Protest in Tral over killing of civilian
2 militants killed, 4 held in north Kashmir

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Apr 2: Police and security forces have killed two militants in Bandipore and apprehended four more militants in Handwara area of north Kashmir since last evening.

Informed sources told EXCELSIOR that Bandipore Police and troops of Rashtriya Rifles 14 Bn launched a cordon-and-search operation over a specific information at Arin Dardpora in Bandipore early in the morning today. During the operation, presence of two heavily armed militants was ascertained at the residence of one Nazir Ahmad Khan S/o Abdul Hameed Khan in Khan Mohalla locality. As the troops swooped on Khan's house, both the holed up militants opened heavy gunfire and made unsuccessful attempts to escape. In retaliation from Army and Police, both the militants got killed. They were identified as Abu Hussain alias Saifullah and Abu Omar, both Pakistani nationals. Officials said that they were both cadres of Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit.

Khan's house was destroyed in the gunbattle and later dead bodies and AK-47 rifles of both the militants were recovered from the debris.

Sources said that late last evening some unidentified gunmen, believed to be militants barged into the house of one Mohammad Amin Mughal S/o Feroz-ud-Din Mughal at Kaewarsevar, Kuligam, in Kupwara district and shot him dead on spot. Officials said that Mughal was a former militant who had given up violence and was now functioning as the village headman.

Sources said that late last night troops of Rashtriya Rifles 42 Bn in ambush noticed suspicious human movement at Machhama locality in Tral area. Even as troops challenged a man to halt, he ran away. Thereupon, troops opened fire and hit the unidentified person. He died on spot. Later in the morning today, he was identified as 32-year-old Gamia Gujjar son-in-law of Abdullah Gujjar, who originally hailed from Kalakot Rajouri but had been living at the house of his wife at the nearby Branpathri hamlet after his marriage in 2005. Gamia's wife, Roshan Jan, who has earlier lost her eyesight, told Police that her husband had run into a deep depression since last month and he had aimlessly ventured out late in the night more than once in last week.

Defence sources described Gamia as an innocent civilian and said that he was mistaken as a militant in darkness and fired upon by troops who had laid an ambush for militants.

Reports from south Kashmir said that hundreds of people, mostly from Gujjar and Bakerwal communities, gathered at Branpathri on occasion of Gamia's funeral and staged a demonstration in protest. They alleged that Gamia had been killed in cold blood and insisted that troops were equipped enough to ascertain whether he was an armed militant or a civilian. They complained that Gamia was the sole bread earner of his family who had been survived by his elderly mother, blind wife and a 2-year-old son. They demanded registration of a murder case against Army and compensation to the bereaved family.

Reports from south Kashmir added that a Government vehicle, taken to his home by Personal Assistant of DC Anantnag, Abdur Rasheed Lone S/o Ghulam Hassan Lone R/o Nusu Badragund, Qazigund, was destroyed last evening in a mysterious blast outside the official's home. Even as residents suspected it to be a militant attack, Police sources said that it had been damaged due to a blast of LPG cylinder.

Meanwhile, IGP Kashmir Zone, S M Sahai, told mediapersons at a press briefing in Handwara that Police had apprehended four top wanted militants of Hizbul Mujahideen. IGP, who was flanked by DIG north Kashmir Dr B Srinivas and SP Handwara, Dr Haseeb Mughal, said that Hizb "District Commander" Mushtaq Ahmed Malla alias Furqan S/o Ghulam Ahmed Malla R/o Shatgund Handwara was arrested by Police over a specific information. Allegedly involved in scores of subversive acts, Malla had been operating as a militant since 1990.

IGP said that Malla's sustained interrogation led to the subsequent arrest of his successor "District Commander" Mudassar Shabir Ganai alias Ali alias Illyas S/o Shabir Ahmed Ganai R/o Panditpora, his close associate and Hizb "Financial Chief-cum-Launching Commander" Nisar Abdullah Malik S/o Mohammad Abdullah Malik R/o Galoora and "Area Commander" Pervez Ahmed Wani alias Mubashir alias Saifullah R/o Galoora. He claimed that Hizbul Mujahideen had suffered a major setback with the arrest of the four commanders and Police were now looking for the top wanted "Divisional Commander" Sonaullah Sheikh R/o Wudar, Rajwar. He said that a large number of arms and ammunition including two AK rifles, one pistol, three hand grenades, three mobile phone sets with SIM cards and two fake voter identity cards were recovered from possession of the detained militants.

Capt Megha's death mystery worked out, husband arrested

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 2: After nine months long hectic investigation, police today worked out the mystery behind the much-hyped death of 26-year old woman Army officer, Capt Megha Razdan and arrested her husband Capt Chaitanya Bhatwadekar on the charges of abetting her suicide.

The possibility of police converting abetment to suicide into the murder case cannot be ruled out as several questions vis-a-vis presence of Capt Chaitanya at his residence when the suicide was committed still remained unanswered and will be on focus during the detailed investigation into the case.

The young woman Army officer was found hanging on a ceiling fan with the bed-sheet at her official residence at Kunjwani, in the outskirts of the city on July 1, 2007 under mysterious circumstances and initially it was being presumed that she committed suicide following harassment at the hands of senior Army officers.

Giving details of the investigation to the media-persons here this afternoon, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Jammu, Parminder Singh said that police got a lead into the case when it came to fore during the spot verification that the height of Capt Megha was not enough to hang herself on the ceiling fan.

Since Capt Chaitanya was also posted in Jammu and residing with Capt Megha at their official residence, the police started former’s frequent questioning to establish the presumptions that the woman officer committed suicide due to senior officers’ harassment.

Though the needle of suspicion was always revolving around Capt Chaitanya yet the case took new turn when he dramatized assault and attempt to chop off his tongue by some unidentified persons near the Army area, the SSP said.

As a part of investigation, Capt Chaitanya was put to certain tests like brain mapping and narco-analysis during which he made important disclosures vis-a-vis his estranged relations with Capt Megha. The details of Capt Chaitanya’s cellular phone also revealed that hundreds of SMS and calls were being made every day on a cellular number of Pune for the past five to six months.

During further investigation, it came to fore that Capt Chaitanya was having extra-marital affairs with a girl of Pune for the past several years and even after his marriage with Capt Megha Razdan he continued the same.

"This was even admitted by Capt Chaitanya during the brain mapping and narco-analysis tests", the SSP said, adding "the accused Army officer used to make phone calls to his girl-friend even in the presence of Capt Megha despite the repeated objections to the same by the latter".

Distressed over cruelty at the hands of her husband and his continuous extra marital affairs, Capt Megha Razdan made up her mind to commit suicide and on that fate-ful day she conveyed her decision to Capt Chaitanya.

However, instead of preventing Capt Megha from taking such an extreme step, Capt Chaitanya helped her in tying the knot of bed sheet with the ceiling fan. Later, as per the statement given to the police, the accused officer left the residence on the pretext of making some purchases.

"It was for the first time that Capt Chaitanya himself went to make purchases and even invited his servant to prevent himself from getting associated with the extreme step initiated by his wife", the SSP said, adding "the accused officer has confessed his crime during the questioning after his arrest late last night".

To a series of question about registration of abetment to suicide instead of murder case despite the fact that Capt Chaitanya helped Capt Megha in tying the knot of bedsheet with the ceiling fan, the SSP said "we have yet to go in for the detailed investigation and the possibility of converting abetment to suicide case into murder on the basis of further investigation cannot be ruled out".

"The involvement of Pune-based girl has not been established but we are going to call her here for questioning", the SSP said.

Superintendent of Police (SP) City South, Zahid Manhas and Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) South Sukhdev closely supervised the investigation into the case.

Later, Capt Chaitanya was produced in the court of Duty Magistrate and remanded to six days police custody.

Pugwash meet will help in peace: Soz

Excelsior Correspondent

Baramulla, Apr 2: Expressing satisfaction over the Pugwash conference held in Pakistan, Union Minister for Water Resources and PCC President, Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz today termed it as good omen for restoring peace as mainstream parties of the State have been for the first time recognized. He said Kashmir imbroglio has been discussed with open mind in the conference.

Prof. Soz was addressing a public meeting organized by Congress Party at Baramulla, where he was given rousing reception after taking over as President of the PCC (I).

He said all the issues could be resolved through democratic process which can be achieved by marching forward within the Constitutional limits. He said some important matters with regard to Confidence Building Measures (CBM) are in the pipe line aiming to boost trade and commerce across the border. He said that Congress led UPA Government in the Centre has done much for restoring lasting peace adding that dialogue process without Congress and Central Government cannot be carried forward.

Prof. Soz said that UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh have time and again reiterated that their doors are always open for dialogue to restore peace in the State. He said, "he was always ready to assist any party and work as facilitator for carrying forward the dialogue process for resolving the issues.

Prof. Soz assured that democracy will flourish shortly, dialogue will continue and peace will again prevail in the State, adding that Government and his party would continue its interaction with the people as several political issues are required to be solved soon.

Regarding development scenario in the State, Prof. Soz said that J&K is touching new heights of development by virtue of gigantic infrastructure development programme launched by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad adding that socio-economic profile of the people has improved a lot. He called upon the Congress functionaries to dedicate themselves to the services of people.

Later, talking to media persons, the Union Minister said that for protection and preservation of water bodies in the State, an ambitious plan was formulated and Rs. 65 crore have been released for the purpose.

Responding to a question about excise duty, incentives for industrial units, Prof. Soz said he would take up the matter with the concerned Central Ministries.

Regarding protection of Wular lake, he said after Dal lake special attention would be paid towards restoring the originality and grandeur of this lake adding that water navigation facility would be made available shortly on 172 kilometer distance from Khanabal to Khadinyar. He maintained that forests and water resources have to be protected and preserved as these are symbiotic to each other. He appealed to the people to extend their hand in preservation of precious resources.

Later, the Union Minister announced setting up of community hall and primary health centre at Old Town, Baramulla and release of Rs. 15 lakh for Degree College, Uri.

Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Chairman, Handicrafts Development Corporation Haji Abdul Rashid, senior Congress leader, Ghulam Rasool Kar and legislators, Peerzada Mohammad Syed, Khem Lata Wakhloo and G.A. Mir also addressed the gathering.

Autonomy alone can restore peace: Farooq

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 2: Asserting that autonomy is the only viable solution to Kashmir problem, former Chief Minister and National Conference patron Dr Farooq Abdullah today said that his party was open for discussion on the issue if any solution better than autonomy is put fourth.

Addressing a public meeting at Dharhal in Rajouri district where Haji Khushi Muhammad, the brother of Haji Buland Khan joined National Conference - Dr Abdullah said that National Conference will strive for restoration of autonomy in the State. "I believe that nothing but autonomy will restore peace in the State", he added.

He said that autonomy demand is within the Constitution of India and some political parties are misguiding people of the State for their political gains. "Let there be a debate across the political spectrum, and a consensus emerge across the country", he said.

"Autonomy demand is within the Constitution of India and those misleading the masses on the demand are not well wishers of the people of Jammu and Kashmir", he added.

Dr Abdullah said National Conference was open for any discussion on its demand if any solution is better than autonomy is put forth. "We are always open for any discussion if some better road map is brought to table", he said.

Referring to autonomy resolution passed by the State Legislature during the NC regime, he said, "we believe that more than anything else, it (autonomy) will bring the people what they have lost - the Kashmiri pride. It is a question of their self-respect. Autonomy, and freedom that comes with it, would go a long-way in soothing the hurt feelings of the people, who have been exposed to a great deal of hardship during the last 50 years".

Dr Abdullah said autonomy would restore the people's confidence and would help in bring peace and normalcy back to the State. He said that if his party is voted to power, it will give regional autonomy to all the three regions of the State.

He said that the autonomy document 'to our mind' is acceptable to all as it also ensures internal autonomy for equitable development of all the three regions including neglected far-flung areas of the State.

"This is evident as the document has been passed and adopted by the State Assembly", he said adding that borrowed formulas being projected by some parties has failed to generate much interest among the general masses.

The NC leader said that National Conference wants Jammu and Kashmir to remain as a single entity and it will never allow division on the basis of ethnical or regional identity. He said "we have been always in favour of equal share for all in the matters of development for sustained economic growth of the State'.

Mehbooba for joint council on Kashmir

ISLAMABAD, Apr 2: People’s Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti has proposed the setting up of a Regional Council comprising members of Assemblies of both parts of Kashmir for settling the dispute.

Delivering a lecture organised by the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), Mufti emphasised the need for the new Pakistan Government to accord the same priority to the Kashmir issue as previous Governments.

Mufti rejected the impression that India had not reciprocated to Pakistan’s steps for resolving the Kashmir issue. She said allowing Kashmiris to travel on permits was a major concession by India.

"We want to see Kashmiris fully free to meet each other, interact with neighbouring countries, to do trade and business," Mufti, a Lok Sabha member and the daughter of former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, said.

Expressing the hope that the new Government in Islamabad would strengthen the peace process, she called for the setting up of a Regional Council comprising members of the Assemblies of the Indian and Pakistani parts of Kashmir.

She said, "the Indian Government has been waiting for the new Government in Pakistan to share ideas (for resolving the issue) with it."

Mufti, who was here to attend the Pugwash conference, opposed "another division based on religion" and said boundaries should be made irrelevant. "We want the unification of Kashmir through trade."

Mufti also called for a cut in troop levels in Jammu and Kashmir as the number of militants had declined.

"The number of militants has reduced, so the Army should be withdrawn to the level of 1989," she said while speaking on the theme "The Peace Process and the Kashmir Issue".

She welcomed Kashmir-specific confidence-building measures initiated by Pakistan and India and called for greater movement of people across the Line of Control to reduce tension.

Mufti praised President Pervez Musharraf’s four-point formula for demilitarisation and joint management of Kashmir and said he had helped to reduce the sufferings of the Kashmiris.

"But these steps should be approved by the people of Kashmir before being accepted," she said.

She refused to offer a "formula" for resolving the Kashmir issue, saying she favoured a roadmap aimed at empowering people on both sides of the LoC.

Responding to questions from the audience, Mufti said "human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir has reduced". (PTI)

Pakistani boy arrested

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 2: A Pakistani youth was today arrested by police from New Kanachak border post in Akhnoor sector. He has been identified as Hyder Munir, 19, son of Amir, a resident of Society Park, Karachi.

He was taken into custody by the cops after he had crossed the border fencing and was moving towards the civil area, police said, adding a case has been registered against him at Kanachak police station.

His sustained questioning was on. Preliminary reports revealed that one of her woman relative had also accompanied him. Police was trying to ascertain authenticity of his statement.

Education, Home, Health Deptts top in vacancies

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Apr 2: Education Department including Higher and School Education and Technical Education, said to be the most significant departments as they are directly concerned with educating nextgeneration have topped in approximate 39,000 vacancies in different departments of the State Government at present.

Out of 38,857 vacancies, the Government has referred 17,309 posts to different recruitment agencies mostly the Public Service Commission (PSC) and Subordinate Services Recruitment Board (SSRB).

According to official sources, there were as many as 14,898 vacant posts in Education and its allied Departments alone. While Education Department topped with 10,557 vacancies including 2596 gazetted, 6966 non gazetted and 995 Class-IV, Technical Education Department has 3508 vacancies including 643 gazetted posts, 2804 non-gazetted and 61 Class-IV.

Higher Education Department has 833 vacancies which include 516 gazetted posts, 75 non gazetted and 242 Class-IV.

Out of 10,557 posts lying vacant in Education Department, only 1486 posts of Lecturers have been referred to PSC while out of 3508 vacancies in Technical Education, only 539 have been referred to recruiting agencies. However, all 833 vacancies in Higher Education have been referred for selections.

Home Department has the second highest number of 6646 vacancies, all in the cadre of non-gazetted. Of them, four vacancies have been referred to SSRB while other vacancies have been referred to Police Recruitment Board.

Health and Medical Education Department, which too was a significant department as it concerned the lives of people, was No. 3 in terms of vacancies. As many as 3160 posts were vacant in Health and Medical Education which include 643 gazetted posts, 2804 non-gazetted and 61 Class-IV. Only the posts falling under direct recruitment have been referred to recruiting agencies while all other posts were vacant.

Other Departments having a large number of vacancies include Agriculture (1901)—493 gazetted, 675 non gazetted and 733 Class-IV, Revenue (1893)—1778 non gazetted and 115 Class-IV, Finance (1644), R&B (1396) including 34 gazetted, 240 non gazetted and 1122 Class-IV and Animal and Sheep Husbandry (1061)—39 gazetted, 389 non-gazetted and 633 Class-IV.

Other Departments with significant number of vacancies are Power Development Department (674), CAPD (620), Industry & Commerce (517), General Administration Department (509), PHE Irrigation and Flood Control (490), Rural Development (396), Planning and Development (383), Cooperatives (341), Social Welfare Department (252) and Tourism (164).

It may be mentioned here that the State Cabinet had recently decided to go for fast track recruitment boards at district levels for speedy recruitment in view of rising graph of vacant posts.

NBW against 5 Armymen

SRINAGAR, Apr 2: Non-bailable warrants were today issued against five Army personnel, including the Commanding Officer of an Army unit, by a Sessions Court here for killing a civilian in an alleged fake encounter in Ganderbal area in 2006.

The warrants were issued by Principal District and Sessions Judge, Srinagar, Hasnain Masoodi as the five accused Army personnel had failed to be present at any hearing of the case so far.

The court listed the next date of hearing as April 17.

Eleven persons, including five Army personnel, five policemen and a civilian were accused of conspiring to kill and murdering Showkat Ahmad Kataria, a priest in a mosque at Zadibal here, in a fake encounter on October 4, 2006.

The accused include Col Vikram Singh of 13 Rashtriya Rifles, his second in Command V K Sharma, Major Rishi, Junior Commissioned Officer Puran Singh and Naik Satya Lal.

Then Superintendent of Police H S Parihar and his Deputy Bahadur Ram are among five policemen who were arrested last year in connection with the killing of Kataria.

Kataria, who hailed from Banihal in Ramban district, was allegedly picked up by security forces from Zadibal area of the city on October 4, 2006. He was later killed in an alleged fake encounter and dubbed as a foreign militant.

The case came to light after police investigations into the missing case of Abdul Rehman Paddar, a carpenter from Kokernag area, revealed that he had been killed in a fake encounter and later dubbed as foreign militant.

Paddar’s case sparked massive protests across the Valley, leading the State Government to constitute a special investigation team for probing the fake encounters in February last year.

During the investigations, four more such cases including that of Kataria came to surface.

Meanwhile, the revision petition filed by the General Officer Commanding of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps of the Army on the court directions asking the Army to exercise the option of court martial against the accused personnel was deferred till the next date of hearing.

In his petition, the Army counsel had pleaded that it was not in a position to exercise the option of Court Martial as the investigating agency had not sought prior sanction from the Centre for prosecution of the accused Army personnel.

Under section seven of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, no member of the Armed forces can be prosecuted without seeking prior sanction from the Centre, the counsel had argued. (PTI)

Most peaceful phase in J&K: Jaiswal

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 2: Present is the most ‘peaceful’ phase in the history of militancy hit Jammu and Kashmir, Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal said here today.

Mr Jaiswal, who is on two-day visit to the State, said the violence in the State is at "the lower ebb these days".

After visiting the far flung areas, he said, "increase in the number of tourists for the past three months has indicated that Jammu and Kashmir is a peaceful State these days", adding that the credit goes to the Army, security forces and the people, who have always remained cooperative and courageous.

"I am sure that this summer, previous records of pilgrims will break, who are visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and coming here for two-month long Shri Amarnath Yatra from across the country and the world," he asserted.

"People have realised that nothing can be solved through violence and it has helped in the restoration of peace in all the regions of the State," the Minister said.

"Jammu and Kashmir is emerging as a peaceful State but militancy has not yet eradicated completely. We have to take more precautions as this is an election year in the State," he said.

The people of State are being benefitted by the packages announced by the Centre for developmental and infrastructural processes, he added.

Mr Jaiswal today visited village Mahu Mangat in Banihal tehsil of Ramban district and addressed a public gathering.

Accompanied by Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha MP Ch Lal Singh, Mr Jaiswal had to visit village Butu where snowfall and avalanches had occurred in February but his helicopter couldn’t land there due to bad weather.

The MoS Home inter-acted with people at Mahu Mangat and assured to redress their grievances.

Mr Jaiswal returned here for night stay. Tomorrow morning, he will visit Mata Vaishno Devi shrine to pay obeisance to the Goddess and will return to the Union capital in the afternoon.

Dr Yash to be MS SMVDSB MCE

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 2: The Government today placed the services of Dr Yash Sharma, Medical Superintendent, SMGS hospital at the disposal of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) for his posting as Medical Superintendent SMVDSB Medical Centre of Excellence, the first phase of which is scheduled to be launched on June 1.

Dr Yash Sharma relinquished the charge of MS SMGS today after serving the hospital for over four years. Prior to this, he was posted as Deputy Medical Superintendent, Government Medical College, Jammu.

Dr Satish Sharma, Deputy Medical Superintendent, Chopra Nursing Home, will take the charge of Medical Superintendent, SMGS hospital in addition to his own duties till further orders.

Tragedy averted, 3 IEDs defused

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 2: Police and troops of 38 Rashtriya Rifles today averted a major tragedy with timely recovery of three Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from Kala Ban under the jurisdiction of Manjakote police station in Rajouri district.

The powerful IEDs along with 25 dura cells were recovered from near the floor mill of Mushtaq Mohd Mugha.

The recovery was made on a specific information given by the people, sources said, adding a tragedy has been averted with timely detection of the explosive devices.

Police and Army also recovered one AK-56 rifle, 2 magazines, 11 hand grenades, 60 AK rounds and one pouch from Phulwari, Darhal in Rajouri.

In another case, police apprehended two suspected Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of militants from Thathri in Kishtwar district and recovered one wireless set and one binocular from them.

One .303 rifles was recovered from Kala Pani jungle area in Reasi district.