Senate approves Indo-US deal
Long way to go for nuke deal to become reality, says PM

NEW DELHI, Nov 17: Welcoming the passage of a bill to implement the Indo-US civil nuclear deal by the American Senate, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said there was still a long way to go for the pact to become "living reality".

Aspects of the two bills on the deal passed by the US House of Representatives and the Senate were "not identical" and the process of reconciling them would "have to take on board our concerns", Singh said at the HT leadership summit here.

"I welcome the decision of the US Senate to approve the bill. Before that, the House of Representatives has done a similar thing," he said.

"But we still have a long way to go before nuclear cooperation between India and the US becomes a living reality."

President George W Bush had assured him that he would work to ensure that the final version of the legislation is in conformity with the agreement of July 18, 2005 and the separation plan of March 2 this year, Singh said while replying to a question from the audience.

"There are aspects in the two bills which are not identical and, as the US legislative process goes, therefore there will have to be a reconciliation process on the part of the concerns of the House and the Senate which I am told will take place in the next few weeks," the Prime Minister said.

"I sincerely hope in this process, ideas and areas where we are concerned with the structures of the bills as they stand will be taken into account and I have the assurance of President Bush that the US administration is aware of our concerns, and that they will work with us to ensure that the final outcome of the legislation is in line with our mutual commitments as set out in the July 18, 2005 joint statement and the separation plan which has the approval of both india and the US."

Sounding a note of caution, External Affiars Minister Pranab Mukherjee, in an official statement earlier said, "we must await the final version before drawing any conclusions on the legislation."

In the statement, Mukherjee said "we now expect that the final version of the legislation, which would emerge after the joint conference of the House and the Senate, should adhere as closely as possible to the understandings reached between the two countries on July 18, 2005 and March 2, 2006 separation plan so that full civil nuclear cooperation between India and the US becomes a reality and contributes to India’s energy security".

India, he said, expresses its sincere appreciation for the "tireless efforts" of Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who "worked personally to ensure the passage of the bill."

US Ambassador to India David Mulford today described the Senate passage of the Indo-US nuclear deal as a "very positive development", and assured India that the bill would soon become a law with the issues causing sensitivities in India resolved.

Addressing a press conference here after the senate passed the bill by 85-12 votes, Mr Mulford said: "It is a historic day in the long relations between India and the US....Perhaps the best day ever.... We can now move forward with a great deal of optimism."

Asked whether it was too early for celebrations as India had expressed reservations on certain aspects of the deal, he said the two bills— the House Bill and the Senate Bill— had to be reconciled and then sent to the US President for signature to become a law.

There were also certain issues which were causing sensitivities in India, he said, but assured that the US administration was working with the Congress to see that these were resolved early.

"It is possible to resolve the problems and come out with something acceptable.... The outlook is positive and we will complete this shortly," he said.

In Washington, the landmark Indo-US nuclear deal today crossed a major hurdle when the Senate approved overwhelmingly a legislation to implement it after rejecting at least five killer amendments, including one seeking a cap on India’s fissile material production.

The bill on the US-India Civilian Nuclear Agreement was adopted 85-12 by the 100-member Republican-controlled Senate after intense day-long debate, handing President George W Bush an important diplomatic victory on one of his top foreign policy initiatives.

Bush, in a statement in Singapore before leaving for Vietnam for an Asia Pacific Summit, hailed the Senate decision saying the agreement will bring India into the international non-proliferation mainstream besides creating new business opportunities for American companies and enhancing trade relationship.

The House of Representatives has already given consent to the Bill.

The agreement clinched on March 2 during the visit of Bush to New Delhi will allow the US to have civilian nuclear trade and technology with India and pave the way for international community to have nuclear cooperation with the country. An agreement to have the deal was reached between President Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on July 18 last year.

The bill makes an exception in US law to allow American civilian nuclear trade with countries that have not allowed full international inspections.

The bipartisan support to the deal came after the Senate rejected five killer amendments, including a mandatory commitment by India to stop making nuclear bomb materials and to severe military links with Iran.

For the deal to take effect, the Senate version now has to be reconciled with the House version that was cleared sometime back in a Conference Committee; and both chambers will now have to approve the legislation in its final form prior to the ending of the session in the middle of December. (AGENCIES)

2 more ultras killed, Kupwara toll 10

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Nov 17: Police and security forces have killed both the militants who had been trapped at a house in Lone Mohalla of Gulgam in Kupwara district last evening.

SSP Kupwara Vijay Kumar told the EXCELSIOR that the last two militants of the freshly infiltrated two groups were killed in a joint operation by Police and Army at Gulgam today. As already reported, the militant duo had got trapped at the residential house of one Mohammad Sultan Lone S/o Ghulam Rasool Lone at Gulgam last evening. SSP said that both the militants killed in the gunbattle were believed to be Pakistani cadres of Lashkar-e-Toiba. He said that Lone’s house suffered minor damage in exchange of firing but his cowshed gutted.

Vijay Kumar said that three militants of this particular group had been killed by Police and forces in a joint operation on Wednesday while the fourth one was captured by residents of Awoora and handed over to Kupwara Police on Thursday. He said it was on the disclosures of the captured Pakistani militant that forces swooped on another hideout at Gulgam and eliminated two more militants. One soldier had got killed and four soldiers, including a Major, injured in the same opoeration on Wednesday.

Vijay Kumar said that four militants of another group of infiltrators were killed in another operation on Tuesday/Wednesday in the same Kupwara forest area. With this, one soldier and 9 militants of the twin groups have been killed and one militant has been arrested. He said that the twin operation has reached its end but Police had, late tonight, received information regarding the movement of another 5-member group of militants in the same area. He said that Police and Army would soon launch an operation.

Meanwhile, Militants hurled a grenade towards a patrol party of Rashtriya Rifles at Bandwara, 80 kms from here, at around 2 PM, the sources said. However, the grenade missed the intended target and exploded on the roadside adjacent to the main gate of Animal Husbandry Department office, the sources said adding no one was injured in the incident.

Security forces immediately cordoned off the area and a hunt has been launched to nab the militants behind the attack.

Meanwhile, security forces seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition from a militant hideout established in a jungle area of Baramulla district in North Kashmir last evening, an official spokesman said today.

During a search operation at Cherhar-Shiva jungles in Baramulla district, he said security forces busted a militant hideout and seized 60 mortar bombs, three fuses, 32 UBGL grenades, five hand grenades, three Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), one AP mine, one wireless set and two cassettes.

The spokesman also said that police apprehended three suspected militants at Kulgam in South Kashmir last evening and seized two AK magazines and as many hand grenades from them. In another incident, troops seized one grenade launcher and two grenades wrapped in a polythene bag from a graveyard in Baramulla town of North Kashmir. (AGENCIES)

PM moots 7 pt strategy to fight corruption

NEW DELHI, Nov 17: Favouring an aggressive pursuit of corruption cases at the highest level, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today spelt out a seven-point comprehensive strategy including reforms in the tax system, an area of high corruption.

"The anti-corruption machinery in the country should create deterrence against corruption by aggressively pursuing cases of high-level corruption to their logical end. Rapid, fair, and accurate investigation of allegations of corruption against public servants at all levels should remain a priority," Singh said on the concluding day of the 16th Biennial Conference on anti-corruption of the CBI.

Stressing for a comprehensive strategy to reduce the scope of corruption, Singh said, "we must recognize for an integrated approach to dealing with corruption. Agencies like CBI cant operate in isolation..."

The Prime Minister called for a distinction between an "honest mistake" and deliberate "wrong-doing".

"We need to have system which protects honest mistake. Life is full of uncertainty and in this environment, honest mistakes are unavoidable," he said.

The Prime Minister said the integrity within the judiciary is itself a deterrent against corruption in public life.

"Hence, prompt action against corruption in the judiciary, at all levels, is a necessary element of the battle against corruption in other institutes of the state," Singh said.

The reform of public procurement systems, civil as well as defence, with complete transparency in the tendering process at stages with publicly recorded discussions was also part of the comprehensive strategy against corruption, he said.

"The Right to Information Act has to be effectively utilised so that it will not only act as a deterrent but also empower citizens to bring to light any acts of corruption," the Prime Minister said.

"Seventh, the decentralisation of administration and the delivery of justice can help in reducing corruption by making the system more accountable to the people they have to serve...Greater community scrutiny and decentralisation of administrative control can act as a deterrent against corruption," he said.

He said that the Government was also intending to bring forward a Public Services Bill before Parliament. The Bill will define public services code of ethics and management. It will also protect whistleblowers and have overall objective of developing public services as a professional, politically neutral, accountable for the citizens, he said.

Singh said he was happy to see that India’s ranking in the Global index of corruption had improved over last two years.

"There has been some debate on the veracity of such indices and their relevance...However, it is heartening to see that global perception about corruption in India are on the mend," the Prime Minister said, adding, "but I can say that it is a long way to go."

The Prime Minister said that abolition of "licence-permit raj" had reduced corruption and added "however, I am aware that many control remain and need to be either abolished or made transparent and non-discretionary.

He said reducing "Inspector Raj" by making inspections transparent and simple would reduce the scope for corruption. "This is why we have taken several steps to end Inspector Raj and replace it with transparent regulation," he said.

He distributed President’s Police Medal to eight officers of the CBI for their meritorious services. (PTI)

Muslims lagging behind: Committee

NEW DELHI, Nov 17: The Rajinder Sachar Committee that went into the status of Muslims in the country has not recommended reservation for the community which it says was "lagging behind" the other religious groups in most development indicators.

The committee, however, is understood to have asked the Government to recognise the prevailing caste system in the community and commended affirmative action for their uplift by means other than reservation.

The seven-member committee headed by Sachar, a former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, that was set up to go into the social, economic and educational status of Muslims, submitted its report to the Prime Minister today.

Asked if the committee has recommended any affirmative action like reservation for Muslims, Sachar said this was for the Government to decide.

The Committee is believed to have recommended earmarking of 15 per cent of Central Government funds exclusively for the community in schemes being implemented by it.

There should also be sensitisation programmes for Government employees, specially the law enforcement personnel, towards the needs of the community and its problems.

Keeping in mind the low literacy levels in the community, the committee also sought setting up of Government schools in areas inhabited by Muslims as an alternative to Madrasas.

In its report, it said the community was "relatively poor, more illiterate, has lower access to education, lower representation in public and private sector jobs and lower availability of bank credit for self-employment".

"In urban areas, the community mostly lives in slums characterised by poor municipal infrastructure," the report said adding there was, however, considerable variation in the condition of the community across states and regions.

Expressing concern over the number of Muslims languishing in jails in petty cases, it said, the percentage of Muslims in the jails of Gujarat and Maharashtra was more than three times their percentage of the total population in these states.

It also sought greater representation in health and teaching sectors for members of the community.

The report blamed Muslim leaders and political outfits for the prevailing condition of the community.

"We all feel it was an honest and just report," Sachar said without elaborating on the contents of the report, which has 12 chapters.

Thanking Sachar and other members of the committee for a "comprehensive" report, the Prime Minister said the document would be tabled in Parliament so that it is widely discussed and debated upon to enable a "national consensus" on how to improve the social, educational and economic status of Muslims.

This, he said, would also be in accordance with the Government’s commitment to achieve growth with equity, to strengthen pluralistic ethos and build an inclusive society.

Sachar told the Prime Minister that the committee had visited a number of states and met a wide spectrum of people, commissioned detailed surveys and research papers by experts, collated available data and interacted with various departments and agencies of the Central and State Governments. (PTI)

Largescale green felling, timber smuggling in Tangmarg area
Truck, van seized at Magam; 4 smugglers arrested

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Nov 17: With Police, Forest Department and Forest Protection Force (FPF) striking on one another in Budgam district now, largescale green felling and timber smuggling has been exposed in Tangmarg belt. In a daytime ambush, Police Station Magam has seized a truck and a van laden with illicit timber and arrested all the four smugglers carrying the same from Tangmarg to Srinagar.

Informed sources told the EXCELSIOR that, over a specific information, SHO Magam Inspector Abdul Majeed laid an ambush on Tangmarg-Srinagar Road. Tata-407 truck, JK01-9526, and a Maruti van, JK05-5947, were trapped in the ambush near Magam. Search of the Tata-407 yielded recovery of 20 freshly felled devdar sleepers. Two more thick sleepers of Kail were recovered from the van. As the four people smuggling the timber from Tangmarg to Srinagar were not in possession of any official documents or permission, they were immediately arrested. They revealed to Police that the two vehicles as well as the timber belonged to one Ghulam Nabi Malla S/o Ghulam Mohammad Malla R/o Chhanjil, Wanigam, Tangmarg. Malla was among the four persons arrested on the spot.

While the real operator, Ghulam Nabi Malla, was himself driving his van, his truck driver, namely Aijaz Ahmed Parra S/o Abdul Ahad Parra R/o Hardu Bani Kunzar, was also taken into custody. Others arrested on spot were identified as Manzoor Ahmed Bhat S/o Ghulam Mohammad Bhat and Aijaz Ahmed Malla S/o Ghulam Nabi Malla, both residents of Chhanjil Wanigam. They revealed to Police that with the connivance of some Forest officials, green conifer trees had been felled in a compartment of Badarkot Block, Range Gulmarg, of Pir Panjal Division Budgam.

The detained smugglers, according to sources, revealed that with active connivance of the officials of Forest and Police departments, timber smugglers had felled thousands of green devdar and kail trees in Gogaldara-Tangmarg belt and many compartments have been denuded almost completely. Surprisingly, maximum of damage has been caused to that forest cover in the last two years.

SSP Budgam, Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari admitted that some Police officials had been found deeply involved in the highly lucrative timber smuggling activity in Magam and Beerwah. He said that in the wake of serious complaints against them, he recently affected a major reshuffle in both Police Stations and appointed new ‘energetic and honest’ SHOs. He sounded hopeful that the reshuffle would give positive results but added that optimum results could not be achieved until a similar exercise was conducted in two other departments and an effective coordination was enforced at the highest level. He said that Kunzar and Tangmarg Police Stations were part of Baramulla Police District.

SHO Magam, Abdul Majeed, said that all the four timber smugglers were arrested and case FIR No: 216 of 2006 under section 379 RPC (theft) and section 6 of Forest Act (timber felling and smuggling) was registered against them. He said that the seized vehicles were being handed over to Range Officer of ssp Range, Beerwah, for confiscation and further legal action by the competent authority (DFO PP Divn Budgam).

Officials of PP Division complained to the EXCELSIOR that three FPF watchers, namely Tariq, Mukhtar and Maqbool, were escorting the two vehicles when the same were seized by Police. However, SHO Magam did not confirm it. He said that Police was still working on the disclosures of the detainees and would take every action warranted under law to take the investigation to its logical conclusion.

Jt Director, FPF Kashmir, Liaquat Ali Dar, said that he would take stern action if anybody of his organisation was found involved. He said that FPF, in close coordination with Police, was investigating whether the three junior officials were really involved or their names were being dragged into the scandal by officials of the PP Division who had been excessively disturbed by FPF operations in Budgam district in the last few weeks. Earlier this month, FPF had seized two truckloads of illicit timber in Budgam area and arrested some smugglers. While the inquiry is underway, one Forester has been placed under suspension.

However, SSP Budgam has not initiated any action against two teams of Police Station Budgam and Khansahib who had made frantic efforts to disturb the FPF seizure of a truckload of walnut timber past midnight in Bugroo-Budgam belt earlier this week. According to reports, a senior mainstream politicians’ brother in Khansahib area had called his contacts in Khansahib and Budgam Police Stations at midnight on their cell phones immediately after the seizure and kept them on tenterhooks. Even an ASI of Police Station Budgam and his Munshi had beaten up the FPF Inspector in uniform and threatened to put him behind bars. It was only after senior FPF authorities contacted SSP Budgam over telephone at 2.00 a.m that the FPF party was let off and allowed to take away the seized truck with its timber.

As regards today’s seizure of timber and two vehicles, newly appointed DFO PP Division, Ghulam Sibtain Kirmani, told the EXCELSIOR that his department had taken the custody of the seized timber, approximately 100-125 cft in fresh sawn form, and the vehicles for confiscation proceedings and other legal action. Asked if any action had been taken against the Range Officer and Block Officer from whose jurisdiction the timber had been felled and smuggled, Mr Kirmani said that a detailed report was awaited from the Range Officer concerned. He said that it was being investigated whether the green trees had been felled in Badarkot or Chham Gund—two spots mentioned by some officials.

Meanwhile, sources said that a party of Police Station Bijbehara seized a Maruti van, bearing registration No: JKE-8630, in an ambush near Bijbehara. The vehicle, laden with smuggled timber worth over Rs 1.00 Lakh, was seized and three smugglers carrying the same were arrested. They have been identified as Shabir Ahmed Wagay, Abdul Majeed Wagay and Shabir Ahmed Najar, all residents of Bijbehara. Case FIR NO: 290 of 2006 has been registered against them.

Trader held with 2 kg gold at Airport

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 17: Anti-Hijacking police at Jammu Airport today arrested a businessmen of Amritsar along with two kg gold which he was trying to smuggle to Srinagar in Spice Jet flight evading tax.

The businessman identified as Munish Honda reached Jammu from Amritsar in Amritsar Express train at 5.30 am and had to board Spice Jet for Srinagar when two kg gold was detected inside specially erected packet in his jackets during frisking of luggage, SSP Airport, Raghubir Singh said.

The gold was in the form of two biscuits, each weighing one kg, he added. It carried Swiss mark.

Gold biscuits had been wrapped inside two pockets inside the jacket and concealed with polythene to avoid their detection during checking of luggage by X-Ray machine.

Immediately after the recovery, Airport Police sounded Customs and Sales Tax authorities, which reached the spot and imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on the accused. The gold consignment was seized.

A number of attempt to smuggle taxable goods by air have been foiled by Airport Police adding to revenue of the State Government worth Rs 1 crore during past few months.

Blatant misuse of LPG in vehicles

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Nov 17: The insensitivity of the Government agencies towards their duty can be well gauged from the fact that a blatant misuse of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in four-wheelers has been going unchecked across the State with agencies responsible for arresting the menace, not ready to accomplish their job.

Authoritative sources told the EXCELSIOR that LPG cylinders which are otherwise meant for the domestic purpose, are being fitted into vehicles, as a replacement of petrol, for fuel. Such cars and vans, mostly carry school children, with virtually live bombs beneath their seats.

Despite being aware of this illegal practice and having enough powers to nip the evil, the Government agencies were not ready to bring an end to this illegal practice.

As per Government’s standing instructions, the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department, Legal Meteorological Department or any Magistrate sub-ordinate to the District Magistrate like Additional Deputy Commissioners, Tehsildars and Naib Tehsildars are authorized to take strict action against the persons using LPG cylinders illegally in running vehicles.

The misuse of LPG in vehicles is regulated by the LPG Supply and Distribution Order of 2000 and is a punishable offence under Section 3 of Essential Commodities Act (ECA), the sources disclosed and added that even the officers of the oil and gas companies authorized by the Central Government can take cognizance of such violations.

The violation of Section 3 of Essential Commodities Act (ECA) is such an offence where no fine can be imposed on the violators and case is required to be produced before the court of law. The maximum punishment for such violators is imprisonment of one year, the sources further disclosed.

"But much to the chagrin of all, none of the authorized agencies or officers are ready to exercise their powers and stop this illegal practice which is depriving large number of people of the subsidized LPG for domestic purpose", they regretted. The sources stressed the need of proper coordination between these agencies to impose ban on misuse of domestic LPG cylinders in toto.

As the prices of petrol have risen very high during the past one or two years, the use of domestic LPG cylinders in the vehicles has increased manifold as with one LPG cylinder any car can cover a distance of 200 to 300 kilometers, the sources said.

Not only ECA, the use of domestic LPG cylinders in vehicles is also violation of Handling and Usage rules of the oil companies which clearly state that the cylinders should be kept in the upright position with enough space for ventilation but in the vehicles the cylinders are kept in the horizontal position that too in dickies.

When contacted, Director Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution B D Sharma said that about few days back the Department with the support of oil companies took a decision to frame joint squad not only to check the misuse of domestic LPG cylinders in hotels and dhabhas but also in the vehicles.

"The squad would be headed by Assistant Directors and massive drive would be launched against all sorts of misuse of domestic LPG cylinders", he added and hoped Traffic Police would also extend cooperation to CAPD in getting the menace checked.

With concerned agencies either passing on the buck or yet to awake from deep slumber, the violators enjoy the joy-ride, unmindful of the fact that their four wheelers are more a live bombs than the vehicles.

Sonia hints trouble for Mulayam

NEW DELHI, Nov 17: Amid clamour for President’s rule in Uttar Pradesh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today struck ominous notes for Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav claiming that people of the State do not feel free and fair Assembly polls were not possible under his stewardship.

Gandhi’s statement was significant as Yadav’s relations with Governor T V Rajeshwar have touched a new low over the dismissal controversy with several parties favouring Central rule ahead of Assembly polls scheduled next year.

The demands gained ground following violence in the local body polls but Congress had so far remained silent on the issue.

Speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit here, Gandhi attacked the UP Government over the law and order situation by remarking that a quick tour anywhere in the state would see people saying that free and fair polls were not possible under Yadav.

"You have to just take a short trip to UP and ask that question to the people. The answer that you will get from the people will be ‘no’," she said in the brief question-answer session after her inaugural address.

With the AICC reshuffle on the cards, Gandhi said that her son Rahul has to make up his mind for accepting any role and she would "always be too happy to include him in the party or the Government."

"He’s right here," she signalled towards a smiling Rahul when asked whether would be catapulted into the forefront in the AICC.

Rahul, who was present, looked on with a smile on his face as the audience broke into laughter. (PTI)

Groom replaced to deceive bride

SRINAGAR, Nov 17: In a bizarre incident, a family tried to deceive a bride by replacing the groom with his brother at a wedding ceremony in north Kashmir.

The groom, 22-year-old Noor Mohammad Dar of Narabal area, was to tie the nuptial knot with a daughter of Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din at Wagoora in Baramulla district.

However, he went missing on the day of wedding yesterday. The ‘nikkah’ (wedding vows) ceremony was held three days ago.

In order to escape the wrath of the bride’s family, the groom’s parents decided to replace him with his brother and go ahead with the ceremony.

The "groom" along with 60 ‘baratis’ (marriage party) arrived at the venue at the desired time.

But, the ceremony turned ugly after the dinner when the bride’s parents discovered that they have been deceived as the groom was missing and had been replaced by his brother.

Soon an altercation took place between the two families. Hearing about the deceit, the bride collapsed.

The village elders tried to resolve the matter and asked Gulla Dar, who had brokered the marriage, to identify the groom. He confirmed that the "real" groom was missing.

The bride’s parents then nullified the ‘nikkah’, dissolved the marriage and returned the gifts. (UNI)

Student held for militant links

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 17: Police today arrested a student of Government higher secondary school, Doda for his links with Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit.

He has been identified as Bashir Ahmed alias Nikka son of Ghulam Mohd Bhat, a resident of Koti, Doda.

Official sources said Nikka was given a grenade by LeT militant, Irshad, who was his classmate earlier in Boys HSS Doda but had later quit studies to join the LeT outfit.

Nikka had been asked by Irshad to lob a grenade outside a Mosque during Ramzan. He came to Doda along with the grenade but couldn’t strike at the target due to presence of security forces and police in Doda town.

Nikka is being questioned. A case against him has been registered.

Security forces recovered one Pika gun, 10 kg explosive, four detonators, 129 AK rounds, eight AGL grenades, three Chinese grenades and three UBGL grenades from a hide-out of the militants at Pathalan in Banihal tehsil of Ramban police district today.

One 12 bore gun was recovered from Kanthal Masuta in Kollian area of Kandi sector in Rajouri district.

Karate in JKLF chief organiser

SRINAGAR, Nov 17: A rival faction of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) today effected major organisational changes and appointed Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate, who was recently released from jail after 16 years, as its chief organiser.

In a statement here, JKLF Chairman Farooq Siddiqui said Wajahat Qureshi will be the outfit’s publicity secretary while Iqbal Gandroo its deputy convenor.

Rasikh Khursheed has been appointed as the JKLF’s chief spokesman while Hosni Mubarak will be its joint secretary and Shafat Shangloo the deputy chief organiser of the group.

The statement said the organisational structure was discussed at an extra-ordinary meeting of the JKLF’s apex body yesterday.

The members also discussed various issues with their counterparts in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), via tele-conferencing and through video-conferencing with those in London, Brussels, Washington and Toronto.

The meeting was attended by senior JKLF leader Barrister Abdul Majid Tramboo in London, Mr Siddiqui in Toronto, convenor Javed Mir and secretary general Mohammad Salim Nanaji in Srinagar, JKLF-UK chief Mumtaz Rathore in London, Europe chapter president Raja Zaheer in Brussels, JKLF-US chief Dr Khalid Riyas, Muzaffarabad chapter convenor Raja Kamran and outfit’s representative in Islamabad, Pakistan advocate Pervez Shah, the statement said. (UNI)

10 kg charas seized, 4 held

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 17: Police today foiled an attempt to smuggle 10 kilograms of charas and arrested four persons near Banihal.

Police spokesman said that a police team headed by SHO Banihal Police Station Inspector Abid Rafiqui intercepted a Maruti car bearing registration number JK02A-6883 at Kharpura on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and subjected it to checking.

From the vehicle, police recovered 10 kilograms of charas which was being smuggled to Jammu from Bijbehara in Anantnag district. The narcotics was immediately seized and all the four persons travelling in the car arrested.

They have been identified as Riyaz Ahmed Rather, son of Abdul Gani Rather of Tantrapora Banihal, Riyaz Ahmed Nazar, son of Mohd Ramzan of Sangam, Anantnag, Mukhtiar Ahmed, son of Ghulam Mohd of Bijbehara and Javed Ahmed Malik, son of Shamus Din of Dooligam.

A case under Section 8/20 Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPSA) has been registered against them.

Army jawan commits suicide

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 17: An Army jawan allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself at Nachlana under the jurisdiction of Ramban Police Station today.

Police spokesman said that Sepoy Sher Singh of 23 Rashtriya Rifles shot himself dead with his service weapon while on duty at Nachlana. He was immediately rushed to hospital by his colleagues, who rushed to the spot on hearing sound of gun-shots.

However, doctors declared him as brought dead. The matter was also brought to the notice of Ramban Police which has registered a case and started investigations to ascertain the reasons behind this extreme step.

This was the sixth death within the forces during the last one month in the State. On October 31, an Army jawan shot dead a Lt Colonel in Srinagar while on October 21 another Army Jawan shot dead three of his colleagues before attempting to kill himself in Rajouri District.

Two days later in the same district, a jawan killed two of his colleagues before committing suicide.

Kashmir highway closed, fresh snowfall on upper reaches

SRINAGAR, Nov 18: The Kashmir valley was cut off from the rest of the country after the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was closed for traffic due to landslides and shooting of stones triggered by heavy rains since early this morning.

However, all the incoming and outgoing flights from Srinagar Airport operated normally.

The upper reaches in the Kashmir valley and Drass, the world’s second coldest place after Siberia, experienced snowfall while plains were lashed by rains resulting in further cold condition.

Official sources said that hundreds of vehicles, including truck loaded with essential commodities are stranded at different places on the Sriangar-Jammu National Highway, the only road linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country.

They said traffic on the highway was suspended following landslides and shooting of stones between Ramban and Ramsu.

Superintendent of Police (traffic) Abdul Hamid told UNI that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) responsible for the maintenance of the highway has pressed into service its men and machinery to clear the road.

Sources said fresh traffic from Srinagar and Jammu would be allowed only after clearing the stranded vehicles, including those carrying passengers.

A report from Kargil said more than two dozen vehicles, including 13 trucks and other passenger vehicles, are stranded at different places on the 434-km-long Srinagar-Drass-Kargil-Leh Highway.

The highway was officially closed from November 15 after snowfall but still some vehicles are plying illegally.

A traffic police official said in Srinagar that all the traffic officials have been withdrawan from the highway after it was closed for six winter months officially. However, he said, some drivers are plying their vehicles illegally, risking the lives of passengers.

A Kargil report said ten trucks are stranded at Gumri, one at Captain crossing and two at Shatan-Nullah. About 87 passengers in several vehicles are also stranded on the highway after fresh snowfall between at different points.

It said that about 50 light vehicles and the Army convoy stranded on the highway for the past five days reached drass last night.

Drass, where the temperature dips to minus 45 degrees during winter, and its adjoining areas experienced about one feet of fresh snowfall since yesterday.

The upper reaches in the Kashmir valley, including the world famous ski resort Gulmarg, Khilanmarg, Affarwat and Kongdori experienced fresh snowfall.

The other tourist places of Pahalgam, Yusmarg and Deksum also had fresh snowfall.

However, the summer capital, Srinagar, and its adjoining areas were lashed by rains disrupting normal life.

Almost all roads in the areas including Badshah Nagar, Natipora, Azad Basti, Bemina, Padshahi Bagh and Banapora Nowgam were under water as the drainage system, constructed after spending crores of rupees, was not functioning. (UNI)