Soldier, 2 civilian porters killed in Sadhna avalanche
Amid power breakdown and closed
roads, Azad visits Valley

From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Feb 7: Kashmir valley remaining cut off with rest of the country and the world on the third consecutive day, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today dashed off to the Ground Zero to take stock of the situation created by the intermittent snowfall. Even as Mr Azad showered plenty of praise on his officials for "meeting all challenges" before returning to the winter capital, as many as seven snowfall related deaths were reported from different areas in the Valley. With the details pouring in gradually from far-flung areas, nearly a hundred residential structures have reported collapsed and about a dozen people sustained injuries.

Spokesman at headquarters 15 Corps, Col A K Mathur, had claimed last evening that one-odd soldier and two civilian porters, who were missing after a massive snow avalanche hit a slope across Sadhna Pass on Kupwara-Tangdar Road, had been successfully evacuated by Army. Informed sources in north Kashmir today disputed Army’s claim and insisted that all the three had got killed. They said that Rifleman Vinod Kumar’s dead body had been recovered and a rescue team, comprising soldiers and civilians, was making efforts to retrieve dead bodies of the two young porters, namely Niyaz Mohammad S/o Raj Wali and Mumtaz Ahmed S/o Shams-ud-din, residents of village Nachiyan, Karnah.

SSP Kupwara, Vijay Kumar, confirmed that troops had recovered the dead body of Rifleman Vinod Kumar of 13 JAKLI. He said that the civilian porters were officially "missing" as they had not been spotted, dead or alive, in the last two days. PRO Defence had confirmed the death of one soldier in an avalanche in Nowgam sector, while claiming that five others missing in this episode had been rescued by Army.

Local news agency, KNS, reported the death of 25-year-old Bashir Ahmed S/o Nek Alam in another snow avalanche in Hengipora Hargwas in Dooru area of Anantnag district. SSP Anantnag, Abdul Gani Mir, however insisted that only one civilian had sustained injuries in this particular incident. He said that in all three people had been reported injured in his district, two more being in Anantnag proper and Bijbehara.

Sources in south Kashmir said that 40-year-old Mehtaba of Urnhall, Anantnag, died on way to hospital when she was being taken for delivery. Sources said that the woman in labour pangs failed to reach hospital as the road was blocked due to moderate snowfall for the last three days. KNS reported that Hajira W/o Akbar Paswal of Mundubal Gujjar locality died a similar death before reaching the hospital. It also reported that 45-year-old Ghulam Mohammad S/o Abdul Rahman R/o Nasnoor, Kulgam, died on way as he too failed to reach hospital for treatment due to blockade of road.

One Maroofa W/o Abdur Rasheed Malik R/o Chak Sidiq Khan, Shopian, was lucky for she was carried by a number of villagers over a cart to the hospital. She survived the labour pains but gave birth to a stillborn baby. Reports said that the family used the local mosque’s public address system to send an SOS to the entire snowbound village.

Reports available by this evening said that largescale damage had been caused to orchards in Shopian-Kulgam belt in south Kashmir. Over a dozen civilians have reportedly sustained injuries in different snowfall related incidents in which hundreds of cattle heads have also perished. Number of the residential structures collapsed fully or partly in the last three days is said to have crossed one hundred. A rescue team, comprising a number of civilian volunteers and Police, today succeeded in evacuating about 60 people of over a dozen families from different snowbound hamlets over Waltengo Naar in Qazigund-Kulgam belt.

Even as the Power Development Department (PDD) has succeeded in maintaining supply to parts of this Capital city as well as all the district headquarters, barring Shopian, reports from different directions said that over 70 percent of the Valley had plunged into darkness due to the current spell of snowfall. These reports, confirmed by officials on conditions of anonymity, said that the power supply system had witnessed a total breakdown in over 50 towns and thousands of villages in the Valley. Drainage systems and water plants have also been affected badly in many urban localities. Landline as well as mobile telephone systems besides cable networks are also functioning normally, though Internet over landline phones has been badly affected.

Most of the metalled and lately macadamized roads in Srinagar and several major towns in the Valley have crumbled with the tar macadam of substandard quality ripping apart everywhere. An important road, connecting two major hospitals, SMHS and SKIMS, has ceased to be motorable even as R&B authorities claim to have spent Rs 5 crore on its improvement in the last 18 months. Patholes and depressions, filled with water, have become a misery not only for drivers but also for pedestrians.

Most of the complaints received from hundreds of consumers today suggested that the shopkeepers were charging high prices for different commodities, essential commodities like LPG and kerosene oil not available in adequate quantity at the authorized depots and retail sale centers. With the highway being closed for traffic for five days now and the bird flu scare gradually spreading to this part of the country, nobody complained about non-availability of chicken and mutton. Consumers however insisted that fresh fruit and vegetables were either not available in sufficient quantity or were sold at exorbitant rates.

Due to heavy snowfall, J&K State Public Service Commission (PSC) has cancelled the schedule of interviews for the posts of Lecturer (English). Earlier, these interviews were scheduled to begin in Srinagar from February 11. Chairman PSC, Mohammad Shafi Pandit, told EXCELSIOR that these interviews were likely to be rescheduled from February 17th. He said a notification was likely to be issued for fresh announcement within a day.

In the thick of the 5-day-long weather crisis, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today exploded the "visibility" myth of the aviation companies and air traffic control authorities when he flew to the summer capital at a time when, on the third consecutive day, authorities at Jammu airport were announcing cancellation of all flights to Srinagar. Informed sources revealed to EXCELSIOR that the authorities at Jammu and Srinagar airports swung into action with an alarm when Chief Minister’s Secretariat made it clear that Mr Azad would visit Srinagar "in any circumstances".

CM’s aircraft, which is not equipped with any special landing instrument, touched down on Srinagar Airport at 1300 hours and took off for the return at the same place at 1630 hours. Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, Mehboob Iqbal, who was on leave in Jammu, returned to Srinagar by the same special flight. Chief Minister was also accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig, Minister incharge Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Taj Mohiuddin, and Minister of Social Welfare, Abdul Gani Vakil.

Azad, alongwith his three Ministers, took a meeting of senior Government functionaries immediately after his arrival at Srinagar Airport. As regards the National Highway, Chief Engineer Project Beacon claimed that his engineers were capable to throw the road open for traffic in two hours time but apprehension of recurrence of landslides and avalanches was a significant hindrance. Chief Minister advised him to give his green signal only after assuring that the passengers stranded on one point should not land in another trouble at another spot.

Chief Minister revealed that boarding arrangements would be made for the stranded passengers, both at Jammu and Srinagar airports, from next day. He directed the CAPD authorities to ensure that transportation of LPG cylinders received the first preference after the highway was thrown open in a couple of days. Authorities informed the CM that LPG stocks were still available for seven days. They, however, claimed that sugar, rice, atta and kerosene stocks were available in sufficient quantities and there was no need of alarm.

Chief Engineers of R&B Kashmir, Civil and Mechanical, claimed that most of the district headquarter connectivities had been cleared of snow, though intermittent snowfall in Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag was threatening to block these major communication links yet again. They complained that their staff was working with very old and obsolete machines. In reply to some questions, they told Chief Minister that the cost of a modern and fully equipped snow-cutter was around Rs 2 crore and a sample machine acquired earlier had shown very impressive results. They said that such machines required to be imported and could be made available in six months after placing the order. Mr Azad asked them to continue with the existing machinery. He told them that the proposed acquisition would be considered later this year.

CE R&B Mechanical informed the CM that 43 snow clearance machines had been pressed into service all over the Valley. Out of this, as many as 27 had been deployed to the worst affected Shopian-Kulgam-Anantnag belt. He was informed that a large number of tractors and JCBs had also been employed from private parties for snow clearance on link roads.

CEs of PDD informed the meeting that power supply had been restored to the capital city and major towns while as efforts were underway to charge all other receiving stations and substations. They said that small number of poles had been damaged and they were expecting complete restoration of the power supply in the next two days.

On the power front, the Chief Minister was informed that barring a couple of receiving stations located in the inaccessible areas, all receiving stations were charged in the Valley. CE claimed that except for Shopian, electricity had been restored at all district headquarters. In the Srinagar city, for safety reasons there was some power curtailment as accumulated snow was falling down from rooftops posing danger to transmission lines and human life. The situation was expected to improve by tomorrow. All essential loads like hospitals and dewatering stations stood charged and consumers in the Valley had been supplied 105 lakh units of power on Wednesday.

The situation on the water supply front was described as satisfactory even as it was further improving with restoration of electricity to the water supply plants in different parts of the Valley. Officials claimed that all the dewatering stations in Srinagar were functional and there was no problem of drinking water in Srinagar.

The Chief Minister enquired about the stock position of food supplies and cooking gas. He was told that enough food and LPG stocks were available in the Valley. There was no scarcity of essential supplies anywhere in Kashmir including the inaccessible areas like Gurez, Tangdhar and Tulel where winter stocking had been made in time. The LPG stock position was expected to be further beefed up with the arrival of the tankers enroute to the Valley. About 1,000 trucks and 200 small vehicles were blocked on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. The Beacon was clearing the snow on either side of the Jawahar Tunnel even as the Panthal was behaving.

The Chief Minister complimented the divisional administration for taking "adequate and timely measures" in mitigating the people's problems . He said various departments had for the first time worked with perfect coordination resulting in "quick response" to the situation. He asked the officers to keep constant vigil on the situation as there was forecast of more snow in Kashmir.

LeT ultra surrenders, 2 Pakistanis escape

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 7: A top militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) today surrendered before Special Operations Group (SOG) Jammu along with explosive devices. He had gone from Mahore to Sunderbani to receive a group of infiltrators, who were trapped by Army and police and four of them were killed.

Finding himself trapped on way back to Mahore, the militant surrendered before the SOG, official sources said.

He has been identified as Showkat Ali alias Abu Haroon (set code Victor 6), 24, son of Ghulam Hussain R/o Dewal, Mahore in Reasi district.

The militant surrendered before SP Operations (Jammu) Mubassar Lateefi under the supervision of DIG Jammu range Lalat Indu Mohanty and SSP Jammu Parminder Singh.

He handed over two grenades, one AK magazine and 15 rounds at the time of surrender.

During his preliminary questioning, Abu Haroon has disclosed that he trekked down from Mahore and Budhal and reached Kali Dhar forest range in Sunderbani sector along with two Pakistani ultras Abu Abdullah and Abu Hamas to receive a group of infiltrators.

However, both groups of intruders were trapped by Army and police at two different places in Sunderbani in which four militants have so far been killed while a search and cordon operation was on to eliminate or apprehend others.

Finding the intruders trapped, Abu Hamas and Abu Abdullah disappeared from Kali Dhar forests and were reported to have reached back to upper reaches in Mahore. However, Abu Haroon was trapped. Getting a report, a team of SOG Jammu also reached Sunderbani and finally succeeded in motivating the militant to surrender.

Though Abu Haroon has visited Jammu for the first time, sources said he knew some Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of LeT outfit, who were active in Jammu and outskirts. Haroon was being used to identify LeT’s OGW network and sleeper cells, sources said.

Besides grenades and AK rounds, police have also recovered, a mobile telephone bearing No. 9419379909 from the possession of surrendered militant.

Abu Haroon has also disclosed that a total of 20 militants were operating in Mahore-Darhal belt—12 of whom belonged to LeT and 8 to Hizbul Mujahideen outfit. The Lashkar militants were being commandeered by Abu Mohd while Mohd Saqib was heading Hizbul group.

According to him, the militants who had infiltrated from Sunderbani sector also had to operate in Mahore-Darhal belt.

Stranded passengers protest at Bus Stand
NH still closed, alert in avalanche prone areas

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 7: With no sigh of relief from continuous snowfall and rains, the administration has sounded an alert in the avalanche prone areas of all the districts particularly in Ramban, Kishtwar, Bhaderwah and Doda whileas the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed for 5th consecutive day today.

Even the air service to the summer capital of the State remained affected for the second day today as only Spicejet operated its one flight but with much difficulties.

Official sources said that with avalanches taking place in the Shetani Nullah, Jordi and Neel areas of the Ramban district on the intervening night of February 5 and 6, the divisional administration this morning sounded alert in all the avalanche prone areas of Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar, Bhaderwah, Udhampur, Poonch, Rajouri and Kathua.

Through different sources of communication particularly security forces personnel, the administration has asked the people to move out of the avalanche prone areas and take shelter in safer zones, sources further said, adding even the security forces personnel deployed in such areas have been directed to leave units which falls in avalanche prone areas.

"The risk of avalanches will increase with the fair weather conditions in the coming days", Divisional Commissioner Jammu Sudhanshu Pandey said while confirming that avalanche alert has been sounded in districts of Ramban, Kishtwar, Doda, Poonch, Rajouri and Kathua. He disclosed that though three avalanches took place in Neel, Shetani Nullah and Jordi areas of the Ramban district yet there was no loss of life or major damage.

Mr Pandey further disclosed that about 100 people have been shifted out of the avalanche prone areas in different districts since yesterday.

Meanwhile, the inclement weather continued to keep the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway closed for the 5th consecutive day today thereby increasing the miseries of the about 1700 stranded passengers and truckers.

"The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is watching the weather situation with crossed fingers as due to continuous snowfall and rains road clearance work could not be started even today", SSP Traffic, National Highway, Danish Rana said, adding "the highway has been blocked from Patnitop onwards to Qazigund due to accumulation of heavy snow".

He said that even if the weather improves the clearance of all the stranded passenger vehicles as well as trucks will take time of two days as threat of avalanches will increase with the improvement in the weather conditions and utmost precautions will have to be taken while allowing vehicles on the highway.

Mr Rana disclosed that even Doda-Batote, Doda-Kishtwar, Doda-Bhaderwah, Ramban-Gool and Banihal-Neel road continue to remain closed due to accumulation of snow. Reports said that several roads of Kathua district were also closed due to snow.

Though Spicejet operated one of its flights to Srinagar today following little bit improvement in the visibility yet the other flights stayed cancelled, Airport Authority of India (AAI) Jammu Director G Chandermoli said.

Notwithstanding the fact that administration has initiated several steps to provide succour to the stranded passengers and truckers from the inhospitable weather conditions, the miseries of such people have been increasing due to continued snowfall and rains.

Even the passengers stranded at General Bus Stand, here held protest demonstration over inadequate arrangements for them despite the fact that they have gone out of money during their five day long stay. Shouting slogans against the administration, they alleged hike in essential commodities.

"I along with my mother returned from Delhi on Tuesday morning after she got her medical check up done but we got struck here. Limited amount has left with us to spend on food and there seems to be no hope of opening of the National Highway shortly", Mushtaq Ahmed from Anantnag said.

However, the administration claimed that special food and accommodation arrangements have been made for the stranded passengers. Free meal is being served to them at the bus stand as it may take another couple of days to resume traffic on the highway, an official spokesman said.

Later, in the evening Additional Deputy Commissioner Jammu I A Zargar, Dinesh Gupta of Red Cross Society and SP City North Sanjay Kotwal, on the directions of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, visited General Bus Stand and distributed 50 blankets among the needy persons.

They also got four halls of JDA opened for the stranded passengers particularly children, women and aged persons.

Left says no to petro price hike

NEW DELHI, Feb 7: Stepping up pressure on stalling any move to hike petroleum prices, Left parties today asked the Government to restructure the tax structure, re-impose capital gains tax and set up a Farmers Debt Relief Commission.

"Rather than increasing the retail prices of petro products, the Government should initiate the long-pending restructuring of the indirect tax structure on petroleum," CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat told reporters here.

Forward Bloc secretary Debabrata Biswas was seen sitting for the first time after the killing of six of his party activists in West Bengal on Tuesday in a police firing along with his CPI(M) and CPI counterparts Karat and A B Bardhan, and RSP leader Abani Roy, at a press conference to release their joint pre-Budget memorandum.

Presenting their budget proposals, they also wanted higher allocation for food subsidy, education, healthcare and other social sectors and sought doing away with the "exhorbitant" tax concessions to corporates in SEZs.

The Left leaders also demanded an increase of Rs 60,000 crore in the gross budgetary support over last year.

"The Left parties have always opposed unjustified and anti-development provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budgetary Management (FRBM) Act. Under no circumstances should the FRBM deficit targets be allowed to constraint plan expenditure in 2008-09 budget," Karat said.

Seeking enhancement of public expenditure in agriculture, he said Government should constitute a Farmers Debt Relief Commission, "which will write off the debt for small and marginal farmers across the country."

"Government must address the real and urgent problems facing the people, especially the agrarian crisis, unemployment and price rise.

"There are also key commitments of National Common Minimum Programme which are yet to be taken up or adequately implemented," Karat said.

Pointing towards severe agrarian crisis, the CPI(M) leader said simple interest rate of 4 per cent should be charged on farm loans as recommended by the National Commission on Farmers, headed by Prof M S Swaminathan.

He said the Government should revert back to the earlier provision of universal public distribution system and raise food subsidy in the budget.

Besides seeking higher allocation for education, health, schemes like Bharat Nirman and Rural Employment, the Left parties also demanded "decisive steps" to implement the recommendations of Sachar Committee on upliftment of Muslims.

Referring to the volatility in the stock markets, they also wanted reintroduction of long term capital gains tax and an increase in the rate of short-term capital gains tax to dampen the inflow of "speculative capital in the stock market."

They also sought an increase in the rate of securities transaction tax.

Karat said the resources have to be mobilised by taxing profits and capital gains, "which are increasing at rates many times faster than the overall growth of the national income."

"Myriad tax concessions to corporates and affluent sections, which are nothing but subsidies to the rich, should be progressively eliminated in the backdrop of growing income inequalities," Karat said.

He asked the Government not to be "obsessed" with the growth rate and instead concentrate on redistributing the benefits of growth to all sections of people.(PTI)

UK sleuths in Pak for Bhutto probe

ISLAMABAD, Feb 7: A team from Britain’s Scotland Yard probing the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto will submit its report to the Pakistani authorities this week.

The three-member team of British detectives arrived at the airport here on a British Airways flight this morning. They were received by officials of the British High Commission and whisked away amidst tight security.

A strong police contingent escorted the British team, which refused to talk to waiting journalists.

Pakistani officials said the team will submit a report on its findings in Bhutto’s murder to the Interior Ministry this week.

A group of forensic, computer and explosives experts from the Counter-Terrorism Command of Britain’s Metropolitan Police had come to Pakistan on January 4 after President Pervez Musharraf sought Scotland Yard’s help to probe Bhutto’s assassination.

Bhutto was killed in a suicide attack after addressing an election rally in Rawalpindi on December 27. Musharraf blamed Pakistani Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud of masterminding the assassination, but the militant leader denied the charge through his spokesman.

Last month, Pakistani authorities in the northwestern town of Dera Ismail Khan arrested 15-year-old Aitzaz Shah, who claimed he was part of a five-member suicide squad sent by Mehsud to target Bhutto. Authorities are currently trying to corroborate his claims.

The Scotland Yard team spent a little more than two weeks in the country, during which the British experts visited the site at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi where Bhutto was attacked, reviewed forensic and technical evidence and questioned eyewitnesses and doctors who treated her.

They also reconstructed the attack on Bhutto several times.

Caretaker Interior Minister Hamad Nawaz Khan has said that the Government had asked the British team to submit its report before the February 18 general election. He also said the report would be made public.

According to the terms of the agreement between the British and Pakistani Governments, the Scotland Yard team was asked to ascertain the exact cause of Bhutto’s death. This had become a matter of controversy after Pakistani authorities initially suggested she had died after striking her head against the sunroof of her armoured vehicle.

The Pakistan People’s Party and media reports, however, said she died of bullet wounds. Musharraf later admitted that it was possible that Benazir might have been shot.

The PPP has sought a UN-led probe into her death but the Government has rejected this. The PPP also said only a UN-led inquiry would expose the "hidden hands" behind Bhutto’s assassination. (PTI)

600 militants infiltrate last year
Ultras have sleeper cells in major cities: DGP

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Feb 7: Turmoil in Pakistan following spurt in suicide attacks including assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto notwithstanding, there has been no let up in infiltration of militants into the State from Pakistan.

The number of militants, who managed to infiltrate into this side during 2007, stood between 550-600 almost equal to the number in 2006, Director General of Police (DGP), Kuldeep Khoda told Excelsior.

This year too has begun with a series of intrusion bids including two attempts in Sunderbani and one in Mendhar sector in which seven infiltrators were killed while an equal number of them might have succeeded in infiltration.

"Terrorist bases and infrastructure in Pakistan was intact and effective, which they have demonstrated by killing Benazir Bhutto and other subversive activities in Pakistan. Incidents in Pakistan clearly indicated that militants were present there and indulging in violence", Mr Khoda pointed out.

He asserted that once the situation settles down in Pakistan after February 18 elections and if post-election Government in that country didn’t tackle hard-liners effectively there is every possibility that militants will increase their activities not only in Jammu and Kashmir but other parts of the country as well.

"Syed Salahuddin, Mushtaq Latram and other Kashmiri militants continue to train militants in training camps in PoK and Pakistan with all their support base intact", the State police chief said, adding they were not expecting any let up in infiltration this year.

"Rather 2008 being the election year, we are anticipating infiltration and violence to go up", he said but added that police and security forces were fully geared to meet with the situation.

Quoting Intelligence inputs, Mr Khoda said it was not only Jammu and Kashmir but other major cities of the country which were on the target of militants operating from Pakistan. New Delhi, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Trivandram and Jaipur were already on hit list of the militants where they have made their presence felt.

Militants have sleeper cells in many parts of the country, which were activated as and when required. Though many such sleeper cells have been busted, many others remained intact, he added.

"We are not optimistic that there was any change of thinking among militants outfits. Intelligence inputs were that the militants want to go ahead with their plans", the DGP said but added that police have achieved a series of successes during last month by eliminating a number of militants including top commanders like Rawal Bhat, Saba Hijaji etc.

All these surgical operations, based on specific inputs, were conducted mostly by police with the assistance of security forces

"Successes of police and security forces have given us a hope that we will overcome militancy", he said.

Mr Khoda observed that post-February 18 situation in Pakistan will also have an impact on the situation in this part of the State. "Whether the Government which assumes office in Pakistan is moderate and anti-terrorists, neutral to terrorists or supporter of terrorists and what role Gen Pervez Musharraf plays after the elections will also determine Pakistan’s stand vis-a-vis terrorism. New Pakistan army chief Gen Kiyani is maintaining status quo as far as Pakistan army’s role in militancy was concerned", he said.

Centre extends ban on SIMI

NEW DELHI, Feb 7: The Government today decided to extend the ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) for its anti-national activities.

The Cabinet Committee on Security decided to ban the organisation for indulging in acts of terrorism and anti-national activities. SIMI has been banned for clandestine activities and links with many terror organisations through which it was allegedly operating.

SIMI was earlier banned by the Home Ministry by notification dated February 2006 for the third time. It was first banned on September 27, 2001 immediately after the bombing of twin towers of the World Trade Centre at New York, US, on September 11. SIMI remained banned from September 27, 2001 to September 27, 2003 during which period several prosecutions were launched against its members under the provisions of Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Prevention Act (TADA), the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), and the Unlawful Activities Preventions Act 1967. In fact, the second ban of SIMI on September 9, 2003 came to an end on September 27, 2005. (UNI)

State Cabinet meets tomorrow

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 7: The State Cabinet is meeting here on February 9 morning under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

The Cabinet meeting, scheduled for 10.30 am on Saturday, will discuss the situation arising out of heavy snowfall and rains across the State which has badly affected normal life.

In addition, the Cabinet will also take up routine administrative agenda.

Fresh NBW against Hurriyat supporter

NEW DELHI, Feb 7: A court here today issued a fresh Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) against Dubai-based money exchanger, an alleged supporter of Kashmiri separatist outfit Hurriyat, who jumped parole after being arrested with two kgs RDX and Rs 55 lakh.

Additional Sessions Judge of Tis Hazari Court issued the NBW against Nasir Safi Mir for March 18.

The court had earlier on several occasions, including December 18 last year, issued NBW against Mir but the police failed to produce him.

The court had earlier forfeited the surety amount of Rs one lakh and directed the police to intensify search for him as he had jumped parole.

Mir was arrested by the Delhi Police in February, 2006, while indulging in a Rs 55-lakh transaction with a Delhi-based jeweller. He was also found carrying two kilograms of RDX with electronic timer, a detonator, a pistol and some magazines.

Mir was out on parole following repeated requests made by his family to the court citing medical problems.

The public prosecutor in the case earlier argued before the court that action should be taken against Mir otherwise it would set a bad precedent.

Dubai-based 37-year-old Mir, who owns up carpet showroom and money exchange firms in the gulf, was considered a prize catch by the Delhi Police following a well-executed operation by the Central security agencies.

According to the police files, Mir was spotted publicly with Hurriyat’s moderate leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in a five-star hotel in south Delhi in the month of November, 2007.(PTI)

PN Jalali passes away

Excelsior Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Feb 7: P N Jalali, a veteran journalist from Jammu and Kashmir passed away following a heart attack, here today.

Jalali, 81, is survived by his only son, Rahul Jalali who is also in journalistic profession.

He was ailing for some time and was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Batra Hospital New Delhi for the last 10 days. Various political leaders, including Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad and journalist fraternity have expressed profound grief over Jalali’s demise.

In a condolence message, Mr Azad recalled contribution of late Jalali to the promotion of Journalism in Jammu and Kashmir State and conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved family.

On behalf of the Chief Minister, a wreath was also laid on the body of departed journalist at his New Delhi residence.

Dr Farooq Abdullah, former Chief Minister and patron, National Conference has also expressed grief and sorrow over the demise of Jalali.

Jalali, who started his journalistic career in early 1960’s and retired as Bureau chief of PTI in Jammu and Kashmir was now settled in the national capital.

His cremation will take place at Nigam Bodh Ghat, New Delhi on Saturday.

Police firing in Bhatindi, 2 held

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 7: Police opened firing in air to disperse two groups, led by two brothers, who were subjecting each other to heavy stone pelting on dispute over a house, at Jalalabad in Bhatindi area late this evening.

Police said two brothers, Haroon Choudhary and Junaid Choudhary who had a dispute over a house at Jalalabad clashed using stones and bricks. Both of them were joined by their supporters.

A police party rushed to the spot which was also subjected to stone pelting by the two groups. Police fired few shots in air to disperse both the groups.

Later, Haroon Choudhary and Junaid Choudhary were arrested by police. A FIR was lodged against them under Sections 451, 452, 336 and 427 RPC for further investigations.

Two killed, 32 rescued from snow avalanche

SRINAGAR : Two persons was killed while 32 others were rescued after being trapped in a snow avalanche at Gulabbagh on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway today.

Six mud houses were buried under a snow avalanche at Gulabbagh village in lower Munda area of Anantnag district following heavy snowfall over the past few days, official sources said.

While the body of a man identified as Mohammad Shafi was recovered from one of the houses, 32 persons were rescued by police.

Two persons-Razia Chechi and Mohammad Yaqoob-were rescued in an injured condition.

Earlier, official sources said thirty people were feared killed in the avalanche.

In another incident, a woman identified as Sitara Begum was killed when her house came under a snow avalanche at Tanchi village in Gurez sector of Bandipora district, the sources said.

Two persons were still trapped inside the house under the heaps of snow and efforts were on to rescue them, they said.

A police spokesman said police received information that a residential structure had collapsed at Gulabbagh, which had received more that 11 feet of snow during last three days.A tunnel had to be dug through the snow to rescue the trapped persons.

Meanwhile, in view of a threat of avalanche in Kishtawar district, police has evacuated 20 families comprising 122 members from Tirday village of the district.

They have been lodged in government buildings and police barracks in the area and have been given rations and blankets.Some more people from other villages would also be shifted from avalanche prone areas in the district. (PTI)

Highway, inter-district roads closed for 6th day

JAMMU : The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway continued to remain closed for sixth consecutive day today due to heavy snowfall in the area.

"The highway is closed due to heavy snowfall and landslides at Jawahar Tunnel, Ramban, Patnitop. Over 1700 vehicles carrying over 4000 persons, mostly truckers were stranded on the highway," official sources said.

The Border Road Organisation (BRO) authorities have pressed in services 19 bulldozers, 5 snow cutters and 5 motor graders for clearance operation in Kud-Patnitop-Ramban-Jawahar Tunnel in Lower Munda belt of the highway.

Over 300 employees of Border Road Task Force (BRTF) have been engaged into the job of highway clearence, they said, adding the incessant snowfall is making the task difficult.

All the inter-district roads — Batote-Doda, Doda-Kishtwar, Rajouri-Poonch are blocked due to snowfall, they said, adding over 400 vehicles are stranded on these roads at different places.

Heavy snowfall was continuing in Pir Panjal ranges including, Kishtwar, Banihal, Ramban, Bhaderwah, Bani, Mandi, Dharal, Gool, Mahore in Jammu region.

About seven and a half feet snow had accumulated near Jawahar Tunnel, Bhaderwah town, 4 and half feet in Kishtwar town, Mandi, Darhal, Bhudal and over 13 feet in upper reaches of Bhaderwah and Kishtwar belts, they said.

A Disaster Management Control room has been set up at district headquarters in Ramban for monitoring the situation and undertaking relief operations for stranded passengers.

Continuous snowfall have triggered 3 avalanches at Nashiri and Banihal area on the highway, they said, adding that a avalanche warning has been issued in these places.

After week long rains in Jammu city, sun shone brightly today amid snow-chilly winds still triggering cold conditions. (PTI)