Fierce gunbattle in Lolab valley
Jaish ‘Distt Commander’ among 5 militants killed

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Apr 19: Five militants including a top wanted ‘‘District Commander’’, today got killed in two separate encounters between militants and security forces in Kupwara district.

Informed sources in north Kashmir told EXCELSIOR that a Warnow-based unit of Special Operations Group (SOG) Kupwara, headed by DySP Sajjad Salaria and troops of Rashtriya Rifles 18 Bn launched a joint operation after receiving specific information regarding the presence and movement of a group of militants in Rang forest area, about 6 km ahead of Warnow. During the operation a fierce gunbattle took place which lasted for several hours. Commanding Officer of RR 18 Bn, Col Sanjay Rao and SSP Kupwara, Vijay Kumar, personally supervised the operation.

Sources said that the day long gunbattle left four heavily armed militants dead. Three of them were identified as Amjad Bhai, Abu Saifullah and Irshad Ahmed. Fourth one sources said, was believed to be a Kashmiri militant whose identity was being ascertained. Officials said that Amjad Bhai was a top wanted ‘‘District Commander’’ of Jaish-e-Mohammad who had been operating in Lolab area for the last six years. According to official sources, Abu Saifullah and Arshad were both cadres of Lashkar-e-Toiba. All three were believed to be residents of PoK.

According to Police records Amjad Bhai was directly and indirectly responsible for a number of attacks on security forces in addition to a number of civilian killings. Alongwith the Jaish ‘‘Divisional Commander’’ Imran, who got killed in an encounter on April 10th, Amjad was involved in kidnapping and subsequently killing two constables of District Police Kupwara on April 2-3 last. He had also gunned down one Abdul Majeed Piswal S/o Juma Piswal R/o Khurhama at Shrani on March 21st this year. Later he had allegedly shot dead another civilian, namely Mohammad Amin Mughal S/o Feroz-ud-Din Mughal on April 2nd.

Mughal’s family members today identified Amjad Bhai and told Police that the same Pakistani militant was among two militants who had killed him.

SSP Kupwara, Vijay Kumar, confirmed the death of four militants and claimed that there was no collateral damage in today’s gunbattle in Warnow area. He said that four AK rifles and a number of grenades were among the arms and ammunition seized at the site of the encounter. He said that after the death of ‘‘Divisional Commander’’ Pasha alias Alfa-9, Jaish-e-Mohammad organization had suffered a major setback as its top wanted ‘‘District Commander’’ Amjad Bhai was among the four militants killed today.

Reports from Kupwara added the troops of 12-Mahar intercepted an infiltrating group of militants at Doodhipora on the LoC in Keran Sector today. Even as a gunbattle took place and most of the militants took vanished in the bushes, one unidentified militant got killed.

As earlier reported in this newspaper, nearly a hundred militants of mainly Jaish-e-Mohammad, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba are believed to have infiltrated into Gurez and Lolab areas of Bandipore-Kupwara belt in the last two months. Sources, however, insisted that the militants killed today were members of a group of Jaish-e-Mohammad who had been active in Lolab valley in the last few years.

PM, CJI favour special courts for corruption cases

NEW DELHI, Apr 19: With more than 24,000 corruption-related cases pending in Indian trial courts, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today underscored creating "special courts to deal with" the scourge.

Inaugurating a joint conference of Chief Ministers of various States and Chief Justices of High Courts at Vigyan Bhavan, Dr Singh said the suggestion came from India’s Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan.

"I agree that there is urgent need to do so," the Prime Minister told delegates to the two-day conference, an annual exercise intended to produce "better administration of justice" across the nation.

A count at the end of 2007 showed at least 24,130 cases under Prevention of Corruption Act were pending in Indian trial courts.

Justice Balakrishnan shared the dais with him as did Law and Justice Minister Hans Raj Bhardwaj, Minister of State for Law and Justice K Venkatapathy and Department of Justice Secretary Madhukar Gupta.

Dr Singh’s remarks follow recommendations by the Chief Justices of India’s 21 High Courts that as far as possible special Judges appointed under the Act hold trial of such cases on a day-to-day basis.

"It is also necessary to ensure that special Judges appointed under Prevention of Corruption Act deal only with corruption cases," the Chief Justices held.

Concern— both expert and public— about India’s justice delivery system has grown rapidly over the past several years, bringing into question courts’ ability to dispense justice given huge pendencies contributing to inordinate delays.

Indian courts have close to 30 million cases pending and while experts have been calling for quadrupling the number of Judges, a large number of sanctioned posts remain vacant.

The 39-page agenda notes for the joint conference did not use the word ‘corruption,’ which figured eminently though in a conference of Chief Justices which preceded the annual event.

As Dr Singh put it, "apart from pendency and delayed justice, corruption is another challenge we face both in Government and the Judiciary.

"The Chief Justice of India has written to me suggesting that we create special courts to deal with corruption cases. I agree that there is urgent need to do so. This will instill greater confidence in our justice delivery system, at home and abroad."

A resolution adopted by the Chief Justices resolved yesterday that "Special Judges appointed under Prevention of Corruption Act shall deal primarily with corruption cases and as far as possible hold trial of such cases on a day-to-day basis."

Prime Minister started by acknowledging the apparently intractable issue of huge case pendencies, which he said had figured very prominently in "all the previous conferences."

"Let me, therefore, reiterate at the very outset that this continues to remain a key challenge before us. We must work together to bring an end to this era of delayed justice. For, justice delayed can often mean justice denied."

Dr Singh said leaders of Judiciary and the Law and Justice Ministry "are alive to this issue and sensitive to the problems that arise as a consequence. They have been taking a variety of measures to see to it that pendency comes down."

But "I am informed by the Ministry" that "a larger number of cases are being registered than the number of cases being disposed of. Pendency will, therefore, continue to increase unless special measures are taken."

One solution suggested is to increase the number of judicial officers and Judges in the High Courts and the Supreme Court, Dr Singh noted.

"There is clearly merit in this," he said, adding that 152 new posts of High Court Judges were created recently and an increase in the number of Supreme Court Judges "is also being undertaken."

Dr Singh did not specify the Law Commission recommendation made two decades ago to quadruple the number of Judges— currently estimated around 15,000.

He said the Central Government has drawn the attention of the State Governments to the need to urgently increase the strength of judicial officers at district and subordinate levels.

Dr Singh said some State Governments recognise this and have taken measures and "others would and should also need to do so."

He also spoke of attending to the infrastructural needs of courts some of which suffer from "a severe congestion" and "in many places have a sorry look about them."

Dr Singh offered Central help to State Governments in constructing new court buildings and homes for Judges.

He touched on "delays" in utilisation of funds provided by the Central Government to the States and urged the CMs present to "personally address this problem."

He also cited his Government’s initiative to introduce the Gram Nyayalayas Bill 2007 to strengthen rural capacity, envisioning "more trial courts at the intermediate Panchayat level."

The Prime Minister stressed creating more family courts to help settle family disputes in a congenial atmosphere, noting how many State Governments have failed to discharge their legal obligation to establish such courts in urban areas with more than a million population.

"As a result, many litigants, hailing mostly from socially and economically weaker sections of the society, have to travel long distance to seek redressal of their grievances."

He stressed setting up at least one family court in each of these 465 districts. "I urge State Governments to take prompt action in this regard."

Saying that Indian judicial system "is held to be one of the best court systems in the world," Justice Balakrishnan acknowledged however "that the entire legal system, as it now obtains, has several limitations."

He said "it has to develop its capabilities and overcome limitations before it could play its rightful role in the transformation of our society in the desired direction."

The Chief Justice said an independent and accountable judiciary is not enough to protect citizens’ rights against abuses of State power. "Adequate laws, institutional mechanisms and sufficient infrastructure are also needed."

"People’s legal rights would remain theoretical if the institutions charged with enforcing them are not in a position to translate their dreams into reality. The excessive delays, unfair procedures, and unreasonable costs may leave the judicial machinery ineffective."

He spoke of "increasing concern about the problem of growing arrears of cases pending in courts. Delay made in the decision of cases at all stages inevitably leads to accumulation of arrears and this problem has reached serious dimensions."

India’s Chief Justice said the delay in disposing of cases leads to "dissatisfaction in the public mind about the effectiveness of court process for ventilating their grievances."

Reporting the findings of the High Court Chief Justices’ conference, which ended yesterday, Justice Balakrishnan said some 59 lakh petty cases could be disposed of in a short time.

He said some Special Magistrates could be appointed and if the State is prepared to give some budgetary allocation for starting new courts, all these cases which have been pending for long could be disposed of.

A "large number of cases registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act" are "also required to be disposed of at the earliest."

This, he said, would need more special vigilance courts, but funds have not been forthcoming. "The allocation of funds for starting of new courts is not very encouraging. The budget allotment is grossly inadequate to meet the requirements of judiciary."

Justice Balakrishnan also stressed funds to establish evening courts and special magistrate courts.

Bhardwaj spoke about High Court vacancies numbering 281 in an approved strength of 877— or roughly one in three posts vacant. (UNI)

UNPA, Left leaders take to streets
*Court arrest against price rise

NEW DELHI, Apr 19: Top leaders of the Left and UNPA along with hundreds of party cadres and supporters today couted arrest to pressurise the Government to take immediate and stringent measure to rein in the abnormal rise in prices and a record rate of inflation hitting the common man.

Among those who courted arrest included Left leaders Prakash Karat of the CPI(M), AB Bardhan of CPI, UNPA chairman Mulayam Singh Yadav, and Convenor Chandrababu Naidu, INLD Chief OM Praksah Chautala, Babu Lal Marandi of Jharkhand Vikas Party, Virandavan Goswami of AGP and Dr Farooq Abdullah of the National Conference.

The agitationists earlier took out a March from the constitution club to submit a memorandum of their demands to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

However, they courted arrest in front of the Rail Bhawan when the police prevenetd them from reaching the Prime Minister’s office in the South Block.

They were taken to the Parliament police station, where the leaders again addressed their activists assailing the Government policies.

The organisers claimed that at least 3000 to 4000 people courted arrest.

The protestors, who were released after an hour of detention, included CPI(M) polit buro member Sitaram Yechuri, CPI National Secretray D Raja, RSP leader Abani Roy, and SP MPs Jaya Bachan and Jaya Prada.

The leaders addressing the activists in the Parliament Street police station premises said it was now the time for a people’s movement to force the Government to change its agenda.

In the memorandum which they submitted to the Prime Minister, they demanded a ban on future trading in all essential commodities and withdrawal of all bills, which are aimed at allowing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in commodities market.

The UNPA and the Left asked the Government to universalise the Public Distribution System (PDS) for bringing immediate relief to the people including pulses and edible oil in PDS.

The memorandum also included the demand to roll back the oil price hike, change in petro-products taxation structure.

It said the essential commodities law should restore its original force for checking hoarders and black marketers from making use of the situation.

Earlier, at a seminar on inflation which was attended by some prominent economists, the UNPA and Left leaders refused to buy the Government explantion that the rise in prices in the country was part of the global price rise.

The UNPA and the Left further said the rising prices of essential commodities and the agrarian crisis was of the Government’s own making.

The cost of input in agriculture has been increased without ensuring the farmers adequate return for his produce.

The speakers came down heavily on the Government for leaving the foodgrain trade to corporate players, and diluting the essential commodities act which was leaving the field free for black marketeers and hoarders.

They demanded a ban on forward trading, saying it was responsible for speculation, and made a forceful plea for increasing subsidy to agriculture.

The speakers also assailed the UPA Government’s policies giving free play to market forces, and said such policies were leading to concentration of wealth in the hands of just a few people.

UNPA chairman Mulayam Singh Yadav said the Government had been left with no will-power to check the price and there has been left no way except to launch a mass agiation to dislodge such a Government.

Others who spoke include TDP Chief and UNPA convenor Chandra Babu Naidu, AGP Chief Vrinda Goswami, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, former Resrve Bank Governor and Rajya Sabha Member Bimal Jalan, CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat, CPI(M) leader AB Bardhan and economists Prof Jayati Ghosh, Prof Anand Kumar, PC Chandra Shekhar and Veteran Journalsit MJ Akbar. (UNI)

Finance Company owners chargesheeted

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Apr 19: Crime Branch today presented a charge-sheet against owners of a bogus finance company—Suran Bhumi Forest India Limited, for duping innocent investors of Rs 45,64,724.

An official spokesman said that one Shabir Ahmad Durani, son of Noor Mohd, a resident of Maharaj Bazar Srinagar lodged a written complaint with Police Station Khanyar wherein it was alleged that he had deposited an amount of Rs 1,50,000 in Suran Bumi Forest Limited (a private finance firm) at their branch office Srinagar.

Against Rs 1,50,000, the firm issued three separate cheques to the amount of Rs one lakh to be encashed on maturity date but neither the cheques were honoured nor the company authorities traced out.

On the receipt of complaint, a case was registered at Khanyar Police Station and after initial investigation, it was transferred to Crime Branch for in-depth investigation.

During investigation, the accused were identified as Managing Director of the firm Dr Kuldeep Kumar, son of A B Panday of Bagpur, Panchkula, Dr Usha Kiran, wife of Amar Kumar Chaturvedi, Dr Ashwani Kaushik, son of Naresh Chander of HMT Colony, Pinjore, K D Sharma, son of Jagjit Ram of Panchkula, Seema Panday, wife of Kuldeep Kumar Panday of Panchkula, Jyoti Prasha, wife of A K Kaushik of Pinjore, Prem Parkash Chaturvedi of Pinjore and Qazi Niyaz Ahmad, son of Qazi Abdul Rashid of Hazratbal, all the Directors of the firm.

These accused hatched a criminal conspiracy and lured the general public to deposit their hard-earned money with their non-banking finance company for better interest rates.

Post dated cheques were also provided to the depositors in order to give them a sense of security, the spokesman said, adding the firm grabbed Rs 45,64,724 by cheating the innocent masses.

On the basis of investigation conducted by Crime Branch, a prima-facie case of cheating was made out against the accused persons and charge-sheet of the case was presented in the Court of law for judicial determination.

11 senior docs transferred

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 19: Government today ordered adjustment of Director, Family Welfare and RCH, Deputy Director, Health Services and CMOs.

Dr Kulbhushan Pandotra (MS Opthalmology), Incharge Medical Superintendent, Government Hospital, Gandhi Nagar (Deputy Director Grade) has been transferred and posted as Incharge Director, Family Welfare and RCH in his own pay and grade till the post is filled up under rules.

He will take over the assignment from Dr Abdul Hamid Shah on his retirement on April 30, 2008.

Dr Siraj-ud-Din, Incharge Chief Medical Officer, Pulwama has been transferred and posted as Incharge Medical Superintendent, JLNM Hospital, Rainawari, Srinagar vice Dr Reyaz Afsar. His posting will take effect from April 30, 2008.

Dr Reyaz Afsar has been posted as Incharge Deputy Director, Health Services (Schemes), Kashmir. He will take over the new assignment from Dr B A Shah on his retirement on April 30, 2008.

Dr Neelam Kohli, presently posted as Administrative Medical Officer, Labour Department has been transferred and posted as Incharge Medical Superintendent, Government Hospital, Gandhi Nagar vice Dr Kulbhushan Pandotra.

Dr T R Gupta, Incharge CMO Rajouri has been transferred and posted as Incharge Deputy Director, Health Services (Hq) Jammu against available vacancy.

Dr Raj Singh Jasrotia, Incharge Zonal Leprosy Officer, Jammu has been transferred and posted as Incharge Administrative Medical Officer, Labour Department vice Dr Neelam Kohli.

Dr G N Palla, ex-CMO Anantnag, who was awaiting orders of postings, has been posted as Incharge CMO Pulwama vice Dr Siraj-ud-Din. Dr Niranjan Kour (Migrant), Assistant Surgeon, Government Hospital, Sarwal has been posted as Incharge Zonal Leprosy Officer, Jammu vice Dr Raj Singh Jasrotia.

Dr Manjit Singh Anmol, Incharge Medical Superintendent, Rajouri has been transferred and posted as Incharge CMO, Rajouri. Dr Ashok Chanyal, BMO, Sohanjana has been transferred and posted as Incharge Medical Superintendent, Ramban.

Dr Parmeshwar Singh Slathia, BMO Purmandal has been transferred and posted as Incharge Medical Superintendent, Rajouri.

PDP for making J&K a model among SAARC nations: Mufti

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 19: Reiterating his proposal of introducing dual currency in Jammu and Kashmir, former Chief Minister and patron of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said that he has mooted this visionary suggestion to make this State as model among South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries.

"It is not an election slogan but a serious suggestion to further facilitate the process of solving Kashmir problem", Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said while addressing an public meeting at Sunjwah, in the outskirts of Jammu city.

"There is already a proposal among SAARC nations for making a free economic zone in this region by the end of 2014 and Jammu and Kashmir could take the lead and become a model by allowing both Indian and Pakistani currencies here before others introduce the same system," he defended, adding, "we have a vision for Jammu and Kashmir and this a part of the process for solving the problem".

Taking a dig at those who have opposed this proposal, Mufti Sayeed said that PDP has always given serious suggestions to restore peace in this region. "Our priority is not to reap political benefits by giving non serious suggestions and slogans. We want to facilitate the process of solving vexed problem", he said and reminded that stands taken by the PDP, from time to time, were appreciated and acknowledged by the successive Governments at the Centre.

"Previous NDA regime headed by Atal Behari Vajpayee and present UPA Government led by Dr Manmohan Singh wholeheartedly supported initiatives taken by our party for restoring peace in this region", Mr Sayeed recalled various concessions announced by Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh while formulating modalities for Uri-Muzaffarabad bus service. "We had given suggestions to announce certain concessions and Prime Minister had taken those proposals seriously while finalizing modalities for trans-LoC bus service", he said.

PDP patron also reiterated his party's commitment to remove regional disparities and stressed on the need of making institutional arrangement to create equal opportunities of development and upliftment for all regions and sub-regions of the State.

He recounted various steps which were taken by the Government after 2002 to remove regional disparities but hastened to add, "We are in favour of making an institutional arrangement wherein there is a constitutional guarantee of fair deal with all regions and sub-regions", he advocated and added that devolution of powers was must for equitable development of all the regions. He was of the opinion that decentralization of power would encourage peoples' participation in the governance and other developmental activities.

PDP patron also demanded implementation of the recommendations of four Working Groups and emphasized on the need of giving safe passage to Kashmiri youths, who have been held up in PaK and want to surrender. He quoted recommendations of the Working Group headed by Mr Rasgotra.

Exuding confidence that days are not far when road and rail link between Jammu and Sialkote would be opened, he however, demanded that permit system for Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawlakote bus services should be made liberal and stay of the visitors extended. He reiterated his demand that cross-LoC buses should not be restricted to divided families alone but other people including tourists be also allowed to board the bus.

Alert sounded after Hanief’s revelations
LeT plot to blast trains with scooter bombs uncovered

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Apr 19: A Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) plot to use a new modus operandi to blast trains across the country has been unearthed with the arrest of top LeT militant by Bangalore police. Jammu bound trains were specific targets of the LeT outfit.

Official sources said a top Lashkar operative Mohd Hanief, who was nabbed by Bangalore police from Coimbatore recently, had deadly plots for Jammu and Kashmir, his interrogation report has revealed.

With Railways Police across North India especially on Pathankote-Jammu section on high alert due to militants’ threats maintaining a constant vigil on railway track as well as inside the trains, the LeT commanders across the border had hatched a new conspiracy to blast the trains.

The militants had planned to book explosive laden scooters in the trains on the pretext of tansporting them from one place to another. As the scooters would have been loaded in luggage coaches, called break vans, they would have either been exploded with a time device or through a remote control device derailing and blasting the trains, sources said.

Hanief said the new modus operandi was developed by Lashkar commanders across the border. Hanief was asked to execute the plan especially by causing serial blasts in the trains. The militants had been asked to make Jammu bound trains or the trains originating from Jammu to New Delhi as their target.

According to sources, the LeT was more particular about targeting the trains enroute Jammu to New Delhi to attract "maximum mileage" from the subversive activity.

Earlier, the militants had been targeting railway tracks by planting IEDs or keeping explosive devices inside the coaches to trigger blasts in the trains. However, with Railways police maintaining a strict vigil on tracks as well as trains, the militants had not been able to succeed in their nefarious designs.

Therefore, according to sources, the ultras had worked out a new strategy to cause blasts in the trains with maximum casualties.

Sources said Bangalore police have sounded Railways police and other concerned agencies all across the country. Railways police have been asked to keep a strict security vigil on every kind of luggage booked for the trains as they could carry explosive material in any form.

Sources here said Jammu Railways authorities were already maintaining a strict surveillance while booking luggage. All security precautions are being taken to foil the militants’ plot, they added.

Hanief, according to sources, was in regular contact with the Lashkar commanders operating in Pakistan and used to receive directions from their as and when required. Hanief had contacts with several top LeT militants operating in Kashmir and Doda, they said.

Samuel goes to Leh, Johnny Security

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 19: The Government today partially modified yesterday’s transfer order of four Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs).

Johnny Williams, who was under transfer as SSP Leh vice Alok Kumar, has now been posted as SSP Security in place of Avtar Singh Bali. Mr Bali has been posted as Staff Officer (SO) to IGP Armed.

S R Samuel, presently posted in Sher-i-Kashmir Police Academy (SKPA), will now be new SSP Leh in place of Johnny Williams.

Tsering Phungchok, SSP 4th Security, who had been holding additional charges of Staff Officer to IGP Armed, has been relieved of additional charge and he will now be SSP 4th Security only.

10 kg RDX, 4 grenades seized

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 19: Army today recovered explosives including 10 kg RDX and four Chinese grenades from a hide-out of the militants in Marmat area of Doda district.

Reports said troops of 10 Rashtriya Rifles (Rajput) under the aegis of 4 Sector Rashtriya Rifles, Delta Force carried out a search operation in Marmat this morning on a specific information about a hide-out of the militants.

While the ultras were not present in the hide-out when it was raided, troops recovered 10 kg RDX, one 303 rifle, four Chinese grenades, four AK rifle magazines and a huge quantity of ammunition.

Army continued searches in surrounding areas of Marmat to nab the militants, reports said.

Two smugglers held with poppy straw

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 19: Police today arrested two narcotics smugglers and recovered 25 kg of poppy straw from their possession in Mansar area of Samba district.

SSP Samba Rajinder Gupta said a Mansar police post party led by Incharge Police Post Sub Inspector Sanjeev Chib intercepted a truck No. 3190 HR37B at Mansar this morning.

Search of the truck led to seizure of 25 kg of poppy straw, hidden tactfully under boxes.

Two narcotics smugglers were arrested by the police. They have been identified as Harbajan Singh son of Gurmail Singh R/o Hoshiarpur, Punjab and Gurmeet Singh son of Darshan Singh R/o Kotli, RS Pura.

The narcotics consignment was being smuggled from Kashmir to Punjab.

A case against the accused has been registered at Samba police station.

Amarinder seeks probe against Bhattal

PHAGWARA, Apr 19: Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh today demanded a high-level probe into PPCC Chief Rajinder Kaur Bhattal’s alleged links with a terrorist outfit.

While reacting to the claims of Sandeep Kaur, a former militant and wife of BKI terrorist Dharam Singh Kashtiwal in a recently released book that Ms Bhattal had provided shelter to hardcore terrorists, Mr Singh said in view of the serious nature of the accusation, high-level investigations should be made into the matter.

Talking to newspersons here today during a stop-over on way from Patiala to Amritsar, Capt Singh alleged that Ms Bhattal was playing "friendly match with Akalis only to get the corruption case registered against her withdrawn, while more than 6500 Congressmen of the State were still facing false cases registered at the behest of the Akalis."

He also alleged that Ms Bhattal never spared a thought for the interests of Congressmen.

When asked about his differences with Ms Bhattal, he stressed that he was working "only for the party’s interests as only a strengthened Congress could defeat the SAD-BJP alliance in the coming Lok Sabha elections."

Replying to a question, the former Chief Minister denied any link with BJP or BSP saying he had never met Ms Mayawati and had met BJP Leader L K Advani only when he was the Deputy Prime Minister.

He described the Badal Government as "total failure" and alleged that SAD-BJP Government was working without any solid agenda.

He said during his tenure he had succeeded to get huge fund from the World Bank for many projects which "now the Badal Government was misusing for other purposes".

When asked about the defeat of the Congress in last Assembly elections, Capt Singh said an enquiry should be conducted to find out the reasons of the defeat of the party in ‘Doaba’ area.

Commenting on his relation with Pakistani Journalist Arusa, Capt Singh said she was "just a friend like many more in several places". (UNI)

Highway blocked after youth’s murder

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, Apr 19: Irate residents blocked national highway and disrupted movement of traffic for about four hours after a youth was brutally murdered by two persons of the same area at Koota Morh in tehsil Hiranagar this afternoon.

Eyewitnesses said that two youth came out of a car and attacked one Rajpal Singh of village Channi Khatren with sharp edged weapons in full public view at the bus stand of Koota Morh, on Jammu Pathankot national highway at around 1.30 pm. The victim was standing outside a shop when he was attacked suddenly by the the two brothers, Tony and Bablu residents of Koota.

A youth sitting on the driver seat of the car had kept the vehicle start. After inflicting about a dozen injuries on the body of Rajpal, the accused managed to escape from the spot. The victim whose neck was almost chopped off showed strong resistance and even tried hard to protect but was empty handed and unprepared. He died on the spot. A large number of people at the busy Koota market were witnessed to the attack but nobody dared to save the youth.

After the accused vanished from the spot, the people gathered at the spot and informed police. The youth who was bleeding profusely had died there on the road. After long wait Hiranagar police party reached the spot and shifted the body to local Hiranagar hospital. The people blocked highway, shouted slogans against police and district administration. They alleged that crime rate was increasing day by day in district Kathua. The situation became explosive, however some officers from Civil Administration later reached to intervene.

Some rivalry over land issue was stated to be reason behind the murder. SDPO border also reached the spot later and tried to pacify the public but they continued their protest and blocked highway up to 6 pm. The people had to face the tough time due to highway blockade. It was opened only after assurance from the district administration about immediate action against absconding accused came. The police said that Tony serving in security force had come to village on leave. They had some verbal clash twice over a piece of land and it was the only reason behind the murder.