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NEW DELHI, Jan 18 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today suggested a pro-active approach to tackle terrorism in view of the various tactics adopted by terrorists often with assistance of State-sponsors, an apparent reference to Pakistan. "Terrorism is the biggest national security threat our country faces today. Combating this threat presents unique and unprecedented challenges. The tactics adopted by terrorist in planning, sponsoring and executing their attacks, often with the assistance of the state-sponsors, require constant study and analysis. "The convergence of terror dealers and conventional criminals presents obvious and acute dangers for our country," Singh said in his speech at the foundation laying of a new CBI Headquarter here today. Therefore, he said, "the counter-terrorism culture and organisation have to shift from a reactive to a proactive mode. The Prime Minister said "we need to develop a nationally-driven, fully integrated, intelligence and investigative programme" to tackle terrorism. This should involve institutional mechanism for improved information-sharing between various central agencies, State Government and international counter terrorism partners, he said. "We should enhance our capability to be pro-active by generating and analysing intelligence and by creating an environment that is inhospitable for terrorists. We must deny terrorists and their supporters the capacity to plan, organise and carry out logistical, operational and support activities," the Prime Minister said. Pointing out that terrorism should be the focus of law enforcement agencies in the coming years, Singh said "this requires developing training programmes and proficiency standards that enhance investigative capability of counter-terrorism personnel. "The law enforcement machinery of the country, particularly the CBI, must pursue investigations into terrorism and intelligence operations through well-trained investigators using the best available tools, including the State-of-the-art forensics," he said. The Prime Minister said the CBI may consider the feasibility of developing a centralised data base of terrorists, insurgents and organised criminal syndicates and share it with the State police forces. "Given its unique status amongst the law enforcement agencies of the country, the CBI should seize the initiative to emerge as a truly world-class, multidisciplinary investigative agency," Singh said while suggesting creation of an apex agency to serve as a national focal point for crime and forensic information. He said the CBI also needed to modernise its procedures, techniques and technologies for addressing the challenge of white collar and economic crimes. "The agency should also strive to expand its intelligence base to indentify methodologies to tackle money laundering by individuals, enterprises and institutions and create barriers to the entry of tainted money into our financial system," he said. "You should use your expertise, criminal investigative resources and strong relationships with regulatory agencies to handle these crimes in order to maintain public confidence in the country’s financial institutions and markets," the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister said that new technologies and globalisation pose new challenges for crime detection and prevention. "While these new technologies to enhance your capability to deal with crime, they also offer terrorists, drug traffickers, crime syndicates easier and cheaper access to perpetuate their crimes. "Technological advances also provide criminals with the potential to stay ahead of law enforcement counter-measures," the Prime Minister said. "Our country’s vulnerability to cyber crime is escalating as our economy and critical infrastructure become increasingly reliant on interdependent computer networks and the internet. Large scale computer attacks on our critical infrastructure and economy can have potentially devastating results," he said. He said the ever-changing techniques used by terrorists, criminals and other anti-national elements require CBI and other law enforcement investigators and professionals to possess highly specialised technological and computer-based skills. The CBI could take a lead in establishing and implementing new technical capabilities, databases, protocols, policies, procedures, standards and guidelines and also support law enforcement operations of other agencies in the country by way of enhancement of their scientific and forensic response capabilities. Expressing concern over CBI’s "weak" record in securing prosecution and conviction of offenders, the Prime Minister asked the investigating agency to aggressively pursue all cases against corrupt elements without fear and favour. "The CBI has come under repeated public scrutiny and will continue to do so. There is somewhat concern that your record in securing prosecution and conviction of offenders has been weak. You will have to address the issues of image, morale and brand-building," the Prime Minister said. Regretting that "many of us" had become too tolerant towards corruption in public life, the Prime Minister called for a multi-pronged intervention from policy makers, law enforcement agencies and all right-thinking people to stem the rot. Reiterating his Government’s commitment to non-interference in professional work and autonomy of CBI, Singh said "I sincerely urge all our political parties and patriotic citizens to adopt a policy of zero tolerance towards corruption". Terming corruption as a "social cancer" which was eating into the vitals of the country’s institutions of governance and society, he said corruption was also a threat to "our well-being and national security. "A comprehensive approach involving political, electoral, judicial and police reforms coupled with decentralisation and accountability must be the essence of an all out assault on this malady," he said. The Prime Minister said the CBI should aggressively pursue all cases against corrupt elements without fear or favour. Asking the CBI for an introspection over its approach and not be perceived as a stumbling block in certain circles, the Prime Minister said "I often hear that the CBI takes too long a time to complete its investigations. How far this is true, I cannot say. However, you need to seriously ponder over this issue and take remedial measures." "Our Government will appreciate if based on its experience and analysis, the CBI could suggest useful improvements in systems, procedures, rule and regulations of the concerned arms of governance which could help reduce scope for corruption in the public life," Singh said while reminding the pledge in UPA’s national common minimum programme of providing a corruption-free transparent and accountable Government. Calling for honesty as a routine expectation, he said "I firmly believe that we must set personal standards of integrity as public servants and the message should flow from the top towards downwards and not the other way round." He also asked the CBI to distinguish between "occasional genuine mistakes" by honest officials and acts driven by deliberate mal-intent. "The crucial question for you is how far your investigative systems can make this distinction between genuine error of judgement and deliberate malafide on the part of public servants", Singh said. (AGENCIES) No passenger forAmritsar-Lahore bus service AMRITSAR, Jan 18: All hype about the Amritsar-Lahore bus service beginning January 21 from here seems to be fading out as not a single seat was booked till today, while one passenger from Malerkotla has reserved his ticket for February eleven from this side of the border. The first such bus of Pakistan Tourism, covering a distance of nearly 60 km between Lahore and Amritsar, would arrive here on January 20 to return with the passengers from Amritsar the next day, for which no passenger has booked the seat so far. Similarly, the Indian bus, being operated by the Punjab Roadways, would start plying from January 24 (Tuesday) from here. The only passenger from this side of the border so far, who got his ticket reserved today for February eleven, was Mohd. Rizwan Farooq from Malerkotla. ‘’We need to take some practical steps like opening a visa consulate here (in Punjab) if we want to regularly run the bus service from Amritsar to Lahore,’’ said Mr Farooq, who had often been visiting Pakistan to meet his relatives there. ‘’There is no point of going to Delhi to get the visa and then come back to Amritsar to board the bus,’’ he said, pointing out that he had earlier been boarding the bus for Lahore from Delhi after getting the visa from the Pakistan Embassy in the national capital itself. Union Home Secretary V K Duggal here yesterday reviewed the arrangements for the Lahore bus service, assuring that the passengers would not be vetted by the police. The bus service has a fare of Rs 750 for a distance of 60 km across the border.(UNI) |
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Cong-JD(S) Govt on brink of
collapse BANGALORE, Jan 18 : The Congress-JD(S) coalition Government in Karnataka tonight appeared to be on the brink of collapse after former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda’s son Kumaraswamy led a revolt withdrawing support of 46 MLAs to the Dharam Singh Ministry and then staked claim to form the new Government. Events moved at hectic pace ahead of the Assembly session beginning tomorrow with the rebel JD(S) MLAs and BJP members jointly electing 47-year-old Kumaraswamy as its leader and the two parties meeting Governor T N Chaturvedi to stake the claim, BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters. First, the rebel JD(S) group withdrew support to the 18-month-old Congress-led coalition and Kumaraswamy, accompanied by BJP leaders, met the Governor to stake the claim. Kumaraswamy later claimed that the Governor had assured him that he would consider his claim. While sources said the Governor would consult legal and constitutional experts, BJP State Legislature Party secretary B S Yediyurappa claimed that the Governor has promised to take a decision tonight on their claim. Naidu said BJP, which had emerged the single largest party with 79 MLAs in a House of 224, has agreed that Kumaraswamy would be the Chief Minister of the new coalition for the first 20 months and the BJP for the remaining period in a power-sharing arrangement on the J and K model. BJP will have its Deputy Chief Minister now . JD(S), which had 58 MLAs from the 2004 May elections, had already lost six of them with the expulsion of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and five others last year. Of the remaining 52, 46 MLAs are now said to have teamed up with Kumaraswamy, who was elected to the Assembly from the Ramnagar seat. Congress has 65 MLAs, JD(U), a BJP ally, five, RPI and CPI(M) one each and independents 14. Caught unawares by his son’s revolt, Deve Gowda shot off a letter to the Governor asking him not to give any credence to the letter given by a "section of his Party MLAs" withdrawing support to the Government. He maintained throughout the day that there was no question of aligning with BJP and that the situation would be reviewed as already stated in the first week of February when he would talk to Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Equally caught in the deluge of events, Chief Minister Dharam Singh met his colleauges in the Cabinet and later put up a brave face saying there was no problem to the Government. Of the 14 JD(S) ministers, only three attended the Cabinet meeting. All eyes are now on the Governor, an appointee of the BJP-led NDA Government, whether he would order a trial of strength on the floor of the Assembly or straight away decide on formation of a new Government. The Congress leadership also sought to put up a brave face saying in a coalition such problems do crop up and hoped the Governor would go by Deve Gowda’s letter and would not not take any "hasty" action. The Party has summoned general secretary A K Antony, in charge of Karnataka affairs for consultations. (PTI) |
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‘Terror, violence will hit
peace process’ NEW DELHI, Jan 18: Taking a tough stand on terrorism, India today bluntly told Pakistan that continuance of acts of terror and violence would hit the peace process as the two countries agreed on a slew of measures including opening of new bus link and trade routes. The two sides agreed to operationalise by March-April this year bus service between Poonch and Rawalkot and make the Aman Setu peace bridge between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, damaged during the devastating earthquake last October, functional in the next two months for truck service to enable trade in permitted goods. New Delhi also recommended an additional bus route between Kargil and Skardu, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran told reporters at the end of the two-day talks with his Pakistani counterpart Riaz Mohammad Khan. Khan called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who made it clear that terrorism was a "very critical issue for India". "I want permanent friendship between India and Pakistan," the Prime Minister stressed. Singh said he was very keen to visit Pakistan when Khan renewed President Pervez Musharraf’s invitation. The Prime Minister said an "appropriate occasion" would be found for the visit but stressed that it should be "substantive". A joint statement issued at the end of the talks on the composite dialogue process said the two sides agreed to continue the "sustained dialogue in a purposeful and forward-looking manner to find a peaceful and negotiated final settlement" to the Jammu and Kashmir issue. At a separate briefing, Khan told reporters that Pakistan put forth "ideas" on de-militarisation and "self-governance" and sought reduction of troops in Jammu and Kashmir. Saran said the two sides were talking of a possibility of redeployment of forces and thereby creating a "disengagement zone". "Such a disengagement zone would have to acknowledge the positions which are currently there and from where there would be redeployment taking place," he said. "We are trying to work out modalities on how this would be actually translated into an agreement," he said. Saran said India’s approach on the J and K issue was that it was "part and parcel" of the larger goal of achieving peace and friendship between the two countries. "Our ability to carry forward the peace process, our ability to take this dialogue process in a positive direction is very much related to creating an atmosphere which is free of violence," he said. "Despite assurances received at the highest level from Pakistan, there is no end to cross-border terrorism. Infrastructure of terrorism still continues to exist," Saran said adding the Indian side drew Pakistan’s attention to the recent terror attacks in Delhi and Bangalore. "We really do not wish this (terrorism) to be a question mark which hangs over the peace process," Saran said stressing that "more needs to be done" by Pakistan to stop the scourge. He said India has never accepted any linkage between demilitarisation and reduction of violence and terrorism. "You cannot have terrorism as a bargaining chip," he asserted. Khan alleged that "coercive environment" existed in J and K because of which "militancy" was taking place there. He said Pakistan proposed "ideas" of "self-governance" and "demilitarisation" at the talks as these have a "potential" and needed to be explored in pursuit of "final solution" to the Kashmir issue. Refusing to say specifically what India’s response to these ideas was, Khan said he got a "distinct impression" that new delhi was open to discussions although there may be "differences of approach here and there". "There is a commitment by both sides to reach a final settlement" and "in search for it, various ideas, any ideas need to be discussed," the Pakistan Foreign Secretary said. He emphasised that after "positive developments" during the two rounds of composite dialogue, the process had entered a stage where talks needed to be "focussed" and speeded up. LeT ultra being brought to Jammu escapes, re-arrested VARANASI, Jan 18: Giving police the slip, a Pakistani militant today jumped off a speeding train in the wee hours while being taken to Jammu from West Bengal but was recaptured at a village here this evening. Abu Ali Ahmed of Punjab province in Pakistan was caught hiding behind a college building in Parmanandpur village here by a villager, who handed him over to police. Ahmed, who was an activist of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), was lodged in Veburghat jail in West Bengal for indulging in terrorist activities. He was being taken to Jammu for a joint interrogation when he jumped off the speeding Sealdah Express at Verrapatti railway station near here this morning. Police Superintendent (city) Varanasi Anant Deo said that Ali, who was being taken on a transit remand to Jammu , escaped around 0300 hrs. Ali was lodged in the Hilli police station of Dakshin Dinajpur town in West Bengal since his arrest there on December 17, 2005, and was being escorted by a police team from Jammu comprising Inspector Mahendra Singh and three constables, he said. When the train slowed near Verrapatti, the handcuffed ultra managed to escape from the S2 sleeper coach, as the four policemen were all sleeping, Mr Deo said. Our Jammu correspondent adds: CID (Counter Intelligence) officials have ordered an inquiry against the team, which was escorting the militant to Jammu from West Bengal. "An inquiry will be conducted despite the fact that the militant has been re-arrested", they said, adding action against the officials would be taken only on the basis of inquiry report. "This was third night of the CID officials in the trains. First, they had boarded Malda and then Sealdah on way to Jammu", they said but admitted that it was a definite negligence on the part of escorting team that the militant managed to escape despite being double-locked. According to officials, local police in Varanasi is expected to register a case against the militant for escape from the custody. "Later, we will shift the militant here under tight security", they said. Though the Lashkar militant was not directly involved in any militant activity here or wanted in any case, the CID wanted him to explore his links with the LeT militants in the Kashmir valley. The Lashkar militant’s escape from the CID officials’ custody had sent shock waves in Jammu since the team was headed by a seasoned Inspector Mahendra Singh, SHO JIC police station. |
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5 civilians, Captain hurt in
Kupwara shootout Excelsior Special Correspondent Srinagar, Jan 18: A day after Security Forces claimed to have killed three Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) militants in Batgund Heepora village in Shopian on Tuesday, locals in the area Wednesday took to streets raising protests and alleging that the slain youth were civilians and students of a local madrassa. However, defense spokesman stands by the claim that they were HuM militants and were involved in snatching of weapons from police in Shopian last week. Meanwhile, in an ongoing encounter at a remote village in Kupwara five civilians and two troopers, including an Army captain were injured on Wednesday evening as police claimed to have gunned down one more dreaded HuM militant in People in thousand on Wednesday staged protest marches in the Kapran village in south Kashmir district of Pulwama alleging that the three ‘civilians’ were killed by troopers in ‘fake encounters’ and claimed that they (slain youth) had nothing to do with militancy related activities. The slain youth, who the troopers and police claim were HuM militants were identified as Abdul Wali Khatana of Chattergul Anantnag and Moulvi Muhammed Farooq of Chhaterpura and Muhammad Farooq from Doda. Forces also claimed that weapons including two self loading rifles (SLR) and a pistol were recovered by the Army from them, which were snatched by the militants from a police party on January 12 at Rishi Nagar, Shopian post guarding minority area. The locals alleged that the three persons were arrested four days back by the troopers and were tortured to death on Wednesday and encounter was enacted to label them as militants. The angry protestors shouting anti security forces slogans claimed that while Khatana was a teacher in local madrassa, other two of his accomplices Moulvi and Farooq were his students and had no affiliation with any militant organization. The entire area wore a deserted look on Wednesday and normal life was thrown out of gears with people taking to streets in protest against the killings. However, Defense spokesman Colonel V K Batra while denouncing the local claims said that the killed youth ‘definitely’ were militants and were affiliated with HuM militant outfit and used to operate ‘covertly’. "The inputs were based on our intelligence and the trio was covertly involved in many militant activities in south Kashmir," Batra claimed. He said that police and Army, after receiving inputs about their involvement in militancy related incidents, had been tracking the movement of these militants for very long before they were gunned down in an ambush. "Two SLRs, a pistol and some rounds, earlier snatched from a Police picket in from Rishi Nagar, Shopian area on January 12 were recovered by the Army from the killed militants," he said. Batra sought to mention that in the recent emerging trends of militant activities, the militants have started operating covertly and ‘what people see is different from what actually is being done behind the different disguises’. He said that Wali Khatana was called by the troopers of 7RR to the local Army camp after the intelligence inputs that he was operating as a militant. Later he went under-ground and on Tuesday morning when he was moving with other accomplices, troopers joined by police challenged them but they opened fire and in the retaliatory fire all the three militants were killed, Batra said. Meanwhile, District Development Commissioner of Pulwama Lateef-uz-Zaman Deva after seeing the situation going out of control in his area of jurisdiction has ordered probe into incident. Deva said that he has ordered SDM to probe into the allegations as leveled by locals and a report will accordingly be sent to the government. An Army captain identified as Captain Shiv Kumar and a jawan were injured when militants after laying ambush over a search parry of 2 Sikh Regiment in Sirigam village of frontier district of Kupwara. Sources said that the militants, believed to be two in number, laid an ambush over a search party of troopers belonging to 2 Sikh Regiment at Sirigam Lolab in Kupwara this evening. An Army captain and a soldier were injured in the shootout, sources said, adding that the troopers chased the militants, who later took a shelter in a residential house of one Hassan Malla of the said village. Five civilians also sustained bullet injuries, source said. They said that a carpenter Mohammed Ashraf working in the said house and a woman Shameema from the family were among five injured civilians. Mohammed Ashraf who was critically injured has been admitted in army hospital Drugmulla, sources said. The shootout continued till reports last came in and militants were firing intermittently at troopers. The entire village has been cordoned off and the operation has been suspended in wake of darkness and the sources said that it will resume on Thursday morning. Another Harkat-ul-Mujahideen militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama on Wednesday. Elsewhere, in the Valley police recovered a bullet riddled dead body from Khrew village in Pulwama. According to the sources, troopers of 44 RR and SOG Pulwama acting on a tip-off, launched an operation in Alialpora Shopian and cordoned the village to flush out the militants hiding there. Sources said the one militant who was hiding in a residential house of one Mohammed Shareef , son of Ghulam Qadir of Khrew was asked to surrender. He however, sources said, refused the offer and opened fire, which was returned and in the ensuing gun fight he was killed. The slain militant was identified as Huraira of Pakistan, affiliated with HuM. Huraira is the sixth top HuM militant eliminated by police and army during last few days as claimed by defense sources. Police and security forces eliminated five important militants of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, including most wanted militant commander Bilal Ahmed Sheikh alias Saifullah. Police recovered a bullet ridden body of one Mohammad Altaf Teli son of Asadullah Teli of new colony Khrew. The body according to sources was lying near a well in an open field at Adroosa Khrew in Pampore. The deceased according to the reports was abducted from his residence on 8th of this month by unidentified gunmen, suspected to be militants. |
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Two Hizbul militants surrender in Doda Excelsior Special Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 18: Two top militants of Hizbul Mujahideen including a ‘deputy tehsil commander’ surrendered before Army and police after an encounter at Tanta under the jurisdiction of Gandoh police station in Doda district today. The militants handed over a large quantity of arms and ammunition at the time of surrender. SSP Doda Prithvi Raj Manhas said troops of 26 Rashtriya Rifles and police launched a joint search operation at Tanta in Gandoh area of Thathri in Doda district last night. The operation was based on a specific information that two hardcore militants of Hizbul Mujahideen had taken shelter in a house. After an hour long exchange of firing, the militants decided to give up. They sent feelers to police and security forces through local people that they wanted to surrender. The surrender was accepted this morning. The militants have been identified as Zafarullah son of Ghulam Haider, a resident of Batugra, a ‘deputy tehsil commander’ of Hizbul Mujahideen and Shamas Din son of Abdul Lateef Mir, a resident of Kuthal, Tanta. After surrender, the militants handed over one AK-47 rifle with three magazines and 30 rounds, one Self Loading Rifle (SLR) with one magazine and 15 rounds, one Chinese hand grenade and one walkie talkie set. The surrendered militants were active in Gandoh and surrounding areas for last four to five years and were involved in a series of militant activities. They were wanted to police in a number of incidents, official sources said. Only few days back, security forces and police had eliminated two Hizbul Mujahideen militants including a ‘district commander’ Atta Mohd in the same area. The spate of killings and surrenders by the Hizbul militants in Doda district during last one month has delivered a major setback to the outfit, the sources said. They disclosed that the surrendered militants have given police vital information about hide-outs and areas of operation of Hizbul militants including some commanders. Based on the information, search operations have been launched in different parts of the district to apprehend or eliminate the Hizbul cadre. More successful operations against the militants are expected in the coming days, they added. In another search operation, security forces recovered one pistol, one magazine, four pistol rounds and 40 AK rounds during a search operation at village Ghani in Mankote area of Poonch district last night. |
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NEW DELHI, Jan 18: Two Pakistani Lashkar-e-Toiba militants and three others were today sentenced to ten years rigorous imprisonment by a Delhi court in connection with a series of bomb blasts that rocked various north Indian cities in 1997, killing 17 persons and injuring nearly 300 others. "The serial blasts appear to be a concerted plan to cause maximum damage to the lives and property of the public. It was a direct threat to the normal functioning of the Government and amounts to destabilising the society", Additional Sessions Judge Rajiv Mehra said in the order. Pakistanis Ajaz Mohammad and Mohammad Hussain were found guilty of conspiring to wage war against the country along with Aamir Khan, Mohammad Shakil and Abdul Baqi for planning 37 blasts in Delhi, Panipat, Sonepat, Ludhiana, Kanpur and Varanasi on different days in 1997. The Pakistanis were also sentenced to five years each under Foreigners Act and Explosives Substances Act. Hussain got a three year term under the Arms Act also. However, all the sentences will run cuncurrently. Two other accused Mohd Umar Ali and Mohd Abdul Qasim were found guilty under the Explosives Act and were handed down a five year sentence. But they walked free as their terms were set off against the seven years they already spent in custody since their arrest in 1998. The court convicted all the accused yesterday. "The evidence on record confirm the case of the prosecution that the aim of the accused was to conspire to wage war and to overawe the Government", the Judge said. Hussain was given death sentence by a court in 2003 in connection with the blast in a bus at Punjabi Bagh on December 30, 1997 which killed four and injured 30 others. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 18,000 and Rs 15,000 on Hussain and Ajaz, respectively. Other accused have been asked to pay fine ranging from Rs 5,000 to 13,000. "The very number of 37 blasts and the fact that the same chemicals and explosives substances were used point to a larger conspiracy by the same group in persuance of a common objective", the court said. Most of the bombs were planted in busy and congested places, in trains and buses to create panic among the people. The Judge had in 2003 convicted eight others— Mohd Mati Ur Rehman, Akbar, Abdul Rehman, Masood Ahmed, Safidul Islam, Mohd Ishtiaq, Mehmood and Ahmed Hussain after they pleaded guilty. Five others were discharged for want of evidence. The trial of the case was held under tight security at the Tihar jail. 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 mastermind 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. (PTI) |
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Highway re-opened, down convoy today Excelsior Special Correspondent JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Jan 18: The 300-kms Jammu-Srinagar national highway was thrown open for traffic this afternoon after three days of blockade. Barring one additional flight of Jet Airways, all routine flights landed at Srinagar airport today. All stranded load carriers were cleared from the highway by this evening. "Subject to fair weather conditions, traffic will be allowed from Srinagar to Jammu (down convoy) tomorrow", official sources said. Earlier, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) personnel succeeded in clearing snow and landslides from the national highway between Batote to Jawahar tunnel. The load carriers, which had been stranded on the highway for last four days, were allowed to proceed towards their destination as soon as the road was thrown open. Passenger vehicles had already been cleared from the highway. All routine flights today operated on New Delhi-Jammu and Jammu-Srinagar route. However, an additional flight of Jet Airways, pressed into service to clear rush of the passengers, couldn’t land at Srinagar airport due to bad weather and returned to Jammu, SP Jammu Airport, Raghubir Singh said. Batote-Kishtwar national highway was also opened for traffic this morning. While as downpour in the Valley continued for the second day today in Srinagar the upper reaches witnessed continued snowfall on today. In the upper reaches of Valley, fresh snowfall was reported on Wednesday with life coming to near standstill and road connectivity and power supply badly affected. At world famous ski resort, Gulmarg sources said that at least eight to nine feet of snow had accumulated and the road from Tangmarg to Gulmarg was also blocked due to heavy snowfall. North Kashmir district of Kupwara again received a fresh spell of heavy snowfall throwing life out of gear. Most of routes in frontier district were blocked for vehicular movement and the Lolab valley was cut off from rest of the district for vehicular movement. The snowfall also brought about a breakdown in electricity. While as many villages in the adjoining of Kupwara town received electricity for 3-4 days hours in a day, remote areas in the frontier district still groped in darkness for past one week, the locals alleged. The road blockades caused due to the fresh snowfall has also given a tough time to the quake hit people in frontier district. And in the summer capital the unremitting rains have engendered water logging on busy roads instigating severe troubles for the people. Many uptown areas in Srinagar like Mehjoor Nagar, Rajbagh, Jawahar Nagar were inundated with rain water and people, particularly the pedestrians faced grave hardships because of it. The situation in the downtown area was even worse. As the snow accumulated last week was yet to be cleared off the roads, rain water liquefied the snow submerging the roads and link roads with water. |
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Excelsior Special Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 18: A 10 year old boy was murdered in Sector No. 1 at Trikuta Nagar. However, all three accused involved in the murder have been arrested by the police. The victim, identified as Brijesh Singh son of Hari Singh, a resident of Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh, presently putting up in a dwelling at Shankar Vihar, Sector No. 1 in Trikuta Nagar Extension, was murdered by three persons for protesting teasing of his sister by one of the accused, SSP Jammu Mukesh Singh said. Three accused, who have been arrested by a police party headed by SHO Trikuta Nagar Inspector Mohd Rafiq under the supervision of SDPO East, SP Rajinder Gupta, have been identified as Mukesh Goswami son of Jai Ram Goswami, Bijju Goswami son of Jagdish Goswami and Mukesh Goswami son of Jia Lal Goswami, all residents of Jhansi, Madhya Pradesh, presently putting up in Shankar Vihar. Mukesh Goswami had teased the sister of Brijesh few days back. Brijesh brought the matter to the notice of his father Hari Singh who was working as a Chowkidar in Harminder Public School. Hari Singh snubbed Mukesh and warned him of consequences if he teased his daughter in future. Police said, irked by the snub, Mukesh hatched a conspiracy to eliminate Brijesh. They called Brijesh to the house of Ramesh Chander Ganju where they used to go in connection with the work. When Ganju family was not present in the house, the trio tied Brijesh with a rope and slit his throat with a sharp-edged knife. They threw body in the tank. The murder was executed on Monday. After searching his son for two days, Hari Singh today approached Trikuta Nagar police, which detained Mukesh, who narrated the entire incident. The murder was worked out within three and a half hour with all three accused put behind the bars. A murder case has been registered against them at Trikuta Nagar police station. Body of the boy was recovered from the tank and sent for post-mortem. Later, it was handed over to the family for last rites. |
Burns in India to discuss n-deal MUMBAI, Jan 18: Less than a week after a meeting of the Indo-US ‘Civil Nuclear Energy Working Group’ here, U S Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs R Nicholas Burns today said implementing the deal of nuclear cooperation between the two countries is "a challenging and unique venture in international diplomacy." "Separation of civilian and military nuclear installations is a complex task and (at the) heart of the negotiations", he said but added both United States and India are committed to fulfilling the July 18, 2005 agreement "as faithfully as we can." "We are in the process of deciding how best to proceed and give it shape in a bilateral agreement. Separation of civilian and military nuclear installation is a complex task and heart of the negotiations", Mr Burns told a media conference here. The nuclear deal, signed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President George W Bush, is facing a lot of opposition from the Leftist political parties and a section of the strategic community in the country. Indian and U S experts had held extensive discussions spread over four days during the January 9-12 meeting of the ‘Civil Nuclear Energy Working Group’ of the countries, according to Mr S K Malhotra, Head of the Public Awareness Division of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) here. Besides other things, the two sides had discussed "regulatory aspects" at nuclear power plants. The Indian delegation was led by Director, Strategic Planning Group R B Grover, while the US team was headed by Mr R Shane Johnson, acting Director, US Department of Energy, office of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, according to Mr Malhotra. Mr Burns said there is a great deal of confidence and optimism on both sides that the nuclear agreement will work out. "It is not easy but complex and challenging. But at the same time, the cooperation is of interest to both of us", he added. Describing India as the global strategic partner of the United States, he said discussion on the nuclear deal with Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran will be the highlight of his dialogue with him. He said global interests of US and India intersect as both countries want peace and stability in South and East Asia. The US official said emphasis would be on security ties, especially during the forthcoming visit of President Bush to India. Violence in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh is of concern to both India and United States and both countries want peace and normalcy to return in these nations, he said. Mr Burns said he is in Mumbai to work out a beginning of bilateral Indo-US economic ties. He said the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement is a broad concept and signals a new and significant step forward in Indo-US relations. "US is interested in development of trade and business ties with India which has tremendous growth. The recent Boeing deal was extremely significant", he added. Mr Burns said he will hold extensive deliberations with the captains of the trade, finance and business community, including with industrialists like Ratan Tata. He said cooperation in agriculture, energy, infrastructure, education and space launch form the core of fostering strategic ties between the two countries. He said in the next two days, these issues apart from carrying forward the deliberations regarding the nuclear cooperation will be the highlights of his talks with Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran. (UNI) |
Terrorists were pushed in J&K after the quake: Army Chief NEW DELHI : Taking advantage of the situation arising from the October earthquake and the large-scale relief and rehabilitation efforts, terrorists have been pushed into Jammu and Kashmir from the Pakistan side, Army Chief Gen J J Singh has said. "Intelligence inputs reveal that some terrorists were pushed across the Line of Control (LoC) in the weeks following the earthquake taking advantage of our preoccupation in the relief efforts," the Chief of Army Staff said in an interview to the premier journal, Indian Defence Review. In the aftermath of the devastating quake, "the Army willingly came forward for the establishment of five crossing points on the LoC, as part of the national policy, to provide relief to people of Pak-occupied Kashmir", he said. These actions, Singh said, were aimed at giving fillip to the ongoing dialogue process and to elicit positive response from Pakistan in putting an end to the proxy war. "Unfortunately, that was not to be and the infiltration continues unabated," he said. Elaborating on the 'Iron Fist in Velvet Glove' policy adopted by the army in Jammu and Kashmir, he said it had led the security forces to reap rich dividends. Besides inflicting severe attrition on the terrorist cadres, the army has earned tremendous goodwill of the people of the State. The Army's actions were "fully in sync with the approach being adopted in the ongoign dialogue process," Singh said. "The force levels in J and K are under constant review and any reduction will be influenced by the overall security environment," he said. The Army Chief in the interview covered vast areas, from the situation on the borders, to his objectives for the army, its modernisation plans, besides problems and challenges before the armed forces. On the situation on the border with China, he said it continued to "remain peace and well under control" and added that the confidence-building measures (CBMs), worked out in April last year and the additional ones being evolved now, would enhance mutual trust. Efforts were also being undertaken at the Government level to resolve the boundary issue. "Notwithstanding this, we are keeping abreast with the military related activities along our border and are taking adequate measures to maintain the requisite level of operational preparedness," Singh said. Observing that the situation along the borders with Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka was being monitored, he said "we are in constant touch with the concerned ministries and integrated strategies are being evolved to safeguard our national interests and security concerns". To questions on the "serious officer shortages at the unit level" of the Army, Singh said "the deficiency level is about 25 per cent and not 50 per cent as perceived by the media". Of the total authorisation of 46,565 officers, the Indian Army was holding 34,854 officers on date, the shortfall being 25.12 per cent. The Army Chief said though the paypackets of officers did not match that of a multinational company, the army officers enjoyed a decent living besides high respect and standing in modern society. He said several steps were being taken to improve the service conditions of officers further. (PTI) |
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