Zardari meets US Ambassador
Uncertainty in Pak on Govt formation

ISLAMABAD, Feb 20: Uncertainty continued over Government formation in Pakistan as the leaders of the two main Opposition parties Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif meet here tomorrow but the single-largest party PPP today decided that Zardari will not be the Prime Minister.

Amidst reports that Washington would prefer a Government that would work with Musharraf, who rejected demands for his resignation, Zardari met US Ambassador in Pakistan Anne Patterson.

He is believed to have discussed with the American envoy the situation arising out of the hung verdict in which neither Pakistan People’s Party of late Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto with 87 seats or Pakistan Muslim League headed by Nawaz Sharif with 67 seats is in position to form the Government on its own. Elections were held for 269 seats.

But in significant remarks that could give an indication of the possible new alliance, Zardari has asked the international community, especially the US, to "support us" in building a new era of peace "instead of continuing with the erroneous belief that alliance with a strongman is its best bet to bring stability to Pakistan".

"The task ahead will not be easy, but the Pakistan People’s Party is prepared to work in good faith with our fellow democratic parties to restore the constitution to its original state, without the distortions introduced by a dictator’s diktat," he said in a commentary in "Chicago Tribune".

There was no word from either of the two Opposition groups whose leaders are meeting here tomorrow for possibly cobbling a coalition that would check Musharraf’s grip on power.

Zardari said it is the intent of the PPP to form a democratic liberal Government — an umbrella of reconciliation and consensus.

The Central executive of the PPP met today to consider various options regarding Government formation and adopted a resolution that Zardari, widower of Bhutto, will not be its Prime Ministerial candidate.

On the issue of impeachment of Musharraf, strongly being pursued by Sharif, a two-time former Prime Minister, he said he was looking to make Parliament strong . "It is an opportunity in the history of democracy in Pakistan. Why waste it on individual positions.

"I do not see Musharraf’s rule lasting very long," he said.

Asked in the context of reports that Musharraf’s aides had met him, Zardari said "why would I need to do that. I need a lifeline for the Parliament. I don’t need any lifeline for an individual."

On the question of reinstatement of Judges, another demand of Sharif, Zardari favoured a Parliamentary Committee looking into it.

"It’s a question of 60 Judges. The Parliamentary Committee should define how to reinstate and whom to reinstate. I am not far apart from Sharif," he said.

Meanwhile, Musharraf has rejected demands for his resignation in the wake of the electoral drubbing of his allies. He said in an interview to Wall Street Journal that he was neither contemplating retirement nor resigning.

"No, not yet. We have to move forward in a way that we bring about a stable democratic Government to Pakistan," he said.

The President said he was even prepared to work with Sharif, who has demanded his resignation, and offered to "facilitate in a positive way" the formation of a new Government".

He hoped to avoid any "clashes" between him and the new Prime Minister in running the affairs of the country.

Meanwhile, the PPP has reached out to other parties to form a Government amidst indications that sections of its leadership favoured Makhdoom Amin Fahim as the Prime Ministerial candidate.

Official sources said President Pervez Musharraf’s aides, including National Security Council Secretary Tariq Aziz, met PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari yesterday and urged him not to join hands with former Premier Nawaz Sharif, whose PML-N party is the second largest group with 65 seats.

Though PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar denied there was such a meeting, the official sources insisted that the aides had met Zardari.

Zardari also went to the US Embassy to meet Ambassador Anne Patterson to discuss the emerging political scenario in the wake of the polls, party sources said. A meeting between Zardari and Sharif is expected to be held here tomorrow, they said. PPP leaders who spoke on condition of anonymity admitted there were differences with the Nawaz’s party on the key issue of reinstating the Judges who were sacked by Musharraf during last year’s Emergency rule.

They also said a sizeable section of the party favoured PPP vice-chairman Fahim as the Prime Ministerial candidate. "In my personal opinion, Fahim deserves to be the Prime Minister," a member of the PPP’s Central Executive Committee, who did not want to be named, said.

Zardari has also spoken with Pashtun leader Asfandyar Wali Khan, whose Awami National Party bagged 10 National Assembly seats and emerged a key player in the North West Frontier Province.

The PPP co-chairman has also established contact with leaders of the All Parties Democratic Movement, including Mehmood Khan Achakzai and former cricketer Imran Khan, to bring them on board in the efforts aimed at Government formation even though they had boycotted the polls.

Safdar Abbasi, a member of Pakistan’s Senate and part of the PPP’s central executive committee, said: "the problems before the country are too large to be tackled by any one party. The vote was against the establishment and Musharraf, and the PPP believes all the democratic forces should come together to form a stable Government.

"The PPP, PML-N and ANP are the democratic forces and we hope we can come together," he said.

Abbasi noted that after the reserved seats for women and minorities are allocated on the basis of votes polled by parties, the PPP would have 113 seats, the PML-N 84 and the ANP 13, thereby allowing them to form a Government.

"We need a large national consensus as a consensual approach is needed to rebuild the country’s institutions," he said. "It will be difficult to do things without national consensus. We need stable Governments at the Centre and in the provinces."

Abbasi also sought to brush aside the differences between the PPP and the PML-N on the reinstatement of the deposed Judges. "All parties have different stands on various issues and we are trying to bridge these differences. We are confident we can do that," he said.

Sharif has stressed that the PML-N is committed to reinstating the deposed Judges but Zardari has said this matter should be decided by the new Parliament.

Referring to the PPP’s stand, PML-N spokesman Ahsan Iqbal said: "we want the judiciary to be strong and independent. That is not just our cause, it is the cause of the whole nation and we hope the PPP will show some flexibility on this issue." The PPP is set to form Government in the southern Sindh province and has also initiated efforts to form the Government in the NWFP with the ANP. "In Sindh, we can form the Government on our own but we may choose to work with other democratic forces," Abbasi said. (PTI)

Sonia, Patil to visit snow affected areas tomorrow

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 20: UPA chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi will visit Bhadarwah in Doda district and Anantnag in Kashmir on February 22 on a day’s visit to snow affected areas. She will be accompanied by Union Home Minister Shiv Raj Patil.

Union Minister for Water Resources, Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz, who has recently been appointed as Pradesh Congress (I) president, is arriving here tomorrow on his maiden visit to the State after new assignment, to receive Mrs Gandhi.

Official sources said Mrs Gandhi and Mr Patil will be received at Udhampur technical airport at about 10 am by Mr Soz and Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad besides other Cabinet colleagues of the Chief Minister.

They will fly from Udhampur to Bhadarwah, the Assembly segment of Mr Azad. At Bhadarwah town, Mrs Gandhi will meet the people affected by recent heavy snowfall, which has rendered many people houseless besides leading to about 30 casualties including some Armymen, who lost their lives to avalanches triggered by snowfall and heavy rains. After meeting the local people, the Congress president and the Home Minister accompanied by Mr Azad and Mr Soz will undertake an aerial survey of snow hit areas of Bhadarwah for about half an hour. Mrs Gandhi will assess the damage caused to property and crops etc by snowfall and rains, sources said.

Later, she would then make an aerial survey of worst-hit Kapran, Verinag and Dooru areas of Anantnag district in south Kashmir.

About 200 people were rescued while 12 people were killed in avalanches and blizzards that struck these areas in the first week of February.

The officials said Gandhi would interact with officers and Congress party leaders besides some local people, affected by snowfall at Khanabal Dak Bungalow in Anantnag district.

At Khanabal, she will be briefed by the senior officers of civil administration and political activists about the damage caused to infrastructure and civilians’ property in heavy snowfall.

From Khanabal, the UPA chairperson will fly to Srinagar from where she will leave for New Delhi the same evening in special plane.

The high-altitude areas of Kapran, Verinag and Waltango in Dooru Assembly constituency were also the worst hit when 290 people died in a series of avalanches in April 2005.

Sources said the Central Government is likely to take a generous view of relief to be release for snow affected areas, projected by the State after the visit of Mrs Gandhi and Mr Patil.

Another opportunity to resolve Kashmir gone: Omar

Excelsior Correspondent

HIRANAGAR, Feb 20: NC president Omar Abdullah, today said India had lost yet another good opportunity to resolve the Kashmir issue.

Addressing a gathering here, he said in 2006 after his visit to Pakistan and meeting with Pervez Musharaf while briefing Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh about his visit, he had categorically told him that India and Pakistan have one year to resolve the Kashmir issue and find an honourable dignified solution to the Kashmir imbroglio which is acceptable to both countries and people of the State.

He said he had predicted to Dr. Manmohan Singh that if ‘‘we do not resolve the Kashmir issue by the middle of 2007 we will loose a golden opportunity because the situation in both countries would change.’’

Now with the situation that is emerging in Pakistan and the coming elections to various States in India and then general elections in the country it is most likely that a solution to Kashmir issue will get deferred by couple of years, he said and added: ‘‘it is unfortunate that both India and Pakistan lost this opportunity by not changing their stated positions and getting influenced by the mindsets prevailing in the two countries about Kashmir.’’

Mr Abdullah, who has been a former External Affairs Minister of State, said that a statesmenly approach both on the part of Indian and Pakistani leadership and stable internal situation in both the countries, is essential for resolution of Kashmir issue. He said he hoped that in the coming days, a bilateral relationship between India and Pakistan improves which alone can ensure peace in the State.

The NC president said political parties in the State must rise above petty political squabbles and work for a better Jammu and Kashmir so that future generations do not suffer. He expressed fear that if political parties behave in an irresponsible and a reckless manner for their vote politics and divide people of the State into small groups, future of the State will be in jeopardy and the next generation will curse all today's political players of the State.

He said history will not spare the politicians if they do not play a constructive role at this critical juncture of time. He added that an election is a battle of ideas and as responsible politicians all political parties must keep electoral politics confined to the same.

Omar said it is unfortunate that PDP and Congress are indulging in double speak on all issues for their political ends. Referring to deployment of troops in J&K, he said while in Kashmir the PDP advocates removal of the forces, the Congress in Jammu advocates stronger presence of armed forces in J&K. This, he said, is unfortunate because the two are running the Government and still indulging in different political games in different regions just to keep the people guessing and confused. He said the lack of seriousness in approach of the coalition Government will adversely effect political scenario in J&K.

Mr Abdullah said the present coalition Government has failed on all fronts including corruption in which it has broken all previous records. He said though not all previous Governments were totally honest but the ‘‘era of loot and scoot’’ that has been unleashed by the present coalition Government has no parallel. He, however, promised that if the people vote for the National Conference in the coming elections, he as the President of the National Conference will ensure a clean and transparent political system where the corrupt will be dealt severely and the corruption will not be tolerated at any level of administration.

Snow damages in Jammu put at Rs 95 cr

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Feb 20: With the damages due to snowfall in Jammu province have been worked out and the losses in Kashmir division are being finalised within a couple of days, the State Government has decided to approach Centre within a week’s time to seek immediate financial assistance for temporary restoration of the damages in all the sectors.

Authoritative sources told EXCELSIOR that unprecedented damages to the Government as well as private infrastructure in wake of massive snowfall in Jammu division in the last week of January and first few days of the current month have been worked out at Rs 95.08 crore in all the sectors.

The agriculture sector recorded maximum damage of Rs 45 crore in all the snow affected areas followed by Roads and Building sector whose losses have been worked out at Rs 12.65 crore, the sources revealed, adding Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department was the third worst hit sector in the Jammu province with its damages having assessed at Rs 11.50 crore.

Similarly, Rural Development Department’s infrastructure suffered damages to the tune of Rs 10.44 crore, Power Development Department (PDD) Rs 5.5 crore, Irrigation Rs 5.11 crore, Horticulture Rs 2.6 crore, Education Rs 2 crore, Sheep Husbandry Rs 4.5 lakh and Health Sector Rs 20 lakh.

The losses which have been finalised by Heads of these departments by either personally visiting the snow affected areas or through their field staff have been conveyed to the divisional administration which has further conveyed the same to the State Chief Secretary, the sources said.

"Within a day or two, the meetings of heads of these departments will be called by the divisional administration to discuss the losses and to strictly ensure that losses suffered due to massive snowfall are only projected by the departments", the sources disclosed and said that even the areas will be prioritized for immediate temporary restoration so that general public didn’t suffer for a long period.

While the damages due to massive snowfall in the Jammu region have been finalised, the same for the Kashmir province are likely to be worked out within next couple of days, the sources said, adding it would be only after the finalisation of exact quantum of losses in the Kashmir province that the Government will approach the Central Government for the special assistance.

They disclosed that as per the standing provisions, the Centre only gives assistance for the temporary restoration of the damages in all the sectors and for any sort of financial assistance beyond the same the State Government would have to make special request.

"Though the Central assistance for temporary restoration of the damages is yet to be projected by the State, the latter within the available resources and the funds, has already started restoration work particularly in the Power and PHE sectors", the sources informed.

It is worthwhile to mention here that a Central team comprising K Skandan, Joint Secretary (Kashmir), Ministry of Home Affairs, O Ravi, Joint Secretary (Disaster Management), Ministry of Home Affairs and S Sarkar, Joint Director, Ministry of Finance, after conducting the aerial survey of snow affected areas of both the regions had asked the State Government to immediately work out the intensity of the damages and project the same before the Centre for necessary assistance.

The Central team had even stated that it would be beyond the control of the State Government to cope up with the post-snowfall situation without the assistance of Union Government.

SVO challans ex-DM sicop

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 20: State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) today produced challan in the court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Kashmir against Mohd Anwar Mir, then Divisional Manager SICOP for possession of assets disproportionate to his known source of income.

An official spokesman said that Vigilance Organisation registered a case on May 24, 1997 following a verification which revealed that Mohd Anwar Mir, then Divisional Manager SICOP has acquired properties in the shape of two houses, one at Hyderpora and another at Vasantkunj, New Delhi besides other property in the shape of land and bank balance quite disproportionate to his known sources of income by indulging in corrupt practices and misuse of his official position.

During the course of detailed investigation, Vigilance sleuths conducted raids at Hyderpora residence of the officer and recovered evidence such as details of bank accounts and documents of the property.

It was established that the officer has acquired a house at Hyderpora, Srinagar worth Rs 5.25 lakh and Rs 14.50 lakh worth flat at Delhi besides land at Hyderpora, Srinagar and Sidhra, Jammu

The total value of the property was estimated to cost over Rs 28.85 lakh besides expenditure on household and day-to-day items amounting Rs 8.60 lakh. During the check period (between July 1968 to May 1997), the legitimate income of the accused officer was calculated to be only Rs 10.05 lakh of which he could have a saving of Rs 1.44 lakh only.

It was also established that Mohd Anwar Mir was in the possession of assets valued at Rs 27.40 lakh.

The management of SICOP had already accorded sanction for the prosecution of the accused, who has now retired from the Public Sector Undertaking.

At the time of presentation of challan, the accused was present in the court of law and was released on bail by the court. The next date of hearing has been fixed on March 23, 2008.

Latram in command of Kashmir ultras in PoK

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Feb 20: Nearly 3000 youths from different parts of the State, majority from Kashmir valley, are still held up in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), willingly or unwillingly, undergoing or imparting training in terrorist camps, according to official sources.

The number of militants under training in Pakistan and PoK training camps would swell if the Pakistani and some other countries ultras are taken into account, they said.

Mushtaq Latram, a top Kashmiri militant, formerly affiliated with Al-Umar outfit and presently working with Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) outfit’s chief commander Azhar Masood, has been made co-ordinator of all Kashmiri militants under training in PoK camps, sources said.

Latram was among three militants freed by Indian Government in exchange of 189 hostages on board IC-814 flight, which was hijacked by the militants in December 1999 on way from Tribhuvan international airport in Kathmandu (Nepal) to New Delhi. Besides Latram, Moulana Azhar Masood and Omar Saeed Sheikh were two other militants freed in exchange of hostages.

Hizbul Mujahideen supreme commander Syed Salah-ud-Din, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Sayeed, JeM commanders Azhar Masood and Qazi Hussain, Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HUJI) commander Billal Ahmed and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) chief Wali Abdullah besides Mushtaq Latram remained the heads of their outfits training the militant cadre in different areas of PoK, sources said.

These top militant leaders are frequent visitors to their training camps though they have "outsourced" training to their "close confidants" mainly the militants from Pakistan and Kashmir, who have been in the militancy for last six to eight years.

According to sources, there was no dearth of "raw material" in Pakistan to make militants. A number of youths in view of unemployment and poverty in rural areas of Pakistan readily agree to join militancy. Only need is to "fine tune" them, a job easily done in the training camps, whose number was constantly going up instead of declining.

The number of Pakistanis and militants of other countries like Afghanistan, Sudan, Libiya and Gulf could be "above 2000", though majority remained from Pakistan. Number of militants of the countries other than Pakistan in the training camps was "around 100", sources said.

They anticipated that infiltration attempts could increase after melting of snow in the areas falling along Line of Control (LoC) as Pakistan army, irrespective of change of guard in Islamabad, will try to push as many militants as possible into this side "to maintain momentum in militancy", which was gradually on decline.

Cong for Women Reservation bill

NEW DELHI,Feb 20: The ruling Congress today said it would call upon the UPA Government to pass the Women Reservation Bill in the budget session of Parliament beginning on February 25.

‘‘Our stand is clear. We want 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislatures.... We will call upon the UPA Government to pass the bill as soon as possible, possibly in the budget session,’’ party spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan told reporters.

Hitting out at the main opposition party, she said it was the BJP that had gone back on its commitment on women reservation.

‘‘The BJP now says that the political parties that should provide the reservation...,’’ she added.(UNI)

Writing on the wall could change colour, not text
Pak polls may shut some shops in Kashmir

From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Feb 20: Developments forcing cardinal changes in Pakistan's policies vis-a-vis militant Islam and Kashmir have been taking place in quick succession after September 11th, 2001. Be it General Pervez Musharraf, Nawaz Sharif or Benazir Bhutto, everybody supported the emotional policy of "driving the forces out of Jammu & Kashmir" by guerrilla warfare. The emotion went on for decades even as Pakistani's struggle to win the "jugular vein" resulted in halving of its body in 1971. While the institutions of Army and clergy remained conveniently---and predominantly---relevent in all circumstances courtesy Kashmir, the Prime Ministers, including Sharif and Bhutto, did only supplement the frenzy. Notwithstanding a myriad of inner conflicts, it was all one entity in the matters of Kashmir.

September 11th has changed many equations in South Asia but it has pushed the Pakistani leadership so proportionately that yet again the Army and the political outfits of Sharif and Bhutto are one entity inspite of numerous conflicts within. Only the so-called Jihadi sections of militancy and clergy are on the other side of the fence today. In all of Musharraf's "counter-terrorism operations" from Waziristan to Lal Masjid, Sharif and Bhutto were implicitly or explicitly supportive of the military action. Lal Masjid shrunk the space of even the so-called moderates to the dramatic extent that men like Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman of Jamiat-ul-Ulema Pakistan and Qazi Hussain Ahmed of Jamaat-e-Islami flew all the way to London to sign Sharif's draft for restoration of democracy and eradication of "terrorism".

For a mild face saving, Qazi had attempted to introduce a neutraliser by way of seeking condemnation to the British Government's accolade of Knighthood on the blasphemous author Salman Rushdie. It was contemptuously ignored by Sharif under the spotlight. Qazi did neither revolt nor object to calling one-time Jihad as terrorism. In the next few months, Pakistan witnessed historic developments like Bhutto's and Sharif's return from 'exile', and finally the former's death in a shootout---and now the National Assembly elections after an 8-year-long spell of the military regime---but the radical base is increasingly shrinking to extinction. Its impact on the situation in Kashmir---and more specifically the forthcoming Assembly elections in J&K---has perhaps begun to show.

In the last few weeks, Hizbul Mujahideen had declared that it would not use the gun to enforce boycott to the elections. Its political arm---Jamaat-e-Islami---has now declared that it was not going to run a door-to-door anti-election campaign. Last week's admission into PDP of one-time confidante of the hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Abdul Khaliq Hanief, and senior pro-Pakistan leader Mehmood Sagar's brother, Mushtaq Sagar, may not necessarily signify a change in the Valley's political spectrum. Mehbooba Mufti's announcement of "more separatist leaders to follow soon" may not, either. Yet, many people in Kashmir today believe that later part of the current year was going to witness one of the highest turnout elections, which could write the obituary of the 18-year-long armed strife in Jammu and Kashmir.

Among all moderate politicians in Pakistan, Imran Khan alone has so far sided with Jamaat. Musharaf-promoted faction of Pakistan Muslim League, which had some prospect of soft corner for the estranged radical allies, has been routed at the hustings. Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman has won from his safety segment but he too has been demolished in his traditional stronghold of Dera Ismail Khan. With Musharraf pushed to the back seat, if not an ouster by impeachment, late Bhutto's PPP and Sharif's PML(N) have emerged as the new claimants of power. Given statements of both the parties' leaders vis-a-vis militancy---which they call terrorism as forcefully as Musharraf does---as also the fact that Kashmir has for the first time not been an issue of emotion or populism in the Pakistani elections, it appears to be clear that the process of change over Kashmir would only be strengthened.

Inspite of Musharraf's recent rhetorical expression that Pakistan would never "forget" Kashmir and the Kashmiris, fact of the matter is that before getting entangled in Chief Justice Iftikhar Chowdhary crisis in 2007, General-President has left Kashmir at a point where only a new military dictatorship or clergy could retrieve it. (Remember his outright negation of the UN resolutions, dismissing the options of accession to Pakistan and Azadi and asking for "anything between Azadi and Autonomy"). Since the elections have been widely hailed as free, fair and credible, neither Army nor clergy seems to shape Islamabad's new policy vis-a-vis Kashmir, Afghanistan and militancy.

This phase of armed strife in Kashmir has clearly entered a critical juncture. Inspite of 50-odd incidents of infiltration in 2007, total number of "listed militancy" in today's Valley, according to highly important officials, is "less than 200". To get yet another life, Kashmir's militancy and the separatist movement will need nothing less than a 1999---which created Kargil, followed by the strategy of Fidayeen attacks. Developments from New Delhi to Islamabad, Kabul to Washington and Srinagar to Muzaffarabad indicate neither. It is for nothing, thus, that Geelani has ceased to be one-odd potential successor to Sofi Mohammad Akbar of hometown Sopore and most of his estranged colleagues are blowing hot and cold between rising to the glamour of Sheikh Abdullah and fading out in the oblivion like the late Mahaz-e-Azadi chief.

Farooq hopes early solution to Kashmir

SRINAGAR, Feb 20: Terming the elections in Pakistan as a "victory of democracy", former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today hoped it would pave the way for early resolution of the vexed Kashmir issue.

"Inshaallah (god willing), a democratically-elected Government will be formed in Pakistan soon. People of the sub-continent especially its neighbours hope that this change will strengthen its friendship with all its neighbours and further strengthen peace in south-Asian region," Abdullah said.

Abdullah said the elections have generated "hope for early resolution of Kashmir", and felt relations between India and Pakistan would grow further for them to settle the Kashmir issue through dialogue.

Addressing party workers at Chandna-Ganderbal, 35 kms from here, he also lauded Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and the caretaker Government for holding "impartial and free elections" in their country.

"Musharraf and caretaker Government deserve congratulations for their historic role for holding free and fair elections in a peaceful atmosphere," he said.

Meanwhile, moderate Hurriyat Conference also congratulated people of Pakistan and Musharraf for holding "free and fair elections". (PTI)

Lakshya successfully test fired

BALASORE, Feb 20: India’s indigenously developed pilotless target aircraft ‘Lakshya’ was successfully flight tested from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, about 15 km from here today.

PTA Lakshya, fitted with a digitally controlled improved engine, was developed by the aeronautics development establishment, Bangalore, to perform discreet aerial reconnaissance of battlefield and target acquisition.

Usually the flight duration of the six-feet-long micro light aircraft is 30-35 minutes and after covering three to four laps in the sky it drops to the ground with the help of a parachute.

‘Lakshya’ had been tested several times earlier and to further check its engine viability and duration enhancement, today’s test was undertaken from the launch complex-2 of the ITR, defence sources said adding "it is a routine trial."

‘Lakshya’, a sub-sonic, re-usable aerial target system, is remote controlled from the ground and designed to impart training to both air-borne and air defence pilots.

It has already been inducted into Indian Air Force since 2000, the sources said. (PTI)

2.9 richter tremor in Valley

SRINAGAR, Feb 20: A low intensity earthquake measuring 2.9 on the richter scale was felt in the Kashmir valley today though there was no damage caused by it.

The tremor with its epicentre some 30 km north of Srinagar in Pattan area of Baramulla district occurred at around 8.10 am, a Meteorological Department official told.

There was no loss of life or damage to property, he added. (PTI)

Leopard mauls 15 sheep

SRINAGAR, Feb 20: A leopard mauled 15 sheep to death and injured 16 of them after it sneaked into a sheep-pen from a nearby forest in Anantnag district.

The wild beast entered into the sheep-pen owned by one Bashir Ahmad Dar at Taspora-Gadol village and fled the place after it had carried out its killing spree, a police spokesman said today.

The leopard mauled 16 sheep and injured 15 of them, he added. (PTI)

11 SSPs get new grade

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 20: The Government today ordered promotion of 11 IPS officers to next grade with effect from January 1, 2008.

The promoted officers are Anand Jain, S R Samuel, Nitish Kumar, SSP Pulwama, Manmohan Singh, Staff Officer to IGP Jammu, Ashkoor Ahmed Wani, SSP CID (CI) Kashmir, Ali Mohammad, Vijay Singh Samyal, SSP Vigilance, Jammu, J L Sharma, SSP Reasi, Bashir Ahmed Itoo, Israr Ahmad Khan and Nissar Ahmed, SSP Vigilance, Udhampur-Doda range.

An order to this effect was issued today by the Government by Order No. Home-107 (P) of 2008.

Civilian shot at in Mendhar

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 20: A civilian was shot at and injured by the militants in his house at village Sakhi Maidan in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district.

Injured has been identified as Sikander Hayat son of Lal Din.

Reports said an unidentified militant entered into the house of Lal Din son of Mehtab Din at Sakhi Maidan and opened firing aiming Lal Din. While Lal Din escaped firing, his son Sikander Hayat was injured. He has been admitted in Sub District Hospital, Mendhar.

Police have started a search operation for the militant, who was suspected to be a local.

Two-way light and one-way heavy traffic on highway

SRINAGAR : To avoid any traffic jam on the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the authorities have decided to allow only one-way heavy and both way light vehicle traffic.

Today heavy and light vehicles, including those carrying passengers and essential commodities, left Jammu for here this morning.

However, no heavy vehicle—passenger or truck, was allowed from here, a traffic police official said. But, he said light vehicles carrying passengers also left for Jammu from here.

Similarly, all vehicles will be allowed from here tomorrow while only light passenger vehicles can ply from Jammu to Srinagar.

This has been done to avoid any traffic jam on the highway, he said.

A UNI correspondent who traveled from Jammu to Srinagar recently saw vehicles passing through three feet to seven feet of snow wall on the highway, only road linking the vehicle with the rest of the country.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway, has cleared snow from the middle of the road after pressing into service sophisticated machines and labourers.

However, at some places, drivers found it difficult to negotiate curves because of huge walls of snow. To avoid any untoward incident and traffic jam, authorities have now placed officials to regulate traffic movement.

Drivers had to stop their vehicles when vehicles from opposite side were passing sharp curves because of huge snow walls between Jawhar Tunnel to Qazigunda lot of time is being wasted because of this problem, driver and passengers said.

The BRO Chief Engineer said he was not aware when informed that drivers complained that they find it difficult to pass their vehicles when a vehicle comes from the opposite direction near curves.

However, he said he will direct engineer incharge of the highway to remove the snow so that two vehicles could pass easily at all places. (UNI)

Class 8th girl student kidnapped, rescued in high drama on highway
3 militants of Jaish-e-Mohammad killed in Kupwara

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR : In a joint operation, Jammu & Kashmir Police and Army haave killed three militants of Jaish-e-Mohammed guerrilla outfit in Kupwara district of north Kashmir today. Meanwhile, Police have rescued a Class 8th girl student minutes after she was kidnapped in broad daylight on the National Highway Bypass in Hyderpora-Sanat Nagar area.

DIG North Kashmir, Dr B Srinivas said that Kupwara Police received specific information regarding presence of militants in the dense forest area of Batnar Kooligam. Soon a cordon-and-search operation was launched with the support of 2 Para of Army. DIG said that during the operation, the holed up militants opened fire on the search party which was effectively retaliated. All three militants in the hideout got killed.

He stated that the dead bodies of the eliminated militants had been recovered and efforts were on to ascertain their identity this afternoon. However, one of the slain militants is believed to be 'Commander Pasha'. He said that the operation was still underway and troops were in the process of recovering weapons and other belongings of the militants killed. He claimed that there was no collateral damage as neither Police/Army nor any civilian suffered damage in the operation.

Official sources in south Kashmir, meanwhile, said that Pulwama Police apprehended a Constable of CRPF 183 Bn, namely Mudasir Yousuf Bhat S/o Mohd Yusuf Bhat R/o Botengo Sopore, during naka checking at Pulwama and recovered an IED weighing 500 gm, fitted in a steel glass. A hand grenade was also recovered from his possession. Authorities said that the paramilitary soldier had been subjected to sustained interrogation and Police were trying to dig deep into his connections with militants who are believed to have engaged the Constable for carrying out subversive activities for their organisation. Officials said that some raids and arrests were expected by late tonight.

Meanwhile, fire broke out in the bunker of CRPF 119 Bn near the VIP Rest House at Srinagar Airport, causing extensive damage to the bunker. A light machine gun of the guard on duty was also damaged in the incident. However, no loss of life or injury to anyone was reported. Fire was brought under control by the timely action of fire tenders. Officials said that cause of the fire in a highly sensitive and protected area was being ascertained.

Official sources said that a Flying Squad of Srinagar Police chased away a three-wheeler from Hyderpora Crossing on the National Highway Bypass to Sanat Nagar Crossing and recovered a 14-year-old girl student from the clutches of two persons and the driver who had kidnapped her earlier in full view of public at a crowded spot. Sources said that the eyewitnesses raised commotion and alerted the nearby Flying Squad with their screaming immediately after the young girl student was kidnapped. Even as the driver and a kidnapper jumped out and they escaped, the men in uniform caught hold of one person who later identified himself as Shabir Ahmed Khan S/o Abdul Hameed Khan R/o Humhama, Budgam.

Sources said that after recording the girl's statement, she was handed over to her parents. She was identified as Sehrana D/o Mohammad Maqbool Khan R/o Tengpora, Batmaloo. Sources said that as a result of the of the detained Shabir Khan's disclosure, his accomplice was identified as Fayaz Ahmed Bhat S/o Ghulam Nabi Bhat R/o Humhama. He too was arrested when Police conducted a raid on his house and possible hideouts last night. Officials said that POolice had registered a criminal case and launched an investigation. Cause and circumstances of thge daylight kidnapping were being ascertained.

END