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Upper quota limit maintained at 50
pc NEW DELHI, Oct 19: In a setback to those clamouring for quotas without any bar, the Supreme Court today held that the "creamy layer" should be excluded from the reservations for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Government jobs. Upholding the constitutional validity of reservations for SCs and STs in recruitments and promotions, the court maintained the upper limit of quota at 50 per cent and the State will have to justify in each case the compelling reasons for providing reservations "keeping in mind the overall efficiency of State administration". "It is made clear that even if the State has compelling reasons, the State will have to see that its reservation provision does not lead to excessiveness so as to breach the ceiling limit of 50 per cent or obliterate the creamy layer of extended reservation indefinitely," a five-Judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal said. The court said while providing reservations the State has to ensure that the controlling factors mentioned in Article 16 (4) read with Article 335 are taken care of and to preserve the structure of egalitarian equality the concept of creamy layer has to be maintained as held in the Indra Sawhney judgement in Mandal Commission matter. The judgement, pronounced on a bunch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of various amendments providing for reservation, assumes significance in the context of political parties demanding that those belonging to affluent families and second generation beneficiaries should not be excluded from the reservation system. The court said "we reiterate that the ceiling limits of 50 per cent, the concept of creamy layer and the compelling reasons namely backwardness, inadequacy of representation and overall administrative efficiency are all constitutional requirements without which the structure of equality of opportunity in Article 16 would collapse." Holding that Articles 16(4a) and 16(4b) did not alter the structure of Article 16(4), the bench also comprising Justices K G Balakrishnan, S H Kapadia, C K Thakker and P K Balasubramanyan said "these amendments are confined only to SCs and STs. "They retain the controlling factors or the compelling reasons, namely backwardness and inadequacy of representation, which enables the state to provide for reservation keeping in mind the overall efficiency of the State administration under Article 335." The court held that "the carry-forward or backlog vacancy in term of Article 16 (4b) cannot be continued for indefinite period. "They do not obliterate any of the constitutional requirements, namely, ceiling limit of 50 per cent (quantitative limitation), the concept of creamy layer (qualitative exclusion), the sub-classification between OBC on one hand and SC and STs on the other as held in the Indra Sawhney case." Maintaining that the main issue concerns the "extent of reservation", Justice Kapadia, reading the verdict for the bench, said "the concerned state will have to show in each case the existence of the compelling reasons, namely, backwardness, inadequacy of representation, and overall administrative efficiency before making provisions for reservation." The court held that the provision providing reservation was an "enabling provision" and the State was not bound to make reservation for SC/STs in the matter of promotion. However, if they wish to exercise their discretion and make such provision the State has to collect quantifiable data showing backwardness of the class and inadequacy of representation of that class in public employment in addition to compliance of Article 335, the bench said. The two important questions which were argued before the court were whether the width of the amendment abrogates the basic structure of the constitution. Secondly, the balancing and structuring of equality in employment under Article 16. Holding that in order to maintain the structure of equality within the backward castes, that is, between OBCs on the one hand and SCs/STs on the other hand, the court said, "the concept of creamy layer, which is a qualitative exclusion, has to be retained as constitutional requirement". "The concept of creamy-layer is based on the means test to strike a balance with the secular notion," the bench observed. The court held that the catch-up principle and the concept of consequential seniority cannot be elevated to the status of axioms like "secularism", "federalism", etc. And "they do not constitute the basic feature of the Constitution". While concluding the judgement, the court clarified that it has not examined the validity of individual enactments of appropriate states and that question will be gone into in individual writ petitions by the appropriate bench in accordance with the law laid down in the present case. (PTI) |
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Jammu, other towns plunge into
darkness Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 19: Massive wind and hail-storm, followed by unprecedented rain crippled normal life in the region, causing disruption in the air and road traffic today. A mid-night like scene was witnessed at around 5.30 pm in the winter capital city as the entire sky was covered with thick black clouds, forcing vehicles to use headlights. The residential and street lights were also seen put on in view of the rare weather conditions. The Indian Airline’s Srinagar-Jammu-Delhi flight could not land at Jammu airport due to poor visibility and had to be diverted to Delhi. Another Jammu bound flight of Jet Airways had also to be diverted to Delhi directly from Srinagar. A few ministers and legislators from Jammu, who were returning here in these flights on Diwali festival, were stranded at Delhi. The vehicular Traffic on Jammu-Pathankot, Jammu- Udhampur and Jammu Akhnoor-Rajouri roads besides several other parts of the region was also disrupted as the strong winds blowing with the speed of around 80 to 90 kms per hour, up-rooted many trees, electric poles and towers. The power supply to many areas including Kathua, Jammu, Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Katra and Udhampur was disrupted after many poles suffered damage and cables broken with the up-rooting of the trees. Reports said that due to flash flood in nallah on Jammu-Samba-Kathua highway the vehicles remained stranded for several hours. Long traffic jams were also witnessed on this section of the highway due to fallen trees. The vehicles had to be diverted to alternative routes and the commuters had a face tough time. Entire Jammu city plunged into darkness after storm and damage to the electric poles and power lines. A 70-ft high CCTV tower erected in the premises of Police Control Room (PCR) Jammu was also broken. The traffic in many city areas including Gandhinagar, Satwari, Shastri Nagar, Talab Tillo and Bakshinagar was disrupted with the obstacles created by fallen trees and poles. Roads and lanes were over-flooded with gushing rain waters in the city’s southern localities. Chief Engineer, PDD (M&RE) D S Pawar said that power supply was affected with the storm this evening at around 6 pm and in Jammu district it was total break down. He, however, claimed that in several areas of Poonch and Rajouri, the supply was normal. Mr Pawar said PDD field staff was engaged to restore the power supply in Jammu and others parts and 50 per cent of the supply is expected to be restored by mid-night. He said the water supply in some areas of Jammu may also be affected in view of power break down. Around Rs 3 crore market of the fire-crackers at Ram Lila Ground Gandhi Nagar and Parade Ground, Jammu suffered extensive damage due to heavy downpour this evening. More than 100 temporary shelters at the Jammu crackers markets were also uprooted, causing heavy damage to the traders. |
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Finally, employees get 5 pc DA, hike in MA Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 19: After five days of uncertainty, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today finally approved five per cent Dearness Allowance (DA) installment and enhancement of Medical Allowance from Rs 100 to Rs 300 per month, which will benefit over 3.50 lakh State Government employees. The payment of DA installment, which was due from July 1, 2006 and increase in Medical Allowance came on the eve of Diwali and Eid festivals. A Government hand-out issued here this evening said the Chief Minister has approved additional installment of DA at the rate of 5 per cent of basic pay from 1.7.2006. With this, the existing rate of DA has gone up from 24 per cent to 29 per cent, the hand-out said. As reported, Finance Minister Tariq Hameed Qarra, who belonged to the People’s Democratic Party (PDA) had cleared payment of 5 per cent DA to the employees and enhancement of Medical Allowance from Rs 100 to Rs 300 on October 15, a day before the State Cabinet was scheduled to meet to make the two important announcements, which were being seen as a festival bonanza for the Government employees. However, the Cabinet on October 16 deferred the payment of DA and increase in Medical Allowance, which were finally announced today by the Chief Minister. The hand-out said the arrears on account of revision of DA shall be credited to G.P. Fund from 1.7.2006 to 30.9.2006 and from 1.10.2006 it shall be paid in cash. However, such of the employees who have retired or may retire upto 31.12.2006 shall get arrears in cash. Provisions of the order shall also apply mutatis-mutandis, in the case of officers of All India Services serving in connection with affairs of the State. The Government has also sanctioned payment of Medical Allowance in favour of Government employees at the rate of Rs. 300/- per month from October 1, 2006 by amending Jammu and Kashmir Civil Service (Medical Attendance-cum-Allowance Rules) as per the notification issued by the Finance Department. The DA in favour of State Government pensioners/family pensioners has also been sanctioned at the rate of 5 per cent of basic pension The Dearness Allowance as per this order shall henceforth be paid by the concerned treasury officers/ paying branches of the J&K Bank without waiting for further authorization from the Accountant General/General Manager J&K Bank as per the practice in vogue, the order added. The Government has also sanctioned Rs. 300/- per month Medical Allowance in favour of State Government pensioners/family pensioners with effect from October 1, 2006. Reacting to the employee-friendly gesture of the Government, Civil Secretariat Employee Union (non-gaztted) and its president Nazir Ahmad Mir have thanked Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and his Cabinet colleagues. |
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Make industrial sector more employment oriented: Azad Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, Oct 19: In order to give considerable fillip to grow and strengthen industrial sector in the State, a comprehensive policy for infrastructure development, marketing support, coverage of all areas under industrial network and launching of employment oriented ventures is the need of the hour. This was stated by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad while reviewing the functioning of Industries and Commerce Department at a high level meeting here today. The Chief Minister was informed that Industry department has launched ambitious plan to develop industrial estates in various parts of the State and in this connection, 324 kanals of land are presently under development which includes 96 kanals at Handwara, 74 kanals in Pattan, 25 kanal in Udhampur, 53 kanals in Kathua, 42 kanals in Kishtwar and 32 kanals in Kargil areas. It was informed that department is also acquiring 9318 kanals of land in other parts of the State. The Chief Minister emphasized in the meeting that time has come to encourage industrialists to move far-flung and backward areas for establishment of feasible and location specified industrial units. He said it will not only be beneficial for the entrepreneurs but also helpful for the people living in these backward areas to get job opportunities. The Chief Minister was informed that during last three years, Rs. 2628 crore of investment was made by private sector in Jammu division while as Rs 541 crore has been made in Kashmir division and Rs five crore in Leh region for which employment has been provided to 19686 unemployed youth by establishment of 169 industrial units in the State. The meeting was informed that the Industries Department under rehabilitation of sick unit programme has provided soft loans worth Rs 3.33 crore to 3151 sick units holders for their revival under this programme. The meeting was informed of the State and further 37 such cases have been approved for this purpose. The Chief Minister was apprised that the department has a programme of developing community and cluster units which will be utilized as common facility centres and in this connection, common facility centre for wood furniture, joinery cluster and common facility centre for cricket bat industry at Sither is in progress. The Chief Minister enquired the reasons for not having high standard bat industries established in J&K while similar units are flourishing in Jallandhar which exclusively depend on raw material from the State. He advised the concerned departments to chalk out full fledged programme so that the raw material of our State is properly utilized for those industries which are based in the state. Chief Minister also directed the concerned authorities to organize two exhibitions in a year both at Srinagar and Jammu and added that the exhibitions should be of standard level so that they become centre of marketing activities and all those who participate in exhibitions are able to market their products at a large scale through these exhibitions. The meeting was informed that work on eight floor Udyog Bhawan Complex at Jammu within area of 1.10 lakh sft. costing Rs 9.12 crore is in full swing and the project is likely to be completed by early next year whileas land for Udyog Bhawan Srinagar have been identified. The meeting also reviewed the progress registered under Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojna and it was informed that during last five years 6274 various kinds of income generating units have been established in the state by advancing Rs 5669.88 crore. |
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New Delhi, Oct 19: The hanging of Mohammed Afzal Guru, the main conspirator who was convicted in the 2001 terrorist attack on Parliament, will not take place tomorrow, the date fixed by the court for his execution. The hanging of Kashmiri separatist has been put off in view of the petition for clemency, filed by his wife, pending before President A P J Abdul Kalam. About a month ago, the trial court had ordered his death by hanging at 0600 hrs on October 20. "The hanging will not take place tomorrow since the mercy petition is pending before the President who will have to take a final decision on the matter," a Home Ministry spokesman said here. The Spokesman said the Home Ministry had already sought the views of the Delhi Government on the clemency petition. "We are still awaiting the views of the Delhi Government.’’ "As soon as we get the opinion of the Delhi Government, the Home Ministry will send it to the President along with the views of the Home minister,’’ he said. Meanwhile, the Delhi Government had written to the authorities of Tihar prison, where Afzal is kept, that the hanging would not take place on Friday. Under law, the President can pardon people sentenced to death, but he very rarely has granted clemency in the past. Official sources were not sure how soon the clemency petition of Afzal’s wife would be disposed of. There has been no time frame set for the disposal of mercy petitions. Meanwhile, Mohd Afzal Guru, will file a curative petition before the Supreme Court for a review of the death sentence before he approaches the President for clemency. "We want to exhaust all legal remedies available to him before approaching the President," sources close to him said here. The petition is likely to be filed after the Diwali break. The curative petition will seek a relook of the Apex Court’s August 4, 2005, judgement, upholding the death penalty imposed on Afzal by the Trial Court. After approaching the Apex Court, he may file a mercy plea before the President seeking commutation of his death sentence. His family had earlier this month filed a similar petition before the President.(Agencies) |
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PDP leader’s PSO hit, weapon
snatched Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 19: Militants have yet again struck on non-combatant targets in the ‘liberated’ appletown of Sopore as they have left a PDP Councilor’s personal security officer (PSO) wounded before taking away his rifle. Militants have also kidnapped a civilian and amputated his earlobe to add to the wave of terror. Meanwhile, security forces have killed two militants in separate gunbattles in Bandipore and Rafiabad in Baramulla district today. Informed sources in north Kashmir told the EXCELSIOR that militants fired upon SPO Javed Ahmed, a resident of Watlab and PSO to PDP’s local leader and Councilor Haji Mohammad Abdullah Dar, at Bilal Colony in the Chinkipora outskirts of Sopore at 1830 hours this evening. The SPO was guarding and escorting his VIP who was going to call on a friend. Sources said that minutes after the PDP leader alighted from his vehicle and began walking towards his friend’s home, militants opened fire on the SPO in uniform and left him wounded. They withdrew from the spot but only after snatching away the injured SPO’s Insas automatic rifle. The injured SPO was referred to SKIMS and operated upon by doctors in an attempt to save his life. It was not immediately clear why the more important target, the PDP leader, was not attacked by the militants who conducted the assault with full confidence and vanished into the locality. Sources said that some armed militants kidnapped a civilian, namely Abdul Majeed Bhat S/o Abdul Rasheed Bhat R/o Tikkipora, Lolab, from a busy market in Sopore town and took him to a hideout. He appeared to have been subjected to physical torture. He was let off but not before the suspected militants amputated his earlobe with a sharp knife. He was dropped at a deserted place and his Insas rifle was taken away by militants. Inquiries revealed that Bhat had earlier worked with Territorial Army and quit his job lately. He had arrived in Sopore a couple of days before gunmen kidnapped him. Meanwhile, security forces have killed two unidentified militants in separate gunbattles in Bandipore and Watergam Rafiabad localities today. Meanwhile, Chairman of the hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani and his constituent leaders staged a demonstration in Civil Lines here today in protest of deferred execution of the Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru. They claimed that Guru was innocent and, accordingly, demanded his release from jail. |
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More burden on pockets of city
inhabitants By Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Oct 19: The Jammu Municipal Corporation is ready with a draft bill to impose tax on property, both commercial and residential buildings, which is likely to be introduced in next sitting of the Corporations. Draft by-laws, which will be called Jammu Municipal Corporation (Tax on Land and Building) By-Laws 2006, will come into force as soon as they are approved by General House of the Corporation. According to authoritative sources, the by-laws are being taken into consideration in next general house of the Corporation. No one even the people living Below Poverty Line (BPL) but having their own house, albeit small, will be exempted from purview of the tax. Every person, living within the jurisdiction of Corporation or having a commercial structure including shops, will have to pay the tax. Vinod Sharma, Commissioner JMC, who has drafted the by-laws after a hardwork of several days and consulting Corporations of different cities to make the law comprehensive, told the Excelsior that the JMC area has been categorized into four zones for payment of Property Tax. Areas will be categorized depending upon value of property and financial status of the people residing there. All four zones will have four different rates of the tax, the sources said, adding there will be a flat rate of tax for the BPL localities and economically backward sections. For commercial institutions like Clubs, petrol pumps and marriage hall etc, the tax rate will be separate than other commercial establishments like hotels, restaurants, dhabas and shops etc. Sources said the Corporation, under the by-laws, planned to introduce a ‘Self Assessment Scheme’ (SAS) for payment of tax. The persons opting for the SAS will have to deposit the tax in lump-sum or two half yearly installments. Those desiring to pay the tax in lump-sum will have to do so either upto April 30 i.e. within 30 days of the beginning of financial year or in two half yearly equal installments to be paid on April 30 and October 30 every year. A random check will be carried out by the Corporation every year of about 5 per cent SAS assesses to ensure that they had properly assessed and paid their tax as per the rates approved by the Corporation in their Zone, the sources said. The SAS assesses will be entitled to a 10 per cent rebate on timely payment of tax in one installment and 5 per cent rebate in case of payment in two installments. However, if the tax is not paid on time, the Corporation will be entitled to charge interest on the tax at 18 per cent per annum. "Those who don’t wish to opt for Self Assessment Scheme can deposit their tax as assessed by the JMC authorities", the sources said. Under the proposed by-laws, a person aggrieved with the levy of assessment of any tax under the Act can appeal to Divisional Commissioner, Jammu under Section 132 of the Act. The Commissioner will give public notice every year about rates of the tax as soon as they are determined and notified under the Act. "Although the Corporation is empowered to revise Property Tax every year but assessment made under the SAS will not be revised at least for next three years subject to any additions, alterations, demolitions or destruction of any buildings", the sources said. All institutional and commercial buildings like Clubs, cinema houses, private schools/colleges, theatres, marriage halls, marriage palaces, laboratories, healthcare systems, gyms, hospitals, nursing homes, petrol pumps, godowns or any other type of building which is being used for any type of commercial/institutional activity will have a separate rate of tax. Shops and houses rented out by the owners shall also be liable for the tax. However, religious institutions will be exempted from Property Tax but the portion they had rent out for the purpose of commercial activity shall be subjected to tax at par with commercial institutions. In a gesture towards security forces and freedom fighters, the by-laws proposed that property pertaining to war widows, war heroes, freedom fighters or the persons, who have sacrificed lives for the nation, shall be exempted from the payment of Property Tax. Unauthorisedly constructed buildings shall also be subjected to the tax. Levy of tax on an unauthorised building doesn’t mean regularisation of the structure, the sources said. In case of basement of the house, the tax rates shall be reduced by 50 per cent while for the upper stories, tax rates will be reduced by 20 per cent. The Government buildings shall be exempted from payment of Property Tax on their land and buildings but the Departments are liable to pay Service Charges on account of services being provided to them. Service charges will be payable at 70 per cent of the tax calculated on the buildings as per the rate applicable there. The by-laws have devised four zones of property namely A, B, C and D. The citizen can identify the zone in which his property is located and then apply the specific rate applicable according to the floor area. If the property has been left out in any of the Zones, rate of the adjoining property shall be taken for arriving at Annual Rateable Value. |
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Govt releases 11 Kashmiri detenues NEW DELHI, Oct 19: Ahead of the forthcoming Eid festival, the Jammu and Kashmir Government in consultation with the Union Home Ministry today announced the release of 11 detenues from various jails in the country. These people were over-ground workers and militant sympathisers and had been booked under the Public Safety Act between 2001 and 2002. The decision was taken after a meeting between Central and State Government officials in Srinagar last evening that was chaired by Financial Commissioner (Home) B R Kundal. Jammu and Kashmir Police Chief Gopal Sharma, Additional Director General Kuldeep Khuda and representatives of the Home Ministry were also present. The meet came close on the heels of a meeting between Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, during which Azad told Patil to take urgent steps for releasing detenues in various jails, sources said. This is the second instance of detenues in various jails being released this year. Earlier, 40 people were released by the State and Central Governments on March 22. The Jammu and Kashmir Government submitted a list of detenues for screening, out of which the names of 11 were cleared, the sources said. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, during the roundtable conference convened by him on Kashmir on February 25, had asked Home Minister Patil to ensure constant screening of detenues and the release of those who were not facing serious charges. (PTI) |
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5 jawans, driver killed in mishap SRINAGAR, Oct 19: Five Army personnel and a driver were killed and three jawans critically injured when their vehicle collided head-on with a truck at Pohru in Nowgam area on the outskirts of the city today, official sources said. The vehicle on its way to Pantha Chowk collided at Pohru near Nowgam, about 15 kms from here, this morning when the incident occurred causing spot death to two jawans, the sources said. They said the driver of the vehicle Jeetendra Singh and six other soldiers were injured in the accident and were immediately evacuated to hospital where three jawans and the driver succumbed to injuries while being taken to hospital. The condition of the injured jawans, two undergoing treatment at bone and joints hospital and one at Soura Medical Institute, was stated to be critical, the sources said. The sources identified the deceased jawans as Pratap Patra, Ras Bihari Singh, Mahendra Singh, Manoj Kumar Jha and Prem Kumar. They said a police party immediately rushed to the scene and registered a case. A hunt has been launched to nab the truck driver who fled the scene after the accident. (PTI) |
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CHANDIGARH, Oct 19: Former Jammu and Kashmir Minister Raman Mattoo and another accused in the Srinagar sex scandal case today moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court for grant of bail. Mohammed Yusuf Mir, a DySP with the J&K Police, is the other accused petitioner. After the preliminary hearing, Justice Rajiv Bhalla issued notices on the bail plea of these petitioners, to CBI for November two, when a similar bail applications of three other accused are due to be heard. All the accused are lodged in Burail central Jail here.(UNI) |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 19: The State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) today registered a case against six officers of Technical Education Department (TED) and a supplier for causing a loss of Rs 5 lakh to State exchequer in purchase of 67 stitching machines. The officers against whom the case has been registered include Ghulam Hassan Khan, Director Technical Education, Rajesh Gupta, Financial Advisor and Chief Accounts Officer, Education Department, Yasmeen Hassan Wani, Principal Women Polytechnic Srinagar, Sharad Chander, Principal Boys Polytechnic Jammu, Riaz-ul-Amin, Deputy Director (Central) Technical Education and Raman Kumar Gupta, AO Directorate of Technical Education, all members of State Level Purchase Committee (SLPC). A local supplier, who has also been booked in the case, was identified as Gouse Qadri, Proprietor, M/s Kaiser Impex, Bund, Srinagar. The officers had purchased 67 stitching machines from the supplier at highly exhorbitant rates thereby causing a loss of Rs 5 lakh to the State exchequer. A SVO release said that Directorate of Technical Education, J&K, in the year 2005 had purchased 67 stitching machines (Usha Automatic, Janome, Japan) at a highly exhorbitant rate of Rs 22,500 instead of Rs 13,150, which was prevalent market rate at the time of purchase. Members of the purchase committee also didn’t verify the credentials of M/s Kaiser Impex, which was not an authorised dealer for supplying the machines. This way, members of the SLPC of Directorate of Technical Education have caused loss to the State exchequer and wrongful gain to the supplier for pecuniary benefits. A case FIR No. 42/2006 under Section 5 (2) Prevention of Corruption Act read with 120-B RPC has been registered against the accused for further investigations. |
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I will take quest for peace to UN: Mufti Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 19 : Former Chief Minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said he would take his quest for peace and message from people of the State to the United Nations during his upcoming visit. Enough blood has been shed in the State during the past more than a decade of turmoil and the time has come to put an end, once for all, to human tragedies in Jammu and Kashmir, the Mufti said while addressing a party rally at Ganderbal, 27 km from here. He said all political parties must come out of their shells and embark on the quest for honour, peace and prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir and its people. He said PDP would push its agenda for peaceful and dignified resolution to the Kashmir problem, which is appropriately embodied in its self-rule formula. Unlike autonomy that was eroded over a period of time, self-rule would be safeguarded by adequate guarantees with components of political, constitutional, social, economic and regional empowerment. "Let me assure you this is not day-dreaming but destined to happen sooner or later," he said. Sayeed said he would not boast that PDP was the only party which could tackle the Kashmir problem but it definitely had a role to play in carving out new prosperous future for the State. PDP’s alliance with the Congress is a part of that larger objective and not (just) an instrument of power-sharing, he further said. Speaking on the occasion PDP president Mehbooba Mufti claimed that people’s interest is supreme for her party. She said that self rule proposal, unlike other solutions, would adequately encompass regional aspirations supplemented by economic empowerment with both India and Pakistan having stakes in J&K’s development and peace. Former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig on the occasion said that PDP was working for the welfare of the people not only at the political but on the economic and development front as well. |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 19: A boy was killed in a blast when he fiddled with an explosive device at Budhal, Rajouri while Doda police destroyed a hide-out of the militants at Gandoh and recovered a large quantity of ration. Official sources said 12 year old Mohd Arif son of Abdul Qayoom R/o Gid Yok, presently putting up at Latthi, Koteranka in Budhal area of Rajouri district was returning to his house from school along with his brother Azam, 6, when he spotted a steel glass like explosive device and fiddled with it. The device went off killing Arif on spot. A police party from Budhal police station led by Inspector Kewal Krishan visited the spot for investigations. Body of the boy was handed over to his family after post-mortem. Doda police today destroyed a hide-out of the militants in Rehani forests in Gandoh area of Doda district. Recoveries made from the hide-out include 40 kg atta, 30 kg rice, 10 liters kerosene oil, some medicines, two packets of candles, 24 pencil cells and some utensils. An encounter took place between militants and security forces at Dandi Mohalla in Bafliaz area of Surankote this afternoon. Three militants escaped during the gunbattle, sources said.
Child, 4 militants killed in kashmir SRINAGAR: A child and four militants, including a top commander of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), were among the five people killed while a PDP leader escaped unhurt and a major tragedy was averted by security forces when they seized a milk container fitted with 4-kg Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening, a police spokesman said today. Two militants were killed in a more than nine-hour-long gunfight with security forces near Shalimar Mughal gardens on the city outskirts today, he added. The spokesman said the bodies of the two militants were recovered from the debris of a house. Two AK rifles and some ammunition were also seized from the encounter site, he said, adding the security forces suffered no casualty in the gunfight. The search operation has been called off, the spokesman said, adding two houses were also damaged in the gun-battle. He said the encounter erupted between militants and security forces at Channa Mohalla near Shalimar Mughal gardens and the Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) on the city outskirts early today. Militants later took refuge in a house and fired upon the security forces from there, he added. After that house was brought down, ultras took shelter in another house nearby. A spokesman of the Al Badr Mujahideen called up the local media here and claimed that five militants of the outfit were initially involved in the gunfight. ''Three militants later escaped the cordon to reach a safe destination while two decided to stay put and fight the Indian security forces,'' he claimed. The spokesman said a child was killed and another critically wounded when suspected militants triggered an IED at Darpora in Kupwara district of north Kashmir today, He said suspected militants had planted the IED at Khodawalla Nullah near Tantray Mohalla in Darpora area of the district to target security forces. The spokesman said as the militants triggered the IED, two children, Showkat Ahmed Tantray and Bilal Ahmed Tantray, passing through the area, were wounded in the explosion. Both the children were immediately shifted to a hospital where one of them -- Bilal Ahmed Tantray -- succumbed to wounds. He said Showkat Ahmed Tantray has been admitted to the Bones and Joints hospital at Barzulla here where his condition was stated to be critical. The spokesman said security forces shot dead a militant during an encounter at Channa Dajji village in Bandipora area of Baramulla district last evening. An AK rifle, two magazines, 33 rounds and two mobile phones were seized from him. Security forces shot dead a top LeT militant, Shabir Ahmed Sheikh, in Doda district today, Senior Superintendent of Police (Doda Range) Manohar Singh told UNI in Jammu that security forces shot dead a top LeT militant during an encounter at Joura Bala in Gandoh area of Doda district. An AK rifle, a wireless set and some other material were also seized from the encounter site, he said. Police believed he was involved in a series of activities in the area for about seven years. A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader escaped unhurt but his security guard was wounded when their vehicle came under heavy fire by suspected militants in Sopore area of north Kashmir's Baramulla district last evening, the spokesman said. He said PDP's Sopore Block President Haji Mohammad Abdullah, driving a Maruti Zen, was on way to Arampora from Chankipora in Sopore area after 'Iftar' time (breaking of fast during Ramzan) at around 1830 hrs yesterday when suspected militants opened fire on the vehicle. As his Personal Security Officer (PSO) Javed Ahmed got down from the car to retaliate, the PDP leader sped away and took shelter in the Sopore Police station, the sources added. He said the PSO suffered bullet wounds in the gunfight. Sources said the suspected militants later escaped with the service weapon of the PSO who was hospitalised. The spokesman said unidentified gunmen shot at and critically wounded an Imam in a posh locality of the city early this morning. He said Mohammad Altaf Shah, a resident of Sopore in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, was shot at from point blank at the time of 'Sehri' (food taken at dawn during Ramzan) in posh Raj Bagh area. Shah was the priest of Usmania mosque at Pathan Bagh near the Modern hospital in the area. The spokesman said he was sleeping in the mosque when the gunmen barged inside and shot at him. He was rushed to the Sri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital here where his condition was stated to be critical. Doctors attending on him said his liver has been damaged by the bullets. He has been operated upon and would be under strict observation for the next 24 hours, they added. The incident sparked off massive protests by locals. They alleged that the 'Imam' was shot at by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel. Police have registered a case and investigations are on. The spokesman said security forces averted a major tragedy when they seized a milk container fitted with four kg Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in south Kashmir's Anantnag district today. He said a search operation was launched jointly by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the CRPF and the Army at general area of Kanjikulleha Yaripora in Kulgam area this afternoon. During the operation, a person carrying a milk container was noticed moving in a suspicious condition, they added. On search, the spokesman said the milk container was found to be fitted with the IED weighing about four kg. The person, identified as Irshad Ahmed Wagay, of the same village was later detained by the security forces, he added. (UNI )
Hurriyat chiefs
to visit Islamabad soon, SRINAGAR: The moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference today said its leaders would visit Islamabad shortly to resume parlays with the Pakistani leadership. "The Hurriyat leaders would visit Pakistan soon and hold talks with the government there in a bid to accelerate the process of dialogue," Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq told a Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid here. Expressing satisfaction over the improvement of ties between India and Pakistan, the Mirwaiz said the two countries have initiated steps to resolve the Kashmir issue. However, he said an atmosphere of uncertainity would prevail in the subcontinent unless the Kashmir issue was resolved on a priority basis. He said he could infer during his recent visit abroad that there was possibility of a significant breakthrough with respect to Kashmir but that will be possible only when the people of Kashmir are involved in the dialogue process. The Mirwaiz said all the three parties to the Kashmir issue could sit together and hammer out an honourable solution acceptable to India, Pakistan and the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said he was grieved over what he termed as no change in the ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir despite the removal of hurdles in the process of dialogue between India and Pakistan. (PTI) |
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