|
|
 |
|
By Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Oct 28: Top Pakistani militant Mohd Fahad, who was arrested by police after a gunbattle at Mysore yesterday, had pumped hawala money worth several lakhs among Al Badr cadre through different hawala channels in Kashmir valley . Official sources told the Excelsior that Mohd Fahad, who was arrested by police along with another Pakistani militant Mohd Ali Hussain in Mysore yesterday for plotting a terror attack in Bangalore, had infiltrated into Indian territory after training in Pakistan from Lipa Valley in Kupwara district of Kashmir in 2002. Mohd Fahad, who had been charged with trying to target Legislature in Bangalore besides other buildings in IT hub, had operated in Kashmir valley for a long time and after spreading Al Badr outfit’s network, left for New Delhi. He was operating in different States of India for last four years. Sources said preliminary questioning of Karachi-based Mohd Fahad by Bangalore Police, which was tonight shared with top officers of Intelligence agencies and Police in Jammu and Kashmir, revealed that Fahad had received huge hawala transactions through banks, both in Government and private sector, private financial institutions, tour operators and business houses. Hawala money worth lakhs was pumped by Fahad among Al Badr cadre in the Kashmir valley. Hawala money was delivered to the militants mostly through tour operators and other upper ground contacts of the militants, sources said. A number of telephone numbers of Fahad’s contacts in Kashmir have also been found in a mobile telephone seized from his possession by Bangalore police. During last four years, he had developed quite a good number of contacts in Kashmir, sources said. A joint team of Intelligence and police agencies has been set up to co-ordinate with Bangalore police in questioning of Mohd Fahad and investigations into his terror network which was spread in many States of the country, sources said, adding a special police team from Mysore is expected to reach the Valley shortly. The joint team will also leave for Mysore to question Fahad and further share his interrogation report, which could give the State agencies vital clues about Al Badr network and hawala transactions for last four years in the Valley. Possibility of Fahad being brought to the Valley for identification of hide-outs, his network and the militants who received hawala money is being explored, sources said, adding the process was, however, expected to take time as Mysore police had to hold his sustained interrogation. Intelligence agencies and police have sought a list of the telephone numbers of Kashmir found stored in Fahad’s mobile. Agencies believed that majority of Fahad’s contacts in the Valley might have gone underground after the report of his arrest was flashed yesterday by the television channels. Sources said in view of growing trend of circulation of hawala money among militants and their supporters by Pakistan, which has come to light during recent arrest of militants in different States of the country, the Centre had already set up a high level committee to monitor flow of funds into the country from abroad through different channels of hawala network. The committee is headed by Special Secretary in Ministry of Home Affairs Raj Gopal and comprised representatives from Intelligence Bureau, CID wing of Jammu and Kashmir, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Customs Department and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) etc. The committee has been asked to adopt a joint strategy to smash hawala channels of the militants. It will devise ways and means to ensure that militants didn’t manage to use banks and other financial institutions to receive hawala money. As far as private sources of hawala money including business houses are concerned, they can be tackled only after their identification during questioning of the militants, sources said. Besides Jammu and Kashmir, Fahad was also reported to have his network in Kerala, New Delhi and Karnataka. |
|
‘No azadi in Azad
Kashmir’ SRINAGAR, Oct 28: A couple was today arrested when it crossed over to the Indian side from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Mohammad Akhtar and his wife Mahroof Begum were arrested by the Army in Uri sector of Baramulla district at around 6.30 am, a Defence spokesman said. Akhtar, a resident of Sarculi in Kupwara district, said he was abducted from his house and taken to Muzaffarabad in PoK by Al-Barq militants in September 2001, where he completed a three-month training despite developing chronic chest pain. He said he moved to Ambore Mohajir camp after he pleaded with the commander that he was incapable of moving in harsh terrain with heavy load. It was at the camp, he married Mahroof Begum, a resident of Muzaffarabad, who lost her parents in the earthquake of October last year. Akhtar said threat of militants forced him to fled PoK and he and his wife reached LoC where Army spotted them and arrested. Akhtar said, "Kashmiris in PoK have started believing that their actual watan (country) is Kashmir. Here we have our family, relatives and above all self respect. There is no azadi in Azad Kashmir (PoK)". This is the third case this month that Kashmiri family returning to Kashmir from PoK. On October 2, a couple along with a two and a half year old child were nabbed by Army troops in Uri sector when they crossed over to this side. Fareed Ahmad Geelani, 35, along with his wife and six children surrendered to Army after returning from across the border in Uri sector on October 11.(PTI) |
|
20 detenues were getting undue
favours By Mohinder Verma JAMMU, Oct 28: To pave the way for fair enquiry into the smuggling of mobile phones and undue favours to about 20 detenues in the Central Jail of Jammu at Kot Bhalwal, Home Department today ordered attachment of Superintendent of the Prison Gurdeep Singh to the Prison Department Headquarters. In the meantime, Sheikh Rashid will continue to hold the charge of Kot Bhalwal Jail. The Home Department has also sought enquiry report within a period of 15 days so that immediate action could be taken against those staff members of Kot Jail, who facilitated the smuggling of mobile phones and SIM cards. "It’s a very serious matter. This enquiry will not meet the fate of those carried out in the earlier breach of security cases or digging of tunnel in 1999", Financial Commissioner Home B R Kundal said when approached and added that whosoever found involved will be dealt with sternly. Meanwhile, sources told the EXCELSIOR that during searches of the barracks after the seizure of mobile phones, the senior officers of the Prison Department came to know that 20 detenues were being given undue favours in the form of separate and specially decorated small barracks with all facilities of comfort like televisions and special meals. "All these persons were given special treatment on the directions of Aamir-e-Zindan (leader of the detenues) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militant Mohd Altaf Choudhary and Gurmeet Singh, an undertrial in a murder case", the sources disclosed and said that both had close rapport with some selected staff members of the prison, who never dared to oppose these two detenues. They said that some staff members including Superintendent Gurdeep Singh, were also aware of the fact that detenues were using mobile phones from inside the prison but instead of bringing an end to this practice, they always asked them to use the same in such a way so that other detenues remain ignorant about the same. "Sleuths of central intelligence agency deployed in this prison had also informed Superintendent of the Jail about the inputs about some detenues using mobile phones secretly much earlier but no action was taken", the sources disclosed. It is pertinent to mention here that the smuggling of mobile phones and SIM cards in the jail was detected only after Gurdeep Singh went on leave for about a month. His attachment orders were issued on the day his leave period expired. Sources also disclosed that several detenues today raised voice against Gurdeep Singh for giving undue favours to the some selected prisoners and said that their voices were always suppressed by Gurdeep Singh and Aamir-e-Zindan. |
|
PDP MLA's PSOs beat up Yasin Malik Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 28: While PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was addressing a public meeting at Sonwar Bagh, escort and personal security officers of his party's MLA, Syed Bashir Ahmed, pounced upon the JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik and thrashed him outside the residence of the former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig on Maulana Azad Road today. Even as Malik's supporters caused massive damage to the MLA's vehicle and a criminal case was registered against his PSOs, Malik was evacuated to a Police hospital and given medical treatment. Eyewitnesses said that when the JKLF Chairman ignored the signals of the PDP MLA Syed Bashir's escort Gypsy and he did not make way for the mainstream politician's motorcade, some escort personnel and PSOs jumped out and dragged the JKLF Chairman out of his Palio outside Muzaffar Baig's residence on Maulana Azad Road. He was ruthlessly beaten up with fists and gun butts. As the outrageous act created a traffic jam and the diminutive separatist politician fainted, a large number of spectators jumped in and thrashed the MLA's PSOs and escort personnel. They caused extensive damage to the MLA's vehicle and evacuated Malik to Kothibagh Police Station. Police registered case FIR No: 114 of 2006 against the MLA's security and escort personnel. Malik was rushed to Police Hospital at Police Control, Room Srinagar and given medical treatment. He remained under observation for over two hours and was later discharged from the hospital. Later, this evening, a counter-FIR, No: 115 of 2006, was registered against Malik and his supporters for "damaging the government vehicle and making assault on government officials and preventing them from discharging their duties". Malik told the EXCELSIOR over telephone that the PDP MLA and former Minister of State for Education, Syed Bashir Ahmed, was on way to somewhere and there was a huge traffic jam. "His pilot Gypsy signaled me to clear out. Like all others, I too wanted to make way for the VIP but it took me some seconds due to the traffic snarl. Suddenly his PSOs jumped and they dragged my out, beating me up mercilessly". He said that the onlookers came to his rescue and they thrashed the gunmen and damaged their vehicle. "When I was alone, they did not relent, when common people began to thrash them, they began begging for mercy. This is the treatment, Police and forces are meting out to the hapless, ordinary Kashmiri", Malik complained. Malik said that on the basis of his complaint, Police registered a criminal case against the MLA's PSOs and sent him to Police Hospital where he was given medical treatment and discharged in the evening. MLA Rajpora, Pulwama, Syed Bashir Ahmed denied that he was driving behind the escort Gypsy. He claimed that he had dropped his vehicle on the road due to the traffic jam and treaded the small distance to his Transport Yard residence on foot. "When, my escort people reached 20 minutes after, I was surprised to see that their vehicle had been badly damaged."They told me that Yasin Malik hit their vehicle and abused them", he said. Syed Bashir added: "I demand DGP should inquire into the ugly episode. I condemn an attack on Yasin Sahib. If my PSOs and escort men are found guilty, they should be punished under law", Syed Bashir told the EXCELSIOR. "Had I been on the spot, I would have tendered my apology. This incident would not have happened", Syed Bashir said. Meanwhile, National Conference President Omar Abdullah, Peoples Conference leader Sajjad Gani Lone, Massarat Alam of Muslim League, Democratic Liberation Party head Hashim Qureshi and Democratic Freedom Party chief Shabir Shah condemned the broad daylight attack of the PDP MLA's PSOs on the JKLF Chairman. |
|
*Article 356 should go *Governor
must be elected by MLAs and MLCs From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz SRINAGAR, Oct 28: Peoples Democratic Party's founder-president and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said that New Delhi and Islamabad had realised that nothing but an "out of box solution" could solve the vexed Kashmir problem. He said that the people of the state had been "caught between the two guns" (of India and Pakistan) and it was high time that the "basis of permanent solution" was created by granting "self-rule". He emphasised that J&K Police must replace security forces, the state should have its independent civil and Police services, Central Government's power of dismissing elected governments in J&K should be withdrawn and the Governor must essentially be a state subject to be elected by the two Houses of the State legislature. While addressing a public meeting at Sher-e-Kashmir International Cricket Stadium here today, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said that the option of resolving the Kashmir crisis by gun had failed in the last 17 years of armed conflict in Jammu and Kashmir. "The people are caught between this side's gun and that side's gun", he said and claimed that New Delhi and Islamabad had realised at last that only an "out of the box" solution would be possible. According to him, Islamabad had indicated that a solution acceptable to the Kashmiris would be acceptable to that country. Mufti asserted that PDP's "self-rule" formula would create the "base for the permanent solution". The objective, according to him, was that no youth should be eyed with suspicion and no elder should be humiliated at home or on the streets by armed forces. Spelling out the features of PDP's "self-rule", Mufti demanded 16th century sovereignty of the last Kashmiri monarch Yusuf Shah Chak's period for Jammu and Kashmir. He said that the powers of the Central Government to dismiss the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir, granted to it under article 356 of the Constitution of India, should be withdrawn and the Governor, to be elected by the two Houses of the State Legislature, should be on the basis of rotation from Kashmir and Jammu regions. Elaborating on other features of the "self-rule", Mufti called for withdrawal of troops and their replacement by the State Police. He said that J&K should have its independent "Panun Kashmir Administrative Service and Panun Kashmir Police Service". He called for creation of a free trade zone between Jammu, Srinagar and Muzaffarabad and said that uniform self-rule on either side of the LoC would ease out much of the political and economic tension. In his historic speech, made on the eve of his departure for New York where he is reportedly scheduled to address the UN General Assembly, the PDP patriarch sought support of the ruling coalition partner, Congress, and said that the "small hand was in need of the big hand". He said that PDP would mobilise the opinion in favour of its self-rule formula and permanent solution in the state while the Congress party could play the greater role of building an opinion at the national level. He said he was hopeful that the launching of truck service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad would be finalised in the forthcoming meeting the Foreign Secretary level talks between New Delhi and Islamabad next month. While stressing on the significance of trade link between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, Mufti asked: "If a gas pipeline can be built between Iran and India, why shouldn't there be a gas link between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad?" Mufti claimed that the atmosphere of peace and understanding was building fast between India and Pakistan inspite of respective constraints afflicting both the countries. He sounded hopeful that the separatist Hurriyat leaders would soon be part of the dialogue process. Earlier, the PDP President Mehbooba Mufti asserted that her party was in favour of a self-rule "but not the kind of one that authorised an ordinary Police constable to arrest Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah in 1953". "We want peace and dignity for Jammu and Kashmir people. If NC has a better option (than PDP's self-rule), it must spell out", she said. He claimed that the concept of self-rule was growing phenomenally popular among the people. She said that today's public meeting at Sonwar was as historic as Prime Minister Vajpayee's, Dr Manmohan Singh's and the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi's at the same venue in the last four years. |
|
Militant, jawan killed in Mendhar Excelsior Special Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 28: A woman was killed and another civilian was injured in a grenade attack by a militant at a GREF vehicle at Jamslan in Gool area of Reasi district last night while Army and police today gunned down another militant at Kasblari in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district taking toll in two days encounter to three. An Army jawan also sacrificed his life. Doda police arrested a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant from Bun area early today. Official sources said a militant hurled a grenade aiming a GREF vehicle, carrying labourers, at Chichi Nullah along Budhan-Jamslan road in Gool area of Reasi police district last night. The grenade missed the intended target and fell on road side killing a woman and injuring a GREF labourer. The militant managed to escape. Security forces and police rushed to the spot and shifted the victims to hospital where Sharifa Begum wife of Khajar Din R/o Jamslan was declared dead while Dhani Ram son of Punjab Singh R/o Chajru, Mahore, a GREF labourer was admitted for treatment. Security personnel have launched a search operation in the area to apprehend the militant, who was believed to be a local, sources said, adding no arrests have been made so far. Army and police today eliminated another militant at Kasblari in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district taking death toll in two days gunbattle to three. An Army jawan Jyoti Prakash sacrificed his life while fighting bravely with the militants. A total of four militants were reported to be hiding at Kasblari when a joint operation was launched by Army and police yesterday morning. While two militants were shot dead yesterday, another was killed today. Security forces were hunting the fourth militant, who was said to be injured. Bodies of three militants have been recovered from the spot but their identity hasn’t been established. From the possession of militant killed today, security forces seized one AK rifle with six magazines, 140 rounds and two hand grenades. Doda police arrested a LeT militant from village Bun in Doda district today. He has been identified as Gul Mohd, 32, alias Gulla son of Abdul Gani Sheikh R/o Bun. One Chinese pistol, one magazine and six rounds were recovered from him. A case against him has been registered under Section 7/27 Arms Act at Doda police station. The militant has been sent for interrogation to ascertain his links with the Lashkar outfit. |
|
Civilian killed, 36 injured in Sopore grenade attack SRINAGAR, Oct 28 : A civilian was killed and 36 others injured when militants targetted a Border Security Force vehicle in apple-town iof Sopore this afternoon. Security forces apprehended two militants and seized a large cache of arms and ammunition overnight. The spokesman said militants lobbed a hand grenade towards a Maruti gypsy belonging to the BSF’s 45 battalion at the Sopore Main Chowk at around 1245 hrs. The battalion is headquartered at Sopore. The grenade hit the vehicle resulting in injuries to 32 civilians and four BSF personnel, he added. The spokesman said the wounded were shifted to various hospitals where the condition of many of them was stated to be critical. One civilian, Khazir Mohammad, who was rushed to the SMHS hospital here later succumbed to injuries, he added. Security forces immediately cordoned off the entire area and launched a search operation to apprehend the ultras. No militant outfit has so far claimed the responsibility for the grenade attack. The spokesman said 14-year-old Mudassir Ahmad Sheikh kicked some suspicious object lying on a road near the Ganderbal bridge today which exploded causing injuries to him. He was rushed to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura. Security forces apprehended two militants in Badgam and seized two AK magazines, 58 rounds, 2 UBGL grenades, two hand grenades, one pistol, one magazine and six rounds from them. Meanwhile, two brothers who were allegedly killed by Lashkar-e-Toiba militants at Lolab in Kupwara district on Tuesday had paid the price for protecting the honour of their family, a Defence spokesman said today. Hafiz and Matloob, sons of Ghulam Rabbani, were shot dead by militant Abu Saad who had been eyeing their younger sister, he said. Saad and his accomplices came to the house of Rabbani around a year ago, seeking food and shelter and the family did what was asked because they were too scared to resist, the spokesman said. When Hafiz realised that Saad had an eye on his sister, he objected and the two brothers later moved to Kupwara town as a way out of the situation, he added. Saad had his revenge when Hafiz and Matloob returned to the family for celebrating Eid. The militants emerged from the forests and shot at them. The brothers succumbed to their injuries before they could reach the hospital, he said. (AGENCIES) |
|
|
Excelsior Special Correspondent RAJOURI, Oct 28: Four persons including a minor boy were killed when a tanker skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge near Budhal, about 50 kms from here this evening. Reports reaching here said that mishap occurred at around 4.30 pm near Hyam bridge when water tanker bearing No. JKo2B/1897 was on its way to Budhal from Rajouri town. The driver lost control over the vehicle and it rolled down into 150 feet deep nallah. All the four occupants were killed on the spot. The deceased have been identified as Tanker driver, Panjan singh, son of Gopal Singh resident of village Tuli Chasana, cleaner Dilla Ram, son of Bholla Ram, his wife Kaki and a minor son. The bodies of the victims were shifted to Budhal Primary Health Centre late this evening. The police have started investigation into the case. Some mechanical failure was said to be the reason behind the mishap. |
|
|
HOSHIARPUR, Oct 28 : Seventeen persons, including 15 school children from Jammu and Kashmir, were injured today when a private bus collided head-on with a truck on the Hoshiarpur-Dasuya road near Bhikowal, 10 kms from here. The bus was carrying 37 students and four teachers from the Little Convent School in Udhampur who were returning from a pleasure trip, said SHO of Hairana Police Station Balbir Singh. The injured students were taken to a nearby private nursing home for treatment. The condition of the truck driver Dilbag Singh and one other person who were admitted to the local civil hospital was stated to be serious. The bus driver fled after the accident and police have launched a search for him. Arrangements had been made to send the students to their homes, he added. (PTI) |
|
|
NEW DELHI, Oct 28: With the recent Cabinet reshuffle inducting two AICC office bearers into the Government, changes in the AICC Secretariat are on the cards. As party leaders A K Antony and Oscar Fernandes have been drafted for the Government recently, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has to fill at least three vacancies including two general secretaries. Party general secretary Ambika Soni was earlier shifted to Government as Minister for Tourism and Culture. While Antony was looking after Karnataka, Oscar is looking after party affairs. Soni, despite being a union minister, is overseeing affairs of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Considering the importance of minority votes in the coming Assembly polls in five states including Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Punjab, the party chief may draft a senior leader from the Muslim community. The names of Mohsina Kidwai and Noor Bano and Bihar MLA Ashok Ram are doing rounds for the important position. Talking to reporters after cabinet reshuffle on October 24 at Rashtrapati Bhawan, Gandhi, when asked, had said that changes in the AICC set up would be affected "hopefully soon". (PTI) |
|
Act against terror: Pranab to Pak BARDHAMAN (WB), Oct 28: Relations between India and Pakistan would improve if the neighbouring country destroyed terrorist camps in its territory and took steps to stop infiltration, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said today. India has told Pakistan several times to destroy camps in its territory that harbour militants and to stop infiltration, he told a press conference here. Relations between the two country would improve if action was taken in this regard, said Mukherjee, who assumed the External Affairs portfolio this week. Noting that India wanted to improve its relations with all its neighbours, Mukherjee expressed the hope that Pakistan would do the needful on fulfilling its commitments. Referring to North Korea’s nuclear test, he said discussions were continuing on the issue but it would not change India’s foreign policy. (PTI) |
|
Undertrial hurls eatables at Judge NEW DELHI, Oct 28: An undertrial today created a flutter in a Rohini Court after he allegedly threw some eatables on the presiding Judge, who was conducting his trial in a theft case. Eyewitnesses said the accused Netrapal took out a packet of eatables from his pocket and hurled it at Metropolitan Magistrate Vijay Shanker as he was reportedly aggreived over the delay in trial. "As the Magistrate adjourned his case to November nine for further hearing in the matter, Netrapal pressed that his case should be disposed off today itself," the eyewitnesses said. He also used foul language against the Judge. (PTI)
Violent incidents in Kashmir register decline NEW DELHI, As Jammu and Kashmir’s Congress- led Government completes a year in office next week, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has reason to be happy with its handling of the security situation as official figures show a 20 per cent decline in violent incidents since he took over. Figures available with the Union home ministry also show that the killing of civilians and security personnel has fallen by 27 per cent during Azad’s tenure. Though political parties, including Azad’s alliance partner PDP, have been critical of the State Government’s handling of human rights, the figures show only nine cases of rights abuses were reported this year. These include the alleged custodial death of four persons, the disappearance of one person and alleged molestation of four women by security forces and police. However, between November 2004 and October 23, 2005, six cases of alleged killing in custody, one disappearance in custody and 20 cases of women being allegedly molested and raped by security forces and police were recorded. The PDP has been accusing Azad’s Government of mishandling the human rights situation in the state ever since he took over as chief minister on November 2 last year. Apart from an increase in grenade attacks, there has been a decline in other violent incidents during his term, according to the official figures. According to official sources here, 1,642 incidents of violence by militants occurred in Kashmir during November 2005-October 2006, against 2,026 such incidents during the November 2004-October 2005, the third and last year of the PDP -led coalition government. While incidents of explosions, firing by militants and cross-firing have registered a decline, grenade attacks increased during the past 12 months. This year, about 200 grenade attacks were recorded, against 126 in the preceding year. On the other hand, incidents of explosions dipped from 118 to 71, incidents of firing by militants from 446 to 321 and cross-firing from 591 to 449, the sources said. During the last 16 years of militancy in Kashmir, 16,219 civilians were killed by militants or died after being caught in crossfire. (PTI) |
|
|
