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European delegation
calls on CM Excelsior Correspondent New Delhi, Oct 31: Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad called on Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh here today and discussed matters related to the political and development scenario in Jammu and Kashmir. Briefing the Prime Minister about massive development launched in J&K under various state and centrally sponsored schemes, Mr. Azad lauded Dr Singh for liberal assistance to the state for speedy development. He said that unprecedented assistance provided to the state under Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Programme has laid edifice for raising public service infrastructure and giving boost to large scale development related activities. The Chief Minister apprised the Prime Minister about progress registered in various fields giving details about the steps initiated for development of tourism, public health engineering, roads and buildings, power, agriculture, rural development, social welfare, education, health and other sectors. Mr Azad urged the PM for launching short gestation power projects in the state to get early relief for the people on account of shortage of power especially in winter months, saying that Prime Minister’s reconstruction programme envisaged establishment of mega power projects with long gestation period, as such, small and medium power projects which could be completed within two to three years would be a good boost in the power sector. Mr. Azad also requested the Prime Minister for holding Union Secretaries meeting in the second week of November 2006 to take review of developmental schemes under implementation in Jammu and Kashmir, which, he said, would give considerable fillip to progress and pace of work on these schemes. The Prime Minister appreciated Mr Azad for his innovative planning for speedy development in the State giving reference to introduction of new work culture, launching double and triple shift system of work to complete projects within shortest period of time, enacting laws to curb corruption and making administrative affairs transparent. The Prime Minister also appreciated steps of the Congress-led government taken during last one year for realizing many goals and fulfilling promises made to the people. Various matters with regard to political issues also came up for discussion in the meeting. Ramifications of cross-border and inter-state terrorism were also deliberated upon and the two leaders expressed hope that Pakistan will fulfill its promise to curb cross-border terrorism. Meanwhile, a delegation of European Parliament led by Dr. Charles called on Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad here today and discussed various issues pertaining to political and developmental scenario in Jammu and Kashmir. The delegation appreciated the State Government for quick response shown to meet the challenges of October 8 earthquake and tackling its aftermath successfully. They lauded role of the State Government for making ample arrangements to accommodate quake survivors in temporary shelter-sheds before onset of winter, providing them adequate essentials, medicines, warm clothes, blankets, etc. and avoiding chances of deaths and diseases on account of winter hardships. Giving brief appraisal of the steps taken by the State Government with liberal and unprecedented financial support of UPA Government to meet earthquake challenges, the Chief Minister said that provision of highest ever relief of Rs. 1.35 lakh to each affected family and other assistance along with reconstruction of public utility services was due to huge finances provided by the Central Government. Mr Azad briefed the European delegation about massive reconstruction plan launched in the State to put militancy-torn economy back on rails. Discussing political situation in J&K the Chief Minister said that serious efforts have been made to restore peace and normalcy in the State and strengthen Jammu and Kashmir centric Confidence Building Measures. He said roundtable conferences at New Delhi and Srinagar have been held and all political parties, ethnic groups and representatives of all areas participated in the conferences and jointly deliberated upon issues pertaining to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh announced five working groups on the conclusion of second roundtable conference at Srinagar to deliberate upon the issues identified in the roundtable conferences and make recommendations to find out permanent solution. He told the delegation that seven meetings of working groups have already been held and these are shortly submitting their recommendations to Prime Minister. The Chief Minister said that people of Jammu and Kashmir are peace loving and have firm faith in democracy, which they expressed explicitly during the bye-elections of State Legislative Assembly in which about 76 percent people exercised their right of vote. Mr. Azad said that security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir is changing fast for better and rights violations have gradually decreased, adding that past one year witnessed lowest of all custodial deaths in 17 years in the state. He said a positive mindset to cultivate peace and development temperament has already been exhibited by the people time and again and their involvement in establishing peaceful atmosphere for growth and development is largely evident. The Chief Minister said that State and Central Governments have given categorical directions to the security forces to take every precaution for avoiding any damage to the civilians while combating militancy and terrorist activities. He said peace is fast taking ground and development replacing retrogresses, the state is poised to usher in an era of prosperity. He hoped that the situation would further improve as people of the State are firm to get peace restored permanently. He hoped that Pakistan would fulfill the promise of taking every step to curb cross-border terrorism and help in the efforts underway to secure lasting peace in the state and the sub-continent. The European delegation appreciated the steps taken by the State and Central Government in the direction of restoration of peace and upholding human rights in Jammu and Kashmir. |
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New Navy chief visualises much bigger role for force NEW DELHI, Oct 31: Much-decorated Naval fighter pilot Admiral Sureesh Mehta today took over as the new Chief of Naval Staff, saying that he visualised a "much bigger role" for the force operating its flotilla in distant waters far away from Indian shores. "It will be our endeavour to operate in waters far away from home," the new Naval chief said in significant remarks soon after taking over the reins of the top office from Admiral Arun Prakash. He said the Navy was in the process of acquiring warships which would give it a longer reach and capability of operating beyond Indian waters. He also said by its new acquisitions, the Navy was poised to now even influence "battle on lands", the capability so far only fielded by super powers like the US and Russia. "The induction of the 45,000-tonne displacement carrier Admiral Gorshkov and huge troop-landing warship Trenton will soon bring about a different dimension to our fighting capabilities," he said. "With these long-range weapon systems, we will have capability to influence battle on land," Mehta, who became the 19th Chief of Naval Staff, said. In his brief interaction with media soon after assuming the charge, Mehta’s entire thurst was on making clear that the navy was getting ready to operate in distant oceans and for this, it was building its surveillance and networking capabilities. Mehta said the acquisition USS Trenton would increase the Navy’s potential to carry troops from one place to another in large numbers. Both Gorshkov and Trenton are expected to join the naval flotilla by 2008. One of his priorities would be to improve surveillance capability "be it on warships or aircraft or space based", the Naval chief said. Navy has already floated Request for Proposals for acquiring eight surveillance aircraft with two major US firms Lockheed Martin and Boeing and Russians vying for the deal. Also, Mehta said the Navy was aspiring to build up connectivity with warships operating in distant waters. "We already have network centric systems on the way. But then there are certain gaps in terms of communications that is passing data. We have various plans afoot which should fructify soon," he said. For warships to operate faraway, Mehta said that Navy was now emphasising on inducting ships with "longevity", which could survive rough conditions in distant theatres. Touching on the issue of spares, the new Naval Chief said the system of supply of spares for frontline Russian equipment was being streamlined and also emphasis was being laid on indigenization of systems. Mehta brings rich experience to the top job in the navy. He has commanded Navy’s Eastern Naval Command, Western Naval fleet, as also important shore appointment of Director General Coast Guard, Chief of personnel and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, at Naval headquarters here.(PTI) |
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Militants should be prevented
from UNITED NATIONS, Oct 31: India has sought concerted international efforts to prevent terrorists from gaining access to radiological materials and technology. In his maiden address to the United Nations General Assembly, its delegate former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed asked the international community to give high priority to development of global security culture and offered it full support to achieve the goal. He said global efforts are needed to prevent terrorists from accessing radiological materials. In accordance with its commitment and record as a responsible State with advanced nuclear technology, he said India is prepared to supplement international efforts for promotion of peaceful uses of nuclear energy. India believes that closed fuel nuclear cycle is essential if nuclear power is to make sustained contribution at a large enough scale necessary to meet global energy needs, Sayeed said yesterday while intervening in the debate on the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), nuclear watchdog body of the United Nations. India believes that reprocessing and recycling of nuclear fuel is essential not only for this purpose but also for the reduction of long term radio toxicity and security implication of disposal of spent fuel as such, he said. "Thorium offers an excellent matrix for efficient burning of surplus plutonium with a much greater degree of proliferation resistance and very low minor actinide burden," he told the delegates, citing the Indian expertise in the area. The IAEA report noted that of the 26 nuclear power plants under construction, 15 are located in Asia. In India, with the TAPS-4 achieving criticality on March 6, 2005 and Taps-3 on May 21, 2006, there are 16 operating power plants, with 7 under construction. Emphasizing that the demand for nuclear power is growing in step with growing global energy needs, Sayeed said the exigencies of economic development, the finite nature of fossil fuels and concerns linked both to their prices as well as their impact on global climate change add to the attractiveness of nuclear power. "The immense energy potential of nuclear fuels, readily available and deployable technologies and the safety and productivity record of nuclear power over the past 20 years are likely to help maintain an upward trend in the demand for nuclear energy," the PDP patron told the 192-member Assembly. Referring to the expertise developed by India, the Mufti said it considers a closed nuclear fuel cycle of crucial importance for its well established three stage nuclear power programme with its long term objective of tapping India’s vast thorium resources. In the front end of the cycle, our programme is providing inputs to the indigenous Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) phase. In the back end of the fuel cycle, reprocessing of PHWR spent fuel has enabled India to successfully operate a Fast Breeder Test Reactor for two decades and launch a commercial Fast Breeder Programme, he told the delegates. The technology of reprocessing irradiated Thorium fuel has been developed and U-233 recovered so far utilised to fuel a small reactor, he said. India has been an active participant in the activities of the Agency under the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO), and has applied the INPRO methodology for analyzing nuclear systems for hydrogen generation. Indian experts, Sayeed said, have also contributed to the work of the International Desalination Advisory Group (INDAG). "We have offered to share our experience and identify future areas of work in nuclear desalination." India, he said, believes that IAEA should continue to pay special attention to the promotion and development of nuclear energy, especially in areas of the world where developmental needs and aspirations remain unfulfilled. Appreciating the setting up by the agency Nobel Cancer and Nutrition Fund, the Mufti noted the Indian offer to contribute a recently developed cobalt 60 Tele Therapy Machine (Bhabhatron) for the Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy. "The emerging possibility for expanding civil nuclear cooperation between India and the international community would supplement our domestic efforts to meet the developmental aspirations of our people through additional energy inputs," he added. Maintaining that the aging of the work force in many areas of nuclear applications is a matter of serious concern for a number of States, he said India supports the efforts of the Agency to maintain nuclear knowledge through databases. India has been supportive of the technical cooperation activities undertaken under IAEA aegis and has pledged USD 324,800 for the Technical Cooperation fund for 2007. (PTI) |
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CID raids Kot Bhalwal
jail By Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Oct 31: CID (Counter Intelligence) sleuths today arrested a top Hizbul Mujahideen militant and a murder accused under-trial from high security Kot Bhalwal jail in connection with recovery of two mobile telephones along with SIM cards from inside the jail few days back. Raja Muzaffar, a Kashmiri militant, son of Zulfikar Ali, a resident of Uri in Baramulla district and Sanjeev Kumar Samyal son of Joginder Singh Samyal R/o Samba were taken into custody by the CID (CI) personnel from inside the jail late this evening. Immediately after their arrest, both of them were taken to CID police station where a fresh case under Unlawful Activities Act has been registered against them, official sources said. Both of them were to Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) for questioning in connection with smuggling of mobile telephone bearing Nos. 99068-72239 and 99061-48770 inside the jail and their use by the militants . With today’s arrests, a total of three detenues have been re-arrested from Kot Bhalwal Jail. Gurmeet Singh, a resident of Mandlik Nagar, Tope Sherkhanian was the first to be arrested as the first mobile telephone was recovered from his possession. More arrests were expected to be made in next few days after questioning of the trio. Sources said efforts were on to ascertain who had smuggled the mobile telephones and SIM cards inside the jail and how this was made possible in high security prison where several militants including foreign mercenaries are lodged. Raja Muzaffar was reported to have spoken to several militants and received their calls on the mobile telephone. He had also directed execution of some militancy related incidents on telephone to the militants. The mobile number 99061-48770 had been issued on the name of Sanjeev Kumar Samyal, even as he was in the jail for last three years facing trial in a murder case at Samba. The mobile was activated on October 14. It was recovered from the possession of top Hizbul Mujahideen militant Mohd Altaf Choudhary of Rajouri, a dismissed constable of Security wing of Jammu and Kashmir Police. The second mobile telephone, which was recovered from Gurmeet Singh, was issued on the name of a Rashtriya Rifles jawan Naresh Kumar, presently posted in Baramulla. Sources said it was yet to be confirmed that whether fake documents of the Army soldier had been used to get the mobile telephone connection. Sources said record pertaining to issuance of SIM card on the name of an under-trial, who was in jail for last three years, has been summoned from the dealer of a leading private telecom company to ascertain who got the SIM card issued on his name and how it was issued without verification. Intelligence agencies were in the process of writing to all three telecom companies, providing mobile services in Jammu and Kashmir, to strictly adhere to verification guidelines before issuing and activating SIM cards especially the pre-paid cards. Agencies have reports that mostly pre-paid connections have been misused and reached the hands of militants, anti-social elements and even jails. Sources said the Intelligence have reports that it was not only Kot Bhalwal jail where mobile telephones have found their way but at least in two other jails of the State, this facility is being availed by the detenues. There were reports that mobile telephones might have been smuggled inside the jail hidden inside leg pieces of mutton. Sources said the escape of dreaded militant Pinto Malik court complex in Pulwama district last month after killing a constable with a pistol was also reported to have been planned using a mobile telephone. Raja Muzaffar, according to sources, had mostly used the mobile telephone No. 99068-72239, which was activated on August 8, 2006. Over 650 calls and SMS had been received on it since it was activated. |
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I never sought clemency for Afzal: Azad NEW DELHI, Oct 31: Putting to rest reports that he was seeking clemency for Parliament attack convict Mohd Afzal, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said he had never asked the Prime Minister about this but added that he was personally not in favour of death penalty. Initially reluctant to answer this question, Azad, who was here to release a book on Jammu written by Chairman and Managing Director of ITDC Pervez Deewan, said, "it is sad to say that no one, neither the politicans nor media, sought any clarification from me on the issue. "In Chandigarh, I only briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about two issues-increase of Haj quota for the state and the agitation over Afzal’s hanging that was taking place in the Valley," he said. "After briefing a couple of reporters, I wonder, next day it was projected that sources close to the Chief Minister said that he (Azad) had sought clemency for Afzal and rest is history," Azad said. Asked why he chose to remain silent till now, he shot back, "I do not run a 24-hour news channel that I should keep on making comments every now and then. I have a Government to run and moresover when the statement attributed to me, rightly or wrongly, puts a lid on the agitation, there is no harm in remaining silent. After silence is golden at times." However, Azad said he personally did not favour capital punishment. "If one is kept in jail for the rest of his life, he or she will die inch by inch." Azad also sought to clarify that none, either the regional or mainstream political parties, had demanded that Afzal should be allowed to go scott free. To a question whether there was any difference of opinion between him and the Congress party, Azad said, "where does the question of difference of opinion arise when even my views have not been sought." Taking a dig at media, Azad asked, "did anyone of you make a little bit of extra effort to seek a comment from me. You do whatever suits you for running the day long show?" As the questions from the media persons continued, Azad announced "with this I close the chapter here and now." Within no time, Azad was seen out of the five-star hotel, where the function was held, but not before again reminding the news-hungry scribes that he "was only to run an administration and not a news channel". Earlier, he released a book written by Deewan on cultural heritage, history and political situation of the Jammu region. He termed the book as an answer to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s book and his misrepresentation of facts about the wars and other facts about Jammu. The Chief Minister said that Kashmir is close to Pakistan, as propogated by some separatist leaders, was a "wrong notion" as the people in the Valley neither share food habits, language, cultural heritage and not even clothing. "One wonders why Kashmir is being dragged into the controversy between India and Pakistan," he said adding religion cannot be the basis of any proximity. (PTI) |
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Pursue CNG infrastructure in J&K: HC Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, Oct 31: The State High Court has directed the Government, and the Managing Director, SIDCO, Srinagar to pursue the matter of laying of CNG infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir with GAIL authorities. ‘‘We find that they had been only indulging in routine correspondence with GAIL authorities which could hardly elicit any response. The two authorities have till date failed to establish any personal contact with the GAIL authorities and to expedite the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) or to take any other follow of action in the matter, the Government through Chief Secretary is, therefore, directed to depute a competent officer of some other department to pursue the matter with the GAIL authorities and to respond to the State Government’s requests/requisition,’’ the Division Bench of the High Court held. Expressing regrets over non implementation of the earlier court orders, the DB held that ‘‘we find that neither the Transport Commissioner and his RTOs nor the traffic enforcement agency headed by the IGP, Traffic was in hold of how best to deal with implementation of the Court directions banning movement of 25 year old commercial vehicles.’’ Though they have taken some steps pursuant to Court directions passed at Jammu which are likely to take some time to bear fruit, they are, meanwhile, directed to prepare a list of registration certificates of these vehicles from their office records and to initiate proceedings to cancel their registration in accordance with provisions of M. V. Act, which would render these vehicles immobile and prevent them from taking to roads, the court ordered while directing, the Transport Commissioner to publish this list in the media and inform the owners of these vehicles that plying of these vehicles after cancellation of their registration certificates would render them liable to several punishments. The court further regretted that there has been no worthwhile action on construction of Batmaloo-Aloochi Bagh around about which the Chief Engineer submits that he had submitted a revised plan, which is disputed by the Traffic IGP. The DB also referred to several complaints received in respect of earmarking of parking areas in Srinagar city and directed Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir to examine all such available spots in consultation with the occupiers/agencies and the Vice Chairman, SDA and take steps either calling upon the concerned occupants to develop these as parking areas within one month, in which case they could operate these areas on payment basis, or to seek their eviction and call upon SDA to develop these areas as parking places which could relieve much pressure on city roads and provide suitable parking accommodation for vehicle owners. Two weeks’ time is granted for necessary action to be taken by the Divisional Commissioner in this regard, it was ordered Regarding complaints received about the working of pollution centres set up under the Court orders by the Transport Commissioner, the DB further regretted that no worthwhile supervisory machinery has been established to monitor functioning of these centres as a result more often than not these centres are found issuing routine certificates which defeats the very purpose for which these were set up. ‘‘Now that two testing vans are expected to be received by the Transport Department which are being handed over to the Pollution Control Board, the Transport Commissioner and Chairman, Pollution Control Board are directed to establish a suitable supervisory mechanism to ensure that certificates issued by these centres are genuine and up to the mark and that they are working according to the established norms,’’ it was ordered. The DB further expressed surprise that orders passed by this Court were being indirectly sought to be set at naught by the Court of Ist Additional District Judge, Srinagar and some other civil courts who were entertaining suits by Petrol Pump owners and passing stay orders where the supply of petrol was being stopped under orders of this Court for their selling adulterated petrol. Registrar Judicial shall issue a notice to 1st Additional District Judge, Srinagar in the matter about pendency of any such suit in his court in which case he shall send the record of that suit with notice to the parties to this court for considerations of the orders passed by that court to ascertain whether the orders passed by that court run in conflict with the orders passed by this court. The Principal District and Session Judge, Srinagar shall also require all civil courts within his jurisdiction to examine/ traffic management carefully and to make sure no such orders are passed by them as world run in conflict with court for further consideration’’, it was clarified. The DB again directed the Chief Engineer, PWD to file a detailed affidavit giving the account of the implementation of the earlier court directions in different areas entrusted to him for execution. Meanwhile, the Divisional Commissioner is directed to constitute a committee comprising of the Chief Engineer Works and all other line departments, including, Electricity, PHE, Telephone, UEED, Traffics, ERS and so on to prepare a road development plan thecity and to fix priorities for execution of this plan along with the estimate which shall be submitted to the court or next date of hearing", it was ordered. |
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Another setback to
State police Excelsior Correspondent Jammu, Oct 31: Third Additional Sessions Judge Jammu, Wani ND today acquitted five accused, facing trail in Delar Mehandi Night blast at General Bus-Stand in which 15 persons died on spot and 72 were injured in 1997. This is the second set-back to the State Police within two days in which two most important and much publicized cases regarding militant activities failed in the court of law. In the much publicized case of RDX blast on March 29, 1997, Wani ND, who is also Presiding Officer TADA/POTA Court Jammu, while acquitting the accused Fiaz-ul-Wahid Gujjar alias Haji Sahib of Dudhas District Rajouri at present Bathindi, Hafeez-ul-Rehman Shiekh code Anil of Udrana, Bhadarwah, Ghulam Nabi Baba of Anantnag and Abdul Rashid Baba alias Ullah of Anantnag, observed that in the present case there is no denial to the fact that injured witnesses have admitted that there occurred a blast at bus-stand on March 29, 1997 at around about 6:30 PM. ‘‘It is also in the evidence of the witnesses examined by the prosecution that 15 persons died on spot and more than 72 persons injured but the statement of witnesses is silent about the lobbing of grenade or bringing of RDX by accused party to bus-stand Jammu and caused this blast by device of remote control. There is not even an iota of evidence to establish the presence of the accused at bus-stand’’, the Judge held. The Court further observed that since the presence of accused on the unfortunate day March 29, 1997 at Bus-Stand could not be established, nor it has been proved by cogent and reliable evidence that accused conspired at ‘‘Baba’’ Muslim Hotel, Talab Khatikan with each-other to cause blasts and disseminate terrorism segregate, J&K from rest of India and in furtherance of this conspiracy took RDX loaded ambassador car to Bus-Stand and parked it on side of exploded it with remote control device to cause death of 15 persons and injuries to several others, therefore, accused cannot be held guilty u/s 302/307/120-B RPC. Another circumstance of confession made by accused also cannot be read against the accused in view of law laid down by Apex Court. Therefore, court is left with no option but to acquit the accused as such the accused are acquitted from the charges leveled against them. They are already on bail, their bail bonds are discharged’’, it was ordered. According to the police story, accused persons, alleged to be members of militant outfit Harkat-ul-Insar were under a mission to liberate J&K State from rest of India, and, therefore, carrying out this mission the accused indulged in disrupted activities and create terror among the common masses by exploding grenades. The accused also used arms and explosives in furtherance of their ill-designed object and on interceding night of 15/16 March, 1997, hatched a deep rooted conspiracy at Baba Muslim Hotel Talab Khatikan and prepared a plan to explode a bomb in the crowded area. Pursuant to this conspiracy, the accused Ghulam Nabi Baba managed RDX through Abdul Rashid Baba, who transported the same in fruit loaded truck. The accused Jalal Din, code Daud brought an Ambassador car from Delhi after putting a fictious number 3307/PUH to Bhatindi at Darul Aloom of accused Faiz-ul-Wahid. On March 28, 1997, the accused met at Baba Muslim Hotel in order to give the practical shape to their malafide designs to explode grenades and in furtherance intention they planted RDX in the Ambassador car and also loaded explosive substance in a tin in its dikki. The accused in order to complete their mission, brought the Ambassador car at Talab Khatikan and the accused Jalal Din and others boarded in the car drove it to Bus-Stand and parked it at entry gate. The accused Hafiz-ul-Rehman had kept a small shape article out on the other side of the road knowing that on account of Delar Mehandi night there will huge crowd in the area, exploded the RDX with remote control device resulting into death of 15 persons on spot and 72 others were injured. The blast also caused damage to buses, scooters and adjoining shops. During investigation, the IO reached on spot and sized the scattered pieces of car, buses and other material available at bus-stand. The injured and dead-bodies were taken to hospital. The investigation was later on handed over to crime-branch by the order of DGP dated March 31, 1997. The Crime Branch took all the record of local police and also recorded the statement of witnesses’ and also sent to the message to Delhi and Kolcutta to find the clue regarding the Ambassador car used in this occurrence. The seized material was sent foresensic laboratory. After completion of the investigation, the Crime Branch presented challan in the court on August 11, 1997. The accused were chargesheeted and court after considering facts and hearing more than 90 witnesses come to the conclusion that the case was not established against the accused persons. |
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Corrupt officers are efficient: CM NEW DELHI, Oct 31: Corruption has a different connotation in Jammu and Kashmir — the most corrupt bureaucrat is the most efficient one, says Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. "And the most honest are the most inefficient bureaucrats," Azad told a function where he released the book by senior Kashmiri bureaucrat Pervez Deewan. His comments prompted peals of laughter from the audience and Azad too smiled. It did not stop there. Azad said his tenure as Chief Minister, a post he had assumed on November two last year, had taught him the bitter lesson that "bureaucrats or officials in the state were not honest by conviction, they were honest by compulsion". But the Chief Minister also noted that Deewan, who was seated beside him on the dias, was one of the exceptions as he was both honest and efficient. (PTI) |
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Ministry favours LPG, K Oil subsidy NEW DELHI, Oct 31: Petroleum Ministry has suggested extending Government subsidy on domestic LPG and kerosene for an indefinite period as the gap between domestic retail price and current international prices was too large to be bridged through a price hike. As per the roadmap for dismantling of the Administered Pricing Mechanism (APM) for petroleum products, subsidy on PDS kerosene and domestic LPG was to be phased out by March 31, 2005. This deadline was extended by two years to March 31, 2007. But now the ministry wants to extend it indefinitely. A ministry proposal to the Finance Ministry states that retail selling prices of LPG would have to be raised by Rs 150 per cylinder and PDS kerosene by Rs 16 per litre to bring them at par with cost of production. "Under these circumstances it is proposed that the scheme may be extended till the prices of these two commodities are reasonable and market determined," the proposal said. The PDS Kerosene and domestic LPG Subsidy Scheme 2002, under which the Government’s fiscal budget meets a part of under-realisation on sale of the two mass consumed cooking fuel, is valid upto March 31, 2007. Official sources said the total revenue loss of not increasing domestic cooking gas (LPG) and Kerosene price in line with rise in cost of production was Rs 27,500 crore in 2006-07. Against this the budgetary subsidy was Rs 2,900 crore. The remaining is to be met through contribution from upstream companies like ONGC and issue of oil bonds. At the time of dismantling of the Administered Pricing Mechanism (APM) with effect from April 1, 2002, it was decided that the subsidy on PDS kerosene and domestic LPG would be borne from the consolidated fund of India. Accordingly, the subsidy scheme was formulated, which was to be phased out in three years, that is by March 31, 2005. In June 2004, the Government decided that the scheme be extended further for two years, that is up to March 31, 2007 "with the hope that international prices will become reasonable and domestic prices market determined." (PTI) |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 31: Troops of Rashtriya Rifles, SOG and Thanna Mandi police today recovered a large quantity of ammunition and explosives from a forest area of Arngi Dhok in Thanna Mandi in Rajouri district. Recoveries include three radio sets (one Alinco, one Yessu and one I Com), one Nokia mobile handset, 35 detonators, 63 detonators fitted with wire, 10 kg explosives, one 7.62mm pistol, one 22 caliber pistol with three magazines, 10 pistol magazines, 31 hand grenades, 55 UBGL grenades, one AK rifle butt, three cigarette packets, five diaries and two letter pads. No arrests were made from the spot. Police party in the operation was led by SHO Thanna Mandi Javed Malik. In another incident, four militants Sherif, Maqsood, Rafiq and Liyaqat entered into the house of Ali Mohd son of Keema Gujjar at Lancha, Gool and opened firing. While there were no civilian casualties, houses of Ali Mohd and his brother Kalu caught firing and were gutted. Militants later escaped. |
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NEW DELHI, Oct 31: NHRC Chairperson Justice A S Anand demitted office today after serving the Commission for over three years. Anand, who had taken over as the Chairperson of the human rights body on february 17, 2003, retired upon completing 70 years of age, a commission spokesperson said. His tenure saw, among other important decisions, the judgment in the Punjab mass cremation case as well as monitoring of rehabilitation in post-riot Gujarat and development work in the starvation-affected districts of Orissa. Prior to the NHRC posting, Anand was Chief Justice of India from October 10, 1998 to October 31, 2001. He had also served as Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court in 1985 and later in Madras High Court in 1989. (PTI) |
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Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 31: Commander of a company of the counter-insurgent Rashtriya Rifles, who also happened to be the son of the State Home Department's Media Advisor, was gunned down today by one of his subordinate soldiers in Harwan outskirts of the capital city. Meanwhile, two persons got killed and five others, including four soldiers, sustained injuries when an Army vehicle collided head-on with a Maruti car at Awantipore this evening. Informed sources revealed to the EXCELSIOR that Sepoy S C Behra opened fire from his Insas rifle on the Company Commander, Lt Col Saket Saxena, at headquarters of a company of RR 28 Bn at Dara, in Harwan locality, at 1300 hours today. Sources said that strained relations between the company commander and his subordinate soldier culminated into the broad daylight fratricidal killing. At least four of such killings have taken place in Jammu and Kashmir in the last two weeks. Even as most of such shootouts are normally the result of stress and depression developed by soldiers while fighting insurgency in inhospitable conditions, Defence spokesman Lt Col A K Mathur insisted that the delinquent soldier had not remained physically or mentally disturbed in near past. Neither of the two had apparently any domestic strains. As per preliminary reports, he or his officer had no behavioural problems either. He said that Army had immediately disarmed and detained the guilty and a Court of Inquiry had been ordered against him. Col Saxena's dead body, which had been carried to 92 Base Hospital, would be flown to New Delhi for cremation and other funeral rites tomorrow. Working as head of a company of Rashtriya Rifles 28 Bn, which was shifted from Rafiabad Baramulla to Srinagar outskirts of Harwan sometime back, Lt Col Saxena had conducted a number of counter-insurgency operations. In recent past, he had succeeded in eliminating a number of the militants of Al-Badar Mujahideen, in coordination with Police, in Hazratbal-Dachhigam belt. Lt Col Saxena was the younger son of retired Brigadier Virender Saxena, who has been functioning here as Media Advisor to the State Home Department after his retirement from Army. Meanwhile, informed sources said that an Army vehicle, which was part of a security forces' convoy on way from Anantnag to Srinagar, collided head-on with a Maruti-800 car, JK03-7458, which was on way from Srinagar to Anantnag at 1745 hours this evening at Jawbiara near Awantipore on Srinagar-Jammu national highway. Two civilians died on spot and their bodies were retrieved from the mangled remains of their ill-fated car. They were identified as Farooq Ahmed Bhawani S/o Abdur Rasheed Bhawani R/o Nai Basti, Anantnag, and Mohammad Saleem Wagay S/o Mohammad Sultan Wagay R/o Nowgam, Shangus. Their associate, Fayaz Ahmed Qadiri S/o Habibullah Qadiri R/o Nai Basti, sustained injuries. He was evacuated and rushed to a hospital for medical treatment. Sources said that four of the soldiers traveling in the Army vehicle were also injured. However, all of them were reportedly stable. |
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