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India for freeze on setting up of defence posts along LoC NEW DELHI, Jan 17 : Seeking to further consolidate the Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs), India today proposed a freeze on setting up of new defence posts and defence works along the Line of Control (LoC) and announced its intention to extend the Munnabao-Khokrapar rail link to Ajmer. The Indian side also proposed holding of brigadier-level flag meetings on the first day of the two-day talks here between Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and his Pakistani counterpart Riaz Mohammad Khan, which marked launching of the third round of composite dialogue. Saran conveyed India’s strong concerns over unabated cross-border terrorism as the two sides reviewed the progress made in the dialogue process and looked forward to launching new CBMs. The Pakistani side proposed that there should be no permanent relocation of strike formations in forward locations and that the agreement on pre-notification of missile tests be extended to cruise missiles, sources said. Islamabad also suggested that the current "conducive environment" should be utilised for forward movement on Kashmir and other contentious issues, the sources said. The two sides noted the "positive developments" in the overall improvement in relations and reduction of "trust deficit," Sarna said. During the meeting, the Indian side presented two "non-papers" to Pakistan — one on an understanding on not to develop new defence posts and works along the LoC and other on holding of Brigade-Commander flag meetings, the MEA spokesman said. India also conveyed its intention to extend the rail link between Munnabao in Rajasthan and Khokrapar in Pakistan’s Punjab province, to be launched on February one, upto Ajmer to facilitate easy travel of Pakistani pilgrims, Sarna said. The Pakistani side appreciated the move, he said. "We are already in touch with the Railway authorities," he said. Sources said no time-frame could be given at the moment on extension of the link as work to build infrastructure would have to be undertaken in this regard. The draft MoU handed over by India to Pakistan in October last on measures to reduce risks of accidental or unauthorised use of nuclear weapons also came up at the meeting. The Pakistani side gave its "preliminary observations," Sarna said, adding "a detailed response will be given to us before the expert-level talks on nuclear CBMs later this year." He said developments on the nuclear CBMs were noted as one of the successes of the composite dialogue as was the implementation of the hotline between the Foreign Secretaries. The issues of Siachen and Sir Creek also came for mention during the meeting, Sarna said. Pakistan raised the issue of India commenting on the situation in Balochistan. Responding to this, Saran told the Pakistani side that India made the comment because "certain situation" had developed in the neighbourhood which was of "concern". The Indian side rejected as "unfounded" Pakistan’s allegation about New Delhi’s involvement in fomenting trouble in Balochistan, the spokesman said. Pakistan suggested that South Asia be converted into a ‘ballistic missile free zone’ and the two countries work against arms race, the sources said. Islamabad also proposed an agreement on accidents on sea, speedy return of inadvertent border crossers, ensure prompt exchange of prisoners and holding of discussions on threat perception to evolve a mechanism to address this problem. The two sides noted as "positive achievements" the decision to launch bus services between Amritsar and Lahore and Amritsar and Nankana Sahib, and successful implementation of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service and meeting points on the Line of Control. Civil aviation links, in the backdrop of an in-principle agreement on increasing the number of flights to 24 and adding one destination, were also discussed, Sarna said. The issue of free movement of media products between India and Pakistan also were discussed, he said. India’s response in the wake of the October 8 earthquake was appreciated by the Pakistan Foreign Secretary at the start of the talks, Sarna said. In this context, importance of the hotline between the Foreign Secretaries was also underlined. Khan said there was ground for some satisfaction at the progress made in the dialogue process. (PTI) Weapons looted from
police recovered Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, Jan 17: In a major achievement, Police and security forces have eliminated five important militants of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, including Shopian area's most wanted militant of the day Bilal Ahmed Sheikh alias Saifullah. Forces have also recovered both the SLRs which had been looted by militants from a Police picket in Shopian area on January 12. Informed sources in south Kashmir told the Excelsior that both the militants holed up at the residence of a Congress party's councilor at Shopian were found dead in the rubble of the destroyed house today. As already reported, two militants, including Harkat-ul-Mujahideen's most wanted commander in Shopian, Bilal Ahmed Sheikh alias Saifullah S/o Abdus Salam Sheikh R/o Hind Sitapur, had got trapped in the operation that was launched by Pulwama Police and troops of RR 44 Bn last evening. Officials today confirmed the death of both the holed up militants and identified them as Bilal Ahmed Sheikh alias Saifullah and Shabir Ahmed Najar alias Talha R/o Manzgam Bren, Nishat. The operation had been launched over a specific information at the residence of a local Congress activist and Councilor in Shopian Municipal Committee, namely Nisar Ahmed Dahal, at Bongam in Shopian town. Troops apprehended Dahal's sister Ruby, detained her for sustained interrogation and claimed to have recovered from her possession Saifullah's mobile phone, with a BSNL SIM card. Sources said that Talha's mobile phone got destroyed in the overnight gunbattle. A senior official said that the Congress activist was "evading the arrest" even as Police were assiduously looking for him. According to official sources, Saifullah was responsible for nearly a hundred cases of extortion, kidnapping, civilian killing and attacks on security forces. Police and security forces had been looking for him for the last two years and, according to an official source, they had failed to get him dead or alive in as many as 25 operations. Officials described him as the most wanted militant of the day in Shopian-Kulgam belt. While the gunbattle at Shopian was in progress, troops of RR 09 Bn laid ambushes and launched a search operation in Kapran area late last night. They had intensified vigil and gathering of field inputs after militants had looted two SLRs from a minority-guarding Police picket at Rishinagri on January 12th. Sources said that during the operation at Batgund Heepora, near Kapran, not far away from Rishinagri, troops established contact with a group of armed militants. As they were challenged to halt, militants opened fire and made desperate attempts to escape. In retaliation, that continued for over two hours, troops gunned down three militants. Weapons and documents recovered from the site of the encounter described them as cadres of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. One of them was tentatively identified as Farooq Ahmed Chandal S/o Abdur Rehman R/o Mahore, Udhampur. A Defence spokesman said that troops recovered both the SLRs, which had been looted from the Rishinagri Police picket, as also a Chinese pistol from the militants killed at Batgund. As exclusively reported in this newspaper, militants had struck a wave of terror by killing two CPI (M) activists and leaving yet another critically wounded in a chain of strikes in Kulgam-Shopian belt of south Kashmir last evening. They included the CPI (M) State secretary Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami's nephew, Gulzar Ahmed Rather, who had been appointed as a Wireless Operator in J&K Police Telecommunication and was currently under training at Vijaypur, in Jammu. Today's reports said that Aijaz Ahmed Malla, who had been attacked at his village in Sholipora, was recovering at a hospital. Sources said that militants lobbed a hand grenade towards a CRPF picket at Batmalooo in Srinagar today. It, however, exploded in the air and failed to cause any damage. |
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Top LeT ultra
planning to enter city Excelsior Special Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 17: With the recovery of huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosive devices, the security forces and Jammu Police have frustrated the nefarious designs of the terrorists to executive attack on Republic Day. But on the other hand some dreaded terrorists of Laskhar-a-Toiba (LeT) have been desperately trying to sneak into Jammu city to intensify terror activities. "We have specific information that dreaded terrorist of LeT Abbu Tallah- active in Bhaderwah belt of Doda district is likely to enter Jammu city", disclosed General Officer Commanding (GoC) Tiger Division, Major General Jasbir Singh in an informal chat with media persons while displaying arms and ammunition recovered by troops in the intervening night of January 16 and 17. "Although Abbu Tallah-a foreign mercenary, is not able to enter Jammu city yet we are after him so as to track him down", Maj General Singh said. Pointing towards recovery of huge cache of arms and ammunition, he said that locations where recovery was made, clearly indicated that militants were planning to attack sensitive installations. "The locations of cache and condition of weapons/explosives indicates possibility of striking sensitive targets like military/cantonment, airport and MAM Stadium where preparations of Republic Day celebrations are in full swing", Maj General Singh said and added that the timely unearthing of cache will be a major blow to militants’ plan for attacking sensitive targets in Jammu to strike terror and disrupt Republic Day functions. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jammu, Mukesh Singh, who was also present on the occasion, did not subscribe to the suggestion that it was a security lapse that such a huge quantity of arms and ammunition have reached near Jammu city. "I donot think that it is a security lapse. With the timely action of the security forces a major tragedy was averted. SSP admitted that terrorists have been adopting alternative routes to enter the State while as their arms and ammunition have been smuggled through some couriers. He said that security has been intensified keeping in view the forthcoming Republic Day function. Acting on a tip off, troops launched a search operation in Raipur area close to M A M Stadium - the venue of Republic Day function and also at Jammu Airport this morning, Brigade Commander Miran Sahib, Brigadier Manjit Singh told reporters. He further pointed out that operation was jointly launched by the Army and local police. He informed that arms and ammunition were recovered from two locations near Raipur Satwari on the outskirts of Jammu city. Giving details about the recovery, Brigade Commander said ten kg of RDX/TNT, 15 electric detonators, 10 delay time devices, 10 time pencils and five metres of cordix wire and five pika rounds were recovered. Five radio sets, three Ak rifles, four magazines, 879 rounds, 13 handgrenades, one UBGL, four UBGL grenades, five pistols, eleven pistol magazines, 2200 pistol rounds, and one silencer were also found, he said. Sniffer dog ‘Yera’ played vital role in unearthing the arms and ammunition. GoC Jasbir Singh gave a pat to the pet. |
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CJI complains of attempts to influence selection of Judges NEW DELHI, Jan 17: Regretting that the standards of the Bar has declined over the years, Chief Justice of India Y K Sabharwal has complained that some people are trying to apparently influence the process of selection of judges to get their own men on the Bench. "A kind of atmosphere has been generated that without a godfather you cannot be a member of the Judiciary. If this is not halted what kind of Judiciary we will have?" Justice Sabharwal asked in the presence of Law Minister H R Bhardwaj. The CJI was delivering the annual Dr K N Katju Memorial Lecture on "Role of the Bar in a Democracy" here last evening. He said there was a tradition that no lawyer would decline an offer to become a judge as they considered it to be a call of the duty. However, in the changed circumstances, there were successful lawyers who politely refuse to join the Bench, Justice Sabharwal said. The CJI said that a few lawyers were so keen to become a judge that would they launch a campaign for it. Those who did not have anything to do with it would meet you with the bio-data of such lawyers and tell you that he was a suitable candidate, he lamented. Observing that this declining trend in the Bar had to be arrested, Justice Sabharwal advised the prospective judges that only integrity and honesty could be their godfather. Maintaining that similar was the position regarding designating lawyers as senior advocates, the CJI said lawyers must think over it as lack of good traditions in the Bar was bound to travel to the Bench. (PTI) Duggal reviews
Amritsar-Lahore bus arrangements WAGAH (PUNJAB), Jan 17: Ahead of the launch of the much-awaited bus service between Amritsar and Lahore, the Centre today gave a relief to the passengers by doing away with the formal cumbersome security vetting system. It also decided to set up a task force for developing the Wagah border check post, the entry point for the Amritsar- Lahore and the Delhi-Lahore bus services, on the Indo-Pak border to give it a truly international transit point look. The decisions were taken at a high-level meeting between Union Home Secretary V K Duggal, who was visiting the border area to review the security arrangements, and senior officials of the Punjab Government here, around 30 kms from the Golden Temple Town of Amritsar. He reviewed security and immigration arrangements ahead of the start of the inaugural bus from Lahore to Amritsar on January 20. The Indian side will ply its first bus on January 24. "We have decided to do away with the formal security vetting for passengers travelling from Amritsar to provide hassle-free travel," Duggal told reporters. He, however, added that there would be "quiet vetting" to find out the antecedent of the passengers. Earlier, the passengers after buying the tickets, had to get the security clearance from police among other security agencies. However, now this will be done by the Government without creating any hassle for the passengers. On purchase, the copy of the ticket would now go to the Intelligence Bureau, which would ascertain the whereabouts of the passenger before giving the necessary security clearance, official sources said. Duggal said it was better if the passengers book their tickets at least two weeks in advance so that security officials get ample time to check their antecedents. However, there would be no security clearance for children, women and senior citizens. He said the decision to constitute a quick task force was taken for developing the Wagah transit and boarding point to international standards. The task force would be set up within a week and it will submit its report in a month. The task force would comprise officials from town planning, commerce, tourism, customs and border management departments besides a representative from the Union Home Ministry. "Infrastructure is the key. We have to take care of the existing infrastructure and improve it," Duggal, who lead a high-level team, said after the meeting. Duggal expressed satisfaction over the security situation at the Wagah check point and said the Centre would look into the State Government’s demand for a package for border area development. "By and large the security situation here is pretty much under control and we are getting cooperation from all agencies concerned," he said. The Home Ministry plays the role of a nodal agency for development of border areas and provides Rs 18 crore every year, he said and assured support of the Central Government in this regard. He said the State Government officials have during the meeting raised the issue of economic depression in the border regions and asked them to submit a comprehensive plan for development of such areas. "We need not only a safe border, but also an economically-strong border...Prepare a well thought out package something on the lines of Indo-Bangla border", he said. Asked about the internal security situation in the wake of terror attacks in Bangalore, he said the domestic security scenario was firm and absolutely under control. "There is nothing to worry. It is important to note that for every one attack we have prevented at least five," he added. The meeting was attended by Chief Commissioner of Customs and Excise S S Bedi, Punjab DGP S S Virk, state Principal Home Secretary A K Dubey besides senior officials from the Union Home Ministry. Earlier Duggal also exchanged pleasantries with Lt Col Mohd Afzal Bhatti, who is in charge of Pakistan’s border point at Wagah, at the zero line.(PTI) |
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Doda road also
blocked Excelsior Special Correspondent JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Jan 17: The 300-kms long Jammu-Srinagar national highway stayed closed for third day while Batote-Kishtwar highway was also blocked today due to landslides. Two flights to Srinagar were also cancelled. However, all flights operated on New Delhi-Jammu route. Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was scheduled to preside over the District Development Board (DDB) meeting in Doda district today couldn’t land at Doda due to bad weather. In his absence, the meeting was presided over by Agriculture Minister Abdul Aziz Zargar. Mr Zargar and other Ministers reached Doda by road after camping at Patnitop last night. Batote-Kishtwar highway was also closed for traffic due to landslides at nine kms from Batote this afternoon, official sources said, adding efforts were on to clear the landslides and the highway was expected to be thrown open either late tonight or early tomorrow morning. Indian Airlines and Jet Airways flights to Srinagar were cancelled due to bad weather in Srinagar. Spice Jet flight, however, landed in Srinagar this morning, SP Jammu Airport, Raghubir Singh said. He added that all flights on New Delhi-Jammu route operated today despite continued rains here. Pilgrimage to Mata Vaishnodevi shrine went on uninterruptedly despite heavy rains at Katra, 13 km track and Mata Vaishnodevi Bhawan. Bhairon Ghati had yesterday experienced season’s first snowfall. Till 6 pm today, 4515 pilgrims had left Katra town for the Bhawan, SDPO Katra, Anil Magotra, said. He added that both tracks from Adh-Kunwari to Bhawan were through for the pilgrimage. Jammu-Srinagar highway remained closed for traffic for third consecutive day today due to fresh snowfall, rains and landslides at Nashri, Panthyal and Jawahar tunnel, the sources said. Over 400 load carriers were stranded on the highway while most of the passengers vehicles have been cleared. Tourist resort of Patnitop experienced fresh snowfall today. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) personnel continued to clear snowfall and landslides from the highway. However, their work was hampered due to continued snowfall and rains, the sources said. Plain areas of Jammu region continued to be lashed by rains for third day today affecting normal life. Upper reaches of Doda, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Poonch and Rajouri experienced snowfall while plains were lashed by rains. After overnight rains, most parts of the Valley including Srinagar received a fresh spell of snowfall this afternoon, the sources said. However, snowfall failed to disrupt air traffic to the Valley as the second batch of Haj pilgrims today returned back from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. Despite an end to the intense cold wave with improvement in temperatures, normal life in Srinagar remained disrupted as heavy snowfall preceded rains in the Valley. It was snowing heavily in the summer capital, where the night temperature has returned to normal after several weeks of sub zero temperature which had even resulted in the freezing of the famous Dal lake. The minimum temperature was recorded at 3.8 degree celisus in Srinagar for the first time this season, the sources said adding the summer capital received 3.3 mm of rainfall during the past one day. Batote received the highest rainfall of 71.2 mm followed by Banihal 63.2, Qazigund 24.4 mm, Katra 23.3 mm, Jammu 19.7 mm and Baderwah 17.4 mm, the sources said. Leh town recorded light snowfall while upper reaches had moderate to heavy snowfall for the past two days. Drass also experienced heavy snowfall since last evening. The streets are deserted with most shops remaining closed and people staying indoors because of icy cold winds sweeping the area. snow had accumulated on the roads and everything was covered under a blanket of snow in Kargil. Hundreds of Leh and Kargil bound passengers are stranded in Srinagar because of the cancellation of the flights. A Kargil-bound passenger Ghulam Nabi said he and more than one hundred other passengers are visiting the airport daily in an attempt to make it to their homes in Drass. A number of Kargil-bound passengers had also purchased tickets for Leh, he said adding the Leh flight has also been cancelled for the past three days. He said the authorities had failed to make any arrangements for the passengers stranded since January 1. Many of them had to sell their belongings for survival here, he said, adding others had to borrow money from friends. A large number of Leh-bound passengers are stranded here after the flights were cancelled for three consecutive days. Meanwhile, the stranded passengers of Langat and other far flung areas alleged that the divisional administration had failed to arrange helicopter service for the cut off areas in north Kashmir. |
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By Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Jan 17: A day after killing two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants near Trikuta Hills under the jurisdiction of Reasi police district, police today arrested four persons including two political activists who had planned an attack on Mata Vaishnodevi shrine. Two political activists in whose house a final shape was given to target the holy shrine of Mata Vaishnodevi were arrested by Reasi police in pre-dawn raids at Gujjar Kothe, about 17 kms from Reasi today. Two more persons involved in the plot have been taken into custody for questioning, official sources told the Excelsior. Pressure is being exerted on police in Reasi as well as in Jammu to release the political activists. However, according to sources, the duo were directly involved in the sensational plot to target the shrine and wouldn’t be released at any cost. Sources identified them as Haji Nijam Din son of Dulla Chouhan and Abdul Rashid, both residents of Gujjar Kothe. Nijam Din’s two servants Mohd Akbar and Kalu have also been picked up. Elaborating on the plot, the sources said preliminary questioning of Nijam Din and Abdul Rashid revealed that Nijam’s son, who was a ‘district commander’ of Lashkar-e-Toiba, presently operating from Matti Gawran area in Anantnag district, had deputed two militants from Anantnag for carrying out an attack on the shrine, which was on hit list of the militants for last several years. Barring an attack on the pilgrims at Ban Ganga in July 2003, all attempts by the militants to target the shrine and the pilgrims have failed. In July 2003 attack, eight pilgrims were killed in a grenade thrown by the militant in the guise of a ‘pithu’ at a ‘langar’ at Ban Ganga. The militants, who were finally killed yesterday after four days search operation, were first spotted in Trikuta Hills opposite Katra ending last week. A civilian, who happened to be the brother of a police constable, was approached by the militants seeking address of Haji Nijam Din. Sensing foul play, the civilian, whose identity has been kept a secret by the police, took the militants to a forest area and asked them to wait till he locates Nijam Din’s house. In the meantime, the civilian approached a security picket, where he was given poisonous tablets and asked to mix them in the militants’ food till arrival of the force. As the civilian took vegetarian food, the militants refused to take it on the ground that they would take only non-veg food. This rendered the plan to make the militants unconscious unsuccessful. Later, the civilian approached his constable brother, who established a contact with IGP Jammu Dr Shesh Pal Vaid, who rushed police force to Trikuta hills from all four sides and surrounded the militants. Sources said both the militants were shown the track leading to Vaishnodevi shrine by Nijam Din, Abdul Rashid and their associates a day after the Eid festival. The militants had also performed the ritual of sacrifice on Eid in the house of Nijam Din. A detailed strategy on how to target the shrine and the pilgrims was worked out in Nijam’s house. The militants stayed atleast for three days in Nijam’s house when a search operation had been launched by police to eliminate them. As police parties slowly started to return presuming that the militants might have left for Mahore, the ultras moved towards the shrine carrying AK rifles, grenades and a large quantity of ammunition. However, police parties which had been maintaining a strong vigil around the shrine, encountered the militants about three kms short of the Bhawan in Trikuta hills, and gunned them down in an hour long operation. Sources said sustained interrogation of Nijam Din, Abdul Rashid and other persons arrested in connection with the plot to target the shrine, which received an all time high 62 lakh pilgrims last year, was on and some more clues about the militant activities in the area were expected. |
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Two LeT men, 5 others convicted NEW DELHI, Jan 17: Two Pakistani Lashkar-e-Toiba militants were among seven men convicted by a Delhi Court today in connection with bomb blasts which rocked various north Indian cities in 1997 killing 17 persons and injuring nearly 300 others. The Pakistanis — Azad Mohammed and Mohd Hussain — were held guilty of conspiring with Amir Khan, Mohd Shakil and Abdul Bagi for waging war against the country. They were also convicted under the Foreigners Act. The other two accused Mohd Umar Ali and Mohd Abdul Qasim were also held guilty for conspiring with them to trigger as many as 37 blasts in Delhi, Panipat, Sonepat, Ludhiana, Kanpur and Varanasi on different occasions in 1997. All the accused except Bagi have been found guilty under various provisions of the Explosives Act. "The identical nature of all the blasts confirmed that they were planned by the same group who had acted in pursuance of a common intention", Additional Sessions Judge Rajiv Mehra observed. Besides, the fact that same chemicals and explosive substances were used proves beyond doubt the complicity of the convicts, the judge added. The court will pronounce the quantum of sentence tomorrow. Police had arrested all the accused from a hide-out in Sadar Bazar area in North Delhi on February 27, 1998 and seized 50 kg chemicals used for making bombs, 2,200 US dollars, Rs 70,000 and some incriminating documents. The court had in 1993 convicted eight other accused after they pleaded guilty while five others were discharged for "want of sufficient evidence" against them. The trial of the case was held under tight security at the Tihar Jail. The kingpin of the blasts Abdul Karim, alias Tunda and a key agent of the ISI in Delhi, Haryana and UP, is still absconding. He is also wanted in connection with 1993 Bombay serial blasts. The role of the Lashkar-e-Toiba and the Pakistani-Inter Service Intelligence was revealed following the interrogation of five ISI activists in December 1997. Investigations revealed that the accused had formed a nexus with Punjab militants in Karnal, Kaithal, Kurukshetra and Sirsa districts of Haryana for executing their plan. Most of the bombs were planted in busy and congested places, in trains and buses to create panic among the people. Those convicted in the case after they pleaded guilty are Mohd Mati ur Rehman, Akbar, Abdul Rehman, Masood Ahmed, Safidul Islam, Mohd Ishtiaq, Mehmood and Ahmed Hussain. Himan Sheikh, Shemim Akhtar, Sheikh Hussain, Tasleem and Naimuddin are the accused who were discharged for want of evidence.(PTI) |
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Omar for probe in custodial killings SRINAGAR, Jan 17: National Conference (NC) president Omar Abdullah today condemned in strongest terms the alleged increase in custodial killings in Jammu and Kashmir and demanded a high-level probe into the incidents besides strict action against the guilty. In a statement here, Mr Abdullah termed as "unfortunate" the alleged custodial killings in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the wake of changing situation in the State. He condemned and expressed regret besides strong resentment over incidents such as Adachgam in Anantnag district and Sumbal Anderkote in Baramulla where the troops had allegedly killed some people in custody. The former Union Minister demanded a high-level probe into such incidents and sought strict action against the guilty officials to prevent recurrence of such acts. Mr Abdullah also urged the Government to take immediate steps to end the alleged human rights violations in the State. "A lot of blood has been shed in the State so far," he noted. (UNI) |
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Excelsior Special Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 17: City police today arrested an Over Ground Worker (OGW) of Hizbul Mujahideen militants from a hotel in Talab Khatikan locality and recovered from his possession dura cells, voice recorder, cassettes and other material. SSP Jammu Mukesh Singh said a high alert was being maintained in the City on the eve of Republic Day. As a part of the alert, a strict vigil was being maintained on all hotels and lodges. Today, police arrested an OGW of Hizbul Mujahideen, hailing from Mahore, from a hotel in Talab Khatikan. He has been identified as Farooq Ahmed son of Ghulam Mohd, a resident of Simbli, Mahore. He was subjected to questioning during which he admitted working for Hizbul Mujahideen and disclosed that he had purchased some material for the outfit on the directions of the militants. The material was recovered from another hotel in same locality. Recoveries include 480 Dura cells, one voice recorder, six small tape recorder cassettes, caps and watches. The OGW disclosed that he had been working with the militants for a long time and had earlier also undertaken several trips from Mahore to Jammu to purchase various types of articles for the militants. His interrogation was on and some more arrests are likely to be made, police said. A case has been registered against the accused. The OGW was arrested by a police party led by SHO City (Probationer DySP) Mamata Sharma and Incharge Residency police post Sub Inspector Shakti Devi under the supervision of SP City (North) Manohar Singh and SDPO City Ashok Sharma. |
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QUETTA, Jan 17: A threatening phone call that forced the United Nations to temporarily close offices in southwestern Pakistan said Al-Qaeda would attack the world body’s offices there, the top UN official in Pakistan said today. The phone call was received yesterday by the UN High Commission for Refugees, and the United Nations closed all offices in the province of Baluchistan that day and Tuesday, said Jane Vandemoortele, the U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator. "Al-Qaeda was mentioned twice in the phone call," Vandemoortele said, adding that the caller said "they were going to attack the offices." The call came the same day a suicide bomber drove a motorbike into a crowd at a wrestling match just across the nearby border in Afghanistan, killing 20 people. That was the third deadly bombing in a little over 24 hours in the former Taliban stronghold of southern Afghanistan "It was found to be a credible threat," Vandemoortele said. "Since security is priority No. 1 for me, I decided to withdraw our staff from the field." There have so far been no attacks or suspicious movements against UN operations in the region, Vandemoortele said. The world body has about 25 staffers in the region, mostly based in the provincial capital of Quetta. The UN will reassess the security situation today and decide then whether to resume operations, he said. It was unclear who made the phone call, but the United Nations was able to log the caller’s number and turned it over to authorities. Pakistani police were investigating the incident, Vandemoortele said. (AP) NCW mulls ‘black box’ for BPO taxis NEW DELHI, Jan 17: Enactment of a stringent law, ensuring a complaints’ cell, verification and identity proofs of all drivers and use of taxis with ‘black boxes’ were among measures discussed at a meeting called by the National Commission for Women (NCW) today to discuss the safety of female BPO employees. The meeting, called in the wake of the rape and murder of a BPO employee in Bangalore, was attended by representatives of major IT companies, NGOs, police department, members of the Call Centre Association of India, BPO owners and employees. Briefing reporters later, NCW chairperson Girija Vyas expressed optimism that greater internal regulation and safety measures including verification and identity proofs of all drivers being employed at call centres would be in place in the coming weeks in the 5.8 billion dollar outsourcing industry. While certain steps would be taken by the Government and the police department, it was incumbent on call centres also to ensure the safety of women working between 2200-0600 hrs, she said, adding that a NCW team could make ‘’sudden inspection’’ of call centres to see that safety measures were in place for the women. "Women account for almost 40 per cent of the 3.5 lakh call centre employees in the country and their safety is a matter of prime concern,’’ Ms Vyas said. Among the suggestions discussed were: that the women should not be dropped last after work, a security guard should accompany the driver in the car, training of BPO workers, especially sensitisation of male employees, self-security training for female employees, uniform and identity proof of all drivers. The Commission also asked call centres to try and employ drivers who have retired from the police force. Ms Vyas said ‘’radio-talkie’’ facility should be put on each of the taxis being used in call centres. "In fact, even black boxes could be used on these taxis so that every activity in it is monitored even for long distances,’’ she said, speaking about a facility popular among parents in some Western countries to monitor the driving habits of growing up children. She said there was need for a constant regimen of training of workers about safety measures. The NCW would also discuss with the Labour Ministry about salary disputes that had been brought to the Commission’s notice from some call centres, Ms Vyas said. "It was a very positive meeting. The process of consultations would go on,’’ she said, adding that similar workshops would be organised in Bangalore, Hyderabad and other places having a concentration of call centres. (UNI) |
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