Regional Transport Officer, Jammu against available vacancy with immediate effect

NDA delegation calls on President
Kalam intervenes, CM’s fresh offer to Mamata

KOLKATA/NEW DELHI, Dec 28 : As President A P J Abdul Kalam intervened to seek an early resolution in the face of deteriorating health of fasting Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today made a fresh offer to break the deadlock on Singur land row.

The day was also marked by the mysterious death of an aged couple who had sold their land for the Tatas’ project, which police said a case of clear murder.

Following Kalam’s telephonic talk with both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Bhattacharjee to see that the impasse over land for the Tatas’ car project is resolved to enable Mamata to call off her hunger strike, Bhattacharjee sent to her a letter the contents of which were not disclosed.

He held a high-level meeting at the State Secretariat after the President spoke to him in the morning before sending the letter.

"I have sent another letter the contents of which I will not disclose. Let’s hope for the best," the Chief Minister said. In the morning in Jalpaiguri, he had reiterated that the State Government could not go back on the project.

It was learnt that the Chief Minister has offered to lift prohibitory orders in Singur area and discuss the allegation of forcible acquisition of land there for the Tata Motors small car project across the table.

State Home Secretary P R Roy said efforts were on to end the deadlock and "we hope to get their response by tonight."

Soon after receiving the Chief Minister’s letter, Trinamool leaders were closetted in a meeting and said a decision on his fresh offer would be made known after that.

President Kalam spoke to the Chief Minister for the second time in three days and to the Prime Minister expressing serious concern over Mamata’s health condition and seeking a way to enable Mamata to end her fast.

The Prime Minister too voiced concern over Mamata’s health and hoped she will end her fast.

Stepping up its campaign on Singur issue, an NDA delegation met Kalam and sought his intervention to save Mamata whose condition further worsened with her blood pressure dipping and complaints of muscle cramps and pain in the chest and the abdomen.

She remained on respiratory support and her condition was being constantly monitored by a 7-member medical team constituted by her Party.

An army medical team was also asked to stand by following a directive from the Prime Minister yesterday that Central authorities extend all medical care for Mamata. NDA convener George Fernandes said they requested the President to intervene to save the life of Trinamool chief.

"The ball is now in the court of (West Bengal Chief Minister) Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee," BJP chief Rajnath Singh said after meeting Kalam.

Mamata has been refusing to break her fast unless the State Government returned the ‘forcibly’ acquired land from farmers at Singur for the Tata Project. (PTI)

One killed, 28 hurt in mishaps

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 28: A pedestrian was killed and 28 others were injured in two separate road accidents in Poonch and Doda districts.

Police spokesman said that a woman was killed and her two children received severe injuries when they were knocked down by a speeding and negligently driven Maruti car on Chinta-Bhaderwah road.

After hitting the pedestrian, the Maruti car rolled down but the injured driver managed to escape from the spot.

All the three injured pedestrians were rushed to hospital where the woman was pronounced as brought dead. The condition of her two injured children was stated to be critical when reports last came in.

The deceased has been identified as Shakuntala Devi, wife of Gian Chand of Pandku.

Meanwhile, At least 26 persons were injured, some of them seriously when a private bus skidded off the road and fell into a gorge near Mandi on Poonch-Loran road this afternoon.

A police spokesman said that mishap occurred when the ill-fated bus No. JK02G/5723 was on its way from Loran to Poonch town. As the bus had hardly covered a distance of nearly 6 kms, it went out of control after some mechanical failure and rolled down into a gorge.

Immediately after the mishap at around 3.30 pm, the Army personnel from the nearby 40 Rashtriya Rifles unit, rushed to the spot and launched rescue operation under the supervision of Lt Col Ashoka Rana and Major Vikrant. With the timely help from the Army, the injured were immediately shifted to Mandi hospital in Military vehicles. Later police party also joined the operation. Most of the victims are locals.

Out of the total 26 injured persons including conductor and driver, eleven were discharged after first aid at Mandi hospital whereas, 15 were undergoing treatment there. About half a dozen of them were later shifted to District Hospital, Poonch. Their condition was said to be stable. The district Administration directed the Health authorities to provide every possible help to the accident victims.

Probe ordered into Marwah killings

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 28: Authorities today ordered a magisterial inquiry into the killing of two civilians, one whose body was recovered from Drerna forests and another who was killed in police firing at Drerna in Marwah area of Doda district yesterday.

Situation in Marwah was under control today, DIG Udhampur-Doda range Lalat Indu Mohanty said. SSP Doda Manohar Singh and Deputy Commissioner Doda Pawan Kotwal today flew-in to Marwah and met with the agitated people.

They assured people that a magisterial inquiry will be held into both the killings and compensation paid to the next of kin of people under rules.

Following assurances, the people withdrew their protests.

It may be recalled that a large number of people had tried to torch Marwah police station yesterday afternoon in protest against the alleged custodial killing of a civilian, a charge denied by police. In police firing, another civilian was killed. In firing and stone pelting, 10 persons including two SPOs were injured.

Sources said burial of two civilians couldn’t take place today due to delay in conducting post-mortem. A doctor is being taken to the area tomorrow morning for post-mortem after which both civilians will be buried.

DGP orders promotions

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 28: Director General of Police Gopal Sharma today ordered promotions in the Ministerial Executive Cadre (Stenography) and Ministerial Executive Cadre (General).

According to the order, five Sub-Inspectors of Ministerial Executive Cadre (Stenography) have been promoted to the rank of Inspectors in the same cadre. They are Avtar Krishen Bhat, Shamas-ud-Din Bhat, Mohammad Yousaf, Mohammad Munawar and Bal Krishen.

Five Assistant Sub-Inspectors of the same cadre have also been promoted to the rank of Sub-Inspectors. They are Ashok Kumar, Mahesh Gupta, Mohammad Aslam, Rakesh Kumar Ganjoo and Mohammad Hanif.

In the Ministerial Executive Cadre (General), four Sub-Inspectors have been promoted to the rank of Inspectors. They are Javaid Iqbal, Mohammad Amin, Harbhajan Singh and Mohammad Ramzan.

Four Assistant Sub-Inspectors (M) of Ministerial Executive Cadre (General), who have been promoted to the rank of Sub-Inspector, are Hilal Ahmad, Nimi Raina, Makhan Singh and Ghulam Ahmad.

The DGP also ordered promotion of seven Nursing Orderlies, who have undergone or qualified Medical Assistants Course. They are Ramesh Kumar, Mohd Yaqoob, Bashir Ahmad, Altaf Hussain, Dinesh Mohan, Bashir Ahmad and Vinod Dhar.

6 rockets seized in Rajouri

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 28: Army and police today recovered six RPG rockets during a search operation in Lehran forest area under the jurisdiction of Lam police post in Nowshera tehsil of Rajouri district.

The rockets had been wrapped in large bags and concealed under a tree in the forest area, reports said.

Another search operation was carried out by Army, police and SOG at Salhutri in Poonch district last night. Recoveries made during the searches include one AK 56 bore semi automatic rifle, 38 rounds, two AK magazines, five Chinese grenades and five plastic remote IED boxes.

No arrest was made from the hide-out from where the recoveries were made.

Two held with 2 kg charas

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 28: Police today arrested two narcotics smugglers at Fruit Mandi Narwal and recovered two kilograms of charas from their possession.

Police spokesman said that on a specific information a police party from Narwal Police Post led by Sub-Inspector Rajeshwar Sharma under the direct supervision of Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Jammu City East Mamta Sharma and SHO Trikuta Nagar Inspector Parshotam Mengi conducted a raid in Fruit Mandi Narwal and arrested two narcotic smugglers.

The smugglers were about to strike a deal when the raid was conducted by Narwal Police with the assistance of Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu headed by Inspector Sunil Singh Jasrotia.

From the possession of smugglers, police recovered two kilograms of charas which they had brought from Anantnag.

The arrested smugglers have been identified as Mohd Sayeed, son of Kamaal Din of Kokernag, district Anantnag and Pawan Kapoor, son of Surinder Kapoor of Channi.

A case under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPSA) has been registered against them and further investigations were on.

Police has also launched a hunt to nab two absconding associates of the narcotic smugglers.

Declare ceasefire in J&K: Mirwaiz

SRINAGAR, Dec 29: Asking the Centre to declare a ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir, the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference today said it was ready for talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh but the dialogue should be held on the "basis of equality".

"We are ready for talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh if the Government is willing to do so. But the talks should be held on the basis of equality," Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq told reporters here.

He said "communicators", who were conveying messages between Hurriyat and the Centre over the resumption of peace talks, were active behind the scene. The last round of talks between Hurriyat and Singh were held in May this year.

Asked about the deadlock in talks, Mirwaiz held the bureaucracy in New Delhi responsible for it. "It is they (bureaucracy) who decide on the timing. The Prime Minister is inclined for resolution of Kashmir issue," he said after returning from a 15-day Europe tour.

Mirwaiz said during his trip, he studied the Irish peace process and came to the conclusion that the British and Irish leadership had shown political will and vision in an attempt to resolve the dispute.

It is high time the leadership in India and Pakistan showed the same vision and take steps which would lead to a lasting solution to Kashmir issue according to the wishes and aspirations of the people here, he said.

He said although there were similarities in the Irish peace process and the Kashmir issue, the two issues were unique.

"At least the vicious cycle of violence in Ireland has come to a halt. Government of India should declare a ceasefire in the state so that people can feel the change," he said.

The peace process between India and Pakistan will bear no fruit and cannot move forward unless the people of Jammu and Kashmir get relief on the ground, Mirwaiz said.

While everybody was talking about the Indo-Pak peace process, there were certain issues which needed to be resolved between New Delhi and Srinagar, he said.

"The issue of human rights violations is one of the biggest impediments in the peace process. Despite the assurances from the Prime Minister, rights violations are going on unabated," Mirwaiz said.

He said the suggestions of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf were positive which need to be discussed. "We want to discuss these suggestions with Pakistan leadership and at the sametime, we can put forth our suggestions to leadership in New Delhi.

Mirwaiz said India should realise the changing geo-political situation as was evident from appeals from orgainsations like Orgainsation of Islamic Conference and European Union Parliament which have called for resolution of Kashmir issue as per the wishes and aspirations of the people.

Every country, be it the US, United Kingdom or Norway, is willing to play its role in resolving the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan, he said.

Mirwaiz said India should realise that no issue or problem can be resolved by use of force as has been witnessed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

On the alleged biased report prepared by European Parliament Rapporteur on Kashmir Baroness Emma Nicholson, Mirwaiz said a Hurriyat delegation would visit Brussels soon and brief the members of the European Parliament about the ground situation here.

"European Parliament delegations will be visiting India and Pakistan some time next year. I assure you that the Nicholson report on Kashmir will not stand," he added. (PTI)

13 cross over to PoK from Teethwal relief point

SRINAGAR, : A large number of villagers gathered on this side of river Kishenganga to bid an emotional farewell to 13 people who crossed over to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) from the Teethwal crossing point.

While 11 people went across the Line of Control (LoC) to meet their relatives in PoK, two returned to their homes in Muzaffarabad.

Hundreds of people had gathered on both sides of river Kishenganga, which demarcates the LoC in Tangdhar sector of Kupwara district, to witness the crossing.

People bade a tearful send off to their relatives as they crossed a footbridge erected over the river which divides Chillana village in PoK from Teethwal in Jammu and Kashmir.

On October 29 last year, India and Pakistan agreed on opening five crossing points across the 742-km-long LoC to facilitate movement of people and relief material for survivors of the devastating 7.6 magnitude earthquake on October 8, 2005, which killed thousands of people and rendered millions homeless.

The five crossing points were Nauseri-Teethwal (Tangdhar), Chakothi-Kaman Post (Uri), Hajipir-Uri, Tattapani-Mendhar (Poonch) and Rawalakote-Chakan Da Bagh (Poonch). (UNI)