Special training for personnel
CRPF sets up its intelligence cell

KOLKATA, Nov 9: For effectively tackling internal security threats, including naxalism and insurgency, the CRPF has introduced specialised training for its personnel, besides setting up its own ‘intelligence cell’, its outgoing Director General J K Sinha said here today.

Sinha said specialised training, including tactics and use of modern weaponry, had started at Silchar in the north-east and Sarahan in Himachal Pradesh.

"The major concern before the force is now internal security for which special thrust has been given to strengthen counter-insurgency measures," Sinha told reporters after attending a ceremonial parade in connection with his farewell visit to the zonal headquarters here.

Sinha said that recent setting-up of its ‘intelligence cell’, had, in fact, boosted the morale of the force, with more emphasis being laid on better handling of internal security duties.

The force has also increased its strength from 190 to 200 battalions.

About the ‘intelligence cell’ of the force, Sinha said it had been raised from "our internal resources".

"We need an intelligence cell of our own and that should be our base."

So far, the CRPF had to depend on state intelligence, besides some inputs from Central agencies.

About the naxalite threat, Sinha said it was concentrated in Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Jharkhand and Bihar where there was heavy deployment of the CRPF.

While seven battalions each were deployed in Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, followed by five battalions in Jharkhand, there was only one battalion in West Bengal as the naxalite problem was comparatively less in that State, Sinha said.

The CRPF DG claimed that naxalism had almost petered out in West Bengal with the ruling Left Front initiating various development programmes in the backward areas.

Calling for coordinated action among the naxal-affected States and Central agencies to contain it, Sinha said that local police stations in the affected areas should be streamlined and the force given training in use of modern weapons.

Stressing the need for more training institutes for West Bengal Police, Sinha regretted that a State like Bihar did not have any police training institute. The only such institute at Hazaribagh had gone to Jharkhand with the bifurcation of the State.

Stating that the Pak Intelligence Agency ISI was very "active" in Bangladesh, Sinha stressed the need for intensifying border vigil to prevent insurgents from sneaking into the country using West Bengal as a corridor.

Such a step should also be taken along Indo-Nepal, Indo-Myanmar and Indo-Pak borders.

Infiltration of Bangladeshis into the north-eastern states was more than through Indo-Bangla border, he claimed.

Sinha, had taken over as CRPF DG on February 1, 2004. During his tenure both contingents of both men and women were sent overseas for UN missions. (PTI)

'Independent India's first gift of integration to Valley'
Kashmir's incredulous looks on train

From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

OMPORA (Budgam), Nov 9: When an Ashok Leyland bus had, for the first time, reached an upper Budgam village 50 years ago, quite a number of bewildered folks had come out not only with excitement but also with hospitality: They had unfolded hayricks before the engine, thinking that the 'animal' was too hungry. Even as no such myths can be attached to alien objects like the two coaches of a train---courtesy television and many people's visits to Jammu, Delhi and beyond---in Jammu and Kashmir's second educationally most backward district, the excitement is no less than that of a village fair.

Not only young schoolchildren but also men and women of all age groups today gathered around the trial coaches beside a High School here on Srinagar-Budgam Road. The CRPF guards, who had escorted the 460-HP truck carrying the first train coaches from Udhampur in the morning, still being here, authorities had to call in a Police party to protect the wonder object and also to maintain law and order.

"It's really a dream come true", exclaimed Abdur Rasheed Paul of Narakara village. He revealed that most of the farmers had agreed to sell their land to Railways 6-7 years ago on low prices with the hope that a track would never physically come up and they would continue to reap the double harvest. Apprehensions were, in fact, galore when Prime Ministers H D Deve Gowda and I K Gujral had laid foundation stones of then Rs 2,550 cr Udhampur-Baramulla rail link in 1997-98. As this correspondent feared that at the rate of Rs 50 cr annual allocation, the ambitious project would take next 50 years to complete, Deve Gowda sent his Principal Information Officer to convince EXCELSIOR that it wouldn't be the retake of New Delhi's year-1982 joke with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He asserted that it would soon be designated as a national project with special allocation and the train would go chugging in the Valley "in the next 6 years".

While New Delhi treated armed insurgency as the top most factor of uncertainty and disruption, most of the people in Kashmir dismissed the foundation stone laying as "yet another promise not to be honoured by India". The philosophical lot in academia believed that the Centre had "some vested interest" in avoiding the Valley's psychological as well as physical integration with the rest of this country. "Why has the Centre not laid a 4-lane road between Srinagar and Jammu for 60 years? Why has New Delhi not spent Rs 4 crore on North-South Corridor (an ambitious Rs 20,000 cr 6-lane motorway between Baramulla and Kanyakumari) in the last 4 years in Kashmir?", it still asks. None other than Prime Minister Vajpayee had laid the foundation stone near Srinagar four years ago.

But, the arrival of a trial coach in Budgam has indeed written a new page of the Valley's history today. Residents of Ompora, Batahar, Sheikhpora and Narakara have sympathies for the driver who was taken ill immediately after his mission was accomplished. Balbir Singh, an engineer with the diesel locomotive, said that people at many places on Udhampur-Srinagar highway had performed the 'Aarti' and prayed for successful operation of the train service linked to the disturbed Valley. In Valley, people put garlands on the anterior of the exciting carriage, pulling 23-metre long twin coaches.

"Airplanes had flown before 1947. Buses and trucks have been plying on our roads since 1920s. Cell phones and Internet apart, train is Independent India's first gift of integration to the Valley", observed Mohammad Akram Bhat, an undergraduate student. "It may mostly carry the troops, vegetables and fruit, but it can also take us closer to IIMs, IITs and Dehradun schools. It will be a boon for frequent visitors and those who can not afford expensive air trips", added Ghulam Nabi Dar, another College student. "Yes, the real joy will come the day Katra-Qazigund patch is completed", Dar said. The nightmare of vomiting at three places in a Srinagar-Jammu bus does haunt him four years after his first and last visit to Jammu.

A trolley is already operational on the track between Kakapora and Kanipora. Had the Power Development Department authorities been quick to divert a high tension transmission line at Kanipora, it would have rolled all the way to Ompora. There are a dozen more cuts on the 119-Km Qazigund-Baramulla line. Revenue Department has failed to hand over a 500-metre long patch at Krankshivan (Sopore) to the Railway authorities. A herbal oil extraction plant at Kanispora, near Baramulla, is another major impediment. "Still, we are hopeful that the train will smoothly operate on Qazigund-Baramulla link anytime between March and August next year", said an official who requested anonymity. He sounded optimistic that by the end of this month, the track would be clear for operation between Kakapora and Budgam.

After many trial runs, passengers and goods would be carried between different stations. While Budgam (Ompora) is coming up as the largest hub with all facilities and administrative offices, Nowgam will be the Srinagar Station with maximum beautification and modern-look buildings. Officials said that three to five trains would simultaneously operate on the broad gauge line, similar to any standard track in India. As many as 17 trains can be parked at a time at Budgam Station. Officials said that like 80 percent trains, diesel locomotives will operate on Baramulla-Jammu link. Single lane track between Baramulla and Jullundar can accommodate only one train at a moment but with cross-over tracks at all stations, regulated by Railway Signals, three to five trains can operate simultaneously.

In all, 15 stations are being constructed between Qazigund and Baramulla at Qazigund, Sadoora, Khannabal (Anantnag), Bijbehara, Punzgam, Malangpura (Awantipore), Kakapora, Pampore, Nowgam (Srinagar), Ompora (Budgam), Raj Wanshir (Mazhama, where the track crosses Srinagar-Gulmarg Road), Pattan, Hamray, Amar Garh (Sopore) and Khwaja Bagh (Baramulla).

From telephone operator to AEE on a fake degree
*SVO recommends dismissal of officer

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Nov 9: From a telephone operator to an Executive Engineer and that too without any engineering degree. Incredible it may sound but it is a fact that such an officer is working in Urban Local Bodies in Srinagar. After investigations, the State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) has recommended dismissal of the officer from the services.

The officer under question is Ghulam Mohd Dar, a resident of Batrahel, Budgam and presently posted as AEE in Urban Local Bodies, Srinagar. His promotion as Executive Engineer was on the cards.

Official sources told the Excelsior that the Vigilance Organisation took up investigations of Dar’s case after receiving a specific complaint and documents that he had no engineering degree even while he was working as an AEE in Urban Local Bodies in Srinagar.

The SVO investigations revealed that Dar was recruited as a telephone operator in Srinagar Municipality.

After few years, he approached the authorities with an engineering degree and was recruited as a Junior Engineer. During subsequent promotions, he became an Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) and his case for promotion as an Executive Engineer was under process, sources said.

The engineering degree, produced by him while securing appointment as a JE, has turned out to be fake during verification by the Vigilance Organisation. Surprisingly, the then authorities didn’t bother to get the degree verified after Dar was appointed as a JE from telephone operator.

After completion of investigations, the Vigilance Organisation has recommended to the Government the dismissal of Dar from the services. Documentary evidence in support of the dismissal has also been submitted to the Government, sources said.

According to sources, the SVO has decided not to register a case in such cases as it could lead to prolonged investigations giving an advantage to the accused. Therefore, the SVO has written to the Government straightway recommending action against the accused officer as it was a fit case for dismissal from the services.

"Instead of holding lengthy probes followed by legal battles, the SVO will henceforth not register a FIR in cases where a direct offence is made out against the officers. We will write to Government for action", sources said, adding this will lower burden of cases in the Organisation.

"It was due to shift in the policy that number of 300 cases including those in which FIRs had been registered and under investigations has come down to 150 in the SVO. This will help the Investigating Officers to hold quality investigations and take the cases to logical conclusion during judicial determination", sources said.

Civil Sectt gate closed
Late comers face embarrassment

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 9: Scores of Civil Secretariat employees including some senior officers were held up outside the Secretariat premises as the security staff closed the main gate at around 9.45 am to keep a check on the late comers today.

The sources said that on the instructions of the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, the main gate of the Civil Secretariat was closed for entry as many employees were reporting late to their respective offices. The time table of the move offices is from 9.30 am to 5 pm. Howevere, most of the employees were reporting even after 10 am.

A senior Security Officer said that when the main gate of the Secretariat was shut at around 9.45 am today, nearly 100 employees including several senior officers were struck outside the gate within half an a hour. It was humiliating experience for many of them. Some bureaucrats preferred to slip away from the site just to avoid unwanted and embarrassing situation.

Meanwhile, Civil Secretariat Employees Union president, Nazir Ahmed Mir and his secretary intervened and approached the Commissioner/ Secretary General Administration Department, Khursheed Ahmed Ganai and requested him to excuse the employees for a couple of days till they settle down properly in the winter capital. He assured that punctuality will be maintained in future.

After this assurance, the gates were opened after 35 minutes and the employees including several women workers were allowed to move inside. The bureaucrats, who had vanished from the gate sensing trouble also turned to their offices after some time.

Mr Ganai, when contacted told the Excelsior that as per the instructions of the Chief Minister to maintain punctuality in the offices, the GAD tried to keep check on the roll. He said that the random checking will continue in future. This exercise is conducted just to ensure punctuality in the offices, he maintained.

Farooq dares Mufti to make 'out of box' solution public

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 9 : Terming the much publicized self-rule proposal of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as political stunt to hoodwink the common masses, former Chief Minister and patron of the National Conference, Dr Farooq Abdullah today dared Mufti Mohammed Sayeed to make his ‘out of box’ solution public to solve the vexed Kashmir problem.

In an informal chat with media persons after attending a function organized by G N Foundation, Dr Abdullah observed that self-rule proposal and demand of demilitarization were nothing but a political Dhong (drama) to befool the masses and to accomplish political agenda.

In an obvious reference towards repeated statement of former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed regarding ‘out of box’ solution to Kashmir problem, Dr Abdullah challenged his arch political rival to make his proposal public.

"Instead of highlighting this issue on irrelevant platform, Mufti Sayeed should come in public with his proposal’’, he said, adding, "Bring it on discussion table I will be the first person to support Mufti’s proposal if it is viable and acceptable to all regions of the State’’. He, however, hastened to add that PDP should first get its proposal approved from the common masses rather than raking up it at national and international level.

Dr Abdullah minced no words in attacking PDP and predicted that Mufti Sayeed and his daughter Mehbooba will face consequences for befooling the masses. "People will give them befitting reply in the next Assembly elections for their false promises’’, he said and equated Mufti’s situation with that of US President George W Bush who has failed to maintain his majority in the Congress.

Replying to a question regarding return of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits to their native places, the NC patron was of the view that situation was not conducive. "The day when Farooq Abdullah visits Srinagar city without any security, then I will support any move to take them back’’. We had made efforts to take Kashmiri Pandits back but shelved the idea due to massacres’’, he recalled and warned that any haste move will be immature in this direction.

The former Chief Minister, who predicted that PDP will be wiped out in next Assembly elections, observed that it was not appropriate time to say whether NC will forge any alliance with Congress. "Actually I am not in a position to reply this question. Only Omar, who is party president, is an appropriate person to reply this query’’, he said.

Earlier Dr Abdullah distributed cycles for handicaps and sewing machines to needy people.

RTI a real step towards Swaraj: Habibullah

MUMBAI, Nov 9: The awareness of democratic rights among all sections of the society could only be brought about through Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005, as it is a giant step towards real Swaraj, Central Information Commission Chief Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah has said.

"Only a limited section of the society has been able to exercise their democratic rights even as democracy has completed six decades in India", he said.

Addressing an interactive meeting on "Right to Information" organised by Indian Merchants Chamber on Tuesday, Mr Habibullah referred to Mahatma Gandhi’s observation that real Swaraj can never come about by acquisition of authority by a few elected representatives in power. It can only be brought about by acquisition of capacity by a majority of citizens to resist the authority.

"The RTI Act 2005 aims precisely at building the capacity of citizens to resist the authority," he said.

Throwing light on the key areas of this new act, he said "The RTI aims to bring about transparency and accountability by providing people the right to access all public information, except those exempted under section 8(24)".

"The law imposes a mandatory duty on the Government to proactively make available key information pertaining to all sectors of public governance to all people under section 4", he said.

"It also gives right to citizens, NGOs, media and other entities to get vital public information and disseminate it among the citizens", he said.

Mr Habibullah observed, while RTI was widely welcomed and used by a large number of citizens in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkatta and Chennai, it failed to cast a similar impact on rural India, including small towns.

Refuting observations that the RTI was "a weapon to fight the authorities", he said, "It is only a tool to translate democratic principles into ground level realities".

The RTI Act, which came into effect on October 12 last year, applies to the Central, State and Local Governments, and requires the executive, judiciary and legislative bodies to strictly abide by its provisions. (UNI)

Srinagar sex scandal case
Bail plea hearing continues

CHANDIGARH, Nov 9: Arguments on the bail applications of some of the accused in the Srinagar sex scandal case remained inconclusive today before Justice Rajive Bhalla of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The line of argument adopted by defence counsel concentrated largely on the need for parity in grant of bail as a senior bureaucrat Iqbal Khande, the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, had been given anticipatory bail in the matter by District and Sessions judge, Srinagar.

It was also argued that while the offence was triable by a magistrate, the maximum punishment under the Suppression of Traffic Act (STA), under which the accused have been booked, was from one to three years in prison, of which five months the petitioners had already served.

Defence counsel Ranjan Lakhanpal appearing for Mohammed Yusuf Mir, a DSP in J&K Police, said the petitioner had in 2004, while serving in the Counter Intelligence wing, submitted a report about a sum of Rs 80 lakh being paid to two private television channels to give projection to "sexual terrorism" and to highlight the alleged exploitation of Kashmiri girls at the hands of those in power , and the subsequent events like the present case, confirmed.

It was designed to destabilise the Government. It was in this context that he had falsely been implicated, the counsel further argued while praying for parity in grant of bail as done in the case of Khande, the counsel said.

However, the CBI counsel Rajan Gupta interjected to say that Khande was granted anticipatory bail on medical grounds. The arguments would continue tomorrow as well. (UNI)

Kashmir police in Mysore

MYSORE, Nov 9: A team of Jammu and Kashmir Police arrived here today to interrogate the two Pakistan-born Al-Badr terrorists nabbed by the City police after a brief encounter here last month.

Police sources said the officials had come with FIRs filed in 12 cases against Mohammad Ali Hussain, a notorious militant involved in the killing of 19 people, including civilians and policemen, in Srinagar between 2004 and 2006.

The team, comprising top officials, would also interrogate the other arrested, Mohammed Fahad, on his links in Jammu and Kashmir based on the frequent phone calls he made to that State.

Police said the team visited a City court and the Vijayanagara police station where the two terrorists were lodged.

A police team from Kerala, which is already in the City to investigate Fahad’s connection with that State, questioned the arrested militants about their movements in Kerala. Fahad’s father was born in Kerala but later migrated to Pakistan.

The militants would be produced before the court tomorrow as the period of police custody expires. In all six people, including one from Chennai, have been arrested so far for aiding the terrorists. (UNI)

Cabinet clears bill to set up NJC

NEW DELHI, Nov 9: A bill to set up a National Judicial Council (NJC) that will go into complaints against Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, was today cleared by the Union Cabinet for introduction in Parliament’s winter session.

The Judges (Inquiry) Bill, 2006, is aimed at bringing transparency in the functioning of the judiciary and ensuring accountability of judges.

The bill, which provides for setting up the NJC to probe any misconduct by a judge of the Supreme Court or High Courts, will be introduced in the winter session of Parliament beginning November 22.

A meeting of the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, approved the proposed law which entails certain amendments to the Judges (Inquiry) Act of 1968, Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters.

The long-delayed measure provides for a procedure under which any person can lodge a complaint to the NJC against judges except the Chief Justice of India (CJI).

The NJC will comprise the CJI, two senior-most judges of the apex court and two senior-most Chief Justices of the High Courts nominated by the CJI, according to the provisions of the bill.

However, in case of complaint or reference against a Judge of the Supreme Court, the Council shall consist of the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most Judges of the apex court to be nominated by the CJI.

The Law Commission in its 195th report had made certain recommendations in this regard, Chidambaram said.(PTI)

Guru petitions President for mercy

NEW DELHI, Nov 9: Mohammed Afzal Guru, sentenced to death for his role in the 2001 Parliament terror attack, has petitioned President A P J Abdul Kalam for mercy.

Guru has submitted his 102-page long mercy petition to the authorities of Tihar jail, where he is lodged currently, late last evening, sources told PTI here today.

The prison authorities will forward the petition, which includes 75 pages of annexures, to the President, they said.

The former JKLF militant so far has refused to file a clemency petition citing that he had no hope of getting justice while his family had approached the first citizen seeking mercy for him.

In his plea, Guru said he was moved by the "solidarity" he has received from the people cutting across ideological divides apart from the support he got from Jammu and Kashmir.

"This support has truly given me a new hope that I may still live and able to see me son grow up," he said in his plea.

Guru said he was also moved by how "graciously the President received his wife, son and mother when they met him.....It kindled a new hope that I may still get justice". (PTI)