Ex-Hizb chief's wife shot, 9 injured in blast
Hizb 'Div Commdr' Suhail Faisal killed

From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Nov 28: Suhail Faisal, one of Hizbul Mujahideen's most wanted commanders in Jammu and Kashmir, has been killed by security forces at his hideout which he had established in the residential locality of the former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and his relatives in Baba Mohalla of Bijbehara township in south Kashmir. Meanwhile, suspected militants have fired upon the wife of one-time Hizbul Muhajideen chief Abdul Majeed Dar in the Srinagar outskirts of Chhanapora and 9 civilian, including 5 tourists, have been left wounded in a grenade attack at the tourist attraction of Tangmarg in Baramulla district today.

Informed sources told the EXCELSIOR that late last night troops of 3 Para, Rashtriya Rifles 01 Bn and District Police Anantnag laid siege to the interior locality of Baba Mohalla in Bijbehara township in Anantnag district. According to a specific information available with a security agency, south Kashmir's most wanted militant, after the Hizb Operational chief Gazi Misbah-ud-din, Mohammad Ashraf Shah alias Suhail Faisal S/o Habibullah Shah R/o Jablipora, Bijbehara, had established a secret hideout at the residence of one Ghulam Ahmed Najjar. According to the tip off, Suhail Faisal was present at the hideout.

As troops swooped on the target house, the holed up militant came out of his cell and opened fire which left Maj Pitambar of 3 Para critically injured. Another soldier was also injured. Sources said that Maj Pitambar was evacuated but later he succumbed to injuries. In the nightlong operation, Suhail Faisal got killed. Officials as well Hizbul Mujahideen said in their statements that Suhail Faisal was the organisation's "Divisional Commander" for south Kashmir. Both said that Suhail had worked as a militant, including "District Commander" in Rajouri Poonch areas of Jammu, since the beginning of armed insurgency in the State in 1990. He had visited his outfit's base camp and headquarters across LoC several times and last time he had returned to Valley in 2002-03.

Officials said that after the Hizb Operational Chief in Jammu and Kashmir, Shahnawaz alias Gazi Misbah-ud-din, Suhail Faisal was the Valley's most wanted militant. They said that the 46-year-old Suhail Faisal was a trained engineer who had invented the technology of making IED blasts with the use of mobile phones. They said that he was involved in a large number of attacks on security forces, Police, counter-insurgents, particularly a large number of IED blasts on Srinagar-Jammu highway. "He was a thinktank for his organisation who had not only escaped in about a hundred operations of Police and security forces but was confident to the extent that he had set up his hideout at a house just 50 yards from that of the former Chief Minister and PDP leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed", an official said. He said that the hideout was much similar to that of Gazi Baba in Noorbagh locality of Srinagar.

Officials claimed that Suhail Faisal's death was a major setback for Hizbul Mujahideen and an equally significant achievement for Police and security forces. Reports from Bijbehara said that over 2,000 people participated in the slain militant's Namaz-e-Janazah.

Meanwhile, at 2030 hours tonight, suspected militants barged into the residence of Dr Shameema Badroo, widow of one-time Hizbul Mujahideen operational chief, Abdul Majeed Dar, at Lal Nagar, Chhanapora, in outskirts of this capital city. One of the unidentified gunmen fired several shots on Dr Shameema Badroo from the lawn. Shameema, who was inside a room, sustained critical injuries. As the gunmen vanished, Dr Shameema was rushed to SHMS Hospital, where she was battling for life late tonight.

Shameema's second husband, Abdul Majeed Dar, had been gunned down by assassins at his brother Fayaz Ahmed Dar's residence in Noorbag locality of Sopore town on March 23, 2003. Dar had been eliminated days before he had to leave for Muzaffarabad, PoK, reportedly in an attempt to dislodge Syed Salah-ud-din and gain control over the organisation. While some of his loyalists held the Syed loyalists responsible for the assassination, the organisation denied its hand in Dar's killing.

After taking divorce from her first engineer husband, Javed Ahmed Bhat of Batpora Sopore, mother of two children, Shameema, had married then Hizb operational chief Abdul Majeed Dar in 1992. Later, Dar took her to Pakistan but is widely believed to have returned disgruntled. According to residents, she had been close to Dar since 1978 and had been seen visiting his residence at Shalapora Armpora on several occasions.

After Dar's assassination, Shameema had become active as a social worker and had once held a press conference only to threaten that she would expose her husband's killers. Residents in Sopore said that for some years she had also close association with a prominent separatist leader's son, who also happens to be a doctor by profession. Her first husband is said to have divorced her in distress 15 years ago. Residents said that she had also visited Dubai and other Gulf cities.

Meanwhile, official sources said that nine persons, including five tourists, sustained injuries, when a militant lobbed a hand grenade on a Tata Qualis, bearing registration No: JK02V-7192, near Traffic Check Post at Tangmarg when the vehicle was returning to Srinagar from Gulmarg this afternoon. Two of the injured, including the driver, reportedly from Trikuta Nagar Jammu, were said to be critical.

Dutt guilty under Arms Act

MUMBAI, Nov 28: After a trial spanning 13 years, Sanjay ‘Munnabhai’ Dutt was today acquitted of the grave charge of conspiracy in the 1993 serial blasts here but was convicted for a much lesser offence under the Arms Act by a TADA Court that ruled the Bollywood actor was not a terrorist.

The 47-year-old Sanjay, whose popularity has zoomed after the two super-hits "Munnabhai MBBS" and its sequel "Lage Raho Munnabhai", will not go to jail immediately since Judge P D Kode extended his bail till December 19.

As with 90 others convicted in recent weeks in the blasts case, the Judge did not pronounce the quantum of sentence immediately.

Dressed in a checked shirt, a visibly tense Sanjay was present in the jam-packed and heavily-guarded court when the verdict was pronounced to the relief of his family and friends. This sense of relief echoed through Bollywood, where movies involving an investment of more than Rs 150 crore are riding on his acting prowess.

Sanjay, who has already spent nearly 16 months in jail in two spells during the trial, was convicted under sections 3 and 7 read with section 25(1-a)(1-b) of the Arms Act, for possessing an AK-56 rifle and a 9mm pistol, and faces a prison term ranging from five to 10 years.

But legal experts gave conflicting opinions on what the quantum of punishment would be.

Pointing out that Sanjay had already spent considerable time in jail, Union Minister Kapil Sibal, himself an eminent lawyer who represented Sanjay in a bail case before the Supreme Court, said the actor may just be punished with a fine. Others said he might get a prison term that he could appeal.

Giving his verdict, Judge Kode said, "during my reasoning I have not found him (Sanjay) to be a terrorist.

"Considering matters in his confession and also taking into account certain admissions from other evidence, I accept the stand of Sanjay of acquiring and possessing weapons for self-defence," he said.

The court acquitted Sanjay’s friends Yusuf Nallawalla and Kersi Adajenia of terrorism charges but found them guilty under the Arms Act and for destroying evidence by melting an AK-56 rifle in a foundry and disposing of the remains. (PTI)

PM seeks resignation
Shibu Soren convicted in Jha murder case

NEW DELHI, Nov 28: In a major political embarassment for the UPA Government, Shibu Soren was today held guilty of involvement in the killing of his private secretary Shashi Nath Jha 12 years ago by a Delhi Court in the first such conviction of a Union Minister in a murder case.

Shortly after the verdict, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sought his resignation as Coal Minister. When the Court ordered that he be taken into judicial custody, he pleaded uneasiness and was asked to be taken to AIIMS for check up.

The 62-year-old chief of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha was found guilty by Special Judge B R Kedia for conspiring to kidnap and murder of 40-year-old Jha, who was aware of the details about the bribe received by Soren to support the minority P V Narasimha Rao Government in 1993.

"Shibu Soren is convicted under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with 364 (Kidnapping) and 302 (Murder) of the Indian Penal Code," the Judge said.

The quantum of sentence will be decided after arguments for which hearing has been fixed on November 30. The punishment under these Sections ranges from life imprisonment to death penalty.

The Court also convicted four others — Nand Kishore Mehta alias Nandu, Shailendra Bhattacharya, Pashupati Nath Mehta alias Posho and Ajay Kumar Mehta alias Dilip — on same counts. However, it acquitted two others — Sunil Khaware and Asish Thakur.

Earlier, in his tenure in this Government, Soren had to resign after a Jharkhand Court issued a non-bailable warrant against him in connection with Chirudih massacre case during Jharkhand movement agitation in 1975 in which 10 people were killed.

He is on bail in the case and was reinducted into the Cabinet early this year.

Soon after the Court ordered that they be taken into custody, a pensive looking Soren told his colleagues of his uneasiness. The associates and Soren himself told the Judge he wants to be checked up in a hospital.

The pronouncement of verdict in the case prosecuted by the CBI was scheduled for 1500 hours but was delayed by over two hours as the Judge gave final touches.

All the accused including Soren and his supporters and media persons were not allowed inside the courtroom till the Judge called them.

Soren was the last accused to arrive at the Court along with posse of security personnel.

After the verdict, one of the JMM MPs Sunil Mahto told reporters that they will appeal against the conviction of their leader. After consulting lawyers they will also file a bail application.

"We and our Guruji (Soren) respect the judgment of the Court but we will file an appeal against it," Mahto said.

CBI had said Jha’s knowledge of the alleged deal between Congress and JMM to save the then P V Narasimha Rao Government in the January 1993 no-confidence motion had led to his murder.

The agency had also contended that three days before his mysterious disappearance, Jha had allegedly sodomised a JMM activist — a relative of Soren.

The chargesheet had alleged that Jha was taken by Nandu, the prime accused and five others at a house at Piska in Ranchi on May 22, 1994 and after that they killed him in a nearby jungle and buried his body.

The agency had said Jha was last seen in the company of Mehta.

CBI had exhumed a skeleton from Piska Nagari in 1998 and claimed it was that of Jha. Following the recovery of the skeleton, Soren and six others were arrested in the case.

CBI had said Jha had on several occasions allegedly demanded money from Soren to suppress the facts relating to the no-confidence motion.

The investigating agency had said that Soren initially paid Rs 15 lakh to Jha to establish a garment export factory in south Delhi and when the business failed, the victim began extorting money which finally led to his murder. (PTI)

Houses of ex-Tehsildar, 2 others raided
SVO unearths land scam worth crores
* Genuine displaced persons displaced to grab land

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Nov 28: The State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) today raided houses of a retired Tehsildar, a Patwari and a property dealer after prima facie their involvement in illegal and fraudulent sale of 219 kanals of land at Deeli near Channi Himmat worth crores of rupees on the name of displaced persons from Pakistan was established.

Original allotment orders, power of attorney papers, extracts of revenue records and other incriminating documents were recovered from the houses of retired Tehsildar Jammu, Shanti Swaroop Gupta at Mast Garh, Farooq Iqbal Qazi, the then Patwari, Halqa Deeli at Ustaad Mohalla and Baldev Singh alias Puppa R/o Sai, RS Pura, presently putting up at Apna Vihar, Kunjwani, a property dealer.

Vigilance Commissioner Dr Ashok Bhan told the Excelsior that 80 genuine displaced persons were forcibly displaced from 80 kanals of land where they were doing ‘kasht’ by the property dealer to take control of the land to sell it among other persons after charging market rates.

Estimated cost of the land could run into crores, he said, adding exact value of the land is being ascertained from prevailing market value.

"It was a clear case of three persons, two Revenue officers and a property dealer, conniving to transfer State land on the name of seven refugees, then obtaining power of attorney from seven by paying them some money and selling the land to private persons", the Vigilance Commissioner said.

During the illegal process, 80 refugees, who were doing ‘cultivation’ in 80 kanals of land, albeit illegally, were forcibly evicted. Following the Government decision to regularise the encroached land, all these 80 refugees would have been entitled to the land after paying the charges prescribed by the Government.

Today’s raids were supervised by SSP Vigilance, Jammu Vijay Singh Samyal.

Official sources said the raids were conducted after a case was registered against the trio for their involvement in grabbing over 219 kanals of State land falling in Revenue Halqa Deeli near Channi Himmat by manipulating revenue records and making fraudulent entries and mutations.

According to sources, the property dealer managed some applications of 1947, 1965 and 1971 displaced persons for allotment of land to which they were entitled as per the Government policy. Previously, the allotments used to be made by the Tehsildar but later the Government had created a new Post of Provincial Rehabilitation Officer for allotment of land to the refugees.

In this case, Baldev Singh Puppa managed some applications of refugees for allotment of land. The then Tehsildar, Jammu Shanti Swaroop Gupta got the applications marked from the then Deputy Commissioner, Jammu for processing under rules. The Tehsildar and Patwari Farooq Iqbal Qazi entered the mutation and allotted land to refugees.

The property dealer secured power of attorney from the refugees, whose applications for allotment of land he had managed and sold land to private persons.

"Presently, the land has been demarcated by the persons to whom it was sold", sources said, adding the SVO will write to the Government to get the State land vacated through the concerned authorities. Sources said the State land was sold under a conspiracy hatched by the trio causing loss to the State exchequer. During search of the house of former Tehsildar, the SVO sleuths recovered original allotment order and some incriminating documents, which were missing from the office of Tehsildar. Similarly, a number of applications, power of attorney papers of refugees and extracts of revenue records were recovered from the house of property dealer. Some incriminating documents have also been recovered from the house of Patwari.

Some individuals, who were genuine displaced persons and cultivators of 80 kanals of 219 kanals of land, had approached the Vigilance with complaint that they had been dispossessed by land grabbers. The conspiracy had begun in January 2005 when the accused persons managed the applications of individuals and got them endorsed to the then DC Jammu for appropriate action under rules. However, these applications never reached the DC and were illegally processed by the then Tehsildar himself.

The Tehsildar marked these applications to the then Patwari Deeli on January 17, 2005, directing him to submit a report. The Patwari showing seven individuals as displaced persons of PoK illegally recommended the conferring of proprietorship of over 219 kanals of State land falling under khasra Nos 61 and 62-min, 1116/4, 1117/4-min Patwar Halqa Deeli fraudulently stating that they were in possession of this land.

The accused Patwari submitted his report to the then Tehsildar Jammu on January 25, 2005, who, on the same day, illegally directed the then Patwari Deeli to enter the mutations in the relevant records even as he was not having any competence to issue such orders as Patwari Deeli, which was under the control of Tehsildar Settlement, Jammu.

On January 28, 2005 i.e. three days before his retirement, Shanti Swaroop Gupta issued illegal allotment order of 219.1 kanals of land in favour of seven applications without any authority, sources said, adding allotment could only be made by the Provincial Rehabilitation Officer. On January 27, 2005, the accused Patwari fraudulently entered these mutations in the garb of Government Order No. 254-C of 1965 and Order No. 63 of 1991 which, however, were not applicable in this case and the then Tehsildar Jammu attested the mutation on January 30, 2005, just a day prior to his retirement. The allotees had no title on the said land in the shape of any entry of ‘kasht’ in the relevant Girdawari, which was pre-condition for such allotment.

Baldev Singh Puppa, the property dealer managed power of attorney from the seven persons to whom the land was got illegally allotted by the Revenue officials in order to sell the land, which was later sold to different persons against huge amount of money. The Revenue officials issued extracts of revenue records to Baldev Singh, thereby, facilitating the sale of illegally allotted land.

"The conduct of the then Tehsildar Jammu became clear with the fact that he committed the fraud at the fag end of his service as he was to retire on January 21, 2005 and was not Supervisory Officer of Patwari Halqa Deeli, which was being looked after by Tehsildar Settlement Jammu. He had no legal jurisdiction for allotment of the Government land as these powers were vested with the Provincial Rehabilitation Officer, sources said.

124 AEEs transferred

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 28: The Government has issued orders of transfers and postings of 124 Assistant Executive Engineers and I/C AEEs (Civil) in the Roads and Buildings department.

According to Government order No. 451-PW (R&B), dated 28-11-2006, Hashim-ud-Din Malik has been transferred from R&B Division Pulwama to PMGSY Anantnag-I, Syed Zahoor Ahmed from R&B Div Bandipore to PMGSY Anantnag-II, Ghulam Ahmed Sheikh from Sub Div Kangan to PMGSY Pulwama-I, Shahid Anjum from JKPCC to PMGSY Pulwama-II, Zahoor Ahmed Shah from REW Kashmir to PMGSY- Srinagar-Budgam, Mehraj-ud-Din Bhat from R&B Div Anantnag to PMGSY Srinagar/Budgam, Hilal Ahmed Sheikh from JKPCC to PMGSY Baramulla-I, Mohd Ashraf Bhat from PC Div-I Srinagar to PMGSY Baramulla-II, Showkat Rashid Wani (promotee) to PMGSY Baramulla-III, Muzaffar Khaliq from R&B Div Handwara to PMGSY Kupwara-I, Showkat Ahmed Shah from R&B Kupwara to PMGSY Kupwara-II, P N Koul from R&B Div Kishtwar to PMGSY Doda-I, Sunil Thussu from R&B Div Nowshera to PMGSY Doda-I, Mohammed Ali to PMGSY Doda-II while Vijay Kumar Gupta from R&B Div Poonch to PMGSY Doda-II.

Tarsem Kumar presently attached to Direction office, has been posted to PMGSY Div Udhampur-I, Mangu Ram from R&B Div Reasi to PMGSY Udhampur-I, Rajesh Abrol from R&B Div Reasi to PMGSY Udhampur-II, R P Gupta from R&B Div III Jammu to PMGSY Udhampur-II, Madan Lal and Ashwani Kumar Mehra (R&B Div-I) Jammu to PMGSY Jammu, Anil Kumar Gupta and Ram Lal from R&B Div Kathua to PMGSY-Kathua, D D Heer from R&B Div Rajouri and Ram Gopal from R&B Div-IV Jammu to PMGSY Rajouri, Daya Ram promottee and Jagdish Gupta from JKPCC to PMGSY Poonch, D K Rampal from R&B Div-II Jammu to R&B Div-Ist Jammu, J K Gupta from R&B Div-I Jammu to Div II Jammu, Abdul Majeed Shabnam from R&B Div-II to PDC, Vinod Sharma to R&B Div-II Jammu, Showkat Ahmed Dar from JKPCC to R&B Div-II SD Bulward Sgr, Showkat Ahmed Koul from R&B Div-II SD Boulevard, Sgr to Right River Circular Road Sgr, Rayees Ahmed to R&B Const Div-III S/D Hazratbal, Farooq Ahmed Dar R&B SD Left City Sgr, Anil Kumar Gupta to IWDP, Paramjit Singh from Med College Div Jammu to JKPCC, Sunil Gupta from TDC Jammu to Medical College Div Jammu, Tejinder Gupta from JKPCC to R&B Div Reasi vice Abrol, Kishore Kumar from Katra R&B Div to R&B Div-III Jammu, Subhash Chander to R&B Div Rajouri, Sadiq Wani from Rajouri Div to R&B Div Nowshera, Satish Kumar from Design Inspe & Quality Control wing Jammu to R&B Div S/D Bhaderwah vice Kaushal Chand, Anil Kumar Bansotra from JKPCC to R&B Div Ist Jammu, Satish Kumar Langar to R&B Div Katra vice Raman Puri, Suresh Khajuria to REW Jammu, PC Tanocha from REW Jammu to R&B Div Udhampur, Ajay Kumar Raju from Udhampur Div to R&B Div Ist Jammu, Muzaffar Ahmed Dada from JKPCC to REW Kashmir, Muneer Sherwani to R&B Div Tangdhar, Mushtaq Ahmed Shah from Tangdhar to R&B Div Kupwara as TO, Mohammed Ilyas Sohrawardy to R&B Div Achabal, Mohd Ayub Wani to Seer S/D Khanabal, Mohd Iqbal Mir from Seer SD Khanabal to Left River Circular Road Div Sgr, Mufti Imran Shah to National Highway SD vice Ishtiaq Ahmed who will go to Police Housing Corp, Mohd Ramzan Sofi to H&P Srinagar, Gurdev Singh to R&B Sub Karalpora, Kupwara, Malik Abdul Qayoom to R&B Div SD Mughal Road, Rajinder Singh from Const Div I Sgr to PC Div -I Sgr, Aijaz Mubarkhi to Sericulture deptt vice Mohd Ghani, Qawam-ud-Din to R&B Div Bondipora as TO, Mehraj-ud-Din to JKPCC vice Shabir Ahmed who will go to R&B Div Pulwama, Farooq Ahmed Khandey to Uri Div as TO to Xen, Bashir Ahmed Wani to R&B Div -III SD Kangan, Shabir Ahmed Vaid to Pahalgam Dev Authority, Amin- ud-Din from PDA to Police Housing Corp, Khursheed Ahmed Baba R&B Div Qazigund as TO, Sheikh Zamir Ahmed to REW Kashmir, Abdul Majid Dhobi to SDA, Showkat Ahmed Wani to R&B Div Pulwama as TO, Mohd Hussain to PWD Circle Kargil, Rajesh Kumar Bhagat to Patnitop Dev Authority, Mohi-ud-Din Kasana to Sonamarg Dev Authority, Mohd Rafiq Mir to GDA, Bashir Ahmed War to GDA, Nazir Ahmed Shah to R&B Div Pulwama, Firdous Ahmed TO to Xen from TT Div Sgr to the same Divison vice Fayaz Ahmed Zargar, Nazir Ahmed Banday from JKPCC to Khansahib SD, Nazir Ahmed Shah To to JKPCC, Sajjad Ahmed from JKPCC to R&B Div Handwara, SD vice Shahi Jehan who will go to JKPCC, Khursheed Anwar from Chadoora SD to SD Magam in place of N A Tak who has been sent to Chadoora, Vinod Sharma from Vigilance Organisation to Design Inspection vice OP Sharma who will go to R&B Div Kathua as TO to Xen, V R Angurana from ERA to Medical College Div vice RC Kapahi who will go to ERA, Amar Deep Singh to Archives & Museum, Mohd Ashraf Gilkar from Marwah R&B Div to Forest Protection Force vice Bashir Ahmed who has been sent to Marwah, Rajinder Singh from JKPCC to Hosp & Protocol Jammu while Irfan Ahmed Shah from REW Kashmir to Local Bodies Kashmir.

Pawan Gupta, AEE under orders of Transfer to Lakhanpur Dev Authority is now posted as TO to Xen in R&B Div-IV Jammu, Tanzeer Afzal Khan to JKPCC, Ch Mohd Shabir from Thannamandi SD Div Rajouri to R&B Div Poonch as TO to Xen, Amarjeet Singh from PDC Khalsi to JKPCC Jammu, Shabir Ahmed to ERA, B B Sharma from Town Planning Org Jammu to R&B Div Kathua, Suman Bhaskar from R&B Div Kathua to TDC Jammu, Bashir Ahmed Bhat from REW Kashmir to TT Div Sgr as TO to Xen, Nazir Ahmed Wani as TO to Xen R&B CD-III, Srinagar, Zaffar Hussain Baba from JKPCC to R&B Div Vailoo as TO to Xen, R K Makroo from Const Div-I Jammu to R&B Div Katra as TO to Xen, Vidhu Kumar from JKPCC to R&B Div Reasi as TO, Pawan Kumar Bhagat to R&B SD Thannamandi Div Rajouri, Kamal Kishore Barore to Rajouri Div as TO to Xen, Ashok Kumar Sudan as TO to Xen Const Div-I Jammu, Dilip Kumar Atri to Town Planning Org Jammu, Varinder Razdan to Floriculture Jammu, Rajinder Singh to PDC Khalsi, Altaf Ahmed Banday to R&B Div Sopore as TO to Xen, Zahoor Ahmed Reshi to R&B Division Khanabal as TO, Abdul Hafiz Malik as TO to Xen Handwara R&B Div, Peerzada Afaq Ahmed from JKPCC to R&B Div Handwara vice Muzaffar Khaliq, Reyaz Ahmed Ghasi as TO to Xen Anantnag Div, Bhashir Ahmed Bhat to PDC, A K Kapoor to R&B Div Bathalan Doda, R K Gupta to Lakhanpur Dev Authority, Ashwani Mehra to Design, Insp & Quality Control Jammu, Gopal Krishan Sharma to JKPCC vice Rajinder Singh while R K Bhat after repatriation from JKPCC has been posted in Vigilance Organisation vice Vinod Sharma.

Recovery of land cost to start from Jan 27: Azad

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Nov 28: Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today emphasized that the ordinance issued for retrieval and cost realization of State land from all illegal occupants as per different categories, shown in the ordinance, should be implemented in letter and spirit. He fixed time targeted calendar for initiating action in this regard.

The meeting decided that all revenue agencies will start, after proper ground work till December15, the issuance of notices to illegal occupants. The process of delivering notices to the illegal occupants will commence from December 15 and continue upto December 31, 2006. It was decided that after delivering of notices issued by Tehsildars and served by Nambardars against proper receipts, the applications in the prescribed form will be collected by Nambardars and deposited in the office of concerned Tehsildars by or before January 21, 2007. Immediately thereafter, meetings of committees constituted under the ordinance shall begin for disposal of applications and fixation of price.

The meeting decided that recovery of cost of land shall begin from January 27, 2007 onwards.

The Chief Minister said that any person holding the land illegally beyond 10 kanals has to surrender the excess land in any case, adding that land upto 10 kanals only can be processed for grant of ownership rights.

Asking people to be part of historic initiative taken in this direction to mobilize resources for infrastructure development and launching of public service projects, Mr Azad said that the State expects huge amounts with the implementation of ordinance.

He said, as per reports compiled, about 20 lakh kanals of State land worth Rs. 25,000 crore has been identified under illegal occupation of people in the State. He said the cost to be obtained in lieu of regularization or retrieving of the land could be utilized for State purpose and for construction of huge projects in the sectors of PHE, irrigation, power, roads, hospitals, schools and bridges. He said this stupendous task of generating resources for development projects would give new meaning to the development drive under execution in the State at present.

He said people from all walks have to realize the sincerity of the Government behind initiating this measure and cooperate at every level to make it a success for larger interest of the State and its people.

Stressing for putting in vigorous efforts with a quest to accomplish a historic mission, the Chief Minister asked Revenue department to gear up functionaries at all levels to translate the policy into action and realize the goal within the time frame. He said that this policy has provided historic opportunity to the functionaries and people to get involved in gigantic task of building the State with its own resources.

Mr. Azad explained in detail the provisions and aims and objectives along with modus operandi of the ordinance. He said that awareness about the rules, procedures and benefits be generated among the public and any misgivings on this count removed. He said new rules at one hand would help generate remunerative resources for the State and on the other provide golden opportunity to the illegal occupants of State land to take benefits out of the provisions of the ordinance. He also explained the provisions for incentives to the functionaries and occupants involved who shall get the matter settled as early as possible.

"A major and far-reaching people’s benefit scheme is going to emerge on development canvass of Jammu and Kashmir. Everyone should tie itself with 21st century innovative scheme for large scale development of the State and that too with our own resources", he maintained.

Money generated used in sustaining militancy
Narcotics being cultivated on 11,000 kanals land

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Nov 28: Incredible it may sound but it’s fact that narcotics worth several crores of rupees are being grown on about 11000 kanals of private land in three districts of Kashmir valley and some portion of Ramban district of Jammu province.

Though cultivation of cannabis which produces opium, charas and poppy straw is a high yielding business for the cultivators yet it has been spoiling the crop of future citizens of not only Jammu and Kashmir but of adjoining States.

Authoritative sources told the EXCELSIOR that major cultivation of cannabis is taking place in Pulwama and Anantnag districts of south Kashmir besides some portion of Kupwara and Ramban.

In Pulwama and Anantnag districts alone, the narcotics are grown on 9000 to 10,000 kanals of land thereby indicating that Kashmir valley is not only the hub of arms and ammunition but also narcotics, the portion of money so earned is also pushed into militant activities.

Some of the areas of these districts which are infamous for cultivation of narcotics are Malpora, Washi Zanpora, Awantipora, Kelar, Tral, Dooru, Bijbehara and Shopian, the sources disclosed and said that in the villages and remote areas where cannabis are being cultivated the people have virtually installed equipment to produce different types of contraband by way of grinding.

According to the sources, cultivation of cannabis on 10 kanals of land produces more than 100 kilograms of poppy straw which on further process produces two to three kilograms of charas. "The cultivation of poppy straw on 11000 kanals of land produces 1,10,000 kilograms of poppy straw which on further grinding produces 2200 kilograms (220 quintals) of charas", they further said.

The annual production of 2200 kilograms of charas was enough to spoil lives of lakhs of youth besides fueling on-going insurgency in the State by pumping money generated from the business of contraband, the sources said.

They regretted that though some measures have been taken to stop cultivation of contraband yet due to lack of coordination between all the concerned agencies not much progress has been made in checking this alarming situation.

When contacted, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Anantnag Hemant Kumar Lohia confirmed that alone in Pulwama and Anantnag, the contraband was being cultivated on 8000 to 9000 kanals of land and disclosed that as compared to last year, this year police has prevented cultivation on 500 to 600 kanals of land.

"We also destroyed crop of contraband on around 3000-4000 kanals of land in both the districts", he disclosed and added that police has arrested about 200 persons under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPSA).

Earlier, such persons were used to be arrested under Excise Act which is not so harsh but after Mr Lohia took over as DIG he gave instructions to all the SHOs to book such persons under NDPSA which is so harsh law that only the Courts of District and Sessions Judge and above can grant bail to the offenders.

The DIG also regretted that not-much cooperation was being given to police by other agencies like Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Revenue Department. He said that as most of the areas are inaccessible the police was finding it difficult to reach there.

To a question, he said that the trend of cultivation of contraband started in the strongholds of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants outfits but for the past some years police has succeeded in neutralising some persons.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Pulwama Meraj Ahmed Kakroo stressed the need to initiate massive drive against this practice and hoped that Revenue Department, Police and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) would wage collective battle against this menace to save the future generation by nipping the evil in the bud.

Illegal felling, timber smuggling in Tangmarg
1000 cft of illicit timber seized

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Nov 28: While largescale felling of conifer trees, denudation of compartments and timber smuggling is continuing in Tangmarg-Gulmarg area, Forest Protection Force (FPF) and Vigilance Organisation Kashmir (VOK) have seized about 1,000 cft of illicit timber from two sawmills in Pattan and Narbal. In the continued series of operations, FPF has also seized about 500 cft of fresh felled illicit timber in Sopore, Handwara and Shangus areas in Kashmir valley.

Informed sources revealed to the EXCELSIOR that over a specific information, a joint team of VOK and FPF conducted a raid on the sale depot and sawmill of Lone Timber Traders, owned by one Ghulam Nabi Lone S/o Ali Mohammad Lone, at Hanjivera village in Gulmarg-Pattan belt. A quantity of 600 cft of kail and fir species was found in freshly sawn condition. Owner of the depot produced some forged documents in an unsuccessful attempt to claim that the source of this timber was genuine but the entire quantity was seized and a case registered against him.

Sources said that the authorities have learned from their informants, residents and even subordinate officials that the huge quantity of timber, valued at around Rs 5 Lakh in the open market, had reached the sawmill cum sale depot from Tangmarg forest area while crossing a number of Forest Department's checkposts at Konganmdara and other places. VOK officials said that the involvement of certain Forest officials, particularly those of Range Officer Gulmarg and Forester/Block Officer Singhpura had been established. They said that VOK would initiate its own proceedings against the "well identified officials" who had caused massive damage to the state exchequer by way of openly indulging in denudation if dense compartments and timber smuggling in a vast area.

Sources said that 46 sleepers of kail, measuring 230.18 cft, and 74 cft of fir, measuring 365.40 cft, were found without proper documents. The depot claimed before the authorities that he had procured the entire quantity of 595.58 cft from State Forest Corporation (SFC) in an auction. However, when SSP Vigilance Bashir Ahmed Malla, two Deputy Directors of FPF and DFO Pir Panjal Division Budgam, Ghulam Sibtain Kirmani, checked the documents, they found them to be fake and forged. Even a senior official of J&K State Forest Corporation (SFC), who was called for examination of the documents and the timber, certified that it had not been procured from the SFC. Thereafter the authorities ordered seizure of the entire quantity of the 595.58 cft of timber which was handed over to officials of PP Division on supardnama and carried to Budgam.

Residents said that innumerable truckloads of illicit timber was being smuggled from Tangmarg-Gulmarg area to Pattan and the same was being sawn and sold off in black market by a well-knit timber mafia. They said that Range Officers of Pirpanjal Forest Division's Gulmarg and Pattan Ranges were directly involved and the largescale green felling and timber smuggling could never be possible without their connivance and partnership.

Joint Director FPF Kashmir, Liaquat Ali Dar, said that a case was being registered against the sawmill owner which would be assigned to DFO PP Division for adjudication as the competent authority under Forest Act. DFO PP Division, Ghulam Sibtain Kirmani, confirmed to the EXCELSIOR the quantity of 600 cft of timber was found to be illicit, seized and carried to Budgam. He said that the sawmill and sale depot were immediately sealed. Confiscation proceedings were also being initiated. He said that he had joined his new place of posting in PP Division just a few days back but he had some reason to believe that a few officials of his Division were involved in the timber smuggling. He said that he had written to Conservator incharge and the matter would be investigated thoroughly and pending an inquiry action would be taken against officials of bad reputation and integrity.

Another source said that RO Tangmarg and BO Singhpura were among six officials of PP Division likely to be placed under suspension and removed from their places of posting. They said that the patrons of the timber mafia had arranged postings of all these officials in their respective places of residence.

SSP VOK, B A Malla, told the EXCELSIOR that the involvement of the Range Officers of Gulmarg had been established while that of another RO and some Foresters was being ascertained. He said that it was just "a tip of the iceberg" and officials at more senior level could also be involved in what he called "multi-crore timber scam". "How is it possible that senior Forest officials have no knowledge of this loot when everybody in the area knows an official as Veerapan of Tangmarg?" Mr Malla asked.

Sources said that an FPF squad, comprising Deputy Directors of Budgam, Baramulla and Pulwama, conducted a raid on the sawmill cum joinery mill of one Mohammad Maqbool Waza at Narbal, not far away from Hanjivera, in the afternoon today over a specific information. A quantity of 300 to 400 cft of fresh felled devdar was seized and the sawmill was sealed. JD FPF Kashmir confirmed that 335 cft of illicit timber (217 cft fir, 19 cft kail and 100 cft devdar) was seized after it was found to have come from illegal source, mostly likely Gulmarg-Tangmarg area. He said that the depot owners, both at Hanjivera and Narbal, escaped and were absconding. Cases against them were being registered and both would be got arrested under law.

Meanwhile, reports from north Kashmir said that FPF seized 197 cft of freshly felled Devdar from a sales depot at Armpora in Sopore town. Sources said that information had been passed on by residents directly to the Forest Minister Qazi Mohammad Afzal who ordered immediate raid on the depot with the help of Police and security forces. The depot was sealed and the timber seized. FPF also seized 226 cft of green devdar from compartment No: 71 of Magam in Handwara belt of Kupwara district. Reports from Anantnag said that FPF seized 50 cft of devdar at Shangus.

Petrol, diesel to cost less

NEW DELHI, Nov 28: Petrol and diesel prices may be reduced by Rs two and Rs one a litre respectively and a decision in this regard is likely to be announced in Parliament tomorrow.

Acknowledging that Congress president Sonia Gandhi had desired a reduction in fuel prices, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora today said he would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh this evening to decide on the matter.

"I am meeting the Prime Minister this evening. A decision will be taken after that... The decision would be announced in Parliament tomorrow," Deora told reporters here.

"Sonia Gandhi has given a suggestion on cutting prices in line with fall in international oil prices. The Government will consider that," the minister said.

Gandhi, while addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting earlier in the day, had suggested that the Government should pass on the benefit of lower international crude prices to the people.

The Left parties, Samajwadi Party and the opposition BJP too had demanded immediate reduction in fuel prices and also staged a brief walkout in the Lok Sabha on the issue today.

While petrol is currently being sold at a profit of Rs 4.50 per litre, companies are incurring a loss of Rs 0.45 on sale of one litre of diesel, Petroleum Ministry sources said.

The Indian basket of crude oil stood at about 67 dollars per barrel, when petrol and diesel prices were last raised in June 2006. Crude prices are now hovering in the range of 57-58 dollar a barrel.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters that he would talk to Deora to ascertain whether there would be a cut in fuel prices in the light of Gandhi’s suggestion. (PTI)

Another jeweller trapped at Airport

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 28: In a second case of its kind, Anti-Hijacking Police at Jammu Airport today caught a jeweller attempting to take golden ornaments worth more than Rs 30 lakh to New Delhi in Indian Airlines flight. He was imposed a fine of Rs 15.06 lakh by Vigilance wing of the Sales Tax Department.

A team of Anti-Hijacking Place under the supervision of SSP Airport trapped Rohit Jain son of Parjan Kumar Jain R/o Manda, Palace Road, who was part of Shankar Shah Jewellers when golden ornaments were detected in a bag he was carrying with him.

A team of Vigilance wing of Sales Tax Department was immediately called to Airport as it was a case of tax evasion.

DC (Vigilance) Sales Tax M L Sharma said a fine of Rs 15.06 lakh was imposed on the jeweller. Total value of the gold being taken from Jammu to New Delhi was over Rs 30 lakh.

Few days back, Anti-Hijacking Police had trapped another Amritsar based jeweller, who too was about to board a flight to New Delhi along with gold evading tax. He too was fined.

CM approves mini ICU for GMC

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 28: Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today approved a 4 bedded mini-Intensive Care Unit for Medicines and Surgery Departments in the Medical College, Jammu besides marble flooring in entire Casualty.

Announcements were made when Mr Azad conducted a surprise tour of the GMC Jammu to inquire condition of seven injured of Bhadarwah accident, who have been admitted in Disaster Management Ward and Ward No. 7. He was briefed by GMC (officiating) Principal Dr Rajinder Singh, Medical Superintendent Dr Vinod Gupta, HoD Orthopedics Dr Dara Singh and Dr Naseeb Singh.

On being told about shortage of beds in the ICU, the Chief Minister on spot ordered sanction of 4-bedded mini ICU for Medicines and Surgery and asked the GMC authorities to send a proposal for approval. He also approved marble flooring of entire Emergency at a cost of Rs 15 lakh, official sources said.

Ex-Supdt Kot Bhalwal suspended

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 28: The Government today placed under suspension Sheikh Abdul Rashid, former Superintendent of Kot Bhalwal Jail for ‘misconduct and de-reliction of duty’.

An order to this effect was issued today by the Home Department.

Mr Rashid was posted as officiating Superintendent of Kot Bhalwal Jail after Gurdeep Singh proceeded on leave. It was during Rashid’s brief tenure that two mobile phones were recovered from the jail but, at the same time, two incidents of clash among the militants took place.

He was replaced few days back by Mirza Salim Beig.

Two more families surrender in Uri after their
return from PoK

BARAMULLA, : Two more families, comprising 13 members, surrendered before the troops immediately after their return from Pakistan- occupied Kashmir (pok) at Tulanga in the Uri sector .

Official sources said Mohammad Sageer and Bashir Ahmad had crossed into PoK in 1990 for receiving arms training. However, after getting training in different camps, they married local girls there.

But, after remaining there for about 16 years, both decided to return with their families to their homes at Gohalan, Uri.

They said the Kashmiris were not being trusted by the people in the PoK and other Pakistani cities.

About a dozen families have so far surrendered in Uri and other sectors after their return from PoK since January this year.

More than 30 militants had also surrendered along with their arms and ammunition near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Uri sectors during the same period. (UNI)