Mystery shrouds recovery of explosives hours before VVIP visit
Sonia, Patil visit Bhadarwah, Navapachi;
Valley tour cancelled due to bad weather

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Feb 22: UPA chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi accompanied by Home Minister Shivraj Patil and a team of Union Home Ministry today flew-in to Bhadarwah, Navapachi and Marwah to review the situation caused by the recent heavy snowfall, which took 30 lives in the State besides rendering several people houseless, but couldn’t visit snow hit areas of south Kashmir, which were on her itinerary, due to bad weather.

Mrs Gandhi was joined at Udhampur technical airport, from where she flew to Bhadarwah and Navapachi, by Union Minister for Water Resources and newly appointed PCC (I) president Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti.

Meanwhile, mystery shrouded recovery of RDX and grenade launchers at Chinote, Bhadarwah in Doda district hours before arrival of the Congress president along with other dignitaries in Bhadarwah town with CRPF claiming to have made the recovery and police describing it as a ‘drama’.

Mrs Gandhi, Mr Patil and a team of Union Home Ministry led by Joint Secretary Mitali Sen reached technical airport at Udhampur amidst tight security arrangements at 10.55 am. They were joined at Udhampur by Mr Soz, Mr Azad, Mehbooba Mufti and four senior civil and police officials of the State including Chief Secretary B R Kundal, Director General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Sudhanshu Pandey and IGP Jammu Zone Dr Shesh Pal Vaid.

Mr Pandey briefed Mrs Gandhi and the Central delegation about damages caused by heavy snowfall and rains in early part of February. The divisional administration of Jammu has already projected the losses caused by snow at Rs 95 crore and sought the Central assistance.

Mrs Gandhi and her team flew-in to Bhadarwah, the Assembly segment of Mr Azad, where she met snow affected people at Boys higher secondary school. Authorities had allowed selected people to enter the school to meet and brief the UPA chairperson in view of security considerations.

The people, who spoke to Mrs Gandhi, demanded that three months free ration announced by the State Government for snow affected people be increase to six months. They stressed for immediate restoration of power and road connectivity in snow hit areas. They also called for adequate relief for the losses suffered on account of their property and crops due to snowfall and rains.

Mrs Gandhi told the people that both Centre and State Government were seized of the problems faced by snow hit people and will do their best to provide succour to them.

R&B Minister Jugal Kishore and Minister of State for Forests and Social Welfare Ghulam Mohd Saroori, MLA Inderwal, had been camping in Bhadarwah for last couple of days to make arrangements for Mrs Gandhi’s visit.

After about half an hour stay at Bhadarwah, Mrs Gandhi and her team flew to Navapachi, a remote village in Kishtwar district, bordering Anantnag. Enroute, she had aerial survey of some snow affected villages.

Reports said a large number of people had gathered at Navapachi, which was also worst hit by the snowfall along with surrounding areas of Kishtwar, to meet Mrs Gandhi. They apprised the Congress president of the problems faced by them especially in the wake of recent snowfall and sought immediate relief, which they were promised.

Mrs Gandhi spoke to the Union Home Ministry team and State officials and discussed the possibility of immediate relief that can be provided to the people of hilly areas.

She also had a brief halt at Marwah, another remote village in Kishtwar during aerial survey.

Sonia Gandhi and her team, however, couldn’t undertake further visit to south Kashmir areas of Khanabal, Verinag, Kapran and Kulgam, which too were badly affected by snowfall, due to bad weather.

The choppers returned to Udhampur technical airport in the afternoon.

Mrs Gandhi was scheduled to have an aerial survey of Kapran and Verinag and meet the snow affected people at Khanabal Dak Bungalow. However, her entire schedule of south Kashmir was cancelled due to bad weather.

At Srinagar Airport, Mrs Gandhi was briefed by Kashmir division officials about the damaged caused by snowfall as well as relief and rehabilitation measures taken by the administration for about half an hour.

The Central team flew back to New Delhi late in the afternoon.

Sources said the Central team also assessed the damage caused by snowfall and took along with them the presentation made by divisional administration to finalise amount of relief for snow affected people.

Meanwhile, a controversy shrouded the recovery of four kg RDX, UBGL grenades, detonators, one wireless set and accessories from an abandoned house at Chinote, near Bhadarwah few hours before the arrival of Sonia Gandhi.

Recoveries were claimed to have been made by 113 battalion of CRPF.

Sources claimed that the explosive devices were meant to target the VVIPs. There had been intercepts from very close range of Bhadarwah about the militants’ plot to target VVIPs and it was in this context that searches were carried out in surrounding areas of Bhadarwah on the eve of high profile visit, they said.

While the militants reportedly escaped from the house before the CRPF raid, the recoveries were made from inside. Cooked food inside indicated that number of militants in the house could be between two to three, sources pointed out.

A senior CRPF officer also spoke to a television channel from Bhadarwah and confirmed the recoveries. However, there was no written communication by the para-military force about the recoveries made by them.

A senior police officer from Doda, when contacted, contradicted the CRPF claim on recoveries.

"The para-military force generally carry out operations along with us", he said, adding no written information has been given by the CRPF to local police station about the recoveries.

He described so-called operation by the para-military force on the eve of VVIPs visit as ‘drama’.

Reliable sources, however, confirmed the recoveries from an abandoned house but asserted that the seizure was not of a kind which could have targeted the choppers. As far as Chinote village was concerned, it had a distance of nearly three kms from Bhadarwah town, where the VVIPs met the people.

An official handout quoted Mrs Gandhi as saying that she has come to assess problems of the people of hilly areas and that she would take up the matter regarding relief package for such areas with concerned Ministries. She said that the Government led by Ghulam Nabi Azad would take all measures required for relief and rehabilitation of the affected people.

She said that difficulties of the people due to poor road connectivity would also be appropriately addressed.

The Chief Minister, while welcoming the UPA chairperson and the Union Home Minister, said that Mrs. Gandhi has come to take stock of the problems of people living in these difficult areas. He said that Kishtwar is the largest tehsil in India as regards its area and the only tehsil which has poor road connectivity, adding that in some cases the people of this area have to trek the distance for 3 days to reach the district headquarter. He said the Government has started the road project from Kokernag and the ration is now being sent from this road. He said more than 300 people were airlifted through helicopter who were stranded due to heavy snowfall.

Mr. Azad said that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Defence and Home Ministers and other Central Government organizations have always extended support for the benefit of people of the State.

At Srinagar Airport, the UPA chairperson was informed that the State needs huge financial support for procuring new snow cutter machines to be able to promptly respond to such exigencies in future.

The officials said as of now the Mechanical Engineering department has only 4 snow cutters and 38 snow clearance machines. The State might also need additional resources to manage the floods which are imminent when the show will melt, for providing potable drinking water to the people living in inaccessible areas, repair of roads and damaged infrastructure.

Promotion Govt’s prerogative: SC

NEW DELHI, Feb 22: Selecting an employee for promotion and creating a channel for the purpose is the prerogative of the authorities concerned and it is not for the employees to suggest the mode for it, the Supreme Court has said.

"This is a policy decision of the Board and it is the Board which has to decide as to who will be suitable for the post and what should be the channel of promotion for such posts," a bench of Justices A K Mathur and Aftab Alam observed in a judgment.

The apex court passed the ruling while upholding an appeal filed by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) against the State High Court’s judgment which had directed the Board to consider helpers in the technical wing for promotions in the administrative department.

"It is the prerogative of the Board to decide that what shall be the channel of promotion for technical and non-technical persons", the bench said while holding that the authorities had adopted a rational basis in deciding the promotion avenues of the employees.

The grievance of the employees like helpers in the technical department was that they were made ineligible for any promotion in the administrative cadre on the basis of "note 3" of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board’s Service Regulations, 1967.

The Madras High Court upheld the grievance of the aggrieved employees and directed the Board to consider the promotions of the technical staff in the administrative wing following which the Board appealed in the apex court.

The Board took the stand that the promotion channels were decided on the basis of policy decisions taken on May 23, 1980 as per a Government order.

The order said that turners, fitters and machinists possessing NCT (National Council for Training and Vocational Trade) and NAC (National Apprenticeship Certificate) qualifications are not eligible for promotions in the administrative cadre.

It was on the basis of the said decision the employees were recruited hence they cannot complain of any discrimination or violation of rules, the Board contended before the court.

Accepting the argument, the apex court observed, "it is not for the incumbent serving as a helper to insist that the Board should amend the regulations which suits him."

The bench recalled its earlier observations in the P U Joshi case (2003) that a Government servant has no right to challenge the authority of the State to amend, alter and bring into force new rules relating to his/her service conditions.

Hence, it quashed the directions of the High Court.(PTI)

Peerzada fails to meet Sonia

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 22: Former State Congress president Peerzada Mohd Sayeed, who had to quit as School Education Minister as well as the PCC (I) chief last month in the wake of corruption charges levelled by an Independent MLA in the Assembly, today failed to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi despite camping at Udhampur for a couple of hours.

Mr Sayeed was not allowed to proceed to technical airport at Udhampur where Mrs Gandhi and Home Minister Shivraj Patil landed around 11 am and were received by Union Minister for Water Resources and PCC (I) chief Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti.

"I returned from Udhampur because my name was not enlisted among the dignitaries who were to meet Mrs Gandhi", Mr Sayeed said adding that he was not aware of the reasons for not allowing him to meet the Party president.

District administration officials said only those dignitaries were allowed to leave Udhampur for technical airport whose names had been cleared by the SPG to meet Mrs Gandhi. Mr Sayeed’s name didn’t figure in that list, they added.

After staying for a couple of hours at Udhampur, Peerzada Sayeed returned here without meeting the Congress chief.

Musharraf to work with new Parliament
Fahim front runner for PM’s post

ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: Widely respected PPP leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim was emerging as the front-runner for the Prime Minister’s post in the new coalition Government in Pakistan as the two main opposition parties today worked for a power sharing formula.

The newly elected Parliamentarians of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) met today for the first time after it became the single largest party in the recent elections and discussed the name of Fahim, the 68-year-old vice-president of Benazir Bhutto’s party and a few other probables.

No final decision has been taken yet, party sources said, adding that the meeting lasting two hours was convened to discuss last night’s decision taken by former rivals PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N’s Nawaz Sharif to form a "national consensus Government."

The names of PPP’s Punjab province President and a formal Federal Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, senior leader Yousuf Reza Gillani and firebrand lawyer Aitaz Ahsan were also doing the rounds for the top post.

The PML-N has already made it clear that the Prime Minister will be from the PPP. "We are waiting for them to nominate a suitable member of the National Assembly," PML-N joint secretary Siddique-ul-Farooq told.

Neither Zardari nor Sharif are immediately eligible to be premier because they are not MPs.

The ruling party—PML(Q)— which backed President Pervez Musharraf meanwhile said it doubted that the PPP-led new alliance would be stable calling it a "marriage of convenience."

As the new coalition partners PPP and PML-N joined hands with a resolve to strengthen Parliament, Musharraf said in a signed article in the "Washington post" that he would work with the new Parliament.

Musharraf, a key ally in the US-led "war on terror", said Pakistan required continued US support to defeat terrorism, forge a stable Government and create the foundation for economic growth.

"Because these goals are shared by the vast majority of Pakistanis, I am certain we can and will accomplish them, and I stand ready to work with the newly elected Parliament to achieve these objectives," he wrote.

In comments that would be soothing for Musharraf, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard A Boucher told reporters in Brussels on that Washington "looked forward to working with President Musharraf in his new role" and all other elements of Pakistani Civil Society and the Government.

PPP won 87 National Assembly seats in Monday’s vote while PML-N won 67 out of 268 seats contested. The PML-Q won 40, with the rest going to smaller parties and independent candidates. Six results have yet to be announced.

Fahim had unsuccessfully contested the October Presidential Election against Musharraf but later withdrew protesting that the General was not eligible since he was the army chief then.

PML-N Siddique-ul-Farooq meanwhile said "the decision by the PML-N, PPP and Awami National Party to forming the government at the Centre is a happy augury for the things to come in our efforts to achieve complete democracy," he said.

Farooq said PML-N has decided that Sharif’s brother Shahbaz will be its Chief Ministerial candidate in the politically crucial Punjab province, where the party has emerged as the single largest group. The PPP and the PML-N has decided to form coalitions even in the four provinces of Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh and NWFP.

He said the PML-N has held no discussions with the PPP on the possibility of having a deputy premier, adding that the Pakistani Constitution has no provision for such a post.(PTI)

Selection of Minister, higher-ups’ kin
as ISM doctors challenged

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 22: The selection of 36 ISM/Homeopathic doctors including the kith and kin of a Minister and high-ups has been challenged in the State High Court and Justice Mansoor Ahmed Mir has issued notice to the respondents through news-papers and ordered that selection/appointment shall be subject to the outcome of the writ petition.

The writ petition has been filed by Dr Sunil Kumar and others through Advocates Sudershan Sharma and Ashwani Khajuria in which it has been submitted that respondents issued notification on November 3, 2007 for the selection of 35 posts of ISM/Homeopathic doctors strictly and it was specifically mentioned that preference will be given to the candidates of the block where the health institutions are located.

This condition was kept only to ensure continuous presence of doctors and paramedics. However, the private respondents were selected and appointed at the cost of the petitioners, who were more qualified and meritorious than the private respondents and also residents of Samba district.

During the course of arguments, Advocates Sudershan Sharma and Ashwani Khajuria submitted that only 35 posts of ISM doctors were advertised vide the notification, but the respondents have selected 36 candidates.

"The private respondent No 36 is the daughter of one of the member of selection/interview committee while as private respondent No 40 is the son of the present Minister for Rural Development Department", they further submitted and said "private respondent No 34 is the son of PRO of Minister for Health and Medical Education Department".

"The respondents have selected the blue-eyed persons and by selecting the private respondents who are not the residents of Samba district the Government respondents have themselves violated the conditions and terms contained in the notification", the counsels appearing for the petitioners alleged and sought that the selection/ appointment of 36 ISM/Homeopathic doctors be quashed.

After hearing the counsels for the petitioners, Justice Mansoor Ahmed Mir issued notice to the respondents through news-papers and ordered that selection/appointment shall be subject to the outcome of the writ petition.

We can’t expedite execution of Afzal’s death sentence: SC

NEW DELHI, Feb 22: The Supreme Court today refused to pass a direction for expediting the execution of death sentence of Mohammad Afzal, convicted in the 2001 Parliament attack case.

"It is not our duty. It is for the executive to decide how to consider the matter. We cannot pass such direction," a three judge bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishanan said.

"This court cannot give such directions. We already passed the final order. You go to the executive," the bench told the petitioner, NGO Lashkar-e-Hind.

The court’s remark’s came while dismissing a PIL seeking direction to the Centre not to delay the hanging of Afzal, a Jaish-e-Mohammad activist, whose death sentence was upheld by the apex court on August 4, 2005.

Afzal’s conviction and death sentence by the Trial Court was upheld by both the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court which had dismissed his review and curative petition, the last legal remedy available to a convict.

While two of the three other accused were acquitted, Shaukat Hussain Guru, Afzal’s associate, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for not informing the police about the conspiracy to attack Parliament.

The petition pointed out the Centre cannot sit on the mercy petition indefinitely."There is no laid down procedure which the President and the Council of Ministers must follow while dealing with mercy petitions which means empowering the Government with unfettered authority which is undesirable," counsel appearing for the petitioner contended.

The counsel submitted that he had approached the President but had received no response. The bench, also comprising Justices R V Ravindran and Markandey Katju, however, dismissed his contention.(PTI)

Commission handicapped in absence of staff
Govt not taking SAC recommendations seriously

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Feb 22: Notwithstanding its much-hyped war against corruption, the Government has not been taking seriously the recommendations of the State Accountability Commission with regard to action against the public servants who were found ‘neck deep’ involved in the ‘corrupt’ practices.

Authoritative sources told EXCELSIOR that during the past two years 17 recommendations were made by the State Accountability Commission (SAC) to the State Government for action against senior in-service Government officers of the rank of Superintending Engineer, Executive Engineer, Managing Director and even above but till date no action was taken on those recommendations.

"The recommendations were made on the basis of final findings into the allegations against the accused public servants but astonishingly not even a single recommendation has been taken seriously by the Government which claimed to have waged a full fledged war against the menace of corruption", the sources said.

What to talk of acting purely as per the recommendations of the Commission, the Government has even not found it necessary to remove such officers from the posts on which they indulged into ‘corrupt’ practices and caused financial loss to the State’s exchequer for monetary considerations, they regretted.

"The seriousness of the Government towards implementation of the SAC’s recommendations can further be gauged from the fact that in some cases the final findings are based on the investigations conducted by the Government agencies or officials", sources rued while disclosing that only interim directions to the investigating agencies by the Commission are being adhered to.

They said, "the purpose of constituting Accountability Commission is defeated due to the lukewarm response of the Government towards its recommendations".

Although the State Government was also claiming to have been strengthening the institutions fighting war against the corruption, however, it has failed to provide adequate staff to the Accountability Commission which has been feeling ‘handicapped’ in the absence of required manpower.

"Not only that of Chairman, even the posts of Deputy Registrars have been lying vacant in the Commission for the past over six months both at Jammu and Srinagar benches despite the fact that follow up action on all the complaints are required to be taken up by them", the sources disclosed. Numerous posts of other staff have also not been filled up by the Government.

It is worthwhile to mention here that the first chairman of the State Accountability Commission Justice (retd) R P Sethi throughout his tenure kept on stressing the Government to provide adequate staff to the Commission and seriously honour its recommendations in order to give momentum to the war against corruption. But his words were never taken seriously and similar situation continue to prevail till today.

No danger to security: Jaiswal

BIJNOR (UP), Feb 22: Dismissing opposition charges that India was facing threat from terrorist outfits, the Centre has said there was no danger to internal security of the country.

"In Jammu and Kashmir, terrorism is at fag-end after 20 years. The Naxal-affected Andhra Pradesh is quite calm. There is no danger to internal security of the country," Union Minister of State for Home Shriprakash Jaiswal told reporters here yesterday.

He charged the Opposition parties with misleading people about the danger of terrorist outfits.

"The Opposition parties are making a noise and misleading the country on this. But during their regime the terrorists attacked Parliament and other religious places," he said.

Jaiswal said the Centre was providing all possible help, including paramilitary forces, helicopters and other resources to Naxal-affected States to fight the Maoists..

Claiming that there was no problem of terrorism in Uttar Pradesh, he blamed the CRPF authorities and the State Government for the terrorist attack on a CRPF camp in Rampur recently.

Asked about the alleged delay in hanging of Parliament attack case convict Afzal Guru, Jaiswal said normally it took six years for reaching any decision on such cases.

Why the Opposition is making such a hue and cry on this issue in just two years when a decision on assassins of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was taken only after eight years, he said.(PTI)

Infiltration bid foiled, 2 militants killed

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Feb 22: Troops foiled a major infiltration bid when they gunned down two heavily armed militants who had sneaked into this side, taking advantage of heavy snowfall in Keran sector.

A Defence Ministry spokesman said troops guarding the Line of Control (LoC) in Keran sector noticed a group of militants sneaking into this side at Rattapar Nar in the early hours today, taking advantage of darkness and heavy snowfall.

When challenged and asked to surrender at a particular place on this side of the border, militants opened fire. Troops also retaliated, killing both the militants on the spot.

He said two AK rifles and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants. He said this was the first infiltration attempt by the militants in 2008.

Last year more than 100 militants were killed and captured by the troops after they sneaked into this side from across the border.

Defence authorities recently said there would be no question of lowering the guards after the entire border belt experienced more than 15 feet to 20 feet of snowfall early this month.

Meanwhile, a massive blast rocked the heavily-guarded Srinagar Court Complex leaving a police official critically wounded, official sources said.

They said an explosive device went off in "mohala Khana"— a room where police kept seized goods, including arms and ammunition.

A Selection Grade Constable Mohammad Shafi, who was looking for some seized goods which were to be presented in the court as evidence against an accused, was injured in the blast.

He was immediately rushed to the hospital and his condition was stated to be critical when reports last came in.

The room caught fire immediately after the blast, they said, adding fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the blaze.

The blast was so powerful that the explosion was heard in the entire area, including historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the summer capital.

Eyewitnesses said people, including lawyers and others, ran for their safety after the blast.

Meanwhile, the Kashmir Bar Association has protested against the incident and demanded immediate shifting of the Mohala Khana from the court premises.

Two jawans surrender in rape case

SRINAGAR, Feb 22: Two soldiers of Jammu and Kashmir light infantry who jumped bail after they allegedly raped a woman in Sopore town of Baramulla district over four years ago have surrendered before a court here and been sent to jail.

Bal Krishan and Rakesh Kumar from Jammu appeared before Principal District and Sessions judge Hussain Masoodi yesterday in connection with the incident that occurred on October 27, 2004.

Non-bailable arrest warrants were issued against them by the same court after they disappeared on being enlarged on bail.

Taking cognizance of the nature of crime, Masoodi sent the two to Srinagar central jail and fixed the next date of hearing for tomorrow.

The woman was going from Jammu to Srinagar when the two soldiers, who were travelling in the same vehicle, convinced her that since it was getting late she should stop over at a guest house, according to the police report.

They allegedly raped her during the dead of night at the guest house in Rajbagh of Sopore.

A case was registered at Rajbagh police station under sections 366 (kidnapping), 376 (rape) and 109 (breach of peace) of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) after a protest by locals of the area.

Krishan, Kumar and the driver of the vehicle Shamasuddin were arrested on October 28, 2007, and later released on bail.

Former Principal District and Sessions judge Mohammad Yaqoob Mir, who was earlier hearing the case, had made out the NBWS against them.(PTI)

Court acquits 3 militants

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 22: TADA/POTA/3rd Additional Sessions Judge, Jammu Sanjay Gupta acquitted three alleged militants, who were facing trial for hurling grenades on a Brigadier and his protection party in which the officer and two sepoy were injured.

After hearing both the sides, the Court observed "on careful consideration of whole evidence and surrounding circumstances as well as the case, it appears that evidence of prosecution witnesses are not inspiring confidence. The prosecution witnesses have failed to stand the test of reliability and rendered evidence of doubtful character".

"The prosecution has failed to prove the case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt", the Court further observed.

With these observations, the Court acquitted accused persons namely Amjad Khan alias Munna, Mohd Sadiq alias Kala, both the residents of Ram Nagar, Budhal and Raj Kumar alias Raju, a resident of Mahore, of the charges leveled against them.

AK, grenades seized in Makwal

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 22: Close on the heels of killing of two infiltrators, security forces today recovered a consignment of arms and ammunition from forward village of Hashi, Makwal near Niki Tawi on the international border under the jurisdiction of Satwari police station.

The consignment, wrapped in a bag and concealed near a tree, include one AK-47 rifle, four magazines, 120 rounds and two hand grenades.

It is believed that the infiltrators might have dumped the consignment in forward village.

Only few days back, security forces had killed two intruders, suspected to be Pakistanis, in Makwal sector.

Security forces also recovered 350 AK rounds, five grenade launchers of UBGL and 500 grams explosives during searches in Lassana area of Surankote tehsil in Poonch district.

Infiltration on decline but attempts up, says Army Chief

NEW DELHI : Though the infiltration of militants from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir was on decline, the attempts had gone up in the recent past, Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor said.

"Let me give you a comparison between 2006 and 2007. In 2006, the infiltration was approximately 343 as per our count. In 2007, the figure stood at 311," he said in an interview here.

So there was a marginal decline as far as infiltration numbers were concerned, Gen Kapoor added.

"But as far as the attempts or bids (are concerned), they were slightly higher in 2007," the Army Chief said in the interview to CNN-IBN for its devil’s advocate programme, to be telecast tomorrow night. (UNI)

Fresh snowfall in upper reaches,
rain-light snow in plains

SRINAGAR : The upper reaches in the Kashmir valley experienced fresh snowfall since late last night while plains, including Srinagar, had rain mixed with intermittent light snowfall this morning, disrupting normal life.

However, despite rain and snowfall, the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu National Highway is through for traffic.

Traffic and pedestrian movement in the city had also been affected because of damaged roads and overflowing drains due to poor drainage system despite spending crores of rupees.

A weather office Spokesman however said the night was warm because of three degree above normal minimum temperature.

He said night temperature was above normal in all parts of the Valley.

A report from south Kashmir said Anantnag town and its adjoining areas experienced light snowfall this morning.

Pahalgam, the base camp of holy Amarnath cave shrine also had fresh snowfall since late last night.

It was snowing heavily at the cave shrine and Shehshnag, Mahaguns, Pisso Top and Panjtherni,the report said.

Fresh snowfall was also experienced in upper reaches in Shopian, Deksum and Ahrabal where more than 7 feet to 12 feet snow had already accumulated after Valley recorded heaviest snowfall in 20 years.

Baramulla and its adjacent areas also experienced fresh snowfall since early this morning. Few inches of snow had accumulated on the roof and tree tops. However, the upper reaches, including Sadhna Top, Keran, Karnah and other hilly areas experienced heavy snowfall since late last night.

Zojila pass on the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh National Highway recorded about one feet of fresh snowfall during the past 24 hours.

The highway has been closed for six winter months from November 16 last year. However, Drass-Kargil-Leh portion on the highway remained through for traffic despite snowfall. (UNI)