.Lt Col among 2 soldiers killed in fierce gunbattle
Lashkar's Kashmir chief killed

From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Mar 16: Even as the officiating Commanding Officer (CO) of Rashtriya Rifles 22 Bn and another soldier got killed and four more personnel sustained injuries, Police and security forces today succeeded in eliminating one of the most wanted militants and the Kashmir valley chief of Lashkar-e-Toiba in a fierce gunbattle in Sopore.

Informed sources told EXCELSIOR that over a specific information available with SP Sopore today, Special Operations Group (SOG) of Sopore Police, troops of RR 22 Bn and CRPF 179 Bn, launched a cordon-and-search operation at village Chatlura, about 4 Km from Sopore town, in Sopore-Rafiabad belt in Baramulla district. During the operation, one armed militant was spotted coming out of the house of one Mohammad Abbas Shah and rushing across the road in a dare-devil style. Before the SOG-RR party could act, the fleeing militant opened bursts of AK gunfire, which left Sepoy Pradeep Kumar dead and four personnel injured.

Sub Inspector Zaffar of SOG Sopore, who was positioned inside a Casper, fired upon the militant. Even as the militant sustained gunshot wounds, he ran away and took shelter inside the house of one Abdur Rasheed Bhat. The injured militant's presence inside Bhat's house was established by a trail of blood as also by a sniffer dog. Possibly to ensure that no civilian was trapped inside, a dare-devil Lt Col M S Kadam, went to peep through a window. The holed up injured militant opened fire, hitting the officer straight into his head and killing him on the spot.

In a fierce retaliation immediately, troops gunned down the militant and destroyed Bhat's house. He was identified as Hafiz Naasir---a Pakistani militant who had lately been appointed as Lashkar-e-Toiba's operational chief in Kashmir after working in the Valley for about ten years. One AK-47 rifle was recovered from his possession.

The injured personnel, who were rushed to Army's 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar, were identified as Sepoy Sukhchain, Sepoy Surjit Singh (RR 22 Bn), Head Constable Darshan Singh (CRPF 179 Bn) and SPO Illyas Khan (SOG Sopore). Officials maintained that all the four personnel got necessary medical treatment and they were out of danger.

DIG north Kashmir, Dr B Srinivas, described Hafiz Naasir as the most wanted militant in Baramulla, Bandipore and Kupwara districts. He said that Hafiz had planned and executed numerous strikes on Police and security forces, including a number of suicide attacks, while holding different positions in his organisation in Kashmir since 1998. He claimed that since last year, Hafiz had been functioning as Lashkar's "Operational Chief" in Kashmir. Another senior official claimed to have recently heard Lashkar's radio intercepts which indicated that Hafiz had been directed to strike on the people associated with the forthcoming Assembly elections in the State.

Officials said that Hafiz had assumed code-names of Hafiz Naasir in Sopore, Hafiz Hyder in Rafiabad and Hafiz Hamza in Zainageer belt of Baramulla district. He had successfully escaped in a number of search operations and raids by Police and security forces, last time in Chinkipora locality of Sopore about a month ago. According to the information available with Police, Hafiz had also participated in a suicide strike at Hotel Newlight in Sopore on November 8th, 2007. Already involved in seven civilian killings in Sopore area in the last five moths, according to Police records, Hafiz had been planning a major suicide attack on a Police officer in Sopore.

SSP Baramulla, Anand Jain, said that killing of Hafiz Naasir was a major achievement for Police and security forces and an enormous setback for militants, particularly those of Lashkar-e-Toiba. DIG Srinivas, however, said that Police and security forces had got Hafiz "at a high price" as the officiating CO of RR 22 Bn got killed and four men from all the three agencies participating in the operation sustained injuries. Posted in Sopore since last year, Lt Col Kadam, who was a resident of Mumbai, had been officiating as head of RR 22 Bn as the Commanding Officer Col Sharma was on leave since late last month.

Meanwhile, official sources said that Awantipora Police today laid a naka on National Highway near Awantipora and during the drill of checking of vehicles it recovered around 50 kilograms of RDX, which had been concealed in two jerry cans of 20 and 30 Kg weight and then wrapped in two Polythene bags.

Sources said that militants hurled a hand grenade at the house of a Municipal Councilor in Bandipora town late last night. The explosive missed the intended target and there was no damage due to the blast.

The security forces also recovered a live grenade from an orchard in Bandipora district which was later neutralised safely.

The spokesman said that unidentified gunmen snatched seven mobile sets from people at Batpora Damahal Hanjipora.

Cultural genocide in Tibet: Dalai Lama
*India too has limitations

MCLEODGANJ (HP), Mar 16: The Dalai Lama today accused China of unleashing a "cultural genocide" in Tibet and demanded an impartial international probe into the situation in violence-hit Lhasa.

Addressing his first press conference here in the wake of the violence in the Tibetan Capital since Friday, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader said that India has a few limitations as far as China is concerned and was "too cautious" on the Tibet issue.

The Indian Government, the 73 year-old monk said, had "hostile views" on certain actions of Tibetans but "we should not pick up one particular incident". He did not elaborate.

The Dalai Lama, a Nobel peace laureate, demanded an international probe into the Chinese crackdown against protesters in Lhasa, saying "some respected international organizations can find out what the situation is in Tibet and what is the cause."

He said the investigations should be independent and unbiased.

He favoured holding of Beijing Olympics in August, but reminded China that it should play a "good host."

Replying to questions, he said "Tibetans’ protests in Lhasa is borne out of China carrying out a sort of cultural genocide in Tibet intentionally or unintentionally."

On whether he could contain the violence, which, according to Chinese authorities, had claimed 10 lives, he said: "I have no such power.... I do feel helpless."

Expressing concern over China serving an ultimatum to protesters to surrender by Monday midnight, he said "while the Chinese authorities are bent upon crushing the agitation with the help of the Army, Tibetans in Lhasa and other places are equally determined to continue the agitation".

Denying China’s charge that he was behind the violence, the worst since 1989, the Dalai Lama said that he was "completely committed" to non-violence and favoured a "middle path" which he said was also supported by some Chinese officials and scholars, whom he did not name.

On whether he would use his good office to ask his fellow countrymen to halt the protests, he said "the situation in Tibet has become volatile and only a miracle power can control it, not me".

"I have reached a stage of semi-retirement and at age 73, I am looking for full retirement," he said.

The Dalai Lama, who offered prayers before talking to the press, said "we want genuine autonomy and not independence (from China)."

On the death toll in Tibet, he did not give any definite figure claiming that different sources had varying figures which went up to even 100. "I do not know."

He was also of the view that some trusted group should go to Tibet and see how it happened.

Holding that he was being made a "scapegoat" by the Chinese authorities, the Dalai Lama said whether Beijing admitted or not, there was a problem in Tibet.

He said "there is an ancient cultural heritage that is facing serious danger" and that China was imposing "political education" in monasteries there, much to the dislike of the monks.

He said in order to achieve peace, China was using force in Tibet. "They (China) simply rely on using force in order to simulate peace, a peace brought by force using a rule of terror," he said.

The Dalai Lama said he has been receiving phone calls and e-mails from Tibetans asking him not to stop them from continuing with their agitation in Lhasa.

He blamed the local Chinese authorities in Tibet were responsible for the "non-solution" of the problem.

"While educated Chinese very well understand our viewpoint that the only solution to the Tibet issue is by granting genuine autonomy, the local Chinese authorities nourish a negative attitude," he said.

The spiritual leader said he was of the opinion that "genuine harmony and unity between the Tibetans and the Chinese can be established only on the basis of trust and this shall come from the heart".

Recalling the direct talks between his envoys and the Chinese Government, which began in 2002, the Dalai Lama said the negotiations have been facing "difficulties" since February 2006 with Beijing "hardening" its stand on the Tibet issue.(PTI)

Valley to have longest tunnel in rail network
*NATM technology being used in construction

NEW DELHI, Mar 16: With an aim to connect the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country through rail link, work on a 11-km tunnel — the longest in Indian railway network — is being carried out between Banihal and Qazigund in Jammu and Kashmir.

Besides the most modern ventilation and drainage system, the tunnel will also have a service road along the railway track for emergency usage.

"The tunnel will be the longest in the Indian Railway network," said a senior official of IRCON.

IRCON is entrusted with the responsibility of constructing the 187-km-long railway network from Baramulla to Sangaldan as part of the Kashmir rail link project.

Passing through the Pir Panjal mountain, the tunnel is being constructed with the state-of-the-art technology.

"We are using the most modern technology of New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) with the help of six German consultants," the official said, adding, "our engineers are also involved in designing of and constructing the tunnel."

The NATM allows frequent review of the tunnel design keeping the typical geological condition of the area. "Here the rock is generally disintegrated and fractured," the official said.

The work is going on at four places at a time and the tunnel, which will be eight metres high, will have to be completed by 2010.

About the service road, the official said since the tunnel is a long one, it was decided to have a three-metre road along the track "for emergency use of ambulance and small trucks, if required."

This will be the first-of-its-kind tunnel in the country which will have a service road along, the official said.

The 340-km long Kashmir rail link project aims to link Katra with Baramulla through Reasi, Laoli, Banihal, Anantnag and Srinagar.

"The construction of Banihal-Qazigund section which will have the longest tunnel is quite challenging. The alignment passes through difficult terrain with thick forests, deep gorges and the inaccessible steep mountains, the official said.

IRCON had made extensive use of information technology in conducting the survey, design and project management.

"We have to create digital terrain model from contour maps and study alignment using geological mapping," he said.

"We have already constructed the tunnel upto 4.5 km."

There will be a total of 22 shelters in the tunnel for maintaining power supply and other essential services. Adequate lighting and ventilation system would be installed. (PTI)

Sarabjit Singh to be hanged on April 1

ISLAMABAD, Mar 16 : Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh, who is on a death row for his alleged involvement in four bomb blasts in Pakistan, has been reportedly served with the ‘black warrant’ and is to be hanged soon.

The death warrant for Sarabjit,who hails from Punjab, was received by authorities at Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore where he has been held for the last 17 years and will be executed on April 1, the Urdu newspaper Daily Express reported today.

The mercy petition of Sarabjit, whom Pakistan claims as Manjit Singh, was rejected by President Pervez Musharraf on March 3. There was however no official confirmation of serving of the death warrant.

Human Rights Minister Ansar Burney reacting to the development said he would make an appeal to Musharraf tomorrow to give him reprieve and that he "would do his best to save his life if he is innocent." Burney had facilitated the release of a former Punjab constable Kashmir Singh,who was languishing in Pakistani jails for 35 years.

Sarabjit’s lawyer Abdul Hamid Rana said his life can be saved if the Government takes a "sympathetic view".

The warrant was served days after the body of Pakistani national Khalid Mehmood,who died while in custody in India, was handed over to authorities in this country. Pakistan had expressed"deep shock and anger" over the death of Mehmood in what it termed "mysterious circumstances". Mehmood was arrested after spending a year in India without a visa.

Sarabjit’s mercy petition was sent to Musharraf along with that of Kashmir Singh.

Sarabjit was sentenced to death for his alleged involvement in bomb blasts in Lahore and Multan that killed about 14 people.

Sarabjit’s family denies he was a spy as claimed by Pakistan and insists he accidentally strayed into Pakistani territory and it was a case of mistaken identity.

In his mercy petition sent to ,Musharraf, Sarabjit had sought his release on the grounds that he was innocent and wrongly implicated.

The petition was rejected by the President after "thorough consideration" as the allegations against him "were proved and he was awarded capital punishment by court", official sources said.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court too had rejected Sarabjit’s plea for clemency in March 2006.

Following the rejection of Sarabjit’s mercy petition by the President, the Interior Ministry had informed the Government of Punjab province to take steps to carry out his death sentence. (PTI)

CAG points out security breach by IAF

NEW DELHI, Mar 16: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has brought to light a security breach by the Indian Air Force in one of its stations by allowing a private telecom company to erect its antenna within its premises and asked the Government to initiate a probe to fix responsibility for the lapse.

According to the recent report, IAF's Air Officer Commander at one of the stations was approached by the Reliance Infocomm for installation of a booster antenna within the station complex in May 2004 and the permission was granted by the concerned authorities.

The company was asked to pay Rs 5,000 as rent and allied charges to the Government, which was subsequently reduced to Rs 1,000 in September 2005.

"As a goodwill gesture, the company agreed to provide 20 mobile telephones for 20 officers with maximum billing up to Rs 15,000," the report said, adding the number of free connections was increased to 22 in July 2005.

In terms of the agreement, the company was to pay monthly lease rebate of Rs 16,000, monthly cleaning charges of Rs 200 besides a non-refundable security deposit of Rs 75,000 and a refundable deposit of a similar amount.

The IAF station had informed that Rs 16,000 paid by Reliance Info comm was due to the Service Institute Fund, a non-public fund rather than the Government treasury.

The CAG report pointed out that the approval accorded to the company by the AOC was not only "violative of rules", but also did not meet the standards of "financial propriety".

For erection of the antenna, IAF station did not seek any clearance from the Government which is essential since the area where the antenna was installed fell in a very sensitive security zone, the report said, adding "by allowing a private company to erect an antenna in a high security zone, AOC may have not only compromised but also endangered security."

Terming the agreement as "irregular", the report said, "the facilities in the form of mobile connections given by the company as a goodwill gesture to 20 officers in the station since May 2004 and 22 officers since July 2005 are undue benefits to the officers in the nature of a quid pro quo.

"Information made available by the IAF authorities indicate that the usage charges for the mobiles are being offset against the monthly lease rebate of Rs 16,000. The propriety of the same is not free from doubts," the report said.

"The case needs a probe to fix responsibility for violation of norms," it said. (PTI)

BSP to contest all 87 Assembly seats
*First list of 20 candidates released

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 16: Though Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has resolved to contest coming elections from all the 87 Assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, yet the Party released the first list of its 20 candidates today.

Party National general secretary and incharge J&K affairs, Narender Kashyap announced the first list at a crowded press conference here today. He declared that on the pattern and the rich experience of Uttar Pradesh, the BSP will contest in all 87 constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, expected to be held in next few months.

Referring to the Party strategy, Kashyap said the Party high command after discussing the matter with the Party president and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kumari Mayawati decided to announce candidates much before the scheduled elections in J&K. The candidates will get enough time to consolidate and strengthen the roots in their respective Assembly constituencies.

The main objective of installing candidates on all the seats is to help the down-trodden and poor, who had undergone miseries during the last two decades of turmoil in the State. The Party will also field candidates in Lok Sabha constituencies of the State, BSP leader added.

Kashyap further said, "our Party has already sounded election bugle in the State and decided to put candidates from different constituencies of the State without consideration of caste, creed or religious affiliation."

He disclosed that Mayawati has approved first list of 18 candidates for Assembly elections and two candidates for Lok Sabha seats in the J&K State.

Releasing the list he disclosed that 18 candidates in the first list included State unit president Yashpaul Bhagat from Bishnah area of Jammu. Besides, Gujjar leader Choudhary Hussain Ali will be the BSP candidate for Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha constituency and Khalid Lone would contest Baramulla LS seat in Kashmir. Out of the 18 seats, eight have been given to SC candidates, five to STs and five to other community candidates including two Brahmans, two Rajputs and one Jat.

Yashpaul Bhagat is Party candidate from Bishnah, Som Nath from Samba, S Jarnail Singh from Vijaypur, Kartar Singh Makhnu from Billawar, S R Majotra from Kathua, Tara Chand Padha from Bani, Ajaib Singh Motton from R S Pura, Vinod Kumar Khajuria from Ramnagar, Master Kapoor Chand Bhagat from Chenani, Ch Mohd Sultan from Gool Arnas, D R Attri from Udhampur, Ch Najib Ullah from Nagrota, Badri Nath from Raipur-Domana, Ch Anwar from Banihal, S Paramjeet Singh from Nowshera, Capt (Retd) Raj Kumar from Kalakote, Mrs Parvez Mughal from Surankot and Mushtaq Ahmed from Shangus (Kashmir).

Expressing concern over the sufferings of people during the turmoil, he said the people in this border State were not happy with the present dispensation of coalition Government and wanted change. BSP is going to give them alternative in the Jammu and Kashmir. He denied alliance with any political party and said BSP would contest at its own in the State.

Party coordinator for J&K and Punjab, B S Chouhan, J&K unit president- Yashpaul Bhagat, vice president- Tulsi Dass Langeh and Khalid Lone were also present.

MoS Defence visits Kathua, Jammu

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, Mar 16 : Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju visited Basohli and inspected the proposed site for bridge over Ravi river today.

Chief Executive Project SAMPARK Brig. U. S. Dadu briefed plans to the MoS regarding Defence road, Dhar- Basohli- Bani- Bhaderwah and construction of Ravi bridge at Basohli.

The MoS Defence said that Rs 72 crore have been sanctioned for Basohli Ravi bridge and within three months the company will be finalized for construction of the bridge, which will be completed within 24 months. He said that this bridge would be like Hawrah bridge at Kolkata.

He said that Central Government has earmarked huge funds for education in the budget for financial year, 2008-09.

While addressing the gathering on the occasion, MP. Ch. Lal Singh highlighted development priorities of the area. He said that Basohli- Ravi bridge will connect Basohli with Himachal and Punjab and give boost to economy of the area. "World famous Basohli paintings and Pashmina Shawls will attract the tourists from all over the world", he said.

He highlighted achievements of the Central Government and demanded guest house at Basohli and two steamers for Ranjit Sagar lake through the Ministry of Defence.

MLA, Basohli, Kanta Andotra presented the vote of thanks and highlighted the achievements of the Central Government.

Among others, ASP, Benam Tosh, Commandant, R.K. Dheman, SDM, Basohli, A.S. Jamwal, all Tehsil level officers and a large number of people were present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, in an informal chat with some newsmen in Jammu during his brief stay, Mr Raju denied that any demilitarisation was taking place in the State and said relocation of troops from public places and educational institutions was a continuous process.

Muslim marrying two sisters to maintain both: SC

NEW DELHI, Mar 16: The Supreme Court has ruled that if a Muslim man marries two sisters he is liable to maintain both and he cannot neglect the second sister on the grounds that his second marriage is ‘batil’ (void).

A bench comprising Justice Altamas Kabir in its judgement has ruled that such a marriage is only ‘fasid’ (irregular) and not void and therefore the second sister is entitled to maintenance alongwith her children under Section 125 CrPC. The apex court dismissed the petition of the husband, Chand Patel, challenging the High Court order upholding the right to maintenance of Bismillah Begum who had married the husband of her sister, Mustaqbee.

The apex court in its judgement said, "Such marriage is merely irregular and not void so the right to get maintenance is not extinguished."

The Supreme Court while answering a question whether a marriage performed by a person professing Muslim faith with his wife’s sister, while his earlier marriage with the other sister is still subsisting, would be void in law or merely irregular or voidable even though the subsequent marriage has been consummated, said that the Bar of unlawful conjunction renders a marriage irregular and not void.

The apex court also said, consequently under the Hanafi law, as far as Muslims in India are concerned, an irregular marriage continues to subsist till terminated in accordance with law. The Supreme Court directed the husband, Chand Patel, to pay all arrears to his second wife. (UNI)

Car, 2 motor cycles burnt

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 16: A Maruti car and two motor cycles were burnt at Rehari Colony and Chowk Chabutra in two separate incidents in wee hours of this morning causing panic among the people parking their vehicles outside their houses for the night.

A Maruti car No. 3700 JK02S belonging to BJP Corporator Arun Khanna was burnt outside his residence in Rehari Colony while two motor cycles bearing Nos. 8665 JK02AA, owned by Sunny Anand and 2177 JK02AF of Kumar Sangam, brother of Anara Gupta were set ablaze at Chowk Chabutra, police said.

All three fire incidents were reported to have been executed between 3.30 am to 4 am, they said.

SDPO City Sawtantar Arora and SDPO Bakshi Nagar M L Kaith rushed to Chowk Chabutra and Rehari Colony for investigations.

Police said they were trying to ascertain as to whether all three vehicles were burnt down by one gang or were handiwork of separate miscreants. In Rehari colony, wind screens of some vehicles had also been broken. Nearly a month before, wind screens of several vehicles were broken in Rehari Colony.

Rehari Colony Welfare Association has also given a call for bandh tomorrow to protest the burning of vehicle which, the Association observed, has created fear psychosis among the local people.

Police said match sticks were found near burnt motor-cycles indicating their use in the fire while a bottle was found near the burnt car. A wind screen of car was reported to have been broken to pour petrol inside and burn it.

Fire in Maruti car was douses by a Fire Brigade which rushed to the spot. House of the Corporator was also partially burnt in the fire.

Separate cases in fire incidents have been registered at local police stations for further investigations.

Keep off J&K: India tells OIC

NEW DELHI, Mar 16: India today strongly rejected the comments on Jammu and Kashmir contained in the final document of the Organisation of Islamic Countries’ (OIC) Summit held at Dakar in Senegal, saying the OIC has no locus standi in matters concerning India’s internal affairs.

Expressing regret that the OIC in the documents issued following the OIC Summit held in Dakar on March 13-14, a spokesman for the External Affairs Ministry said the OIC had once again chosen to comment upon Jammu and Kashmir and issues internal to India.

"The OIC has no locus standi in matters concerning India’s internal affairs, including Jammu and Kashmir which is an integral part of India. We strongly reject all such comments," the spokesman added.

The OIC final communique, issued after the conclusion of the 11th Summit, reaffirmed solidarity of the Islamic world with the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

It called for the solution of the Jammu and Kashmir issue in accordance with the UN resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people.

The Summit also adopted a resolution tabled by Pakistan on Jammu and Kashmir. (UNI)

UPA-Left meet on n-deal today

NEW DELHI, Mar 16: Amid threat by the Left parties to withdraw support to the Manmohan Singh Government if it went ahead with the Indo-US nuclear deal, a crucial meeting of the UPA-Left coordination panel on the vexed issue would be held here tomorrow.

With the Left continuing to remain intransigent on the Nuke deal issue, the outcome of tomorrow’s meeting of the 15-member panel will be keenly watched as it is directly linked to the stability of the four-year-old Congress-led Government at the Centre.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had dismissed the possibility of early general elections, but the outside support of the Left parties holds the key to the longevity of the Government, which seems to be adamant on signing the deal that seeks to ensure energy security to the power-starved country and ending decades of isolation among world powers.

Though the Left had been opposing the deal, it had allowed the Government four months ago to initiate negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on India-specific safeguards, which are crucial for the operationalisation of the Nuke deal.

The Government would place before the UPA-Left panel, the draft of the safeguards agreement it had reached with the IAEA, besides apprising the Left leaders of the details of the negotiations by the Indian experts during the past few months in Vienna.(UNI)