PM chairs high level meet
Relief package for KPs, militants’ kin finalised
*Blue print for a new future in J&K

NEW DELHI, Jan 23: A relief package for Kashmiri Pandits and support for dependents of militants killed in police encounters were among a slew of measures finalised at a meeting convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today to evolve a "blue print for a new future" in Jammu and Kashmir.

The high-level meeting also firmed up steps for easing travel between the two parts of Kashmir and decided to take up the matter with Pakistan at the earliest, official sources said.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and National Security Advisor M K Narayanan were present at the meeting.

A decision on providing a relief package to Kashmiri Pandits, who had migrated from the Valley after the onset of militancy, and providing them with job opportunities in Government was also taken.

The package would be in place soon after holding consultations with other Central Ministries including Finance Ministry, the sources said.

With 2008 being the election year in militancy-hit Jammu and Kashmir, an announcement of people-friendly packages is likely to be made by the Prime Minister at a later date when he was expected to travel to the border State.

Singh reviewed the recommendations of the standing committee and a monitoring mechanism set up after the third roundtable conference on Kashmir last year for ensuring implementation of suggestions made by the working groups on Kashmir.

The Prime Minister, while setting the two committees last year, had said that his Government was keenly working for a "blue print for new future" for the State.

The meeting favoured increased cross-LoC movement of people and goods and said a discussion with Pakistan should be held in easing the travel of people from Jammu and Kashmir.

The Prime Minister asked the officials in militancy-hit State to reduce the amount of time taken in clearing passengers for across Line of control bus travel, they said.

During the meeting, it was decided to take up the issues of promoting pilgrim tourism in either parts of Kashmir, no travel permit requirement for senior citizens and increase goods exchange with Pakistan, they said.

The important issue to resolve the problems of refugees from Pakistan, who migrated to Jammu and Kashmir in 1947, in a time-bound manner was also taken up during the meeting and all concerned ministries were asked to make a speedy assessment before a package would be finalised for them as well, the sources said.

The State Chief Minister has been raising the voice for providing financial relief to the kins of militants killed in police encounters reasoning that it was not the fault of widows and orphans if their bread-earner had stuck to the gun.

Ahead of today’s crucial meeting, the issue was deliberated by Azad yesterday with Patil and before that it was discussed by officials with the National Security Advisor M K Narayanan.

Today’s meeting at the Prime Minister’s level is the highest held so far on the issue and, besides other things, discussed threadbare matters relating to militancy affected widows and orphans, Kashmiri Pandits, West Pakistani Refugees of 1947, PoK Refugees of 1947 and cross LoC travel.

Following the second Roundtable Conference convened by the Prime Minister in Srinagar, five Working Groups had been constituted in 2006 on economic development, strengthening relations across the LoC, confidence building measures across segments of society in the State, ensuring good governance and strengthening relations between the State and the Centre. Out of the five WGs, four submitted their reports to the Prime Minister last year while the report of the fifth on Centre-State relations is awaited.

The Central Government had constituted a committee under the Union Home Secretary with representatives of both Union and State Governments, to review the implementation of the recommendations made by the Working Groups. Subsequently, several meetings were held between the Centre and State Governments. On January 13, 2008, a meeting was held between the Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad and senior officers of the Government of India in the union capital. Besides, Prime Minister’s Advisor on National Security, senior officers of Planning Commission, Union Ministries of Home, Defence and External Affairs and Prime Minister’s Office had attended the meeting as well the senior officers of the State Government led by the Chief Secretary.

The January 13 meeting was followed by a high level discussion between the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil and Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad here last evening. Senior officers on both sides also attended.

NC stalls entire business, FM’s budget reply; seek resignations of Qarra, Afzal
A day full of uproar in Assembly
*NPP, BJP, JSM MLAs troop into Well, call for Governor’s rule, fresh polls

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Jan 23: Opposition National Conference today stalled proceedings in Legislative Assembly almost for entire day leading to two adjournments and blocked reply of Finance Minister Tariq Hamid Qarra on budget debate demanding resignations of Mr Qarra and Forest Minister Qazi Mohd Afzal for their indictment in Kundal Committee report.

In an unusual practice, nearly 20 NC MLAs also took out a procession within the Civil Secretariat premises after the House was adjourned both the times shouting massive slogans against coalition Government especially Mr Qarra and Mr Afzal.

The issue was virtually deadlocked with NC insisting on dismissal of both the Ministers and declaring that it would not allow proceedings of the House to run till the ‘tainted’ Ministers resign or are removed from the Ministry while Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig ruled out resignations saying there was no indictment of the Ministers in Kundal Committee report. Speaker Tara Chand and Mr Baig offered the Opposition a full fledged debate on the report after Question Hour tomorrow, a proposal shot down by the Opposition saying the report was "self speaking" and had pointed out "knee deep involvement" of Ministers in the "irregularities" and they must go.

While National Panthers Party (NPP) didn’t join the protests, its Legislature Party leader, Harshdev Singh along with Jammu State Morcha (JSM) MLA Ashwani Sharma trooped into well of the House and staged a sit-in before staging a walk-out demanding dissolution of Assembly, dismissal of Government, imposition of Governor’s rule and holding fresh elections in the State. BJP MLA Jugal Kishore also called for dismissal of Government and Governor’s rule in the State alleging both the Government and the Assembly have failed to carry out any business. He too walked out of the House. Later, three other NPP MLAs—Balwant Singh Mankotia, Yashpal Kundal and Faqir Nath also staged a walk-out making a similar demand.

Day long pandemonium in the Assembly marred by massive slogans by Opposition and counter slogans by PDP-Congress members, joined by the coalition Ministers, reached its climax when the House met at 4.07 pm after lunch break. As NC again rejected the Deputy CM’s proposal for a debate on Kundal report tomorrow and insisted on Ministers’ resignation, the Speaker asked Finance Minister Tariq Hamid Qarra to start his reply on budget debate.

As soon as Mr Qarra stood up for reply, all NC members, who in the morning session had been shouting slogans from their benches, trooped into well of the House shouting "Gali Gali Mein Shor Hai, Qazi Qarra Chor Hain", "Corrupt Ministron Ko Nanga Karo", "Jangal Choron Ko Nanga Karo", "Choron Ko Fansi Do", "Ganderbal Mein Shor Hai, Yeh Sarkaar Chor Hai", "Batmaloo Mein Shor Hai, Yeh Sarkaar Chor Hai" etc. (Batmaloo and Ganderbal are represented by Mr Qarra and Mr Afzal respectively). Almost all PDP and Congress MLAs including some Ministers countered the sloganeering shouting "Kundal Report Pe Behas Karo".

The NC MLAs tore the papers in their hands and threw them in the House. Papers flung all over the Well of the House.

As NC MLAs moved towards podium of the Speaker, they were surrounded by watch and ward staff of the Assembly. Mr Qarra tried to go ahead with his reply but nothing was audible in the din. Barely two minutes into the Finance Minister’s reply, it was a virtual ruckus in the House with slogans of "Jungle Chor Hai Hai" renting the entire House. Finding no other option, the Speaker adjourned the House till tomorrow.

After adjournment of the House, there was not let up in anti-Government sloganeering by NC MLAs for about five minutes. The Opposition members came out of the House and marched in a procession in Civil Secretariat premises shouting "Chor Sarkaar Hai Hai", "Corrupt Sarkaar Hai Hai", "Beimaan Sarkaar Hai Hai", "Mulazimon Mein Shor Hai, Secretariat Mein Shor Hai, Hinduon Mein Shor Hai, Musalmanon Mein Shor Hai, Sikhon Mein Shor Hai, Masjidon Mein Shor Hai, Mandiron Main Shor Hai, Gurudwaron Mein Shor Hai, Yeh Sarkaar Chor Hai". They walked upto the Secretariat’s entrance and held a massive demonstration for a couple of minutes before dispersing.

As House resumed its sitting after lunch break, the Deputy Chief Minister (in the absence of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is in New Delhi), said the Government was ready for a debate on Kundal Committee report.

NC MLA Sharief-ud-Din Shariq countered the demand saying the report was "self speaking" and there was no scope left for a debate. The Ministers must go, he said.

Another NC member Dr Mehboob Beg added that the two Ministers could "influence investigations" ordered by the Government through Vigilance Organisation and Crime Branch into irregularities pointed out by Kundal Committee.

"Shariq Sahib Aapko Khoon Peene Ki Aadat Ho Gayi Hai. Aapko Bahut Zayada Payaas Lagi Hai. (Shariq Sahib, you have become blood thirsty)", Mr Baig remarked referring to the earlier resignation of School Education Minister Peerzada Mohd Sayeed. Mr Baig again requested the NC MLAs that the Chief Minister will also return tomorrow and will listen to debate on the report.

"We didn’t ask for an inquiry. The Chief Minister had himself set up the Committee to go into mess in Forest Department. When the Committee has given a self speaking report, these Ministers must go", senior NC leader Ajay Sadhotra remarked.

Charging the National Conference with shying away from debate, Mr Baig asked the Opposition members to tell him the pages of Kundal report where the two Ministers have been indicted. Dr Mehboob Beg replied that Chief Minister was on record saying the Ministers were not "directly involved" which means they were "indirectly involved" in the scams.

Earlier in the morning, as soon as the House assembled and the Speaker called for Question Hour, all NC MLAs moved to front row. Leader of Opposition Abdul Rahim Rather said he and all his party MLAs have gone through Kundal Committee report yesterday and found "knee deep involvement" of present Forest Minister (Qazi Afzal) and his predecessor (Tariq Hamid Qarra).

"Prima facie involvement of both of them has been established by Kundal Committee report and they both should be sacked immediately. Vigilance Organisation and Crime Branch can’t probe the cases referred to them till both Ministers occupy their chair as they can "influence the probe" and "tamper with the record", Mr Rather said.

"It’s scandal worth crores", Mr Sadhotra remarked. "Yeh Mantri Jail Jane Ke Layak Hain, Yahaan Rahne Ke Laayak Naheen (these Ministers deserve jail, not a seat here)", Mr Shariq shouted.

PHE Minister and PDP leader Dilawar Mir was quick to get up from his seat and charged the NC members with enacting a drama. "Mr Rather has himself charged some members of the House with wasting time. Now what he is doing"? he asked.

"Aap Doodh Kay Dhoole Naheen Hain. Aapke Bhi Scandals Hum Samne Layenge (You are not clean. We will expose your scandals also)", Mr Mir shouted. "Chor Log Hain Aap. Sare Chor Hain (You are thieves. You all are thieves)", the Minister went on.

It was virtually for the first time when all PDP-Congress Ministers besides the MLAs stood up from their seats and countered NC. "Gundagardi Naheen Chalegi. Dramewazi Naheen Chalegi (Hooliganism and drama won’t do)", Congress MLA Girdhari Lal shouted loudly as he trooped into well. He was followed by PDP members Sartaj Madni, Shanti Devi and Ghulam Hassan Khan (suspended from the party), all of whom strongly countered the NC slogans. NC’s slogan of "Choron Ko Saza Do" was countered by PDP with "Chor Machaye Shor". NC MLAs replied with "Daaku Machaye Shor".

In a rare case, all Ministers sitting on front and second row of treasury benches also stood up from their seats to counter NC protests. In the melee, Qazi Afzal was also heard passing some remarks against the Opposition which were not audible in the din.

Amidst a free for all situation, the Speaker adjourned the House within 5 minutes of Question Hour. Even after five minutes of adjournment, NC members continued slogans in the House including "Kundal Bhi Kahta Hai, Ro Ro Ke Kahta Hai, Cheekh Cheekh Kay Kahta Hai, Har Page Pay Kahta Hai, Yeh Sarkaar Chor Hai".

The House resumed after more than one and half hour adjournment. The Speaker told NC members that Government functionaries have spoken to the Chief Minister in New Delhi and the Government has agreed for a discussion on Kundal report after Question Hour tomorrow. However, the NC MLAs refuse to budge from their stand and started shouting slogans which were again replied by PDP and Congress legislators.

However, the treasury benches stopped slogans and the Chair went ahead with debate on budget. Jehangir Mir, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma, Sartaj Madni, Raman Mattoo, Moulvi Abdul Rashid and Kanta Choudhary took part in the debate amidst slogans from the Opposition members.

"They (the NC people) couldn’t open schools but we have given Universities and Colleges to the people. They only showed dreams to people but we made them realise by launching Muzaffarabad bus and other such measures. We have opened 10,000 new primary schools. They gave us Task Force, POTA, Ikhwanis and Papa Kishtwari but we have given people a terror free atmosphere", Mr Madni said as NC MLAs continued to shout "10 Arab Ka Hisaab Do", "Coalition Sarkar Sharam Karo, Dariya Mein Dhoob Maro".

All of a sudden, the House was rocked by a fresh protest, this time by NPP Legislature Party leader Harshdev Singh and JSM MLA Ashwani Sharma, who entered the House and straightway proceeded to well of the Assembly.

"Dissolve the Assembly. There is no seriousness either on part of the Government or the Opposition. Both have made a mockery of the House. Impose Governor’s rule in the State and hold fresh elections", Harshdev said, adding "there is no name of law and Constitution, both within and outside the House".

"Assembly Ko Bhang Karo, Governor Rule Impose Karo", Mr Singh shouted as both MLAs sat on a dharna in Well of the House.

"A deliberate attempt is being made to silence the voice of Jammu", Harshdev and Ashwani Sharma shouted as they staged a walk-out from the House after about 10 minutes dharna.

As BJP MLA Jugal Kishore started his speech on the budget, he too mounted a frontal attack on both coalition Government and treasury benches saying one side was asking for autonomy and other for self rule. Mr Qarra was suggesting his own currency. "From where the Government will bring crores of rupees to pay salary to the employees if the State is given autonomy or self rule"? he asked.

Charging the Government with having failed to run the House and curb corruption, he called upon the Governor to dismiss the Government and hold fresh elections. "Militants are being killed in the houses of ruling party leaders. Neither this Government nor this Assembly is working", the BJP MLA shouted, trooped into Well of the House, marched upto Speaker’s podium and started shouting but his voice too was not audible as NC members continued their slogans. The BJP MLA then staged a walk-out in the House.

Now it was the turn of three NPP MLAs, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Yashpal Kundal and Faqir Nath who marched upto front row saying the Government has no right to stay in power and Governor rule must be imposed in the State. All three later staged a walk-out in the House.

During brief debate on the budget in post-adjournment session, the NC members kept sitting on front row and indulged in massive sloganeering.

Talking to reporters outside the Assembly, Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig, flanked by Mr Qarra, Mr Afzal and other Ministers including Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Dilawar Mir, Abdul Aziz Zargar and Pir Mohd Hussain besides PDP MLAs, Abdul Rehman Veeri and Mohd Khalil Bandh, pointed out that Kundal Committee has submitted its report within 12 days and has given certain recommendations on "tentative conclusions".

"This tentative view of Kundal report is subject to verification. No where, the Committee has given a final verdict except for saying may be this is an irregularity etc", Mr Baig noted.

Asserting that there was no allegation against Minister in the report, he invited the NC for a full fledged debate in the House on the report tomorrow and declared that even if prima facie it was proved that any of the two Ministers had taken graft, they will resign.

"They have come to the House decided that they are not going for a debate in the House as they will be exposed since there was no irregularity mentioned in the report", the Deputy Chief Minister said.

Saying that the Chief Minister could have even rejected tentative recommendations of Kundal Committee, Mr Baig said the CM even then decided to refer the cases to Vigilance Organisation and Crime Branch for investigations.

Regarding import of timber, he pointed out that it was the Finance Minister himself who had stopped the entire exercise after it was pointed out that one of the officer was connected to the firm from which timber was proposed to be imported.

On allotment of work on Amani basis, Mr Baig said this was done as tenders were boycotted by Jammu contractors for extraction of timber seeking 100 per cent hike in rates. Even NC has also resorted to Amani basis, he pointed out.

To a question, Taj Mohi-ud-Din said it was the NC’s game plan to adjourn the House since die but we will insist on a debate on Kundal report in the House.

Talking to reporters, Leader of Opposition Abdul Rahim Rather observed that Kundal report has "unambiguously" pointed out that not only senior officers of Finance Department but two Ministers of coalition Government had "knee deep involvement" in corruption.

"I’m saying this with a sense of responsibility that Kundal has pointed out irregularities in Forest Department with concerned Ministers’ approval", he said and asked: "doesn’t this mean that they are party to bunglings"?

He added that even if the Ministers’ role wouldn’t have been mentioned they couldn’t have escaped their responsibility as a senior most officer, the Chief Secretary, has repeatedly said that decisions were taken with the Ministers’ approval.

"What more the Chief Minister wants? Who will believe the CM’s slogan of corruption free administration and transparency if he didn’t make the Ministers to resign"? Mr Rather asked and said: "if the Ministers didn’t resign it will put a question mark on credibility of the Chief Minister and will render his slogans on anti-corruption hollow".

He insisted that a decision to import timber was taken to "benefit a particular firm. As this was for the first time that the Government was adopting a policy on import of timber, the Government should have taken the Legislature into confidence, he said.

The NC leader said the Kundal Committee has pointed out that the same officer was made SFC MD who was pushing the agenda of timber import. Contracts were given to unregistered contractors and families of blacklisted contractors. GMs and DMs were transferred within 6 months. Clearly, these allegations formed the basis for a prima facie cases against the Ministers, he added.

Noting that 20 scams mentioned by Kundal panel have been recommended to Vigilance and Crime Branch, the Leader of Opposition wanted to know that whether it is possible that the two agencies can hold an independent probe when the "accused" continue to occupy the Minister’s chairs.

Referring to the Excelsior report that 999 fire incidents took place in two years, he said timber was being burnt for vested interests.

He said Qazi Afzal has himself admitted that the Forest Department has been ruined. "An accused who is confessing his crime has to be punished", he observed.

On Kundal Committee also pointing fingers on a Forest Minister in NC Government, Mr Rather said "we will not tolerate him. We will take appropriate action".

Exfiltration bid near Sunderbani
Two soldiers, militant killed; Major among 4 jawans injured

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 23: Two Army jawans and a militant were killed and four soldiers including a Major were injured in a fierce exchange of gunbattle along Ikhni nullah near Munawar Tawi between Sunderbani and Akhnoor sector this morning.

Official sources said Army observed movement of a group of 3-4 militants trying to exfiltrate across Line of Control (LoC) from this side last night. A vigil was maintained on the group and the militants were challenged and asked to surrender. However, they formed two groups and fanned out in different directions.

In the morning, police parties also rushed to the spot.

Sources said a contact with the militants was established at 11.30 am today after which a heavy exchange of gun fighting ensued between the two sides. In the gunfighting, two Army jawans and one militant were killed while four Army soldiers including a Major were injured.

Injured Army personnel have been evacuated from the firing site and admitted in a Military Hospital while bodies of two Army jawans were in the process of being sent to their houses.

Search operation in the area was going on with troops hunting the other militants.

"The militants were trying to exfiltrate to PoK due to pressure maintained on them by security forces on this side", Defence spokesman Lt Col S D Goswami said.

Police party in the operation was supervised by Additional SP Jammu Shakti Pathak.

Identity of slain militant hasn’t been established but his body has been recovered from the spot.

Meanwhile, acting on a tip-off, troops of 48 Rashtriya Rifles recovered a large quantity of explosives, including 40 kg of RDX, 16 detonators, two IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) and eight RPGs, from Dhankot in Darhal area of Rajouri district, Lt Col S D Goswami said.

The explosives were concealed in a polythene bag, he said.

Searches are being conducted in the area to trace the militants but no arrests have been made so far, sources said.

NC members storm Upper House,
protest in Well; marshaled out

By Gopal Sharma

JAMMU, Jan 23: Opposition National Conference legislators today rocked the Upper House, held massive protest demonstration in the ‘Well’ of the House, seeking ouster of two PDP ministers from the State Cabinet whose names have figured in the Kundal Committee report.

They continued to disrupt proceedings in the House during entire Question Hour, repeatedly demanding that House be adjourned but the Chairman Ghulam Nabi Lone remained unmoved and continued proceedings despite intensive noise, uproar and disorder in the House. He failed to restore order in the House for about 40 minutes. Apparently irritated over the behaviour of the members, the chairman was witnessed virtually shouting at the Opposition members directing them to remain cool, occupy their seats. As they continued to protest and create noisy scenes, the Chairman directed the watch and ward staff to marshal them out. Obeying the directives from the Chair, the Opposition members including Sakina Itoo, T S Wazir, Mr Taing and Qureshi were marshaled out at 12.16 pm. No female staff was available there to move out the lone NC woman member in the Council.

As the House of elders commenced its proceedings today, all the NC members including Sakina Itoo, M Y Taing, Bashir Naz, Tarlochan Singh Wazir and M R Qureshi stood up and raised the issue of Kundal Committee report and demanded that Government should immediately sack Finance Minister Tariq Hamid Qarra and Minister for Forest Qazi Afzal both from PDP for their alleged involvement in scams as indicted by the Kundal Committtee. They sought adjournment of the House and said that they will not allow the proceedings till these tainted ministers were thrown out of the Cabinet.

The members disrupted the proceedings for about an hour exerting pressure on the Government for the dismissal of the Ministers. Earlier, they were raising slogans standing at the first row but later trooped into the well. They shouted anti-Government slogans, including sacking of tainted Ministers (Dagi Mantriyon Ko Baher Karo) Gali Gali Mein Shor Hai, Azad Sarkar.....Hai. As they continued their protest shouting and anti Government slogans, the entire House was witnessed in full disorder and rocked and surrounded by high pitched drama.

Observing continued noise, total disruption in the proceedings and failure of the ‘chair’ to restore order in the House for a long time, the entire media-persons except official mediamen, moved out of the Press Gallery during Question Hour. However, the Chairman preferred to run the show in the House despite melee and din.

Amidst slogans, the NC members moved out of the House after the Question Hour was hurriedly completed just within 45 minutes. After brief ‘Zero Hour’ as the House proceedings were going on, NC members again entered the House and started slogans. The PDP members including Ved Parkash, Nizamuddin Bhat, Murtaza Khan and Bilal Lodhi also stood up in support of their ministers. They clashed with the Opposition members and the process of allegations and counter allegations started. The Chairman tried his best to restore order but the noise and uproar continued to rock the House. Mr Qureshi torn out the book of rules and procedures and threw towards the Council Staff in the Well. Then Chairman directed the watch and ward staff to move them out of the House. After the NC members were marshaled out, the order was restored at about 12.17 pm in the House.

Later, PDP members Murtaza Khan, Nizam-ud-Din Bhat and Ashok Sharma (Cong) demanded that these members who have created unpleasant scene in the House be suspended for the rest of the Session. They also urged the Chairman to take strict action against, Mr Qureshi to indulged in contempt of the House and torn out the book of rules and procedures. The Chairman then suspended the NC members for rest of the proceedings on Wednesday.

No trace of Norwegian skier, soldiers

SRINAGAR, Jan 23: There was still no trace of Norwegian woman skier, soldiers and porters, who went missing on January 8 in north Kashmir after the entire Valley experienced heavy snowfall.

Rescue operations were still going on to trace Norwegian skier Francesca Rongne, missing since January 8 in snowbound Gulmarg heights, Director Tourism Farooq Ahmad Shah said.

He said we still hope that she is alive and a number of teams rushed to different heights in the area were still looking for her.

However, official sources said her chances of survival in freezing temperature without food and shelter was bleak.

They said besides more than 15 feet of snow in the avalanche prone heights, there was also a threat of wild animals, who had come down from the upper forests.

The rescue teams from Army, High Altitude Warfare School, Police and Tourism were still searching the entire belt to locate Francesca Rongne without any success, official sources said adding the helicopters pressed into service also could not find her because of bad weather.

This is for the second time that Francesca Rongne went missing in Gulmarg during the past two years. Last year, she went missing during a snow storm she took shelter in a snow cave and returned several days later.

Official sources said she checked in a hotel on January 8 at 1430 hrs but left after 15 minutes for skiing. However, when she did not return, the hotel management lodged a missing report in the police station at Gulmarg on January 9.

Success also eludes Army authorities to recover bodies of soldiers and porters who were buried under huge snow avalanche in Uri sector, Defence Ministry spokesman said.

The rescue teams, including relatives of missing civilian porters, who were camping in an Army post, some distance from the avalanche site at Line of Control (LoC), for the past few days, could not move forward due to bad weather and heavy snowfall.

Official sources said to avoid any further casualty, the authorities have decided to undertake the operation to recover the bodies of porters and soldiers once there is no danger of further avalanches.

Spokesman said porters and soldiers were buried alive under snow avalanche in Uri sector on January 8. However, only three soldiers could be rescued in an injured condition while the whereabouts of others were still not known.

He said (soldiers and porters) were still missing in the records, adding until the bodies could be recovered they cannot be declared dead. But the chances of their survival was almost zero.

Meanwhile, the defence authorities have sanctioned Rs one lakh while State Government has sanctioned Rs 50,000 as exgratia relief in favour of the next of kin of the missing porters.

He refuted the allegation that Army was doing nothing to recover the bodies of civilian porters. He said bodies of Army personnel, who were buried alive in the same incident, too have not been recovered due to unstable snow condition and increment weather at Chota Kazi Nar Dhar near the LoC.

The spokesman said efforts were on at all levels to recover the bodies without suffering any more casualty. However, the site of incident being in the vicinity of the LoC with high sensitivity, operations to recover the bodies have to be undertaken with due precautions. (UNI)

3 Armymen killed in J&K to get Ashok Chakras

NEW DELHI, Jan 23: ‘Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country’.

Perhaps, these words of late US President John F Kennedy can best describe the spirit behind the sacrifice by three men, Col Vasanth V, Captain Harshan R and Naib Subedar Chuni, who will be awarded this year’s "Ashok Chakra" posthumously.

Displaying exemplary courage in the face of all odds, all three of them lost their lives fighting militants in Jammu and Kashmir.

Vasanth, who was in the 9th Regiment of Maratha Light Infantry, chose Indian Military Academy over an admission in IIM and laid down his life in a fire fight when he was leading an operation to flush out militants near Uri town in Jammu and Kashmir.

An idealist to the core, Vasanth, in 1997, had also encouraged his wife to set up an organisation, ‘The Silent Front’, dedicated to the widows of martyrs, as he felt that the stories of the spouses of soldiers were often untold.

In a sad turn of event, it would be his wife Subhashini who would receive the Award from the President on January 26.

Captain Harshan laid his life leading a bloody battle with militants, who had outnumbered him in the encounter on March 20, 2007 in Lolab area of Jammu and Kashmir.

His father K Radhakrishnan Nair, who will receive the award, is naturally proud of Harshan but could not hide his emotions.

"The loss is irreparable and no material thing can fill the gap. I am really proud that my son who died while serving the nation and protecting the motherland. He showed exemplary courage at a budding stage of his life," Nair said.

For Harshan’s mother Chitrambika G S, the news of her son’s death was extremely painful and she remained bed-ridden for almost eight months.

"It still pierces my heart," she mumbled with uneasiness.

Like variant and Harshan, Naib Subedar Chuni Lal, whose career had been full of professional achievements, was not to be satiated till the very end.

By killing three terrorists in his last battle, Lal inspired his small team to eliminate all other militants.

Chintha Devi, his wife, says that their 16-year-old son would follow his father’s footsteps and join the Army.

"Almost all the male members in our family are in Army. And, I always want my son also to join the armed forces and fight for the country," she said.

For 16-year-old Manveer Singh, losing his father is a big blow but he wants to fulfill his father’s wish by joining the Army.

"My father always wanted that I should join the Army and I am working hard to get through the recruitment process," Manveer, a student of 10th standard said. (PTI)

Two Lecturers, SA chargesheeted

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Jan 23: Crime Branch, Kashmir has presented chargesheet against two Lecturers and a Senior Assistant of Education Department in the Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption Srinagar for launching prosecution against them.

An official spokesman said that Crime Branch Kashmir registered a case when incriminating material, including blank and written answer books and other certificates were recovered during house search of a Lecturer namely Mohammad Amin Makhdoomi, son of Peer Mohammad Yousaf of Brakpora, Anantnag.

The investigation of the case revealed that the blank and written answer sheets were issued to two Lecturers—Mohammad Amin Makhdoomi, son of Peer Mohammad Yousaf of Brakpora and Ghulam Mohammad Rather, son of Ali Mohammad Rather of Sadoora for conducting the examination of Higher Secondary Part-II.

These Lecturers didn’t deposit the unused stationery in the Board office thereby misappropriating the same by misuse of their official position.

Further investigation revealed that a service book in respect of one Mohammad Ishaq Mir, son of Ghulam Nabi Mir of Achabal was also recovered during house search which was proved to have been fraudulently prepared by a Senior Assistant of DIET Anantnag namely Mohammad Afzal Khanday, son of Mohammad Ibrahim Khanday of Gawran in order to ensure his fraudulent appointment in Education Department as teacher.

Also a marks card recovered during the house search was found to be fake and forged. The offences punishable under different sections of RPC and Prevention of Corruption Act were established against three accused persons.

After completion of investigation, charge-sheet of the case was presented before the Court of Special Judge, Anti-Corruption Srinagar after obtaining the requisite sanction from the Government for launching prosecution against them.

Noorani arrested by Vigilance

SRINAGAR, Jan 23: Vigilance Organisation (VO) today arrested the driver of former Education Minister and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed who resigned from the ministry after a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) alleged that the minister took bribe from him.

A VO spokesman said in connection with the investigation in the FIR Number 2/2008 registered in Police Station Vigilance Organisation, Kashmir, the accused driver Altaf Ahmad Noorani, of Board of School Education (BOSE) was produced before the competent court today.

The court granted four days transit remand in Vigilance custody today.

The VO has registered a corruption case against the driver after a written statement made by an MLA, Sangrama in Baramulla Shoaib Nabi Lone was received by the organisation.

In his statement dated January 14, 2008 to the police, Mr Lone has alleged that he had paid a bribe to Altaf Noorani who was attached to Mr Sayeed for clearance of a file pertaining to permission for starting ETT classes.

This statement was received by VO from the police for action under law.

He said case FIR Number 2/2008 P/S VOK U/S 5(2) Prevention of Corruption Act read with 161 and 120 B RPC has been registered and investigation taken up.

Mr Lone said he has paid the bribe to the Minister through his driver. However, Mr Sayeed, who was also Haj and Auqaf Minister, denied the charges and said it was only to defame him.

He said he has resigned to allow inquiry into the case. (UNI)

Life sentence for 5 ultras

LUCKNOW, Jan 23: Five Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants, arrested for their connections with the 2006 Varanasi blasts accused Waliullah, were today awarded life imprisonment by a court here.

The Fast Track Court also awarded Mehboob Alam, Mohammad Sueb, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Shaad and Farhan 32 years of imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 40,000 each under different sections of IPC.

Judge D R Mishra said all the punishment would run concurrently. The five were arrested from Sarojini Nagar area here on April 5, 2006 and alleged to be accomplices of Waliullah. The prosecution had also claimed the militants to be Waliullah’s accomplices.

An AK-47 rifle, RDX and other explosives and a large quantity of ammunition besides maps of Lucknow, Varanasi and Barabanki cities were recovered from them.

At least 12 people were killed in the blasts in Sankat Mochan temple in Varanasi in March 2006.(PTI)

Both houses adjourn over forest scam

JAMMU: Both the houses of the Jammu and Kashmir legislature were adjourned today following a furore over the findings of an official probe which alleged the involvement of two ministers in the forest scam.

As soon as the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly began, members of main opposition National Conference (NC) started shouting anti-government slogans and demanded sacking of two ministers named in the scam probe by Chief Secretary B R Kundal.

Soon, other opposition parties including Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP), Jammu State Morcha and BJP also joined the NC and tried to disrupt the functioning of the house.

However, speaker Tara Chand, gauging the mood of the irate opposition members, who used unparliamentary language and trooped into the well, adjourned the house for an hour.

As soon as the house reassembled after adjournment, NC members tore Kundal's report and threw pieces of papers towards the speaker's podium and treasury benches.

Amid chaos and verbal duels, state finance minister Tariq Qarra delivered his budget speech.

Some members even rushed towards Qarra to stop him from speaking but were stopped by marshals.

"NC is bankrupt (of issues) and it does not have any political issue and is wasting the public money by forcing adjournments for the past three days", Qarra said.

Qarra accused NC members of being "escapists" and said that they were shying away from taking part in a debate on Forest scam and on Kundal's report.

While NC legislators raised slogans, members from the treasury benches also got up and raised counter-slogans.

As pandemonium continued in the house, the speaker adjourned it till January 28.

Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council was also adjourned after all NC MLCs refused to debate the budget and vacated their seats to sit on a dharna in the well of the house.

Raising anti-government slogans, they tried to disrupt the proceedings of the house, but the chairman did not allow that to happen.

However, considering the unwillingness of the NC members to take part in budget discussion, he later adjourned the house for half an hour. (PTI)