Jawans return with gifts, sweets
Pak army’s 3 wrestlers repatriated from Octroi

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 11: The Border Security Force (BSF) today repatriated three sportsmen (wrestlers) of Pakistan army, who had inadvertently crossed over to this side of the international boundary yesterday afternoon, in a flag meeting-cum-exchange ceremony held at Octroi post in Suchetgarh area of RS Pura sector.

All three wrestlers of Pakistan army’s 19 Punjab unit, headquartered at Sialkot, were handed over to Pakistan army officers and Rangers by a BSF team headed by DIG BSF Frontier G S Virk from Octroi post at 3.30 pm in the presence of some media persons and local people.

The wrestlers Nasir Ahmed, Amzad Farooq and Syed Zia-ul-Shah, aged between 24 and 26, were all praise for the hospitality shown to them by the BSF before leaving the Indian territory.

"We never felt that we were in a neighbouring country and that too with whom we used to exchange bullets just four years back", Syed Zia-ul-Shah said in his brief inter-action before the mediamen as he prepared to leave Indian side in less than 24 hours after he along with his two colleagues were taken into custody for entering this side of the international border.

"It was a good gesture on the part of BSF. We didn’t feel away from our country. It was a good hospitality", he added.

All three Pakistan army personnel were handed over to their army and Rangers along with gifts and sweets. Pakistan army officers and Rangers, who were led by Chenab Rangers Sector Commander, Ahid Muzaffar Shah, were visibly happy as their jawans had been restored to them in less than 24 hours of illegally crossing the border, albeit inadvertently.

At 4.45 pm yesterday, the BSF jawans had observed movement of three Pakistan armymen near fencing on the international border and took them into custody. They were taken to Muralian camp of the BSF and subjected to questioning during which they disclosed that they were warming up along the border when they crossed over to this side by mistake.

BSF authorities here took up the matter with their top brass in New Delhi and it was late in the night decided that the trio would be repatriated to Pakistan army today. Pakistan army was accordingly informed and a flag meeting-cum-exchange ceremony was arranged at Octroi post at 3.30 pm where all three jawans were given a "warm sendoff" with gifts and sweets.

This was for the first time that Pakistan armymen had infiltrated to this side inadvertently from international border after outbreak of militancy two decades ago. Also, this was for the first time that three infiltrators from Pakistan side were repatriated in less than 24 hours with sweets and gifts.

"This was an indication of strengthening relations between the two countries", official sources commented.

Four years back, Indo-Pak security officials used to meet to hand over bodies or repatriated civilians in a tense atmosphere sans media glare and public. This time, it was a totally different situation with security officials of the two sides shaking hands and meeting in a joyful mood for quite sometime and the "intruders" being restored to Pakistan side with sweets and gifts.

Suchetgarh used to witness heavy exchange of gun fighting till four years back before a cease-fire on borders came into force in November 2003.

Meanwhile, security forces today captured six Myanmar nationals when they were trying to exfiltrate to Pakistan from Alla Mai De Kothe village in RS Pura sector early this morning.

After preliminary questioning, security forces handed over them to police.

129 cross sides on LoC

Excelsior Correspondent

POONCH, Feb 11: One hundred and twenty nine civilians today crossed Line of Control (LoC) on Poonch-Rawlakot bus service from Chakkan-Da-Bagh in this district.

While 81 persons travelled from Poonch to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), 48 boarded the bus from PoK to Poonch, official sources said.

Out of 81 civilians, who travelled from Poonch to PoK, 29 were first timers visiting from this side to PoK to meet divided families and relatives while 52 were PoK citizens who went back homes after spending two fortnights on this side.

Among 48 persons who came to Poonch from PoK, 21 arrived here from PoK to meet their relatives while 27 were J&K citizens who returned after spending a month in PoK.

The LoC remained open from 11.50 am to 7.15 pm. J&K side was represented by Matloob Khan, GM DIC and Rajinder Singh, DySP DAR while from PoK side ACR PoK Guftar Choudhary was present.

Militancy on decline: IG CRPF

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Feb 11: The toll of militants in the Valley has decreased and presently it is less than thousand which is lowest since inception of militancy, according to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) – which is operating as counter insurgency force in the Kashmir valley

"According to our intelligence inputs, present number of militants in the Valley is 450," MS Gupta, IG CRPF Kashmir – Operations said. But it is a floating population and they are always on move. The maximum number could be upto 950. They (militants) are always on move.

The IGP – Operations who was briefing the press about recent encounters in which many militants including Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) "financial chief" and "divisional commander" for south Kashmir Hanief Khan got killed, said the inclusion of local youth in militancy has also plummeted upto minimum. "This year the local recruitment in militancy was very minimal, 30 – 40 in entire Valley", he said.

Mr Gupta, when asked if the militancy in Valley decreased would they return to barracks, replied that this was not right time for that. "First let the normalcy prevails completely here. And after a peaceful election is held then we can think over it," he said. The IGP hailed the intelligence and operations conducted during last few days and said this was a major success for CRPF in the State. He said the killing of Hanief Khan, an active militant from past 14 years and involved in many killings, was an important success.

"Killing of Hanief Khan, who evaded the security forces many times, has broken the back bone of HM in the Valley. The encounter held at Noorpora Tral was held on strong intelligence inputs and was conducted with complete perfection with minimum collateral damage and use of weapons", he said.

"Hanief Khan was the Kingpin of HM and was managing funding and logistics while as other militant killed with him, Javed Iqbal Wani was master mind in launching IED blasts", said Mr Gupta. About another incident, the IGP said, a Pakistani militant of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Usman Tunda was killed in Hardi Shiva Sopore and huge cache of ammunition was recovered from him. In today's, encounter at Palhalan Pattan in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, Mr Gupta said, this was another blow to the militant outfit, Hizbul Mujahideen.

Day 3: 531 civilians, 300 troops airlifted
All stranded vehicles on NH cleared; down convoy today

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 11: With Traffic Police clearing almost all the stranded vehicles from the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway till late this evening, there will be down convoy of both passenger and load carriers tomorrow. The Indian Air Force (IAF), however, continued airlifting of the stranded passengers and troops on the third day today.

SSP Traffic, National Highway, Danish Rana told the EXCELSIOR that all the stranded passenger vehicles as well as entire fresh traffic of the Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) from the Jammu was cleared today. Even 1000 trucks carrying essential commodities to Srinagar successfully crossed the Jawahar Tunnel till late this evening.

"Since we have taken permission from the authorities manning the Jawahar Tunnel to operate traffic throughout the night, the fresh load carriers would also successfully reach the another side of the tunnel by tomorrow morning", he further said.

He, however, said that the vehicle operators faced lots of hardships due to the slippery conditions all along the highway because of the snow particularly in the morning and evening hours. "Because of the increased pressure from the vehicles coming from Doda, there was massive traffic jam on the highway from Batote to Patnitop", he added.

Mr Rana disclosed that there would be down convoy (Srinagar to Jammu) of Light Motor Vehicles as well Load Carriers tomorrow and no vehicle will be allowed from Jammu to Srinagar. However, the vehicles from Doda district will also be allowed to proceed towards Jammu.

As all the stranded vehicles have been cleared, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) will be able to continue snow clearance operation and hopefully within another two to three days the highway would be reopened for both way traffic, the SSP Traffic said.

Meanwhile, on the third day of Operation Humsafar, the Indian Air Force (IAF) airlifted 531 civilians and 300 troops from Udhampur and Jammu air base.

Defence spokesman said that 300 security forces personnel were airlifted from Jammu to Srinagar while 275 civilians were shifted to Jammu from Srinagar in one sortie each of IL-76 and AN-32 planes.

From Udhampur air base, 256 stranded passengers were airlifted to Srinagar in five sorties. The first sortie of IAF plane (AN-32) airlifted 50 passengers from Udhampur air-field, the spokesman said.

According to the Defence spokesman, in all 1067 stranded passengers were airlifted to Srinagar from Udhampur in three days under Operation Humsafar.

2 CRPF jawans killed, 9 hurt

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Feb 11: Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans were killed and nine others injured in a road accident at Pantha Chowk on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway early this morning.

An official spokesman said that the vehicle, carrying CRPF personnel from Pulwama to airport, skidded off the road due to slippery conditions and turned turtle when the driver was negotiating a curve at Pantha Chowk early this morning.

One jawan identified as Avtar Singh died on the spot and 10 others, including driver, were injured. The injured personnel were admitted to hospital where another Constable Pritesh Singh died. They were going on leave.

The CRPF personnel were going to airport to board an Indian Air Force flight for Jammu.

Migrants Colony on forest land
DB admits petition, issues notice to CM, others

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 11: Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice K S Radhakrishnan and Justice Hakim Imtiyaz Hussain today admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging establishment of Kashmiri Muslim Migrant Colony on forest land and issued notices to Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, Commissioner Secretary Forest, Chief Conservator of Forests, Chairman of Jammu Development Authority (JDA) and DFO Social Forestry Division. The DB also directed respondents to file counter affidavit within a period of four weeks.

The PIL was filed by Chairman of National Panthers Party (NPP) chairman Bhim Singh wherein it was alleged that 623 kanals and 10 marlas of forest land is being transferred to JDA for establishment of Kashmiri Muslim Migrant Colony.

It was also alleged in the PIL that Chief Minister to please his party men and disgruntled associates found a novel project to built Kashmiri Muslim Migrants Colony and one million people of the State have been made to suffer by the destruction of forest and greenery around the city.

It has also been submitted that Supreme Court judgement prohibiting the destruction of forests or trees from the forest land is applicable to the Jammu and Kashmir. The petitioner sought indulgence of the Court to protect the fundamental rights of the people by way of quashing the Government Order dated June 10, 1998.

After hearing Advocate B B Kotwal appearing for the PIL, Advocate General A H Naik appearing for the Chief Minister and State respondents and Advocate Adarsh Sharma appearing for the JDA, the Division Bench issued notices to Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, Commissioner Secretary Forest, Chief Conservator of Forests, Chairman of Jammu Development Authority (JDA) and DFO Social Forestry Division and also directed them to file counter affidavit within a period of four weeks.

Meanwhile, in a writ petition seeking equal treatment with the employees of Forest Department of Jammu division, Justice Nirmal Singh of State High Court directed the respondents to file detailed affidavit indicating whether the daily wagers/ adhoc employees working in Forest Department in Kashmir Division were regularized after 1998. If they have been regularized then the official respondents have also to indicate as to on what basis they were regularized.

The petitioner submitted in the Court that he was engaged in the Forest Department on daily wages in 1994 and was seeking regularization on the analogy of the private respondents being senior to them.

Additional Advocate General Seema Shekhar appearing for the State submitted that the private respondents have been illegally appointed on adhoc basis. She also produced communication dated October 10, 2001 of the GAD whereby the Commissioner/ Secretary to Forest Department was asked that 107 temporary appointments made without any prior sanction, should be discontinued immediately through speaking order. It was further directed that the concerned officer, who had exceeded his jurisdiction, should also be charged-sheeted by the Department under rules.

Senior Advocate D C Raina appearing for the private respondents argued that 107 temporary appointments made without any prior sanction, have not been discontinued. He further submitted that some of private respondents were appointed on daily wages and some were appointed on adhoc basis. Their cases have been recommended for regularization on the analogy of their counter-parts working in Kashmir Division.

He also placed on record some documents indicating that the counter-parts of the private respondents working in Kashmir Division have been regularized, even though they are similarly situated.

After hearing both sides, Justice Nirmal Singh directed AAG to keep the record of all the candidates ready on the next date of hearing who have been regularized after 1998. The Court in the meanwhile directed official respondents to file status report of the action taken by the GAD vide Communication dated October 10, 2001.

Pre-conceived mindset needs change: Baig

MUMBAI, Feb 11: Holding tourism to be the most solidifying coherent element next to language, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig said that it would be the most fiercely competed sector along with information technology in the next couple of decades.

"People can’t help tourism. The issue is not primarily tourism, it is the search to explore the unknown. People want to know different challenges, unexplored terrain and unknown languages. So it is the process of yearning to know more that drives tourism," he said here late last evening while addressing a seminar on "Kashmir: A Dream Destination Awaits You," organised by the Travel Agents Society of Kashmir (TASK).

Allaying the apprehensions that tourists were not safe in the State, Mr Baig, who also holds the tourism portfolio, said that those who raise the bogey of terrorism or consider it as a handicap have a pre-conceived mindset, which needs to be changed.

"At times in many parts of the world peace gets shattered. Kashmir has certainly been under cloud for some time, but today it is as safe as any other place in the country could be," he assured the gathering.

Stating that peace was essential for tourism and vice-versa, Mr Baig said that a "state of despair and helplessness" had been a major factor in the past in driving away the tourists to this one of the most sought after tourist destination in the world.

"A right kind of beginning has to be made. As the development takes place, it will catch with peace and security," he observed.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that there are always voices of discontent, however, the interest of tourism undoubtedly comes first and then come the political compulsions.

He admitted that the State was lacking in infrastructure, but added that it was still not a hopeless situation.

Expressing hope that the wall of "hatred" between the two south Asian neighbours, India and Pakistan, was bound to demolish, the Deputy Chief Minister said that even Pakistan, cannot afford the burden of "gin of violence" on its shoulders any longer.

"Militancy has to end one day, and India and Pakistan are bound to come together. Pakistan is getting weakened from inside and they will no more tolerate this gin," he said. (UNI)

No FIR as police officers pass buck
Saga of a missing file for 7 yrs

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Feb 11: Saga of an important file, which went missing from the District Magistrate’s office nearly seven years back, has refused to die down with police authorities pulling in different directions. While a section of police has recommended registration of a FIR against DM’s official and three Investigating Officers (IOs) of Domana police station, another section wants the request (for registration of a case) to come from the present District Magistrate as the file had gone missing from his office.

On the advantage of missing file is an alleged criminal, who has escaped severe punishment as the sanction for his challan remained elusive due to the missing file leading the accused going scot free. An unlicensed pistol of the accused is also lying unaccounted in Domana police station, according to sources.

The story began in 2001 with the arrest of a criminal Balbir Singh alias Billoo under FIR No. 191/2001 of Domana police station under Section 3/25 Arms Act. The youth was arrested with an unlicensed pistol for his involvement in some undesirable activities.

His file for obtaining necessary sanction of the District Magistrate before presenting a challan in the court of law was made at Domana police station in 2003 and sent to DM's Office but the file never came back. After repeated inquiries, the IO of Domana police station, Mohd Aslam, who was now dead, came to know that the file had gone missing in the office of District Magistrate. It was later officially conveyed to police authorities that the file had been missing and that a duplicate file be sent for DM’s sanction.

By the time, the duplicate file was prepared and sent to the DM’s office, three years had passed after registration of the case. The then DM refused to give sanction to prosecute alleged criminal on the ground that maximum punishment in the case (in which sanction was sought against the accused) was three years and that time has passed.

In the absence of sanction, the accused went scot free but an unlicensed pistol recovered from him kept lying at Domana police station, listed as an "unaccounted weapon".

Then began the police inquiry into delay in pursuing the case including making of duplicate file for seeking sanction to prosecute the accused. After a long gap, police authorities finally wrote to concerned officials for registration of a FIR against three police officials, all of whom had served as IOs of the case and judicial clerk of DM’s office in whose tenure the file had gone missing, at Pir Mitha police station.

Out of three IOs whose name figured in the letter for registration of a case, one of them was presently serving as SHO of a police station in City South’s jurisdiction while another one had died and the third one had retired from services.

The case was recommended for registration at Pir Mitha police station since the file went missing from DM’s office, which falls under the jurisdiction of that police station. The FIR was recommended about five months back.

However, local police authorities have refused to register the FIR on the ground that request for it must come from DM’s office as the file had been missing from his office.

Retd DySP's son opens firing

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 11: Son of a retired DySP created panic in Gujjar Nagar this afternoon when he started firing from his father’s 12 bore licensed weapon from a room of his house after bolting it from inside.

Panic gripped Lower Gujjar Nagar at 12.30 pm when 32 year old Mehmood Naseer son of retired DySP Din Mohd Choudhary bolted him inside the room and started firing from 12 bore gun from the window.

One after the other, he fired three shots from the weapon but luckily they didn’t hit anyone.

DySP City Sawtantar Arora along with SHO Pir Mitha Showkat Ahmed, SI Aijaz Ahmed and SI Mohd Tariq rushed to the house and laid a cordon. As the youth was mentally unsound and was also undergoing the treatment of Psychiatrist Dr Jagdish Thappa, police had to make a lot of efforts to persuade the youth to stop firing and come out.

The youth was arrested and his weapon was seized. A case has been registered against him at Pir Mitha police station for investigations.

Sanjay marries Manyata

MUMBAI, Feb 11: Film star Sanjay Dutt and his girlfriend Manyata today solemnised their marriage as per the Hindu rituals in a simple ceremony at her residence in suburban Versova.

After the ceremony at Andheri, a beaming Dutt asked the media, "Are you happy with my marriage?". On getting an affirmative reply, he thanked the media and said, I am also very happy and I thank you for the positive support".

When asked about his daughter Trishala’s reaction, Dutt paused and said, "she is happy".

However, Manyata fell short of words to express her emotion and said, "I am so happy that I don’t have words to express".

According to industry sources, Sanjay married Manyata at a five star hotel in Goa on February 7 under the Special Marriage Act in few close friends as witness.

Dutt, whose second marriage to model Rhea Pillai ended in a divorce, is now on bail pending appeal in the Supreme Court in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.

Priya Dutt said she is happy for her brother but claimed she was not aware of the marriage.

Rumours were rife that Dutt’s sisters did not attend the marriage ceremony as they were not in favour of his alliance with Manyata. However Priya set the record straight.

"I am very happy and will wish him when he comes home," Priya said, who was also surprised with media’s keen interest in her brother’s marital status.

"I don’t think the marriage should be given so much importance. Sanjay and Manyata were seeing each other for a long time. This is just a formality," she said.(PTI)

2 women fail to reach hospital, die

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Feb 11: With the authorities failing to clear snow from a number of roads in Kulgam district in south Kashmir, two women have died today as they failed to reach hospital for medical treatment.

Residents of the snow bound Tangmarg (Aharbal) in Pir Panchal foothills called EXCELSIOR through a mobile phone charged with the help of a solar system today and lamented that two women of the locality had died as the people failed to carry them to hospital for medical treatment. They said that Aayisha Bano W/o Abdul Majid Naik R/o Chak Watoo, Aharbal, breathed her last at village Korel, Aasnoor, when her family members and neighbours were carrying her to a Primary Health Centre in Damhal Hanjipora. They said that Aayisha was suffering from acute anemia and some other cold related diseases.

Residents said that another woman, Hajira W/o Khaliq Rather R/o Tangmarg died at her home before she could be carried to hospital. They complained that the authorities had done nothing to clear the roads and population of over a dozen villagers was completely cut off from rest of the world for last one week now. They identified the other snow bound villagers as Khoori Batpora, Chak Watoo, Watoo, Aharbal, Khazanbal, Tangmarg, Khanpora, Panditpora and Aril.

DC Kulgam, Lateef-uz-Zamaan Deva, responded to a call from this newspaper and he enquired about the two casualties from his subordinate officials. Mr Deva later confirmed that two women had died but he maintained that Hajira had been bed-ridden for the last 18 months. He said that she had died a natural death which could not have been prevented by the authorities. As regards, Aayisha, Mr Deva said that it was unfortunate that she had not been carried to hospital on time.

According to DC Kulgam, two snow-cutters are continuously on the job in Kulgam area and the road has been cleared upto Aril, Nasnoor. He was confident that the road would be made through upto the last village of Tangmarg by tomorrow evening. He claimed that 90% of the road connectivity had been cleared in Kulgam by this evening.

Two HM militants shot dead

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Feb 11: Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including a self-styled commander of the outfit, were killed in a gunbattle with security forces in Baramulla district today.

Acting on a tip off, troops of 29 Rashtriya Rifles assisted by local police cordoned Tantray Mohalla at Palhalan-Pattan, a defence spokesman said.

The militants hiding in a house opened fire at the search party and in the retaliatory action two militants were killed.

One of the slain militant has been identified as a self-styled battalion commander of the outfit for Pattan area, the spokesman said, adding two AK rifles, three under barrel grenade launchers and four hand grenades were recovered from the site of the encounter.