Azad for CBI inquiry into pre-1996 forest bunglings in Doda
Govt filing criminal contempt petition against CNN-IBN

From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Feb 1: While Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is contemplating to file a defamation suit to claim damages worth Rs 1 crore each from two media organizations, his Government is filing a criminal contempt petition against the major private television news channel CNN-IBN and Jammu-based newspaper, Kashmir Times, for "interference in administration of justice." Chief Minister has, meanwhile, said that an inquiry into the alleged irregularities in Forest Department in Doda district would be assigned to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Responding to certain queries regarding irregularities in Forest Department highly-placed sources revealed to EXCELSIOR that Ghulam Nabi Azad's Government had decided to file a petition of criminal contempt before J&K High Court against the statellite news channel CNN-IBN and Jammu-based newspaper, Kashmir Times, for running a news-story about a sub judice matter on January 31st and February 1st. The private television channel as also the newspaper had reported on the basis of some documents, that Chief Minister had favoured his brother in the process of procuring some contracts in Doda forests and increasing rates of their allotment.

According to these sources, last evening and early in the morning today Chief Minister Azad established contact with a number of senior Government functionaries and legal luminaries and made it clear to them all that he was not going to take "the campaign of character assassination" against him lying down. Those he interacted within person and on telephone included Minister of Law, Muzaffar Hussain Baig, Advocate General (AG) Altaf Naik and Solicitor General of India Ghulam E Vanavati. After a series of detailed discussions, authorities concerned were directed to file a petition of the criminal contempt in the court of Mr Justice Bashir Ahmed Kirmani in Srinagar today.

A petition of one Ghulam Hassan Marazi, who has been placed under suspension when Government ordered a high level inquiry into the alleged irregularities in J&K State Forest Corporation (SFC) in September last, was listed for hearing in the court of Mr Justice B A Kirmani. Accompanied by AG, Chief Minister flew to Srinagar where Mr Naik appeared in the court of Mr Justice Kirmani.

While representing SFC as well as the Government of Jammu & Kashmir, Advocate General Altaf Naik and Additional Advocate General (AAG) Ali Mohammad Magray submitted objections on behalf of SFC, Mr Justice Kirmani entertained the SFC's objections but also demanded objections from the State Government Advocate General assured the court that the State Government's objections would be filed on the next date of hearing on February 16th.

It was on this occasion that AG produced a copy of today's Kashmir Times and submitted that CNN-IBN and the newspaper had attempted to "prejudice the mind of honourable judge" regarding the matter which was listed for hearing today. He argued that by carrying a "baseless news-story" the two media organizations had made an "interference into the administration of justice" which, according to him, was a brazed act of the "criminal contempt of court." He sought personal appearance in the court of the CNN-IBN Director of News & Current Affairs, Rajdeep Sardesai, Srinagar-based correspondent of the news channel as also the editor, publisher and correspondent of the Jammu-based newspaper. He alleged that the two media organizations had carried the matter which was part of the file before court without seeking any permission and thus "lowered prestige of the court." He submitted that the "contemnors" deserved to be punished under Contempt of Courts Act, which specifies imprisonment of upto six months besides fine.

Mr Justice Kirmani sought a formal written complaint from the AG who submitted that it would be produced in a couple of days. Matter was listed for hearing and arguments on February 16th.

Sources said that for the whole day later, AG remained closeted with CM and both returned to Jammu for another round of detailed discussion with Minister of Law, Muzaffar Hussain Baig and Commissioner-Secretary Law, Akhtar Hussain Kochak. Sources said that Mr Naik would complete the draft of the petition and return to Srinagar to file the same within a day or two in the High Court.

Sources said that, in addition to the petition of criminal contempt, Mr Azad was seriously contemplating to file a defamation suit and he was going to claim damages worth Rs 1 crore each from the two media organizations. He is understood to be in touch with some senior advocates at Supreme Court of India who are likely to be called for drafting and filing the petition here early next week.

A General Manager (GM) with SFC, Marazi as well Managing Director (MD) Aijaz Ahmed Bhat, had been placed under suspension immediately after Chief Minister ordered Kundal Committee inquiry into alleged irregularities in Forest Department, SFC and allied departments in September last year. Even as Kundal Committee held Marazi and Bhat responsible for some serious embezzlements and irregularities and recommended termination of their services. Marazi approached J&K High Court with the complaint that he was being targeted for refusing to oblige CM's relations in allotment of contracts and increasing their rates.

In previous National Conference (NC) Government, Marazi had been dismissed from services on charges of corruption but he joined back in 2002 after Court observed that rules of service in SFC did not provide for termination of service. Kundal investigation has now pointed out that his service records were dubious as, according to his service book, he has joined service at the age of 15 years. Sources said that Chief Minister and some of his Ministerial colleagues were smelling a "political conspiracy" behind Mr Marazi's serious allegations against Mr Azad as also some documents of the court file failing in the hands of media.

Azad's media managers hurriedly organized Chief Minister's interaction with select mediapersons at Civil Secretariat here. Chief Minister complained that a television channel and a newspaper had played the role of Marazi's advocates and dismissed the whole episode as an "attempt of the elements involved in corruption" to fail his "war against corruption". He said that the news-story carried by media was based on nothing but the complaint of two tainted officials of his Government. "If they think that I will be cowed down and will withdraw while wearing the bangles, they are definitely living in a fool's paradise," he asserted and said that his campaign against corruption would continue.

Azad pointed out that the two media organizations had carried a slanderous news story at a time when it was listed for hcaring in the High Court. He said that he was the first Chief Minister in the State who had, on day one, issued a circular to all officers that they should never entertain any recommendations or influence in favour of his relations. He made it clear that he was in favour of CBI inquiry into the irregularities committed in Forest Department in Doda district in 1980s and 1990s. He said that he had left his home in Doda in 1966 and he had never lived at the house of any of his brothers or relations in the last 41 years.

‘‘Let it be clear to one and all that in case any of my relatives is found involved in any offence, he will be punished by law and treated like any other ordinary state subject,’’ Azad asserted. While indicating that his Government would soon assign inquiry into the Doda forest irregularities to CBI, Chief Minister made it clear that State Vigilance Organisation and Crime Branch would continue to investigate the forest scandals identified by Kundal Committee. ‘‘I was not here in 80s and 90s. Let all those be hanged who were here and indulged in corrupt practices,’’ he said.

Scam in Water Resources
CBI books 3 AEEs for fraud worth lakhs

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Feb 1: The Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) today booked four officials of Central Ground Water Board, Ministry of Water Resources including three Assistant Executive Engineers (AEEs) for causing heavy losses to the exchequer by drilling tube wells with sub standard material.

Official sources said the CBI registered a case against the Central Government officers after preliminary investigations established that the Government has been put to loss worth several lakhs in drilling tube wells.

Three AEEs against whom a case of corruption has been registered by the CBI include S S Chahal, Manju Shree and S N Sethi, all posted in Technical wing of Central Ground Water Board office at Trikuta Nagar. Besides them, a driller, Basudev also figured in the First Information Report (FIR) registered today by the CBI under Sections 420, 477 and 120-B CrPC.

Sources said the CBI conducted preliminary investigations into drilling of tube wells after getting complaints that use of sub standard material by the Water Board engineers for boring tube wells at different places in Jammu

During investigations, the CBI sleuths inspected the bored tube wells and the instruments used in boring, which had been purchased from M/s Manohar Trading Company, Patiala.

Total equipments worth several lakhs had been purchased.

According to sources, preliminary loss caused to the Central exchequer due to purchase of sub standard equipments has been worked out at Rs 16 lakh.

However, the cost of loss caused to the exchequer could go up further during investigations of the case, which are being conducted by a high level CBI team headed by Additional SP CBI, Jammu, K L Raina.

Sources said the Central Ground Water Board had purchased the equipments for drilling tube well. Due to use of sub standard material, the cost of drilling also went up considerably besides causing delay in the boring.

It may be mentioned here that the Central Ground Water Board, after drilling tube wells, hands them over to the State Government which, in turn, keeps them at the disposal of Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department.

Sources said all four officials including three AEEs, booked in the scam, are being called for questioning but their immediate arrest was ruled out.

The CBI was in the process of writing to senior authorities of Central Ground Water Board, headquartered at Sanjay Nagar, Jammu and New Delhi to initiate departmental action against them as well for the fraud.

HM bn comdr among 5 militants shot dead

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Feb 1: Five militants including Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) battalion commander were killed in two separate encounters with the security forces in Rafiabad and Kulgam.

An official spokesman said that on the basis of specific information about the presence of some militants in the house of Mohammad Maqbool Sheikh in Drusoo Jagir area, police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) started search operation.

While the security forces personnel were conducting searches, the hiding militants fired upon them triggering off an encounter. The CRPF and Police personnel immediately retaliated the fire and exchange of fire continued for quite long time.

Even reinforcements were rushed to the area to neutralise the militants hiding in a concrete underground chamber. In the two hours long encounter, all the four hiding militants were killed. A huge quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered from the hide-out of the militants.

The identity of the slain militants could not be established immediately.

In another encounter, police eliminated battalion commander of HM outfit in an encounter at Tangbal under the jurisdiction of Police Station Yaripora.

According to SP Kulgam, Swayam Prakash Pani, on the basis of a specific information regarding presence of militants at Tangbal, police launched search operation with the help of 1 Rashtriya Rifles.

As the security forces personnel zeroed in on the target area, the militants opened indiscriminate fire on the police party which was effectively retaliated triggering of an encounter.

During the exchange of fire, one militant was gunned down. One AK rifle, two magazines and a pouch were also recovered from the site of encounter.

The slain militant—Rahool Bhat, son of Ghulam Mohammad Bhat of Alaypora Pulwama was the self styled battalion commander of HM outfit and operating in Pulwama area.

He was a close associate of slain HM district commander Sajad Ahmad Bhat, son of Ghulam Hassan Bhat alias Tahir Maqsood, who was killed on January 30 this year. The eliminated militant was wanted by police in number of militancy related activities including civilian killings in Pulwama including the murder of Manzoor Ahmed.

On June 12, 2006 he snatched two SLRs, two magazines and 40 rounds of ammunition from a residential guard of Police and also injured constable Mohammad Amin.

In another incident, the slain militant planted an IED on Chitragam-Yaripora road which exploded killing a soldier and causing injuries to two innocent civilians. He was also responsible for planting of an IED at Zainapora Bazar which was later defused by the Bomb Disposal Squad.

He also fired upon a non-local labourer injuring him critically besides firing upon the police party of Zainapora Police Station.

Meanwhile, three persons, including an Over Ground Worker of militants, was arrested by the security forces.

On a tip off, troops of 28 Rashtriya Rifles apprehended an Over Ground Worker of militants at Khan Mohallah-Putshai in Kupwara district last night. The OGW was identified as Mohd Maqbool Khan alias Sahil.

In another operation, troops of 22 Rashtriya Rifles apprehended two militant suspects from Sopore town of Baramulla district.

BSP to contest all 87 seats

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Feb 1: In coming Assembly elections in the State, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has decided to participate in all 87 Assembly segments.

"BSP under the leadership of Mayawati has decided to play major role in the State politics and has decided to contest all 87 seats", National General Secretary of BSP, Narinder Kashyap said in a press conference here.

"People of the State are fed up with corrupt and self centered politicians, and BSP will provide young, dynamic and clean leadership which will work for peace and development of the State," he added.

"People of Kashmir have to face hardships for last two decades of unprecedented violence and now every one wants normalcy and peace to return to J&K at the earliest which is pre-requisite for development and prosperity of Kashmiri people," said Mr Kashyap, who had came to the Valley to announce BSP's decision.

He said, if the BSP gets power in J&K it will talk to all the alienated sections which are not happy with the State policies in J&K and have some "genuine grievances".

Refering to mainstream political parties in the State, Mr Kashyap said, "all previous methods and platforms used by various parties have failed to give any kind of permanent solution to root cause of Kashmir and majority of them have exploited current situation to their own "political vested interests" which was to attain power at all costs."

He also called for talks with all concerned parties without any precondition, saying otherwise no political solution is "possible".

Mr Kashyap demanded an independent commission "to look into whereabouts of people who had disappeared during the period of turmoil".

About relief and rehabilitation for the families of militants, he said, "We have got to know that Government is not providing relief and rehabilitation to the families of the militants which is injustice. The BSP believes that a family must not be punished for the wrongdoing of a member, who has got disillusioned with the system. So the families of the militants must not be left to sufferings which too have negative repercussions".

The coalition Government of Congress and People's Democratic Party has completely failed to deliver, Kashyap said. "Most of their (coalition Government's) key leaders have been found involved in the scams and corruption of great magnitude ranging from sex scandal to recent forest scams.

He said all political parties have utilized militancy situation to eat into various development funds which is the right of common people.

Pak only interested in taking back hardcore ultras: Govt

NEW DELHI, Feb 1: The Government today informed the Supreme Court that the protocol on the exchange of prisoners between India and Pakistan was "not working" as Islamabad was only interested in taking back the "hard-core terrorists".

"Pakistan only needs hard-core terrorists. It recycles them and sends them back," Additional Solicitor General Amarender Sharan told a bench comprising Justices B N Agrawal and G S Singhvi.

"Pakistan do not accept prisoners who are in Indian jail for minor offences," the ASG said explaining the problems in the protocol coming in the way of releasing the Pakistani prisoners languishing in various jails in the country, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir.

The apex court was hearing a petition filed by Panthers Party president Prof Bhim Singh alleging that several Pakistani nationals were languishing in different jails of the country for the past one decade without facing trial.

It was alleged in the petition that some of the Pakistanis after their initial arrest in J&K were shifted to jails in Punjab, Rajasthan and other places too without being produced in any court for their trial.

Sharan said there was a need for drafting an appropriate policy and statutory guidelines or special legislation for dealing with the situation.

When asked by the bench about the deportation procedure, the ASG explained that in such cases the Government has to first have consular access and if they do not accept the request it becomes a helpless situation.

"What will we do then," he asked.

At this, the bench said "it is very strange" and added that "it is not a new problem".

The court granted the Centre two months to come before it with detailed guidelines on the issue.

The apex court has been monitoring developments on the release of Pakistani prisoners and on different occasions had directed the authorties to deport them.

The petitioner had provided a list of 59 such prisoners. Many of them are facing trial or serving sentences for offences carrying punishment of death, life or jail term upto 20 years.

The prisoners, whose deportation has been ruled out by the Centre, were mostly facing charges of sedition, criminal conspiracy, murder, attempt to murder and under various provisions of the Arms Act.(PTI)

All mess, no internal control in PF Organisation: CAG
GPF vouchers worth Rs 11 cr missing

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Feb 1: Though custodian of life long savings of several lakh employees and pensioners, the irregularities and deficient financial control reigned in the General Provident Fund Organisation of the State Government thereby leading to grave errors in the accounts.

The deficient financial control and poor operational and supervisory control in the Organisation has resulted into slow pace in adjustment of unposted debits and credits, non-adjustment of transfer advices issued by the office of the Accountant General, non-consolidation of split balances, delay in inter-district transfer of balances and non-finalisation of final refund cases.

Besides, lax internal controls like non-conducting of administrative inspections and internal audit of various District Fund Offices also contributed to the dilution of effectiveness and efficiency of the General Provident Fund Organisation.

These inadequacies have been detected by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its audit report for the year ended March 31, 2007.

As per J&K GP Fund Manual, credits/debits posted in the ledger account of individual subscribers are to be posted in the Unit Broad Sheet (poster-wise) on the basis of the monthly accounts received from the treasuries. All entries in the Unit Broad Sheets are thereafter required to be cross-checked with the monthly schedules/debit vouchers received from treasuries to ascertain correctness of the figures entered in the Ledger Accounts of individual subscribers. The figures of Unit Broad Sheets become the basis for maintenance of Broadsheets at District and Directorate level.

But, test check of records of 14 Fund Offices and Directorate Office revealed that two offices (District Fund Offices of Baramulla and Srinagar) had not maintained the Unit Broad Sheet at all while in 10 offices (Anantnag, Class-IV Jammu, Jammu, Kathua, Kupwara, Migrant Cell Jammu, Poonch, Pulwama, Rajouri and Udhampur) the broad-sheets were maintained without complete posting and squaring.

Incomplete/non-maintenance of Broadsheets left enough scope for excess and short credits/debits remaining undetected in the ledger accounts of subscribers, the CAG report remarked.

The scrutiny of records revealed that accounts submitted by Treasury Officers were incomplete due to missing vouchers and supporting details which resulted in the progressive accumulation of unposted debits of Rs 28.97 lakh and credits of Rs 10.93 crore between April 1986 to March 2007 and consequent missing credits/debits in the accounts of subscribers.

Though under GP Fund manual, District Fund Officers are required to make every effort to post all the accounts of subscribers relating to their credits/debits in their individual ledger accounts yet this required procedure was not adopted resulting into unposted account accumulating progressively to Rs 64.21 lakh (debts) and Rs 14.10 crore (credit) as on March 2007 in the Department.

The CAG noticed that the Department resorted to indiscriminate allotment of new account numbers resulting in increase of inoperative accounts from 21 per cent (one lakh) to 25 per cent (1.29 lakh) during the period from April 2004 to March 2007 in the State.

A test check of four District Fund Offices further revealed that negative balances in respect of 1,357 subscribers amounting to Rs 2.95 crore (Class IV: Rs 67.13 lakh (498 cases); Doda: Rs 131 lakh (479 cases); Poonch: Rs 28 lakh (106 cases); Udhampur: Rs 69.28 lakh (272 cases), remained unadjusted till January 2007 as more than one account number was allotted to some of the subscribers.

The test check of records of Chief Accounts Officer, Migrant Cell Jammu revealed that 296 Final Refund cases were pending till December 2006 for settlement from 1991-02 onwards. This was mainly due to the delay in finalisation of the cases to non-receipt of transfer entries from sister Fund Offices and debit/credit statements from DDOs concerned.

The lack of coordination between District Fund Offices and Migrant Cell Jammu/DDOs and non-observance of the procedure by them to transfer the available balances led to delay in final refunds ranging from one to 15 years.

The test check of records of 15 District Fund Offices revealed that out of 57,843 advices sent upto March 2007, only 19,159 (33 per cent) were adjusted. Thus, 67 per cent of transfer advices remained unincorporated in the ledger accounts of subscribers resulting in denial of benefits of GPF to its subscribers.

According to the provisions of GP Fund Manual, the heads of office/DDOs are required to forward the case of GPF subscribers on their retirement, discharge and dismissal to the concerned Fund Office complete in all respects expeditiously so that there is no delay in finalisation and payment of GPF.

However, audit scrutiny of records of five DFOs revealed that there was a delay of upto 8 years in forwarding GPF cases by the DDOs to Fund Officers resulting in hardships to the subscribers and also payment of avoidable interest of Rs 16.28 lakh in 33 cases.

Al-Libi gunned down in Pak

ISLAMABAD, Feb 1: Senior Al-Qaeda commander Abu Laith Al-Libi was killed this week along with other militant fighters in a US missile strike in Pakistan, a website linked to radical Islamic groups has reported.

Reports have suggested that Libi was among seven Arabs and five Central Asians who were killed in a missile strike on a house at Khushali Torikhel village in Pakistan’s troubled North Waziristan tribal area early on Tuesday morning. Local residents claimed the missile was fired by an unmanned spy plane operating from Afghanistan.

Militants retrieved and buried the bodies on Wednesday and did not let local residents approach the house. The Pakistan Army has said it has no information on who was killed in the attack.

Caretaker Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz Khan today said there had been an explosion in a home where Taliban fighters were staying but their bodies were buried before they could be examined. Therefore, it could not be said with certainty that Libi was among the dead, he told reporters.

But the Al-Fajr Information Centre, a website linked to Al-Qaeda, reported Libi’s death yesterday. The website said that "Sheikh Abu Laith Al-Qassimi Al-Libi was martyred with a group of his brothers on the soil of Muslim Pakistan". Libi is believed to be the first major Al-Qaeda leader to have been killed or captured in Pakistan in almost two years.

There have been reports of several strikes carried out in Pakistan by pilotless US drones armed with missiles and launched from Afghanistan. But such attacks have never been confirmed by the Pakistani military, which says foreign forces will not be allowed to operate within the country.

Libi, which means "the Libyan" in Arabic, was seen as a key link between Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. He had become an influential commander in recent years, overseeing operations against US-led forces in Afghanistan.

He was also linked to several brazen attacks, including a suicide bombing that killed 23 people outside Bagram airbase during a visit by US Vice President Dick Cheney in February last year. The US had offered a reward of USD 200,000 for information leading to Libi’s capture.

The statement issued by Al-Fajr Information Centre lauded Libi’s skills as a battlefield commander and trainer of fighters. "He was an artist in what he did," the statement said.

Libi rose to prominence as a leader of the Libyan Islamic fighting group, an organisation formed to overthrow Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi. Libi and Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri recently announced a formal partnership with remnants of the Libyan group.

Many of the Libyan group’s members had sought refuge in Pakistan and Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks in the US. In December 2005, senior Al-Qaeda planner Abu Hamza Rabia was killed in an attack by a UAV in North Waziristan, not far from where Libi is believed to have died. Another senior Al-Qaeda commander, Abd Al-Hadi Al-Iraqi, was captured in late 2006 in Turkey after leaving Pakistan for Iraq.(PTI)

3 Revenue employees chargesheeted

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Feb 1: Crime Branch has presented charge-sheet against three employees of Revenue Department for fraudulently and dishonestly mutating 11 kanals and 14 marlas of land.

An official spokesman said that during investigation the Crime Branch Kashmir came to know that 11 kanals and 14 marlas of Shamilat land including Kohuls in Estate Rawalpora worth Rs 3 crore was fradulently and dishonestly mutated by the then concerned revenue officials of Budgam tehsil by misuse of their official position in order to confer undue benefits to the undeserving persons in total disregard and contravention to the law.

The beneficiaries of the land were Hira Lal, son of Dr Sham Lal of Barzulla, Kamni Devi, daughter of Dr Sham Lal of New Plots, Mohammad Maqbool Dar, son of Abdul Rehman Dar, Ghulam Mohammad Dar, son of Abdul Rehman Dar, Abdul Gani Dar, son of Abdul Rehman Dar, Mohammad Amin, son of Abdul Rehman and Mohammad Ramzan Dar, son of Abdul Rehman, all the residents of Humhama Budgam.

After the establishment of corruption charges against the accused officials—Mohammad Sikender Malik, son of Mohammad Sultan of Hayeen Trehgam, Omkar Nath Koul, son of Lal Koul of Ratnipora and Ghulam Mohammad Ganaie, son of Abdul Rehman of Arigam, the Crime Branch approached Government for according sanction to their prosecution.

Following Government’s sanction, the Crime Branch presented charge-sheet against the accused in the Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Kashmir.

TDS returns date extended

NEW DELHI, Feb 1: The Income Tax Department has extended the last date for filing of tax returns for tax deducted/collection at source for the second quarter of this fiscal to February 29.

This measure is likely to provide a major relief to the employers, who could not submit their returns due to delay in clarification on employees stock options or other reasons.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes has extended the due date for filing of quarterly statements of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) and Tax Collected at Source (TCS) for the quarter ending September 30, 2007, of the current financial year to February 29, 2008, a senior CBDT official said.

He also said employers can submit these returns by February 29 without paying any penalty.

The Department has also asked the tax payers to file revised tax returns by February 29, if they had filed tax returns before May 14, 2007 using Saral or other old forms.

Last year the Department had introduced new forms (ITR-1 to ITR-8) for individual, corporate tax payers and for fringe benefits returns.

As per the Supreme Court order, it is now compulsory to file income tax returns using the new prescribed forms ITR-I to ITR-8.

Those who had filed their returns for assessment year 2007-08 in form 2 D (Saral) or any other old forms on or after May 14, 2007 can re-file their returns in new prescribed forms by February 29, without paying any penalty, he said.(PTI)

Jawan missing on way home from Jammu

THIRUVANANTHPURAM, Feb 1: A jawan posted in Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir has gone missing since he started for his home in Kerala on leave three weeks back, plunging his family in deep anxiety.

John George (39), a storeman with 58 RCC, the Army’s engineering wing, had left his unit on January 12 by the camp bus to travel by Tatamuri Express to New Delhi from where he had planned to board Kerala-bound K K Express the next day.

The last time John contacted his wife Sini over phone from Pathankot Railway Station at around 6 pm in the evening on the day he left the camp, his family members told from their home at East Kallada near Kollam.

As per the details gathered from railway authorities by his relatives, George had purchased tickets for Tatamuri Express and K K Express respectively.

"Our two children were waiting for their papa eagerly. He was to have reached home on January 15. Still, we have not given up hope that he would return home as lord is great," Sini said.

Besides making inquiries with Army authorities, Sini had made representations to Kerala Chief Minister, the Union Home Minister and Defence Minister about her missing husband but no positive news had been received so far. (PTI)