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‘Breakthrough may enable
PM to visit Pak’ ISLAMABAD, Oct 29: Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri said today India and Pakistan were close to reaching an agreement to resolve Siachen issue and suggested a "breakthrough" on this was expected next month to enable Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit Pakistan. He said meetings of Foreign Secretaries and Foreign Ministers’ of the two countries in Delhi next month would hopefully achieve a breakthrough to enable Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Pakistan. Kasuri said he would visit New Delhi next month to attend the wedding of the daughter of Panchayati Raj Mani Shanker Ayer during which he hopes to meet External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee who took over as the new External Affairs Minister. "As a Foreign Minister of Pakistan, I know we are very close to an agreement. I will not go into details. It depends on political will and I hope that the Prime Minister and the (new) Foreign Minister of India will show that political will", Kasuri said here in an exclusive interview. The Foreign Secretaries, who are meeting in Delhi on November 14-15, will work out dates for a formal meeting between the two, Kasuri said. The Pakistan Foreign Minister said he would not attend the meeting being called by India on Afghanistan to be held in Delhi on November 18-19 and instead, Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar would attend it. Pressed for details on the backchannel talks being held to resolve Siachen dispute, Kasuri said "I said my understanding as a Foreign Minister is that they are close to an agreement. What is now needed is political will. I can not go into details". Asked whether a breakthrough is expected at Foreign Secretaries meeting to be held in New Delhi on November 14-15 to review the composite dialogue process followed by Foreign Ministers review meeting, Kasuri said "I will tell you what we will try and do. I can speak for Pakistan. We want that your Prime Minister should be able to pay a visit to Pakistan. "These high level visits are important and do not ever under estimate them. People commit that mistake. That is where the human element comes in. High level visits are important", he said. "Both Foreign Ministers and our Foreign Secretaries will try and achieve the same thing during our meetings. We should pave the way to your Prime Minister’s visit to Pakistan and to make his visit a success and substantive one because it is very important for India-Pak relations that Prime Minister pays the visit and it achieves something concrete", he said. When pointed out that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf himself said Singh’s visit as and when it takes place should be substantive, Kasuri said "you are right. That is why I said it should be the objective of the Foreign Ministers of both the countries that happens. Glitches should be removed by the Foreign Ministers", he said. "The Foreign Secretaries will be meeting. We have two very experienced foreign secretaries. I can now even speak about India Foreign Secretary, (Shivshankar Menon) because I have dealt with him when he was the High Commissioner to India here. He is an experienced, perhaps more experienced in India about Pakistan then anybody in India today because he was posted here. "So, we have (Pakistan Foreign Secretary) Riaz Muhammad Khan who knows Menon when he was here and the two also knew each other from their days in China where they were ambassadors of their respective countries. "We have two Foreign Secretaries very experienced and hopefully the two Foreign Ministers will be able to make that next step possible. Because now is the turn of the Prime Minister to visit Pakistan. I would like it to be this year but I do not know. That depends on Foreign Minister of India". Kasuri said Siachen was one issue on which the two sides could achieve progress besides discussing solutions to the Kashmir issue and the setting up joint mechanism to deal with issues relating to terrorism. Kasuri said India and Pakistan were talking through various channels. "Things can be more easily done and issues like Siachen can more easily be resolved because a lot work has already been done". Kasuri said Pakistan considers Singh’s visit important because it would stir all the relevant ministries in both the countries into action. On the appointment of Mukherjee, Kasuri, who has been publicly airing his disappointment over India not having a Foreign Minister ever since the resignation of Natwar Singh, said he was happy because it provided one more channel of communication between the two countries. "To be very honest, it does open a new channel of communications. I say this on the basis of experience. I have been lucky to deal with Yashwant Sinha and Natwar Singh with whom I developed a level of trust. If you can develop a level of trust, it helps the dialogue," Kasuri said. Meanwhile, India’s new High Commissioner to Pakistan, Satyabrata Pal, is expected to hold wide ranging consultations with the Pakistani leadership in order to prepare ground for the Foreign Secretary-level talks next month. Pal is expected to arrive here on November 1, about two weeks ahead of the Foreign Secretary-level talks, to review the third round of the Composite Dialogue process, officials said here. He is expected to hold consultations with the Pakistani leadership, perhaps even meet President Pervez Musharraf before leaving for home to attend the talks scheduled for November 14-15. Pal’s consultations with Pakistani officials would focus on giving a proper shape and substance to the joint mechanism on terrorism agreed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pervez Musharraf during the Havana Summit. The mechanism, yet to be finalised, however, would face its first test when India forward what it perceives to be "pretty good" evidence of Pakistan’s involvement in Mumbai bomb blasts, which Pakistan firmly denies. "New Delhi may also forward evidence of the capture of two Pakistan militants near Bangalore, if investigations into it are completed by that time," officials said. (PTI) |
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Governor, CM ask India, Pak
to work unitedly Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 29: Governor Lt. Gen (Retd) S K Sinha today gave a clarion call to India and Pakistan for working unitedly to promote Kashmiriyat, which holds key to the future of mankind while Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said that Kashmir has been a role model of secular and characteristic, amity and pluralistic culture in the Subcontinent.. Inaugurating a three day International Seminar on Approaches to Kashmir Studies organized by the Centre for Kashmir Studies, University of Kashmir here this evening, the Governor referred to the functioning of Department of Kashmiriyat at Punjab University, Lahore and said that it can interact with the Centre for Kashmir Studies closely to strive for the common goal. Union Minister for Panchayati Raj and Sports, Mani Shankar Aiyar was the Chief Guest while Mr Azad presided over the inaugural session. Delegates from Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan besides different parts of the country participated in the seminar. Referring to the participation of Pakistani scholars in the seminar, the Governor said that India and Pakistan are united by history, geography, culture and even language, yet there has been six decades of trust deficit, soured relations and conflicts between the two. ‘Winds of change are now blowing. ‘It is also very gratifying that we have representatives of Central Asian countries here, reviving our old cultural, spiritual and economic links. They played a significant role in flowering of Kashmiriyat in Paradise on Earth’, he said. General Sinha said that Kashmiriyat is influenced by different religions and is a vibrant force that has sustained the people of Kashmir throughout history. Though a some misguided people tried to trample it yet it has bounced back, revitalized and refurbished. ‘It stood out at a time when our sub-continent was engulfed in communal holocaust leading to millions getting killed and millions uprooted. In those dark days, Kashmiriyat from this Valley showed the light and Mahatma Gandhi rightly referred to it as a ray of hope for the future’, he added. The Governor said that although Kashmiriyat is not a religion but it is no doubt influenced by different religions, which he called humanism. The three religions, which have influenced Kashmiriyat, are Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism. Without altering their basic concepts, all religions have different streams of thought. In the case of Islam, it was Sufi Islam that came to Valley from Central Asia, in the case of Buddhism, it was the Mahayana variation believing in salvation of the society and not of the individual as such and in the case of Hinduism it was the Kashmiri Saivism with it’s monotheistic belief, which blended into the culture of Kashmiriyat, he said. The Governor said that Kashmiri language through the centuries has been a powerful vehicle for propagating Kashmiriyat. He, however, regretted to find that today in the Valley, the Kashmiri language is being ignored and the younger generation taught to give priority to Urdu and English. General Sinha added Kashmiriyat is a concept of culture rather than religion, without in any way coming in conflict with the latter. Culture is a mix of language, literature, folklore, food habits, dress patterns, past history and values of life. ‘When we talk of Kashmiriyat we are not talking of any particular religion but essentially of culture as expressed eloquently in Kashmiri language and literature. The foundational layers of Kashmiri culture are contained in the beautiful and thoughtful poetry of saint poets like Lal Ded and Nund Reshi. Lal Ded said ‘Shiv Chuy Thali Thali Rauzan Mauza Hund Tel Musalman, Truk Hai Chu Tei Paan Parzanaw, Suy Chay Shaibas Zani Zaan’ Making a mention of the vision of Nund Reshi or Shiekh Noor-ud-Din Noorani, he recited in Kashmiri ‘Tama Padmaan Poor-I-Cha lalay, Yami Galay Amit Chou, Suy Sein Avtaar lolay, Suy Ma Wev Ditmoo Devow. Eulogizing the great ethos of Kashmir, he quoted Mehjoor and recited again in Kashmiri, ‘Daud Chu Muslim Hund Chu Shakker Saaf Saaf, Daud Te Bya Shaker releview paniwan and concluded his address by quoting, ‘Mauj Kashir Abaad Ruzin, Shadab Ruzin Mauj Kashir’. In his presidential address, the Chief Minister said that greatest strength of Kashmir has been its multi-dimensional pluralism, culture of tolerance and infinite capacity to accommodate, cultural, religious and ethnic differences. He said that the diversity of Kashmiri finds expression in their life-styles, arts, culture, music and literature. ‘Kashmir was a model for the sub-continent’, he added. Tracing back the rich ethos of the Valley, the Chief Minister said that Kashmir was home to Sharada Peeth, the finest seat of learning in the region during the ancient times. The great king of Kashmir, Zain-ul-Abudin (Budshah), refused a tribute of horses and instead preferred books for his library. ‘It is time to recall and recover Kashmir’s glorious past’, he said. The Chief Minister said that there has been a proliferation of studies on Kashmir in recent years. While some are driven by a sense of objectivity, unfortunately for some Kashmir has become an industry. He urged the scholars to study the contemporary problems of Kashmir, which will aid and help policy-makers. ‘In the absence of reliable data on various issues, well thought out policies cannot be easily formulated’, he added. Mr Azad expressed happiness over the holding of seminar and said that it will provide a larger canvass to the scholars to throw light on the glorious ethos of Kashmiriyat. He said Kashmiriyat is not a political slogan but is a way of life, essence of which is ‘Live and Let Live". He said that Kashmiriyat’s spiritual and cultural heritage goes back to the dialogue and symbiotic relationship between three great religious traditions, Sufi Islam, Mahayana Buddhism and Shaivite Hinduism. He said Sheikh-ul-Alam’s life and massage besides Lal Ded’s Vakh’s provide eternal radiance to Kashmiriyat. He emphasized the need for injecting greater nourishment and strength to Kashmiriyat. Mr Aiyar delivered the special address while Prof Riyaz Punjabi presented keynote address at the seminar. Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir, Prof Abdul Wahid and Director, Centre for Kashmir Studies also spoke on the occasion. |
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Law will take its course on Afzal: Law Minister GWALIOR, MP, Oct 29: Union Law Minister Hansraj Bharadwaj today said that the law would take its own course with regard to the proposed execution of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru. "People are needlessly politicising and thereby sensationalising the issue. As per the constitution, a convict enjoys the right to approach the President even after the Supreme Court has issued its judgement," he told journalists here. Pointing out that Afzal did the same, the Minister added that the President then seeks the opinion of the State concerned, the Home Ministry and others before taking a decision. When pressed for the Congress’ opinion, he shot back, "what has the Congress or the Bharatiya Janata Party got to do with this matter?" Mr Bharadwaj dodged a question about Parliamentarian Rahul Gandhi not being made a minister. "A rural court system will soon be in place. I am having discussions with State Governments and have urged the Centre to allocate funds. That will be done within two months and the department will appoint 7,000 additional judges," he assured. When asked about ‘Gandhigiri’, a form of protest popularised by a recent Bollywood film, the minister said that he was a worshipper of Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals and non-violence but rejected Gandhigiri. (UNI) |
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Sonia to convince opponents of Women’s Reservation Bill CHAKUR (MAHARASHTRA), Oct 29: Admitting that there was opposition to the women’s reservation bill from "some colleagues in the Congress" and other constituents of the UPA, Congress president Sonia Gandhi today said she would make efforts to convince those were against the measure. "I have to convince (Union Ministers) Lalu (Prasad), (Dayanidhi) Maran and (Anbumani) Ramadoss. I have to convince some colleagues from our party," she told a gathering of Congress workers at Chakur, the native place of Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, this afternoon. Gandhi hinted that the passage of the Bill in Parliament would be an uphill task, saying she has "to convince several people from within and outside the Congress" on the issue. She credited her late husband, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, with ushering in reservations for women in Panchayat bodies. Referring to remarks made earlier by Rajni Patil, chairperson of the Central Social Welfare Board, on the issue of women’s reservations, Gandhi said, "I am also trying my best (for the passage of the Bill)." Stating that grassroots workers are the real strength of the Congress, Gandhi, in a two-minute address, asked them to work with determination and dedication so that the party can face the challenges ahead. She spent the better part of an hour listening to grievances of party workers and office-bearers from Maharashtra, especially the Marathwada region. MLA Kalyan Kale told her that agriculture has become an unviable proposition. The Central Government should offer better support prices to farmers and increase import duty on cotton so that domestic growers get remunerative prices, he said. Reminding Gandhi of upcoming polls to local bodies in Maharashtra, including Municipal and Zilla Parishad elections, Kale said decisions taken on issues like agriculture, power shortage and improving rural infrastructure will benefit the party. Later, addressing a farmers rally at Chakur, Sonia said agriculture was the backbone of the country. "Without agriculture development, there cannot be development of the country," she said, adding that agriculture has been given top priority in the 10th five year plan. Referring to suicides by bankrupt farmers in the state, especially the Vidarbha region, Gandhi said she was very saddened by the deaths. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has announced a relief package for affected districts, she said. An expert group has been set up to examine the problem of debts faced by farmers, she said. Warning that there was an attempt by forces "within and outside the country" to destroy the fabric of social unity, Gandhi said these designs should be foiled by the people. "No religion teaches people to fight among themselves," she said. (PTI) |
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Violent incidents in J&K decline in last one year NEW DELHI, Oct 29: 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) |
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NEW DELHI, Oct 29: Sounds incredible, but trains are going to run on National Highway 1-A from Jammu to Badgam via Srinagar! The only difference is that these trains-basically two coaches/DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) — will be equipped not with normal iron wheels but with special truck tyres. Such a spectacle, a rare feat of engineering marvel, will become a reality when 24 coaches-two at a time-plus two diesel engines will be transported from Jammu to the Kashmir valley for running regular train services there from February next year. This has been made possible by replacing iron wheels of the coaches/DMU with truck tyres, which will be pulled by a trailer-truck , Railway Ministry sources said. Once the coaches reach Badgam railway yard, their truck tyres will again be replaced by iron wheels for their normal run on rail tracks. Roads have been widened by cutting the corners wherever it was needed for the movement of this special vehicle. "In a way, Railways have to make this experimentation out of sheer necessity so that trains start running in the Kashmir valley in February next year," the sources said. A leading transport company of the country has been given the job of transporting these coaches. The company will get Rs 15 lakh each for carrying the coaches. For a trial run, the Railways has given an old coach to the company, which will have to transport it safely to Badgam. "If the company does it successfully in the trial run, it will then be given the contract for carrying the 24 coaches,__ the sources said. Railway engineers had suggested three ways for transporting coaches to Badgam. Firstly, coaches should be taken there in a dismantled state, where these could be assembled. However, it could not be done possible because of technical reasons. Secondly, it was decided to airlift the coaches. However, the idea was promptly shelved because there is no plane in the country, which can carry train coaches and engines. Finally, it was decided to transport the coaches through road. "Throughout the world, coaches are transported by mounting them on trucks, but this is not possible in Kashmir. Because of its difficult mountainous terrain, coaches mounted on trucks will get stuck in the Jawahar tunnel in the Pir Panjal mountain chain," the sources said. It was because of this reason the decision was taken to remove iron wheels of coaches and replace them with truck tyres. Once these coaches reach Badgam, their truck tyres would again be replaced with normal iron wheels. When a survey was made of the Jammu-Srinagar Highway, the Railway engineers found several corners and turns where a 23-metre-long rail coach could not have turned. Roads were then widened by cutting through the mountains. Even after fitting coaches with truck tyres, these could not have moved through the Jawahar tunnel because these were still higher by six inches. It was then decided that before the Jawahar tunnel, tyres would be deflated to the extent that these would not get stuck in the tunnel. After crossing the tunnel, tyres would again be pumped with air. In 1982 the Central Government had given a green signal to construct a 287-km-long rail line between Jammu Tawi in Jammu to Baramulla in the Kashmir valley. To ensure that work on the ambitious project is carried out speedily without any resource crunch, the Centre has declared it a National Project. However, laying railway lines in Jammu and Kashmir, situated in the midst of the Himalayan mountain chain, was not easy. Consequently, the Railways started constructing the line as a separate project. Initially, rail lines were constructed from Jammu Tawi to Udhampur, which has now become operational. By February next year, Katra, the base camp for Vaishno Devi pilgrims, will also be linked through the rail route. However, the 148-km area from Katra to Qazigund lies in the Pir Panjal mountain chain through which flows the turbulent Chenab and Ajni Khad rivers. As part of the project, the world’s highest rail bridges have to be built on these rivers. It also includes construction of the country’s longest tunnel — 11.429-km-long-in Pir Panjal. This is likely to be completed in 2008. Construction is being carried out on the 119-km-long rail line between Qazigund and Baramulla in the Valley, and this is relatively easier. Rail lines have already been laid from Kakapura to Badgam via Srinagar. A train yard has also been constructed in Badgam for starting train service from there. However, the greatest stumbling block in the project is to take train engine and coaches to Badgam, which is still not linked with rail lines. Hence it is not possible to take train coaches there through rail route, the sources said. It was because of this reason that railway engineers stumbled upon the ingenious idea of transporting coaches and engines through road. And the crazy idea is all set to become a reality. (UNI) |
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Lashkar militant, 4 recruits arrested Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 29: Army and police today arrested a militant and four new recruits from Killanwali in Mahore tehsil of Reasi police district while three ultras killed during two days operation at Kasblari in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district have been identified as foreign mercenaries of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit. Official sources said a joint team of Army and police launched a search operation at Killanwali at 4 am today after developing an information that that a militant along with four fresh recruits had taken shelter in a dhok before shifting to a hide-out. On observing movement of troops, the militants fled to different dhoks. However, security forces apprehended all of them after an hour long search operation. They have been identified as Fayaz Ahmed, 16, son of Abdul Rashid Hazem R/o Dachan, Seeldhar, an activist of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit, Jamal Din, 16, son of Abdul Rashid, Ashiq Ali, 19, son of Lal Din, Bashir Diri, 17 son of Lassu and Nisharat, 12 son of Gulala Ali, all residents of Pari Mohalla, Seeldhar, Mahore. While Fayaz Ahmed was a militant, all four others were fresh recruits. Security forces recovered one .303 rifle with one magazine, 110 rounds and one 12 bore single barrel gun from the militants and recruits. Militants and recruits have been sent for questioning. Sources said Fayaz Ahmed was operating as ‘recruitment chief’ of Lashkar-e-Toiba in Mahore motivating local teen-agers and youths to join militancy. He was reported to have motivated four boys to join militant ranks. Meanwhile, three militants eliminated by Army and police in an encounter at Kasblari in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district, were today identified as foreign mercenaries of LeT outfit, sources said. They were Mir Mohd alias Laden alias U2, an ‘area commander’ of LeT for Lasna Bachianwali, Irshad alias H6 and Abu Khallad alias K4. In addition to three rifles and other ammunition recovered from the slain militants during the encounter during last two days, security forces today recovered one Dicta phone cassette, three matrix sheets, three diaries, 25 AK rounds and four magazines from the scene of gunbattle. As reported, an Army jawan was also killed in th exchange of firing yesterday. Security forces recovered three kg explosives, one I Com radio set antenna, two binoculars, one UBGL, 75 AK rounds and six magazines from forest area of Lalantrang in Buzla, Poonch. |
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Man before death claimed he was Netaji GUNA, MP, Oct 29: A man believed to be nearly 125 years old claimed he was Subhash Chandra Bose shortly before he died two days ago in a village near here, prompting police to launch a preliminary probe. Baba Lalji Maharaj, who was living in Saiji village in Ashok Nagar District for the past 30 years, claimed before he died on October 27 that he was the iconic freedom fighter popularly known as Netaji, ex-sarpanch G S Raghuvanshi told reporters. "We were returning from a hospital after getting him treated when he revealed his identity and asked us to keep it a secret till his final rites were performed," Raghuvanshi said. Before coming to Saiji, the man had lived in neighbouring Chak Chiroli village for 20 years and nobody there was aware of his identity, he said. On several occasions, people had asked the man who he was, "but Baba used to say that if he revealed it, the place will be flooded with people", Raghuvanshi said. When asked about deep scars on his head and body, he would reply that he sustained the injuries when he "fell from a plane", he said. Baba, who ran an ashram, always rubbished reports about Bose’s death. Soon after information about Baba’s claim was received, police officers were sent to Saiji to verify facts, Ashok Nagar’s Superintendent of Police Anil Gupta said. If some concrete evidence is found, a further probe will be carried out, he said. Baba, who occasionally made trips to undisclosed locations, probably in Delhi, was buried according to his wishes at a spot selected by him about a week ago, Raghuvanshi said. As word about Baba’s claim spread, people thronged Saiji as local police station in-charge, Kavindra Pal Singh Chouhan, reached the ashram to collect evidence about the issue. "If the need arises, his body will be exhumed to confirm the claims," Chouhan told reporters. Meanwhile, several books related to Buddhism, old train and bus tickets, old newspaper clippings about Bose and photographs were found at Baba’s ashram, officials said. Investigating officers believe the materials found in the ashram will give valuable clues about Baba’s identity. (PTI) |
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Civilian kidnapped, beheaded in Pulwama Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 29: A 24-year-old civilian, believed to be an informant of security forces, has been found slaughtered to death in Yarwan forest in Rajpora area of Pulwama today. Informed sources said that unidentified gunmen, believed to be militants, appeared at Qasba Yar in Rajpora area of Pulwama district late last evening and they kidnapped 24-year-old Mohammad Iqbal Mir S/o Mohammad Afzal Mir. While residents and family members lodged a report with Police and launched a search to trace the youth, his decapitated body was recovered late this evening from the nearby jungle of Yarwan. His torso and head were recovered and handed over to his family for burial. Reports said that Mir was believed to be an informant of security forces. Officials declined to confirm or deny but added that a note, purportedly written on behalf of Hizbul Mujahideen and labeling the individual an informant, had been recovered from the site of killing. However, no militant organisation has immediately claimed responsibility for kidnapping and killing the youth. Earlier this week, gunmen, believed to be militants, had similarly kidnapped and killed a trade union leader, Mohammad Munnawar, in Tral area of Pulwama district on the festival day of Eid-ul-Fitr on October 25. |
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Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Oct 29: In third incident of its kind in last eight days, a soldier allegedly killed his senior and injured a colleague with his service rifle late last night. An official spokesman said that a soldier of Signal Regiment Satyam Kumar of Bihar was on guard duty when he had an argument with his guard commander Havildar Padamrajan over some security issue in an Army establishment at Rehmbal. Though after issuing directions the guard commander left the main gate for his room yet Satyam could not tolerate this for a long and after sometime he left his duty on the pretext of attending nature’s call. He straightway entered the guard room, where Havildar was sleeping alongwith several other jawans, and opened fire with his INSAS rifle killing Padamrajan on the spot and injuring Sepoy Balwan Singh. "The intensity of anger in Satyam against Havildar was so that he pumped the entire magazine in his body", the spokesman said. Other jawans sleeping in the guard room immediately caught hold of Satyam and snatched his rifle. On hearing the gunshot, senior officers rushed to the spot and took the accused into custody. The injured jawan was shifted to hospital and his condition was stated to be critical when reports last came in. Later, Lt Col Anil Kumar Singh of Signal Regiment informed Rehmbal Police about the incident and a team headed by SHO SI Rajinder Sharma swung into action. Police took the weapon into its custody and recorded statement of some colleagues of the accused. "We have registered murder case against Satyam Kumar and further investigations are on", Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Udhampur Prithvi Raj Manhas said and added that accused would be questioned after Army hands him over to the police. This is the third such case in the past eight days. Earlier, on October 21 three Army jawans were killed and two others wounded when a fresh recruit opened fire from his service rifle at Narian Army Camp on Rajouri-Nowshera Road. On October 23, an Army jawan gunned down two of his colleagues in Keval area of Budhal. Two days ago, a jawan committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle in an Army camp in Poonch. |
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BERHAMPORE, WB, Oct 29: India wants peace and development in Bangladesh and the current political crisis in the neighbouring country is "an internal matter", External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said today. "As a neighbour, we are interested in Bangladesh remaining peaceful and stable," Mukherjee told reporters at Jangipur in Murshidabad district after inaugurating an army health camp. Speaking on the situation in Bangladesh, he said though it was an internal matter of that nation, India would like to see peace and development in the neighbouring country. His comments came a day after Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon discussed developments in Bangladesh with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee in Kolkata on his way back from Bhutan. Widespread violence by supporters of political parties in Bangladesh in the last two days has left at least 11 people dead and more than 100 injured. Mukherjee also said India wanted to maintain good relation with all its neighbours. "A great deal of effort has been made to establish good relations with Pakistan and Bangladesh, though there have been disruptions at times," he said. (PTI) |
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HC to decide Santosh’s fate today NEW DELHI, Oct 29: Twelve days after convicting Santosh Kumar Singh for raping and murdering Priyadarshini Mattoo on January 23, 1996, the Delhi High Court will tomorrow hear arguments on the quantum of his sentence. Holding Singh guilty for the offence on October 17, a division bench of Justices R S Sodhi and P K Bhasin fixed October 30 for hearing arguments from both sides on the quantum of sentence. Following a submission made by the CBI for stringent punishment for Singh, the bench hinted that it would award Singh either capital punishment or life imprisonment for commiting the grisly murder nearly 11 years ago. Setting aside a lower court’s order acquitting Singh, the bench said, "the trial court, however, quite amazingly after holding almost all crucial circumstances in favour of the prosecution, has ordered unmerited acquittal of the respondent (Singh) by taking a perverse approach in the matter. "Despite being convinced that there was no doubt in the prosecution case (at least for murder), the trial court has mauled justice, its decision has shocked the judicial conscience of this court," the bench observed. Rejecting the submission made by Singh’s counsel that the blood sample of the accused, taken for a DNA test, was tampered with by the CBI, the bench said, "we find no evidence to show that there was any tampering with the blood sample sent to the laboratory for the test. There is nothing on record to show that the seals on the sample were ever tampered with." "The circumstantial evidence in the case is absolutely inconsistent and incompatible with the innocence of the respondent (Singh)," the bench remarked. "From an overall analysis of the circumstances that had been discussed, we are of the view that those circumstances form a chain so complete which leads us to the only conclusion that it is Santosh Kumar Singh who had committed rape of Mattoo and then murdered her," the bench said. (PTI) Santosh given death sentence for Priyadarshani Mattoo murder New Delhi, A fortnight after he was convicted for the rape and murder of law student Priyadarshani Mattoo, Delhi High Court today sentenced Santosh Kumar Singh to death saying he deserved nothing other than capital punishment. Pronouncing the judgement in a jam-packed court room, Justice R S Sodhi and P K Bhasin ordered that "he (Singh) shall be hanged till death". Dressed in grey trousers and white shirt, Singh, a practising lawyer who is married and has a child, was crest-fallen when the court handed down the verdict. Singh was acquitted by the Sessions Court in 1999, a judgement that was described as "perverse" by the High Court. The Sessions Judge G P thareja had held that though he knew that Singh had committed the murder, he was acquitting him because of lack of evidence. The order by the High Court Division Bench today came after three-hour long arguements by the Defence and prosecution over the quantum of sentence. "We are of the opinion that a case of this kind in which the crime is committed in a pre-meditated approach and grotesque manner, the convict deserves nothing other than death penalty," Bench observed. The Delhi High Court had convicted him on October 17. Matto was raped and killed by Singh, senior to her in the law faculty of Delhi University, at her Vasant Kunj flat in Southwest Delhi on January 23, 1996. Singh had been stalking her her for nearly two years follwing which Mattoo had lodged complaint at two different police stations. (PTI ) Anti-terror operation in Pak leaves 80-odd militants dead Islamabad, Eighty-odd suspected militants were killed when Pakistani security forces carried out an anti-terror operation in the country_s tribal region of Bajaur, bordering Afghanistan_s Kunar province, today. The Pakistan army's Cobra gunship helicopters, in the pre-dawn operation, hunted down some 80-90 suspected militants, who were hiding in a religious seminary. Chief military spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan confirmed the operation while talking to mediapersons, but did not give the exact number of casualties. He said the operation was conducted on intelligence reports about the presence of militants in the seminary. However, Pakistan_s private Geo TV quoted officials as saying that most of the 80 suspected militants were killed in the operation. Some other private channels, including Aaj TV, however, put the death toll in the operation at 50. The reports about the operation followed resignations by two ministers in the Northwestern Frontier Province (NWFP), which is currently ruled by the six-party Islamic opposition alliance, Muttahida Majlis-e-Ammal (MMA). Senior minister Maulana Siraj-ul-Haq and his colleague Haroonur Rasheed announced in Bajaur, hours after the air strikes, that they are resigning in protest against the military operation. However, no further details were available, but observers believe that the resignations by two important cabinet ministers may create serious political ripples for the alliance, which is already making efforts to form a grand opposition grouping against the ruling Pakistan Muslim League government with the help and support of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD). The site of the operation is said to be Mamoon area near Dama Dola village, where at least 20 suspected militants were killed in similar air strikes in January this year. Today_s operation came amid reports of a peace deal that the government officials were scheduled to sign with the local tribesmen on the pattern of the one inked by local authorities with the pro-Taliban elements in the country_s restive North Waziristan region in September this year. Bajaur is one of the seven semi-autonomous tribal regions of Pakistan, each called an agency. (UNI ) |
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Salahuddin's ex-bodyguard shot dead Jammu : A former bodyguard of Hizb-ul- Mujahideen supremo and United Jehad Council chairman Syed Salahuddin was today shot dead after a gunbattle with security forces in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir. Noor Mohmmad alias Javed Burky, considered a trusted lieutenant of Salahuddin and the senior-most 'divisional commander' of the militant outfit, was killed after he went to his in-laws' house in Panchraba in Thatri belt of the district, officials said. They said troops of 4th Rashtriya Rifles and police cordoned the area on getting information that Burky was coming to the house to celebrate his son's birthday. The security forces ambushed the house around 4:30 pm that was followed by an encounter in which Burky was shot dead, they said. A pistol, a wireless set and some ammunition were found on the body of the slain militant. He was at the Hizb headquarters in Pakistan and PoK for seven years and closely worked with Salahuddin and planned terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir from there, the officials said. He later crossed over from PoK and undertook terrorist strikes against security forces and others in Jammu and Kashmir, where he was the senior-most commander of the outfit since 2002, they said. Doda Senior Superintendent of Police Manohar Singh describe4d the killing of Burky as a "major achievement of the police and army in the district". (PTI ) |
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