Campus launched in Poonch
Peace process slowed down due to Pak developments: CM

Excelsior Correspondent

POONCH, Feb 15: Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that the path of reconciliation adopted by India and Pakistan was in best interests of the people of two countries, adding but for recent developments in the neighbouring country much headway would have been made by now in bringing about complete amity and peace. He hoped that the situation in Pakistan would soon improve enabling two countries to take the process of dialogue forward. 

Mr Azad was addressing a function after launching the e-learning course for women here today. With this, the Poonch campus of Jammu University has formally started functioning. The new university campus had been announced by Mr. Azad five months ago at a function in this border town. To begin with, 16 girls have been given admission to the course started in the local Government Degree College .

He said that developments in Pakistan during past about a year had slowed down the peace process before which the relations between the two countries had improved significantly. "If the process had moved forward as was envisaged by the leaders on both sides, the situation by now would have seen several exchanges of traders, businessmen and media persons across the LoC. Students from PoK would also have been coming here to pursue studies. Historic developments like opening of cross LoC Poonch-Rawlakote and Uri-Muzaffarabad roads were made possible by the will on both sides to improve mutual relations. This had resulted in peace on the borders and an atmosphere of goodwill and cordiality imperative for development and progress in the region" he said and hoped that the general elections being held in the neighbouring country two days later would pave way for stalled peace process to gain momentum.

Mr. Azad said that Poonch enjoyed a pride of place before 1947. He said being a border district the people here have suffered the hostility between India and Pakistan over the past decades. However, he added, given the atmosphere of cordiality for last five years, people in Poonch as in other border areas, were living a peaceful life. He said his Government was working on a strategy to change the profile of distantly located and neglected areas like Poonch. He said development schemes had been taken up to build and upgrade infrastructure in roads, healthcare, education, water and power supply, tourism and other amenities.

Making a special mention of the development in education sector, the Chief Minister said the coalition Government had opened and upgraded thousands of schools across the State during past five years. He said a record number of 40 new degree colleges were opened to facilitate students of far–flung areas pursue higher studies. He said university campuses were also opened to bring university education to the doorsteps of students in remote areas. Present era being of merit and excellence, the students should work hard to compete in securing good jobs, he added.

Mr Azad said land for the university campus at Poonch had been identified and construction work would start soon. He said the e-learning course started today in the degree college would be shifted to the DIET building vacated by security forces till the new campus infrastructure was ready. The vacated DIET building was being handed over to the Jammu University for renovation and setting up of labs and other required infrastructure following which MBA and MCA courses would be started here. He said emphasis was on introducing subjects with demand in the job market.

Earlier, the Chief Minister visited Loran in Poonch district and took stock of the situation arising out of the heavy snowfall in the area. He asked the administration to focus on snow clearance from roads and village paths. He interacted with the people and assured them that their problems due to heavy snowfall were being addressed. The administration, he said, had been directed to reach out to the affected people and restore connectivity and supply line wherever disrupted. He said estimate of damages due to snowfall was being made by the concerned officials.

LeT militant involved in UP blasts, associate killed

Excelsior Correspondent

PULWAMA, Feb 15: A top Pakistani militant of Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit involved in November 23 blasts in various courts across Uttar Pradesh was today killed along with his associate in a gunfight with police in Pulwama district.

Self-styled district commander Abdul Rahman alias Rehman Bhai, a Pakistani, and a local militant Moin Ahmed Mir were killed at Niloora-Aglar village on the intervening night of February 14 and 15.

Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda told reporters here that police launched a search operation in the village following a tip off. During the searches, the presence of militants got confirmed and more para-military personnel and troops of 55 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) rushed to the spot.

Entire village was cordoned and during the house to house search the hiding militants fired on the security personnel from the house of one Haji Mohd Ismail Mantoo. The fire was immediately retaliated and the fire fight resulted in killing of two LeT militants, Mr Khoda said.

He said that slain LeT commander was involved in the November 23 blasts in Varanasi, Faizabad and Lucknow courts in which 13 people including four lawyers were killed.

"As per the UP police investigation, the LeT group that was responsible for sending arms and ammunition for attack at Rampur is the same group to which Rehman belongs", the DGP said, adding "Rehman was part of the group headed by Abu Aatif which had supplied the arms to the Rampur attackers".

The investigations also revealed that Rehman was closely associated with LeT cadres not only in the Valley but outside the State, he said.

According to Mr Khoda, the slain militants were involved in numerous militancy related incidents. On February 20, 2007, they attacked Road Opening Party of Central Reserve Police at Sangam in which two CRPF personnel got killed.

They also carried out attack on officials of IRCON in the Valley in which one security personnel, Boshan Das, of 6th battalion of Indian Reserve Police was killed.

Claiming that killing of Abdul Rehman has given a major blow to the LeT outfit, the State Police chief said that successes achieved by the security forces recently against militants in the State was result of the upgradation of intelligence set up and cooperation of the people.

"People want peace. They are coming forward with information about militants. Police and security forces are launching operations against militants which proved very successful," he said, adding a large number of militants and their top leaders were killed.

To a question, he said that while infiltration in Kashmir Division has come down heavily, the same has increased in the Jammu Division during the past few months. Three infiltration bids which were foiled at Markote, Balakote and Sunderbani are indicative of that, he added.

In reply to an another question, he said elections in the State scheduled later this year would be held in a peaceful atmosphere.

"We want a peaceful atmosphere for candidates to campaign and people to vote. Police is engaged in making the atmosphere more conducive," he said.

The DGP also disclosed that four police men - a Special Police Officer (SPO) and three constables - were promoted to the next grade as they were instrumental in the killing of the two hard-core militants of the LeT.

Meanwhile, Baramulla Police arrested a militant of Hizbul Mujahideen who was active in Kreeri, Pattan and Sangrama areas for the last six years.

An official spokesman said that during a naka at Nanak Bhawan Baramulla, police arrested hard-core militant—Manzoor Ahmad Dar alias Khalid, son of Mohammad Ramzan Dar of Saloosa Kreeri of HM outfit. From his possession, one AK 56 rifle, two AK magazines and 40 rounds of AK ammunition were recovered.

The militant was working under the command of self-styled district commander of the outfit Tanveer Ahmed Zargar.

Decks cleared for Shiv Khori Shrine Board
Governor gives nod to bill

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Feb 15: Clearing decks for the setting up of third Shrine Board in the State, Governor Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha has given his nod to the bill passed by both House of the Legislature last month for constituting Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board (SSKSB) to manage affairs of holy shrine of Shiv Khori, where Lord Shiva was said to have prayed, in picturesque Ransu area of Reasi district.

The Governor has given assent to the bill in its original form, official sources told Excelsior.

Lt Gen Sinha gave his nod to the bill, which was introduced in Legislative Assembly on January 9 and passed unanimously on January 18 during budget session of the Legislature, yesterday.

With mandatory requirement of the Governor’s approval to the bill coming within a fortnight of abrupt adjournment of the Legislature sine die, the formal constitution of the SSKSB is expected to take place any day now after the Government notification.

The Board will be headed by Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Sudanshu Pandey till he occupied the post. Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, Sanjeev Verma will be vice chairperson of the Board. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), Dr Arun Kumar or his representative and Director Tourism, Jammu, Ajay Khajuria will be two official members of the Board till they hold their present posts.

MLA Reasi, Jugal Kishore, who also happens to be R&B Minister and was instrumental in getting the Board set up, will be a special invitee to all the Board meetings with a right to vote till he represented Reasi Assembly segment.

Whenever the chairman or vice chairman or two other official members are transferred from their posts, their successors on the posts will replace them in the Board provided that they are Hindus. However, if the Divisional Commissioner is a non-Hindu, the DC Reasi will function as chairperson of the Board. If the DC Reasi too is a non-Hindu, the Government will have powers to nominate an eminent Hindu personality as chairperson of the Board. Similarly, if DC Reasi happens to be a non-Hindu, Additional DC Reasi will act as vice chairperson of the Board.

There is a provision of five private members on the Board, who will be nominated by the Government. While two members should have distinguished themselves in the service of Hindu religion or culture, two others would be personalities in administration, legal affairs, financial matters and journalism etc. The fifth private member will be a woman who had excelled herself in the service of Hindu religion or social work in advancement of women.

Private members of the Board will have a term of three years while the Government members will cease to be members of the Board once they relinquish the post in whose capacity they had become the members.

The SSKSB will become third Shrine Board in the State. Two other Shrine Boards are SMVDSB, which manages affairs of holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji and Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), which is responsible for the affairs of Amarnath ji shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.

The SMVDSB was the first Shrine Board to be set up by the then Governor Jagmohan in 1986.

Challan against Auditor
BOSE official in Vigilance net

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) today caught red-handed a Junior Assistant in the office of Board of School Education (BOSE) at Rehari while accepting bribe of Rs 1500 from a student.

The Vigilance Organisation also presented challan against Nissar Ahmad (Raja), Auditor, GP Fund Cell, ZPHQ, in the Court of Special Judge, Kashmir.

An official spokesman said that one Sajjad Hussain Shah, son of Abdul Rashid Shah of Pathirehal Palmer, Kishtwar lodged a written report with Police Station, Vigilance Organisation, Jammu alleging that he had applied for making correction of his father’s name in the matric mark sheet and certificate. He had also deposited an amount of Rs 700 as fee with the Board of School Education.

However, the corrections were not made. Though the complainant was staying at Jammu for the last one month and pursuing the matter with the Board authorities repeatedly but to no avail.

The concerned dealing assistant—Arjun Singh was demanding Rs 1500 as illegal gratification from the complainant for making the correction.

Acting on the complaint, State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) team laid a successful trap. The accused official was caught red handed while accepting the bribe of Rs 1500 from the complainant in the presence of independent witnesses.

The accused person was taken into custody for further investigation.

The trap was executed under the supervision of SSP Vigilance Jammu Vijay Singh Samyal.

Meanwhile, Vigilance Organisation presented challan against Nissar Ahmed, Auditor, GP Fund Cell, ZPHQ in the Court of Special Judge, Kashmir.

The case was registered against the Auditor when one Muthir Fazili, son of Mohammad Syed Fazili of Bandipora lodged a complaint in Police Station Vigilance Organisation, Kashmir alleging therein that the Auditor was demanding illegal gratification for making GP fund schedule available to the complainant.

Subsequently, Vigilance laid a successful trap and arrested the Auditor while accepting bribe. After the receipt of sanction for prosecution from the Government, the challan was presented in the Court.

An official spokesman said that Crime Branch today presented chargesheet against an orderly in Animal Husbandry Department for cheating an innocent person on the pretext of providing Government job.

The accused Bashir Ahmed Sheikh, son of Ghulam Mohammad of Nowgam Chadoora received Rs 1,15000 from one Manzoor Ahmad Malik, son of Abdullah Malik of Gamboora, Beerwah for managing Government job.

The investigation conducted by the Crime Branch revealed that Bashir Ahmad Sheikh in league with one Manzoor Ahmad Parray, son of Abdul Gaffar of Lalipora, Beerwah prepared fake order of appointment purportedly issued by General Administration Department and provided it to the victim against payment of Rs 1,15000.

After completion of the investigation, Crime Branch presented chargesheet of the case before the Court of Forest Magistrate, Srinagar.

Chopras murder case
HC restrains State from presenting challan

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: In a much publicised Chopras murder case, Justice Virender Singh of State High Court today directed that State agency can investigate the case but the challan before the concerned court shall not be filed till further orders.

The objections on the behalf of State and DGP have been filed and the copies of same were received by the counsels for the petitioner, Puneet Chopra, son of deceased R B Chopra.

However, Advocate K N Bhat appearing for the CBI stated that he can file the objections only after going through the objections filed by the State for the reasons that a specific stand has been taken by the petitioner that the State agency had requested the CBI to investigate the matter, but the latter has not responded to it.

He further stated that since the copy of State’s objections was handed over to him today, he should be given four week’s time to file the objections on the behalf of CBI.

Upon this, Justice Virender Singh observed that keeping in view the peculiar facts of this case in which five persons have lost their lives and the State agency has already consumed a considerable period in responding to the petition, it would be most appropriate if Advocate K N Bhat makes an effort to file objections within two weeks only.

Mr Bhat assured the court that he will take all necessary steps in this regard and convey the instructions to the concerned quarter.

The counsel for the petitioner, however, submitted that during investigation the State agency has arrested one person from Madhya Pradesh projecting the present case to be of dacoity and murder. He apprehended that State agency may present the challan in near future closing the case as it is and therefore, some direction may be issued to the State agency in this regard.

The counsel for the petitioner made another request that State agency be directed to file an affidavit responding to the specific plea taken by the petitioner with regard to a request from the State agency for handing over this case to CBI, as in the objections State respondents and DGP have not specifically responded to it.

He further stated that the petitioner has all apprehensions that the State agency might take a different stand at any subsequent stage.

After hearing both the sides, Justice Virender Singh observed "no doubt, the investigation cannot be throttle at its threshold and should be brought to its logical conclusion, but in order to allay fears from the mind of the petitioner, it is directed that State agency may investigate the case but the final report (challan) before the concerned court shall not be filed till further orders".

"In view of the plea of the counsel for the petitioner it is directed that a supplementary objection/affidavit of the concerned official be filed on or before the next date", the Court directed and said that Additional Advocate General B S Salathia should produce the record of the investigation on the next date of hearing.

Through the petition, the petitioner Puneet Chopra, son of deceased R B Chopra, has been seeking directions to the State Government to refer the case to the CBI and central agency to investigate the brutal killing of his family members.

Illegalities in ReT appointments since 2000
SAC directs Vigilance to conduct probe

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Feb 15: State Accountability Commission (SAC) has directed the State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) to conduct thorough probe into appointments of Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers in the Poonch district since the implementation of the scheme in 2000.

It was further ordered that the enquiry shall be conducted by an officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police and it should be completed within a period of two months.

The directions for thorough enquiry were given on the complaint filed by Shabana Naz, daughter of Abdul Aziz of Surankote and after going through the detailed report of Chief Education Officer (CEO) Poonch, who on the directions of then Minister of State for Education conducted enquiry into the appointments of ReT teachers in the district and pointed out that the appointing authorities violated norms and guidelines for monetary consideration.

The grievance of the petitioner was that she was the candidate for the post of teacher under ReT scheme but during the year 2000 and 2001, the ZEO Bafliaz and Chief Education Officer Poonch passed order to appoint Mohd Bashir, son of a teacher as Rehbar-e-Taleem teacher in village Pamrote by manipulating transfers and adjustments with the intentions to deny her the opportunity of employment.

When the petitioner approached Director School Education, Mohd Bashir was disengaged but Director’s order was kept in abeyance by Under Secretary to Government. Later, the petitioner approached the then MoS Education, who sought factual report from the Director School Education.

The Director on March 3, 2003 directed CEO Poonch to conduct thorough enquiry into the appointments of ReT teachers in Poonch district. Though the CEO submitted his report to the MoS Education on April 18, 2003 yet neither Minister nor Commissioner Secretary took any action on the basis of report which pointed out large scale illegalities in the appointments since the implementation of the scheme in 2000.

Aggrieved over the failure of the Government to take action on the basis of CEO’s report, the complainant approached Accountability Commission through Advocate R D Sharma and the Commission directed Vigilance to conduct thorough probe.

In his report, the then CEO Poonch Y K Kar has pointed out that the appointments were made without any advertisement and posts of the teachers so appointed were created by transfer and shifting shown made in the GPR whereas the post of Rehbar-e-Taleem teacher is not transferable or attachable.

There is no provision under the scheme for the appointment of Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers in the Mobile Schools because these schools are not located at permanent village or headquarters thus defeats very purpose of ReT scheme but contrary procedure was adopted in district Poonch by adjusting the general line teacher and Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers in mobile schools, the report said, adding the appointments were made after taking bribe ranging between Rs 50,000 to Rs 80,000 per candidate.

"They (appointing authorities) have also made the appointments from one village to another which is clear violation of the guidelines issued by the Government and against the spirit of the scheme", the report further said, adding "even the merit of the candidates was totally ignored".

Report further mentioned that the minimum qualification bar was also not adhered to by the appointing authorities and candidates having less qualification were appointed by ignoring those possessing higher qualification. Though the number of teachers were already surplus in the district yet this aspect was also ignored by the officers while making the appointments thereby putting heavy burden on the State exchequer.

Under the ReT Scheme, there is no provision of attachment but in the Poonch district the teachers so appointed were attached and not posted in their respective places, the report revealed and said that ReT teachers were also appointed against the posts of OBB Scheme despite the fact that no such post was vacant in the district.

The CEO mentioned in the report that all the illegal and fraudulent appointments were made with the connivance of the senior officers, who too obtained huge monetary benefits.

State Cabinet meets today

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: The State Cabinet is meeting here tomorrow noon to fill up vacancies in the administration and take up other administrative agenda.

The Cabinet meeting, scheduled for 12 noon, will be chaired by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Authoritative sources told Excelsior that the Cabinet was likely to fill the vacancies in top level of administration.

The vacancies include Financial Commissioner (Home) and (Revenue), Principal Secretary ARI & Trainings, Secretary Sheep Husbandry etc.

The Cabinet is also expected to take up postings of some Deputy Commissioners and SSPs.

Release of Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) to Public Sector employees is also on the agenda of the Cabinet but the PSUs will be asked to release COLA installments from their own resources, sources said.

The Cabinet is likely to extend the term of Bloeria Committee on setting up of new tehsils. It proposed to regularise substitutes posted against migrants’ vacancies.

According to sources, the Cabinet is expected to discuss compensation for the people dislocated by Baglihar project and allotment of 100 kanals more land to Islamic Arabic University in Budgam and few kanals to SP Thomas Church in Udhampur.

The Cabinet has on its agenda the change of nomenclature for the post of Private Secretary to Chairman, Legislative Council and upgradation of the post of Librarian Law Department to Assistant Director.

India, Pak to double flights

ISLAMABAD, Feb 15: Aiming to facilitate people-to- people contact and bilateral business and trade activities, India and Pakistan today decided to more than double the number of weekly flights between them and add a new destination for designated airlines in each other’s territory.

The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to increase the number of flights from 12 to 28 per week for each side, at the end of two-day talks between their civil aviation officials here.

They also agreed to add a new destination to the two destinations currently available to designated airlines in each other’s territory. Chennai will be added for Pakistan’s designated airlines and Islamabad for the designated airlines of India.

This will facilitate direct air connectivity between the capitals of the two countries, said a joint statement issued at the end of the talks.

The two sides agreed to designate three airlines each to operate the "agreed services on the specified routes". Currently, only one airline each operates between India and Pakistan.

"Both sides expressed satisfaction that the new arrangement would further the objective of facilitating people-to-people contact, business and trade activities between the two countries," the statement said.

Describing the consultations on air services matters as "friendly and cordial", the statement said the two countries "recognised that in the wake of developments which have taken place in the aviation industry during the past few years, the existing Air Services Agreement needs to be reviewed and updated".

Both countries agreed to meet again at a mutually convenient date within a year to review the "capacity and frequency framework and additional destinations in each other’s territory, keeping in view the market demand".

The Indian team at the talks was led by Director General of Civil Aviation Kanu Gohain while the Pakistani delegation was headed by Maj Gen Mir Haider Ali Khan, Additional Secretary in the Defence Ministry. (PTI)

Militants cut civilian's toe

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: Militants last night cut the toe of a civilian in his house at Fatehpur Mandi in Poonch district following resistance by the family of their forced attempt to seek food.

Two unidentified militants, wearing masks, entered into the house of Mohd Rashid son of Fayaz Mohd at Fatehpur Mandi and asked for food. However, the family members not only refused to provide food to the militants but also raised an alarm.

While fleeing, the militants cut the toe of Mohd Rashid. He was admitted in the hospital for treatment.

Troops of 60 Rashtriya Rifles, 17 Punjab, Special Striking Reserve (SSR) of police and CRPF recovered one IED, 274 AK rounds, 77 Pika rounds, 20 rounds of 7.62mm, two fire fight Pika rounds, one AK-47 rifle with two magazines, one pouch, three hand grenades and eight pencil cells from village Morha and Telian in Kandi area of Rajouri district.

The SSR party was led by Abdul Qayoom and Naresh Singh, DySPs under the supervision of S P Rajouri Shabir Ahmed.

Police also recovered one RPG, one shell of 105mm and 42 cartridges of SLR from near railway track at Supwal in Samba district.

MiG-21 crashes in Kutch; pilot safe

AHMEDABAD, Feb 15: In yet another mishap, a MiG-21 jet fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed in the marshlands in Kutch near the Indo-Pak border today. But the Pilot bailed out safely.

The fighter crashed minutes after taking off from the Bhuj airbase, on a routine training sortie. The fighter crashed to the ground just 20 km away from the base, an IAF official said.

The Pilot flight Lieutenant S Agashe, however, managed to bail out and was rescued and brought back to base.

The IAF has ordered a Court of Inquiry to probe the incident.

This is the first crash of a MiG-21 this year. So far during the last ten years about 90 fighter planes have crashed.

The fighters are ageing and are on the verge of being phased out. IAF has recently completed upgrade of 125 of these fighters with Russian and Israeli know how.(PTI)

3 ultras get 5 years RI

NEW DELHI, Feb 15: Three Khalistan Jindabad Force (KJF) militants were today sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment by a court here for a blast in Kailash Hotel in Paharganj area here eight years ago.

A court at the Tis Hazari complex sentenced the KJF militants -Sukhdev Singh, Satbir Singh and Purushottam Singh -after holding them guilty for entering into a conspiracy to wage war against the country.

As per the prosecution, all the three accused conspired explode a bomb in the Kailash Hotel in Paharganj area here on March 13, 2000, which left three injured.

The court convicted them under Sections 120-b (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against the country), 121-a (conspiracy to wage war), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of his function), 353 (assault on public servant), 307 (attempt to murder), 489-b and c (using and possessing counterfeit currency) of the IPC.

They were also convicted under sections 4 and 5 of Explosive Substances Act and sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act.(PTI)