CM inspects Jagti flats, Shitlee-III
Statements emanating from Pak encouraging: Azad

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 6: Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said he was happy to note positive change in the thinking of Pakistani leadership on Kashmir issue and hoped that they would not change it under any pressure.

Talking to some media persons at Jagti in Nagrota where he had gone to inspect construction work on flats being constructed for Kashmiri migrants, Mr Azad described as "encouraging" the recent statement of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari that new Pakistan leadership was ready to set aside Kashmir issue to solve other bilateral issues with India.

"It was encouraging to see that change in thinking in Pakistan was not restricted to an individual but the country’s entire leadership which was evident from the fact that they were moving ahead of their stated position for last 60 years", the Chief Minister said.

He added that Mr Zardari had spoken what Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf had been saying for last few years. He pointed out that even former Prime Minister of Pakistan and PML (N) leader, Nawaz Sharief has also spoken positively on Kashmir issue.

It may be mentioned here that both Mr Zardari and Mr Sharief have emerged strong leaders in Pakistan after February 18 elections. Both leaders have joined hands along with some smaller parties to form a new Government in Pakistan.

"We were apprehensive that recently held elections in Pakistan might throw up a Government that could reverse policies of present Government and go back to the old position", he said. However, he added, that Mr Zardari’s statement was a welcome development.

Mr Azad observed that improvement in bilateral relations between India and Pakistan were not only beneficial to the two countries but the entire world at large.

The Chief Minister said India had always been maintaining that relations with Pakistan should not be allowed to held hostage to a single issue. Trade, commerce, tourism, people to people contacts and cultural and educational exchanges must go on while dialogue process was on, he added.

Mr Azad said that post 9/11, there was no space for terrorism in the world.

"Entire world had woken up to the scourge after bomb blasts in America, England, Saudi Arabia and other countries, who have now realised that how India was suffering due to several years of terrorism", he added.

He maintained that opinion against terrorism was building up and gaining momentum internationally. In J&K also, he said, the people were fed up with violence and thinking was gaining ground among them that development and not violence was in their interest.

While inspecting work on under construction flats for Kashmiri migrants at Jagti, the Chief Minister declared that the flats will be completed before next Shivratri and handed over to the migrants. The flats are being constructed at a cost of Rs 295 crore.

Forty families, whose land has been acquired for the construction of flats, met Mr Azad and were promised that they will get one Government job each either in police or in Social Welfare Department.

Later, the Chief Minister visited Shitlee water filtration planted and inspected work on Shitlee-III. He said this plant will be operational in June this year which will solve water problem in the City.

It may be mentioned here that Mr Azad had recently inaugurated Shitlee-II water plant.

Asma Jehangir in Jammu, meets several leaders
*BJP refuses to give appointment to her

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 6: Asma Jehangir, chairperson, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) arrived here today as a United Nations representative for a study on "Freedom of Religion & Beliefs in India’. She met delegations of different political parties, and human rights activists, journalists and intellectuals and was scheduled to call on Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Chief Secretary B R Kundal and Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda tomorrow morning before leading for Srinagar in the afternoon.

The BJP was the only party which refused to meet noted Pakistan lawyer and human rights activist on the ground that human rights conditions were the "worst" in Pakistan and she has no right to undertake any such study in India especially J&K where rights situation was much better.

BJP president Ashok Khajuria questioned wisdom of the Central Government in allowing representative of a "fundamentalist country" to visit secular India. She should have been outrightly denied permission to visit India especially J&K, he said.

It may be mentioned here that veteran BJP leader Jaswant Singh had also raised objections to Asma Jehangir’s visit to J&K as a UN representative while speaking in Rajya Sabha the other day.

In her brief inter-action with a select group of mediapersons, Ms Jehangir refused to undertake most of the questions saying she hadn’t come here as a Pakistan human rights activist but as a UN representative.

"Definitely, there has been a change in Pakistan after February 18 general elections in which fundamentalists have been rejected", she said in a brief remark on Pakistan.

She refused to give comments on Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari’s statement that Pakistan was ready to set aside Kashmir issue to settle other bilateral issues with Pakistan.

To another question as to what advise she will give to separatists and militants during her Kashmir visit, Asma Jehangir said when she would visit the Valley as a human rights activist of Pakistan she will definitely ask them to leave the gun but presently "I’m going there as a UN representative and will only take their views".

Ms Jehangir lauded co-existence of all religions in India notwithstanding the fact that some incidents of violence did take place for which she called for "preventive measures".

Asma Jehangir had met PDP president Mehbooba Mufti in New Delhi yesterday. Ms Mufti had told the Pakistani rights activist that peace process between India and Pakistan has provided a space for amicable settlement of Kashmir issue and both countries must seize the opportunity to resolve the problem.

Ms Jehangir drove to National Conference headquarters at Sher-i-Kashmir Bhawan and met NC provincial president Ajay Sadhotra, Mian Altaf, Syed Mushtaq Bukhari and other party leaders and elicited their opinion.

She also met human rights activist Balraj Puri, Sati Sahni, Panthers Party president Prof Bhim Singh, some journalists and a BSP delegation.

She will leave for Srinagar tomorrow afternoon where she was scheduled to meet delegations of political parties and separatists.

5 injured, 3 serious in grenade attack
VDC member’s father, 2 daughters killed

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 6: Three members of a Village Defence Committee (VDC) member’s family including his father and two daughters were killed while the VDC member himself was injured along with four other family members in a suspected grenade blast on his house at remote Soni Top in Handar village of Arnas area in Reasi district tonight.

Police teams have been rushed to the spot from Mahore police station and Arnas police post besides nearby pickets to launch a search and cordon operation, SSP Reasi, J L Sharma, who was camping at Shiv Khori in view of Shivratri festival today, said while on his way back to Reasi to supervise the operation.

VDC member Mushtaq Ahmed told police on wireless set that an unidentified militant lobbed the grenade on his house at 7.45 pm in which he along with all other family members were injured.

As Sani Top was located in remote and hilly area of Handar under the jurisdiction of Arnas police post, the police parties reached the spot late tonight.

Three injured had succumbed to their injuries till the arrival of police parties on spot. Out of five injured, condition of three was stated to be critical.

Police said they were trying to ascertain as to whether two grenades had been lobbed as one grenade would not have caused eight casualties including three fatal. Or, they added, there could be some other reasons including firing etc as nearly two dozen VDC members had been allotted weapons in Soni Top, most of whom were majority community members.

According to preliminary reports, Mushtaq Ahmed’s two daughters Nageena, 13 and Nazia, 9 and father, Habibullah succumbed to grenade injuries after being wounded critically in the blast.

Mushtaq Ahmed, his wife, mother Sharifa Begum, Toto Begum, a minor daughter and a son were injured in the blast. Of them, condition of three was stated to be serious, the reports said.

Police said efforts were being made to shift all five injured to nearby health centre in the night itself to provide them medicare.

All local VDC members have also come to the rescue of their injured colleague, Mushtaq Ahmed and were making efforts to shift them to hospital, sources said, adding simultaneously a search operation has been launched in the area to trace militants.

In another search operation, security forces recovered seven kg RDX, one wireless set, four AK magazines, 130 rounds and three pistol rounds in Budhal area of Doda district.

No arrests have been made in connection with the recoveries, sources said.

PDP patron calls on Central leaders
Revoke special powers of security forces: Mufti

Excelsior Correspondent

New Delhi, Mar 6: People's Democratic Party (PDP) patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has said a defining moment has arrived for amicable settlement of Kashmir issue, and it is time to focus on the resolution of the problem by adding substance to the peace process through substantial confidence building measures.

In his extensive deliberations with several central leaders including former Prime Ministers Inder Kumar Gujral & V P Singh, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Home Minister Shivraj Patil, the PDP leader reiterated that the fast-changing equations in and around Jammu & Kashmir offer the country's leadership a great opportunity to make India more at peace not only with its neighbours, but also with itself.

"The emerging encouraging scenario offers a momentous opening for conceiving an exceptional grand strategy for the country and the region in Jammu & Kashmir," he said and added that the Indo-Pak peace process has provided a strong foundation to build upon and it could be further fortified by reconciling the past misgivings and leaving for future generations a different prosperous world.

Mr Sayeed said the people of Jammu & Kashmir, who have suffered immense tragedies because of the Indo-Pak hostility, could greatly gain from the friendly and cooperative relationship between the two countries. "I visualize a space of dignity, opportunity and prosperity for the people of Jammu & Kashmir in the paradigm of friendship and cooperative relationship between India and Pakistan," he said and added that the peace process has already created a notable impact as it has brought into focus the convergence of our interests rather than the hackneyed rivalries.

The PDP patron stressed for accelerating the pace of implementing J&K-specific confidence building measures that are in tune with the State's fast improving security situation. "Alongside cross-LoC confidence building measures, the Government of India must pep up the intra-state confidence building process starting with thinning the strength of troops deployed on internal security duties in Jammu & Kashmir," he said and added that special powers given to security forces must also be revoked completely to allow local institutions take charge of fast-changing situation and consolidate it further through the involvement of the people.

"We can't wait till the last gun falls silent and must trust people of the State," he said.

The Mufti, during his discussion with the Central leaders also dwelled in detail on emerging political situation in Pakistan and its impact on Jammu & Kashmir. He also dwelt on prevailing political and security situation in Jammu & Kashmir.

Strictures against IO
Court discharges accused in forged BEd documents case

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 6: In a much publicized case of admission in BEd Course on alleged forged documents, Principal Sessions Judge, Jammu, J R Kotwal today discharged two accused at the stage of framing of charges.

After hearing Public Prosecutor appearing for the State and Advocates Gurcharan Singh and Vijay Gupta appearing for accused persons, the Principal Sessions Judge observed "in the FSL report there is nothing in support of the allegations that attestation on any of the documents recovered from accused persons was forged".

"There is not an iota of material in support of the allegations that the seal bearing the impression "Chikitsa Adhikari Samanya Chikitsalya, Alwar" recovered from accused Satish, used for attestation of the documents was a counterfeit seal", the Court further observed and said "the charges against both the accused is thus based on conjecture and misconception of the various police officers connected with the investigations of the case and launching of the prosecution".

The material on record failed to prove a reasonable ground to presume that both the accused committed the offence of cheating or forgery, Principal Sessions Judge said.

"The recovery of the documents from both the accused persons apparently did not have much fascination in it. The investigating agency, however, after arresting the accused persons with a big bang in July 2003 adopted lackadaisical approached for over 3 years till Sub Inspector Basanti Bhat, then Officer Incharge PP Nehru Market recorded her mis-founded view and preferred charge-sheet before the court against all the accused", the Court said, adding "it is important to note that immediate arrest of both the accused and seizure of their application forms and documents deprived them of submitting their application for the B.Ed course for which they had traveled from Rajasthan to Jammu".

Principal Sessions Judge also took serious note of the action of the investigating agency and said that the investigating agency must have shown seriousness in its approach in the matter and returned a well-reasoned finding at an earliest.

The Court further took serious note of the action taken by the investigating agency and said "Court believes the authorities as they may be would look into the matter even at this stage to see as to whether the action of the Investigating Agency reflected an image of sobriety of the police of Jammu and Kashmir to the persons hailing from outside the State" and directed that the public prosecutor must send a copy of this order to the concerned quarter.

With these observations, the court discharged the accused persons—Rajinder Kumar and Satish Kumar, both the residents of Rajasthan and directed that cash security in lieu of their bail bond should be returned to them after expiry of 60 days.

Intelligence alerts several States
Ultras' plot to smuggle explosives in fruit trucks

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Mar 6: Intelligence agencies have alerted police of different States across the country including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, New Delhi and Gujarat following reports that militants were plotting to use apple laden fruit boxes to smuggle explosive devices from Kashmir valley to other Indian States.

The alert was sounded after the recovery of two grenades from an apple box in Naroda fruit market, Ahmedabad in Gujarat few days back. The apple box had been transported in a truck from Kashmir to Gujarat.

According to official sources, it appeared that Gujarat based cadre of the militants, who had to receive the grenades concealed in apple boxes, failed to act in time. As a result, the apple boxes reached the fruit market where grenades were detected by a fruit seller while taking out fruits from the box.

Earlier also, sources said, there had been reports of arms and explosives smuggling in fruit laden trucks from Valley to Jammu and other States of the country but following vigorous checking of trucks in several States, the process had been checked to an extent.

This is after a long gap that militants have revived the process of smuggling explosive devices in fruit boxes from Kashmir to other parts of the State.

According to sources, Ahmedabad police, which has taken smuggling of grenades in fruit boxes seriously especially in the wake of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendera Modi being on hit list of the terrorists, has also established a contact with their counterparts in Jammu and Kashmir seeking their help in investigations of the case.

Police from both States was trying to ascertain number of the truck to reach to the militants responsible for smuggling the grenades.

Sources said the Intelligence agencies have written to police of different States especially J&K, Punjab, New Delhi and Gujarat to keep a strict vigil on fruit laden trucks operating from the Valley to other parts of the country.

"While it may not be possible to thoroughly check the trucks enroute as it will take a long time, the Intelligence agencies have asked police to check the trucks at take off and unloading points especially in sensitive States like New Delhi and Gujarat where the militants were making all out attempts to strike", they added.

Gujarat, sources pointed out, had always been on hit list of terrorist outfits like Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) after post-Godhra violence. Attack on Akshardham temple in Gujarat was the major terror act in BJP ruled State.

Sources said New Delhi police has already started frisking of all fruit trucks entering the capital from Kashmir valley after the recovery of grenades from an apple box in Ahmedabad fruit market.

5 killed in road accidents

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 6: Five persons were killed and five others sustained injuries in two separate road accidents in Ramban and Kathua districts.

Police spokesman said that three persons were killed and four others received injuries when a tipper bearing registration number JK014A-2110 skidded off the road and rolled down at Manjal Jangi Nullah under the jurisdiction of Gool Police Station.

Soon after the accident, a police party rushed to the spot and started rescue operation. All the occupants of the truck were rushed to Ramban Hospital where three of them were pronounced as brought dead. Three injured persons were, later, referred to Government Medical College Hospital for specialised treatment.

The deceased have been identified as Mushtaq Ahmed, son of Mohd Sharief of Sangaldan, Farooq Ahed, son of Abdul Majid Khan of Sangaldan and Gulzar Ahmed, son of Abdulla of Hadook.

The injured have been identified as Bodh Raj, son of Amarnath of Hadook Chappad, Mohd Tahir, son of Mohd Habibullah, Ghulam Mohd, son of Keemu Gujjar and Irshad Ahmed, son of Jamaludin of Sangaldan. Their condition was stated to be out of danger when reports last came in.

In another accident, two persons were killed when a tractor trolley rolled down at Machedi in Kathua district.

The deceased have been identified as Anil Kumar, son of Krishan Chand of Sukrala and Balbir Singh, son of Shanker Dass of Nazol. The injured has been identified as Raj Kumar, son of Kuldeep Kumar of Sainik Colony.

Cabinet may revise DA today

NEW DELHI, Mar 6: The Union Cabinet is likely to give a go-ahead tomorrow to an increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for around 50 lakh Central Government employees and Dearness Relief for pensioners by 6 per cent.

The sources said if approved, the hike in DA will come into effect from January 1, 2008, and will mark an increase of 6 per cent over 41 per cent of the basic pay being received by them. The same benefits will also be extended to pensioners.

The Cabinet is expected to give its approval to the proposal, they said.

The Government had increased the Dearness Allowance by 6 per cent twice last year.(PTI)

Qarra for democratic Govt in Pak

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Mar 6: Senior PDP leader and Finance Minister, Tariq Hameed Qarra, today said that for peaceful resolution to the Kashmir issue as also for development of Muslims in India, a vibrant and democratic Government in Pakistan was the need of the hour.

Mr Qarra said this while addressing while addressing one day convention of PDP workers of Batmaloo and Khanyar Assembly constituencies here today. Qarra alleged that National Conference has always exploited the people of the State especially the youth to meet its vested political ends, on the name of Autonomy, while for the sake of Power, it entered into an accord with Central Government in 1975.

He said National Conference got totally exposed when its elected members in State Assembly sought to get stalled the proceedings of the Lower House on Kundal Committee report, thereby bringing disgrace to the Assembly. He alleged that till recent past NC had been trumpeting the slogan of "Kashmir Bharat Ka Atoot Ang Hai", but now has come to the fore with hollow slogans only to mislead the innocent Kashmiris.

Qarra declared that PDP has a definite agenda and a revolutionary programme to bring about ever-lasting peace and mitigate the sufferings of the common people. He said unemployment was biggest challenge before the coalition Government which was serious to over-come the issue by exploring new vistas for the same.

Five officers transferred

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 6: The Government has ordered transfer and posting of five officers.

M K Raina, Collector, Jammu Development Authority (JDA) and V K Sharma, Project Officer, DRDA Kathua, will swap posts, official sources said.

Nazir Ahmad Thakur, Protocol Officer in the office of Principal Resident Commissioner, New Delhi has been recalled and repatriated to his parent Law Department for further posting.

Bilal Ahmed, Assistant Tourist Officer, Tourism Department has been transferred and posted as Protocol Officer in the office of Principal Resident Commissioner, New Delhi.

Avtar Singh Chib, General Manager, DIC Leh has been transferred and posted as General Manager, DIC Samba.

The charge of GM DIC Leh will be held by Deputy Director, Employment, Leh in addition to his own duties till further orders.

Fifth quake in Valley in 15 days

SRINAGAR, Mar 6: An earthquake of mild intensity rocked the city and adjoining areas early this morning, forcing people to rush out of their homes in panic.

This was the fifth since February 20, that earthquake of mild intensity rock Srinagar, leading to rumours that a big tremor would rock particular areas in the Valley.

However, authorities have rejected these rumours saying earthquakes cannot be predicted despite research being done worldwide.

A Spokesman of the Indian Meteorological Department said tremors which occurred at 0427 hrs early this morning when people were in deep sleep, lasted few seconds.

He said the 3.9 magnitude earthquake was centred at 34.1 latitude (north) and 74.6 longitude (east).

People rushed out of their homes in panic despite the cold and also members of the Pandit families, who were busy in Shivratri Puja in their homes.

There was no report of any loss of life or damage to property, official sources said.

People in Srinagar have experienced tremors on February 20 and 25 and two on March 1. These tremors were recorded between 2.9 and 4.1 magnitude.

Srinagar falls in seismic zone-V and other parts of Jammu and Kashmir fall in seismic zone IV. (UNI)