Al-Qaeda denies involvement
Mystery over Bhutto’s killing deepens

ISLAMABAD, Dec 29: Who killed Benazir Bhutto and how remained a subject of deepening mystery today with Al Qaeda strongly rebutting the Pakistan government’s claim that it was responsible and her supporters alleging a "cover-up" by authorities.

Conspiracy theories abounded even as Al Qaeda leader Baitullah Mehsud, accused by the interior ministry of assassinating the former Prime Minister, denied through a spokesman his involvement emphasising that it is against tradition to attack a woman.

"He had no involvement in this attack," spokesman Maulana Omar said in a telephone call. "This is a conspiracy of the government, army and intelligence agencies."

Adding another twist to the controversy, Bhutto’s spokesperson Sherry Rehman described as "absolute nonsense" the government’s version that she had not been hit by any bullets and had died as a result of fracturing of her skull by a metal lever of the sunroof of her vehicle following the suicide attack.

"There was a bullet wound in the back of her head and it (the bullet) was (powerful) enough to come out from the other side", according to Rehman who was part of a group of women that bathed Bhutto’s body before her burial.

The government’s version of Bhutto’s death was a "concoction" and a "cover-up", she said adding that the hospital, where she had died, had not given a proper report and had been forced to change its version thrice.

However, the Interior Ministry stood by its version tonight claiming that it had evidence to prove Mehsud’s involvement.

Responding to questions raised about no post- mortem having been conducted on Bhutto’s body, the ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema indicated that government was not opposed to exhuming her body.

The media was full of speculation about the perpetrators of the assassination and said several questions will be asked of the government about the security provided to Bhutto.

A retired brigadier Shaukat Qadir propounded the theory that it was possible that a certain segment of the crowd was placed at the exit at Rawalpindi public meeting with instructions to chant slogans to a crescendo at a time when the assassin(s) was in position.

It was expected that Bhutto will inevitably respond by exposing herself through the sunroof of her car, thus offering the assassin(s) an opportunity to target her, he wrote in a newspaper column titled "planning an assassination".

Meanwhile, life began limping to normalcy in most parts of the country barring the volatile southern Sindh province where sporadic clashes continued in the aftermath of Bhutto’s killing.

The government said 38 persons had been killed and 58 others were injured in the violence since Bhutto was assassinated while coming out a public meeting at the Liaqat Ali Khan bagh on Thursday.

Benazir Bhutto has left a will giving instructions about the future of her Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) which will be made public tomorrow, her husband Asif Zardari said today.

"She has left a message for the party and she has left a will and we will make it public tomorrow," Zardari told BBC Radio.

"We have called for a meeting and her will will be read out there and the instructions she has left will be read out there," he said.

Zardari said his son Bilawal would read out the message from the PPP chief and two time Prime Minister, who was assassinated on Thursday in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

According to Zardari, his wife had made detailed plans for her burial, including changing the location of the plot from his family’s ancestral tomb to her family’s mausoleum following another recent suicide bomb attack.

Asked if he would succeed her as party leader, Zardari said: "It depends on the party and depends on the will".

In the interview, Zardari also spoke of his personal sense of loss following the death of his wife who he said meant "much more than life" to him.

"I have seen many tragedies in my life... But nothing has devastated me more than this has," Zardari said.

"We were always aware of the dangers she faced but somehow we were hoping that we would succeed and they would not - the terrorists and the people who back the terrorists," he said.

Masked gunmen killed a supporter of Benazir Bhutto early today, while security forces shot dead two other party activists as a mob tried to force its way into an oilfield in Karachi, police said.

A 27-year-old man wearing a tunic made from a Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) flag had just shouted "Bhutto is great" when he was gunned down while returning from the mausoleum where Bhutto was buried yesterday, police said.

"Two gunmen were waiting in a vehicle, their faces covered, and they opened fire," said Shaukat Ali Shah, deputy inspector general of police in the city of Hyderabad in Sindh.

Separately, up to 400 PPP activists carrying banners portraits of Bhutto and wielding bricks, tried to burst into an oilfield facility near Hyderabad before dawn, when security forces acted on orders to shoot violent protesters on sight.(Agencies)

Patient raped in PHC
Doctor arrested, terminated

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 29: In a shameful act and against the spirit of medical profession, a 11th class student was raped by a doctor in Primary Health Centre (PHC) Chowgal under the jurisdiction of Handwara Police Station.

Within hours of the incident, the accused doctor was arrested by the police and put behind the bars. He alongwith sweeper of the Primary Health Centre, who allegedly aided the doctor in committing the crime, were terminated from the services by Director Health Services Kashmir.

An official spokesman said that on December 27, 2007 a girl student of 11th class was on her way from Bumai Sopore to her maternal aunt’s residence at Machopora, Handwara in a private bus when she felt acute renal pain forcing the passengers to stop the vehicle and get her admitted in the Primary Health Centre Chowgal for treatment.

In the Health Centre, she was provided immediate first aid and dextrose (a form of gulcose) by Assistant Surgeon Dr Ajaz Rasool Bhat. Later, the girl was admitted in the general ward of the PHC and other medicines were administered through dextrose drip till late night.

The next morning the girl found herself shifted in the duty doctor’s bed room and Dr Ajaz Rasool Bhat compelled the girl to leave the hospital immediately so that other employees will not come to know that she was shifted in his room in the mid-night.

The girl patient also found herself in acute vaginal pain and bleeding. Though the girl tried to apprise the PHC staff about the incident yet she was made to leave the hospital by the doctor at around 9 am on December 28, 2007.

Due to bleeding and continuous renal pain on way from Chowgal to Handwara the girl reached District Hospital Handwara where she narrated the entire episode to the police and hospital staff.

Accordingly, a case was registered in Handwara Police Station and during investigation it came to fore that girl patient was admitted by Dr Ajaz Rasool Bhat in PHC Chowgal and no entry was made in the records with malafide intentions.

The investigation also revealed that the girl patient was shifted to doctor’s duty room when she fell semi-conscious due to administered medicines and in his room Dr Ajaz Rasool Bhat raped her. The girl was medically examined and her gynecological check-up confirmed the facts and duration of rape.

Even the sweeper of the PHC Chowgal Mohd Maqbool Sheikh of Kandi and ambulance driver Farooq Ahmad of Gaggle Kupwara confirmed the presence of the girl patient in the PHC and involvement of Dr Ajaz Rasool Bhat in the heinous crime. However, at later stage it was established that sweeper also aided the doctor in committing the crime.

Soon after the investigation, the accused doctor was arrested by Handwara Police and concerned Block Medical Officer (BMO) was informed about Dr Ajaz Rasool’s arrest.

Today, the girl was produced before the court of CJM Handwara for recording her statement to ascertain the facts and circumstances.

The timely action by Handwara Police in arresting the accused doctor has not only been appreciated by the public but also prevented possible law and order problem in the area.

Jaish commdr killed in Pulwama

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 29: Police and security forces today claimed to have killed a senior commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit in a fierce gunbattle at Drubgam village in Rajpora area of Pulwama district, in south Kashmir.

Informed sources told EXCELSIOR that on the basis of a specific information, troops of Rashtriya Rifles 44 Bn and 162 Infantry battalion of JAKLI (Territorial Army), alongwith SOG Pulwama and CRPF 183 Bn, swooped on the house of one Mohammad Abdullah Ganai S/o Ismail at Drubgam in Rajpora area of Pulwama district. According to the tip off, two local militants of Jaish-e-Mohammad were hiding at Ganai's house.

Sources said that during the operation, an encounter took place on the spot in which the target house was destroyed. Even as two militants were believed to have died, SSP Pulwama Nitish Kumar, maintained that dead body of only one militant had been recovered till late tonight. He said that troops were still on the operation but firing had subsided in the afternoon. According to him, dead body of one more militant was likely to emerge from the debris. He did not rule out the militant having escaped during the gunbattle.

Official sources said that the militant killed had been identified as Abdul Gani Dar alias Jhangvi S/o Habibullah Dar R/o Farsipora, Pulwama. According to these sources, he had been operating as a "battalion commander" incharge of Pakharpora-Kellar belt between Budgam and Pulwama districts. Sources said that Jhangvi had played a key role in recruitment of fresh cadres for Jaish-e-Mohammad in the last two years in addition to having planned and executed some attacks on security forces and soft targets.

No discrimination on political, regional basis: Azad

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Dec 29: Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that his Government would do justice with people and regions which have been handed down injustice in the past, adding he did not believe in differentiating between people on the basis of political leanings, region or religion.

Addressing functions organized to distribute ownership rights on Government land among farmers under the Roshni Act at Banihal and Chenani, he said that in the past development matters were also politicized which left backward areas continuously lagging in progress. He said that politics was played even in according backward status to different areas and votes would determine distribution of fruits of development among people.

"Not any more", he said, adding that he had based his Government on the principle of justice to all and injustice with none. He said that he firmly believed the Chief Minister and State Government belonged to all people irrespective of their political leanings and religious or regional background. He said that he was of the view that rulers should not use power vested in them according to their likes and preferences but on the basis of justice. Accordingly, he said, his Government was actively engaged in providing equal opportunities of development to all regions and areas.

Mr Azad regretted that despite six decades of independence, several areas like Banihal still remained backward. He said this was due to the fact that every political party played with sentiments of the people to gain power and once that objective was achieved, it left them in lurch. He said his Government had resolved to remove poverty and backwardness from the State and usher in an era of development.

He said the State Government in tandem with the Centre had formulated a plan for the all round development of the State under which development activities would be speeded up. He said basic amenities like hospitals, schools, drinking water and roads would be made available to every village during the next four years and sought people’s cooperation in making development agenda of the Government a success. He said the 21st century is the century for development of poverty stricken and economically backward people.

Referring to Roshni Act under which about 21 lakh kanals of State land was being transferred to people free of cost, the Chief Minister described it as a revolutionary step and said it would benefit farmers in a big way. He said he was personally attending functions organized to distribute ownership rights of Government land among farmers to ensure that the process was completed in time. He said his presence at the site puts pressure on administration and concerned Revenue officials to complete formalities at the earliest, adding that since lakhs of kanals of land had to be transferred and as many applications received the job if left to be completed in normal process would take several years. He said the land was being transferred without farmers having to pay for it.

At today’s functions, the Chief Minister handed over ownership rights of land to about two dozen farmers of Banihal and Chenani tehsils. The measure would benefit 1500 and 3500 families in the two areas, respectively. He advised the farmers to report to him in case any official asked for bribe to give them the ownership papers. He said the ownership rights on the land would enable them to obtain loan from banks and State Subject Certificate. Besides, he said, the farmers could now get full compensation of the land in case the Government acquired it for public purpose. Earlier, no compensation could be paid as the farmers did not own the land. The Damocles’ sword of Government taking away the land from them was always hanging on their heads. He said since the farmers were now lawful owners of the land they would toil more to get greater produce from it.

Responding to local demands, the Chief Minister announced sub-district status to the local hospital at Banihal besides a degree college and a Gujjar Hostel. He also announced a degree college for Chenani and free ration for three months for drought affected people of Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Udhampur and Kathua districts.

Illegal withdrawal of Rs 16 lakh
Two Revenue officials among 8 chargesheeted

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 29: Two officials of Revenue Department were among eight persons booked by Crime Branch for illegal withdrawal of compensation to the tune of Rs 16 lakh.

An official spokesman said that Crime Branch, Srinagar received a communication from the Principal Secretary to Government, Revenue Department alleging therein that 11 kanals and 19 marlas of State land had come under the railway track alignment in village Kakpora and the then Tehsildar Settlement Pulwama Nazir Ahmad Qadri attested mutation by virtue of which the land was fraudulently shown to have been under the ownership of some inhabitants of village Kakpora, who managed to get compensation to the tune of Rs 16 lakh.

On the receipt of information, Crime Branch registered a case for in-depth investigation. During the course of investigation, record pertaining to the case was seized and persons well versed with facts examined.

It came to light that accused Tehsildar Nazir Ahmad Qadri entered suo-motto report in Revenue record reflecting that some people have ownership rights over the land. The Tehsildar in connivance with Girdawar Mohd Altaf Mistri, son of Ghulam Qadir Mistri of Sampora Pulwama and Patwari Shuja Ahmad Andrabi, son of Mohd Shafi Andrabi of Ratnipora Pulwama hatched a criminal conspiracy and attested the mutation in revenue record.

By virtue of mutation, land measuring 11 kanals and 19 marlas was fraudulently shown to have been under the ownership of the accused beneficiaries identified as Mushtaq Ahmed Dar, son of Ghulam Mohd Dar, Ghulam Qadir Dar, son of Khalil Dar, Nazir Ahmad Dar, son of Jabar Dar, Ghulam Mohd Bhat, son of Abdul Samad Bhat and Gh Mohd Bhat, son of Abdul Aziz Bhat, all the residents of Kakpora, Pulwama in violation of rules and norms governing the subject.

Due to this fraud, the Revenue Department officials facilitated the accused beneficiaries to obtain Rs 16,49,100 as undue compensation thereby causing huge loss to the State exchequer.

As per the investigation and available evidence prima facie offences under different sections of Prevention of Corruption Act and RPC were established against all the eight accused and chargesheet of the case was presented before the court of law for judicial determination.

Student rescued after 25 days rape, 4 arrested

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 29: Police today rescued a teen-age girl, who was a 9th class student, from the confinement of four youths after 25 days from a hide-out at Ban Talab on old Jammu-Akhnoor road and arrested all four accused.

Police which had been looking for the girl since December 10 after her parents lodged a report (though she was missing since December 4) from her house at Jawahar Nagar, New Plots, raided a house at Ban Talab on a tip off that 14 year old Himani alias Ashu had been kept in confinement there by the accused.

Police parties led by SDPO Bakshi Nagar M L Kaith under the supervision of DIG Jammu Lalat Indu Mohanty and SSP Jammu Parminder Singh raided the house, captured all four accused and rescued the girl.

The girl was taken to hospital for medical examination where the doctors were reported to have confirmed rape on her. She has been restored to her parents after 25 days.

Accused have been identified as Pawan Kumar alias Bablu son of Om Prakash R/o Jawahar Nagar, Deepak Sharma alias Bishu son of Om Prakash R/o Roren Di Chapri, New Plot, Ajay Kumar son of Surinder Khajuria R/o Shakti Nagar and Bunty son of Sant Singh R/o Roren Di Chapri.

Barring Bunty, all other accused have been charged with kidnapping and rape of the girl under Sections 366, 376 and 343 RPC. Bunty has been charged with Section 120 B only for being involved in the conspiracy.

A case against the accused has been registered at Bakshi Nagar Police Station.

Sources said, in her preliminary statement to police, the girl has disclosed that Deepak Sharma was the first to kidnap her. During 25 days, she was kept in a factory at Gangyal, house of Ajay Kumar, a television showroom and a house in Ban Talab where she was regularly raped by the accused.

7.4 million pilgrims visit shrine
All time high yatra to Mata Vaishno Devi

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Dec 29: An all time high pilgrimage has been recorded to holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji, located between Trikuta hills, this year. Seven million target of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) is all set to exceed by over 4 lakh.

Had there not been a slight downfall in yatra between March and May this year as compared to last year, the yatra would have touched 7.5 million mark, official sources said.

Last year, yatra to Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan, located at a height of 5200 feet from sea level, had missed seven million mark by just 50,000.

With just two days left in the year 2007, the yatra has touched 73.60 lakh mark by tonight. With a heavy rush of pilgrims expected on the New Year eve to the shrine, the Shrine Board officials anticipated this year’s yatra to close around 74.20 lakh, just 80,000 short by 7.5 million mark.

Pilgrimage to the widely revered shrine was just 13.95 lakh in 1986 when the SMVDSB had taken its control. Within two decades, it has gone up by more than 500 per cent.

Presently, 28,000-30,000 pilgrims were reaching Katra, base camp of the shrine, to have darshan of natural pindies of Goddess Vaishno Devi. During last two days of the year, an approximate 70,000 pilgrims were expected to visit the shrine.

As compared to last year, the pilgrimage this year has gone up by nearly 4.70 lakh. Last year, 69.50 lakh yatris had paid obeisance to Goddess Vaishno Devi while this year the figure would be 74.20 lakh, sources said.

Figures, released by the Shrine Board, revealed that yatra to Vaishno Devi shrine saw a massive increase between August to December this year as compared to corresponding period last year.

In August 2006, 6.24 lakh pilgrims had visited the shrine last year while the number this year went upto 6.98 lakh, an increase of 74,000. In September this year, 7.47 lakh pilgrims had darshan of the cave shrine as compared to 6.12 lakh last year, again a massive increase of 1.35 lakh. October also saw a jump of 1.19 lakh pilgrims this year. While 7.52 lakh pilgrims performed yatra in October this year, the number was 6.33 lakh last year.

An increase of 1.09 lakh was recorded in the month of November. As compared to 4.56 lakh yatris visiting the Bhawan in November last year, the figure this year stood at 5.65 lakh. This will be for the first time when yatra in December will be touching 5 lakh mark as compared to 4.15 lakh last year.

But for the decline in yatra between February to July this year in comparison to 2006, the yatra would have easily crossed 7.5 million mark. In February this year, 2.46 lakh pilgrims visited the shrine while the number previous year was 2.49 lakh. In March, the yatra stood at 4.82 lakh as compared to 5.46 lakh previous year. in April too the yatra was down at 5.68 lakh from last year’s 6.33 lakh. In May, however, the yatra was up by just 26,000 (7.51 lakh last year and 7.77 lakh this year). In June last year, 9.37 lakh pilgrims had visited the shrine while the number this year was less by 2,000.

In January this year, 2.84 lakh yatris paid their obeisance at the shrine while the number in corresponding month last year was 2.59 lakh.

Meanwhile, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, a senior IAS officer, is taking over as Additional CEO Shrine Board on January 1 from Puneet Kumar, whose deputation of two and a half years with the Board ends on December 31.

Prof Riyaz Punjabi is KU VC

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 29: Prof Riyaz Punjabi, Professor, Centre for the Study of Social Systems, Faculty of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi has been appointed as Vice Chancellor of the University of Kashmir.

In an order issued by Governor Lt. General (retd) S K Sinha, in his capacity as Chancellor of the University of Kashmir, in exercise of powers vested in him under Section 12 of the Kashmir and Jammu Universities Act, 1969, Prof Punjabi has been appointed as Vice Chancellor for a period of three years with effect from the date he takes over charge.

The terms and conditions will be notified separately, an official release said.

A doctorate in law, Dr Punjabi has served as Professor and chairman, Department of Distance Education, Dean Faculty of Non-Formal Education in the University of Kashmir. He has been a visiting Professor in Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi and a visting fellow on human rights at the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies Shimla and a visiting fellow at the Centre for South Asian Studies, Switzerland.

Author of Several books and edited volumes, he has contributed more than 100 research papers in journals on Law, peace and international relations. He has participated and contributed papers in more than 50 international conferences on diverse themses and subjects.

Dr. Punjabi graduated from S P College in Srinagar and obtained the degrees of Masters in Law and Doctorate in Law from Aligarh Muslim University.

Dhumal to take oath today

SHIMLA, Dec 29: Prem Kumar Dhumal will be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh for the second time tomorrow, a day after the BJP stormed back to power trouncing Congress.

Governor V S Kokje invited Dhumal(63) to form the Government after the English Professor-turned politician met him to stake his claim shortly after he was unanimously elected as the leader of the BJP legislative party. Dhumal alone will assume office tomorrow.

Dhumal, a three-time MLA who headed the BJP Government for the first time from 1998-2003, will be sworn in at the historic Ridge Maidan. He is the first Chief Minister to be administered the oath of office at a public ceremony.

Dhumal, who will be the 16th Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh since it was carved out in 1971, is likely to form his Cabinet later after consultations with party leadership.

Asked about the composition of the Ministry, Dhumal said "You (media) will be informed".

Dhumal accompanied by senior party leader Shanta Kumar, party in-charge of HP affairs Satyapal Jain and state party president and MLA Jairam Thakur handed over to the Governor a copy of the signed letter of all the 41 MLAs appointing him as their leader. At the Legislature Party meeting, Thakur proposed Dhumal’s name which was seconded by party leader in the outgoing Assembly I D Dhiman.

The Governor accordingly invited Dhumal to form the Government in the State, Jain told reporters at Raj Bhawan.

BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani, senior leaders Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj and Chief Ministers of Uttaranchal, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Punjab—B C Khanduri, Vasundhara Raje, Raman Singh and Prakash Singh Badal— are expected to attend the oath ceremony. (PTI)

Civilian killed in Surankote

Excelsior Correspondent

POONCH, Dec 29: Militants gunned down a civilian near his house at Mastan Dara in Surankote tehsil of this district late last night.

Police said two militants entered into the house of Mohd Shabir son of Mohd Din from Mastan Dara in Surankote and kidnapped him. They took the civilian to an isolated field where he was grilled, tortured and then shot dead. The militants escaped after the killing.

Body of the victim was recovered this morning. Additional SP Poonch Tahir Sajjad Bhat and SHO Surankote Aslam Choudhary rushed to the spot and sent the body for post-mortem. A search operation has been launched for the militants but no arrest has been made so far.

Husband held as wife succumbs

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 29: Police today arrested husband of a woman after she succumbed to her burn injuries, sustained by her in her in-laws house at Resham Ghar four days back, on the charges of her paternal family that she had been burnt.

Suman Bala alias Pinky, a resident of Rehari Colony, who had been married to Pawan Kumar Sabherwal in Resham Ghar, had sustained 80 per cent burn injuries due to a fire from LPG cylinder. Police said in her initial statement to them in Medical College, the woman had said that she caught fire due to leakage of LPG from the cylinder.

Later, she was shifted to CMC Ludhiana where she succumbed to her injuries yesterday morning.

Police said her body was brought here by a team of Bakshi Nagar police. Today, the girl’s family members alleged that she had been burnt by her in-laws as she was being allegedly harassed for past some time.

Police have arrested the woman’s husband, Pawan Kumar Sabherwal and started inquest proceedings under Section 174 RPC. The woman was cremated in the afternoon.

Coldest night of ‘Chillai Kalan’

SRINAGAR, Dec 29: People in the Kashmir valley experienced coldest night of the winter so far when the minimum temperature dipped to minus 5.6 degree celsius.

However, people in Leh, Kargil and Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, continued to shiver after the temperature dipped to minus 17 degree to minus 20 degree celsius.

It was the coldest night so far during the " Chillai Kalan" 40-day-long coldest period of the winter, which started from December 21.

The temperature dipped to minus 5.6 degree, resulting in the freezing of the banks of Dal Lake. However, the frozen parts started melting as the day progressed.

Earlier, on December 18 the Valley witnessed the coldest night with mercury dipping to minus 5.4 degree celsius.

If the sky remain cloudy during the night, the minimum temperature will rise while the day temperature will fall, weather official said.

Water in the Dal was totally frozen when the lowest temperature of minus 12.8 degree celsius was recorded on December 13, 1964.

The lake was again frozen in 1986 when people walked and children played cricket and ice hockey over the frozen surface.

The Spokesman said the Western Disturbances (WD) from Iran and Iraq entering the region through Afghanistan and Pakistan are very weak.

He said the frequency of WD increases during winter till March next year when it will again start decreasing.

Drass, continued to shiver after the temperature dipped to minus 20 degree celsius at some places.

At Leh and Kargil, the minimum fell to minus 17 degree celsius.

People at several places in the Kashmir valley took to streets in protest against unscheduled power cuts.

Power generation in the local hydel projects has dropped after considerable fall in the water level in rivers because of almost dry weather for the past three months.

The State Government is importing power from different states, including Jaharkhand to meet the local requirement.

The people at several places complained water shortage.

The prices of woolen and other warm cloths has also increased while coal which was Rs 180 per bag last week is being sold at Rs 250 to Rs 300 per bag.

Similarly, fire-wood which was being sold Rs 120 to Rs 150 per quintal in November is being sold Rs 300 per quintal. (UNI)