Pak still trains terror outfits: Home Ministry

NEW DELHI, Mar 30: The presence of terror camps in Pakistan continues to haunt the security establishment in India, which still feels that ISI-sponsored outfits like JeM, LeT and Al-Badr are responsible for carrying out terrorist attacks in different parts of the country.

"Terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK remains largely intact and continues to be used by Pak-based and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-sponsored outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Al-Badr for carrying out acts of terror in different parts of the country," the Union Home Ministry said.

Noting that there was no change in the attitude of the ISI in training terror groups like the LeT and JeM, National Security Advisor M K Narayanan recently said one of the greatest dangers India faced was terror camps being run on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border by the Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

He said Pakistan continued to acquire missiles and other weapons and its military strategy remains India-centric.

According to the latest status paper on internal security brought out by the MHA, these outfits are "well organised, interlinked, and have the latest hardware and communication equipment".

The "current strategy" of terrorist groups is to recruit and train local modules and activate them when required, maintain flow of finances to sustain terror network and supply hardware through land and sea routes.

Their strategy is also to target vital installations, economic infrastructure, vips and political leaders, attack soft targets like market places, mass transit system, places of worship and congregations, and also provoke communal tension to create a wedge between communities.

The Home Ministry said terror attacks like Samjhauta blast, Mecca Mosque attack, twin explosions in Hyderabad and incidents at the Dargah Sharif in Ajmer, besides the blasts in court premises in Uttar Pradesh "have been committed by externally based and sponsored terrorist outfits with some local help".

A senior MHA official said some recent incidents suggested that outfits like LeT and JeM used territory and elements in Bangladesh and Nepal for movement of men and material. The involvement of Hujai-Bangladesh has come to notice in some of the recent incidents of terrorist violence, he said.

He said Indian youth were recruited by LeT and Hujai-BD, which has links with LeT and JeM, for training in Pakistan and PoK, and re-launched into India "for sabotage and subversive activities".

As part of measures taken to meet the challenge, the official said states are regularly sensitised and specific intelligence inputs shared with them by Central agencies about the plans and designs of terrorist outfits.

He pointed out that a number of terrorist modules have been busted in different states by the State security and intelligence agencies in association with Central agencies.

The States have also been asked to set up and strengthen well equipped and specially trained special police units to deal with acts of terror.

The Home Ministry has earmarked separate funds under the police modernisation and security related expenditure schemes to enable states to strengthen local capabilities.

The Centre has also decided to allocate Rs 500 crore during the 11th plan for development of infrastructure in naxal-hit areas. (PTI)

Response in J&K compelled Zardari to change comments
Omar opposes keeping Kashmir in deep freeze

ISLAMABAD, Mar 30: Opposing suggestions that the Kashmir issue should be "deep frozen", National Conference president Omar Abdullah today claimed that PPP chairman Asif Ali Zardari’s stand that Indo-Pak ties should not be held hostage to the dispute had little support in Pakistan and J&K.

Such a stand would be the "option of the last resort" for the National Conference. "Besides, there is no guarantee that a future generation will be better (at resolving the issue)," Omar, the son of former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, said on the sidelines of a Pugwash conference here.

Omar Abdullah, whose party is in opposition in Jammu and Kashmir, insisted that National Conference did not want the Kashmir issue to be "deep frozen".

He said, "We should take a look at what has been achieved and we are willing to take that forward."

Abdullah made it clear that there is no "popular support on the ground" in Jammu and Kashmir for Zardari’s stand that India-Pakistan relations should not be held hostage to the Kashmir issue, which should be set aside to be settled by a future generation.

He also claimed that Zardari had "backtracked" from his comments following the response in Jammu and Kashmir. Zardari’s comments, made during an interview with an Indian TV news channel, were widely criticised by hardliners in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan.

In his first policy speech, Pakistan’s new Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani yesterday trumpeted Pakistan’s long-standing policy on Kashmir saying "sacrifices" of Kashmiri people will not go waste and their "aspirations" will be taken on board while resolving the vexed issue.

Abdullah said President Pervez Musharraf’s four-point proposal for settling the Kashmir issue still constitutes the best way forward for resolving the decades-old dispute as considerable work has been done on them by Pakistan and India.

However, it remains to be seen whether Pakistan’s new Government which comprises opponents of the increasingly unpopular military ruler will carry forward these proposals as they are "too closely identified with Musharraf", he said.

"The proposals made by Musharraf represent a framework that we can work with. There is enough in them that we can take forward," Abdullah said.

Under his roadmap for resolving Kashmir unveiled in 2006, Musharraf had suggested the gradual withdrawal of troops from the region, self-governance and a joint supervision mechanism.

Abdullah also said no "significant changes" were likely in the Indian Government’s stand on the Kashmir issue till 2009, when a general election is due.

"The process in India has been institutionalised and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has continued with what was begun by his predecessor Atal Bihari Vajpayee."

Despite the different stands of political parties and groups in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said the National Conference would have no problems in working with other forces "in settling a solution" to the Kashmir issue.

At the same time, the Indian and Pakistani Governments would have to take steps to fully implement the confidence-building measures announced for Kashmir.

"The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service hasn’t added to the people’s confidence. The linkages must actually work.

"There has to be trade across the Line of Control. And movement across the LoC cannot be confined to divided families and must be made available to everyone."

Besides Abdullah, People’s Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti, intellectuals and journalists from Jammu and Kashmir are participating in the Pugwash conference. (PTI)

PDP against keeping Kashmir on back-burner
Include militant groups at Pugwash: Mehbooba

ISLAMABAD, Mar 30: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has expressed the hope that the organisers of the next Pugwash conference would invite "all separatist and militant groups", especially the Hizbul Mujahideen so that a "broad consensus" could be achieved on the vexed Kashmir issue.

"...I am sure next time we would like to share this platform with the representatives from all the separatist and militant groups especially Hizbul Mujahideen to evolve a broader consensus for the peaceful resolution of the problem that has brought catastrophic disaster to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and marred the region’s economic growth," Mufti said in a paper at the two-day Pugwash conference held here.

Mufti presented a paper on ‘prospects for Kashmir and Indo-Pak relations’, the PDP, part of the ruling coalition in J&K, said in an e-mail.

To keep Kashmir on the back-burner while seeking to normalise Indo-Pak relations is a "dangerous" route, Mehbooba said while describing the involvement of people — the principal stakeholders — as the "greatest achievement" of the peace process.

"The involvement of the principal stakeholders - people of Jammu and Kashmir - has been gaining ground. It is the greatest achievement of the peace process and should not be allowed to slip away," she said in a paper entitled `prospects for Kashmir and Indo-Pak relations'.

"Territories are important but still more important are the people of a place," she said but cautioned against putting the Kashmir issue on the back-burner, an indirect reference to PPP chairman Asif Ali Zardari’s comment that the vexed issue could be settled by future generations.

Mufti said the Indo-Pak peace process has to walk on two legs - the issue of resolution of Kashmir as one leg and normalisation of India-Pakistan relations as the other.

"There can be no forward movement unless both legs move with the same pace and in the same direction," she said.

"Seen thus, to isolate or quarantine the J&K issue with a view to move forward on India-Pakistan relations will be walking on one leg - neither stable nor sustainable.

"To be status quo on J&K and yet hope to chart new course of India-Pakistan relations is not only wishful thinking but also seriously flawed," she said.

Mufti also said that for the first time in the troubled history of J&K, the State Government is not in an "adversarial" role.

"This has stopped the marginalisation of moderates in the political spectrum of Kashmir. In doing so, the Government revived social collaboration, political reconciliation and democratic participation, through innovations and indeed historic steps," she said.

One of the principal drawbacks of the history of efforts to understand and resolve the issue of Jammu and Kashmir has been to include it under the larger rubric of India-Pakistan relation, she said, adding that the issue has been seen as a mere by-product of India-Pakistan relations.

Referring to the recent Parliamentary polls in Pakistan and the ensuing Government formation, Mufti said the event does not only compliment the existing atmosphere but it can lead to this region becoming the new trailblazer for the world.

The Pugwash conference brought together about 50 leading scholars, former policy makers and influential public figures from Afghanistan, Iran, India, Pakistan and Europe. Other than experts from Pakistan, representatives of the key Pakistani political parties including the PPP, PML-N, ANP, MQM, and the PML-Q attended the conference.(PTI)

Two militants surrender
Escaped Lashkar ultra re-arrested

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 30: Police today re-arrested a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant, who had escaped from custody of Doda police station on March 24, from village Dhara where he had gone to meet his old associates while two militants surrendered before police and Army in Gandoh area of Kishtwar district.

SSP Doda Manohar Singh said a special team of Doda police station headed by SHO Doda Inspector Chanchal Singh nabbed the militant Abdul Kabir son of Ghulam Mohd Lone, a resident of Hasti, Kishtwar, during a naka laid at village Dhara.

Police had a tip off that Abdul Kabir after his daring escape from Doda police station would make attempts to contact his old associates in LeT outfit in a bid to reach safe hide-outs. It was on the basis of this information that police had laid a naka at Dhara.

In wee hours of this morning, Abdul Kabir was apprehended when he was heading towards upper reaches where the LeT has some hide-outs. After his arrest, police conducted searches in surrounding areas but no more arrests were made.

Abdul Kabir was arrested by police along with four other militants including two women along with two AK rifles, grenades and ammunition which they were smuggling in a TATA Sumo from Kashmir to Doda for handing over the consignment to LeT commanders. They had been booked under FIR No. 26 and Section 3 EAO and 7/25 Arms Act at Doda police station.

However, on March 24 afternoon, Kabir asked the sentry to allow him mouth wash due to humid conditions in police station barrack. He was allowed during which he fled away. Since then, police had launched a massive search operation to apprehend him.

It may be mentioned here that two police constables had been suspended and arrested by police for the escape of Abdul Kabir.

The SSP Doda has announced a suitable reward for entire police team which worked in a professional manner and apprehended the militant within six days of his escape.

Meanwhile, two Hizbul Mujahideen militants today surrendered before police and Army in Kither area of Gandoh in Kishtwar district along with arms and ammunition.

They have been identified as Farooq Ahmed son of Ghulam Hussain, a resident of village Butto, Kither and Mohd Iqbal son of Khaliq Hussain of Swara, Gandoh.

At the time of surrender, they handed over one Insas rifle with magazines and ammunition, one wireless set, SLR and LMG magazines, grenades and some documents.

Sources said some arrests of Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of the militants were expected during questioning of surrendered militants. Only yesterday, two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were arrested by police from village Haddal in Doda district.

Snow upto 40 feet cleared
Srinagar-Leh NH to re-open on April 15

SRINAGAR, Mar 30: The 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh National Highway will be put through on April 15, as five feet to 40 feet accumulated snow has been cleared, a senior BEACON official said.

We have removed all the snow from the highway, BEACON Chief Engineer A K Botaney said.

However, he said it will take about two weeks more to make the highway, linking Drass, second coldest place in the world, Kargil and Leh with the rest of the country, safe for traffic.

He said there are reports of shooting of stones and threat of snow avalanches in some identified areas. We are taking care of the threat, he said adding the traffic will be allowed only once there is zero per cent danger.

He said the trail of the road will be conducted next week.

We are undertaking repair work of the road besides, at some places water comes from the top which also pose a threat, he said and appealed people not to undertake journey untill the road is declared safe.

Mr Botaney said about 250 workers of the BEACON were working round the clock to reopen the highway, more than a month before schedule this time.

The highway remains closed for winter months from November every year due to heavy snowfall at Zojila, Captain Morh and Zero line.

We have to remove six feet to 40 feet of snow which had accumulated on the road by pressing into service more than 20 snow cutters and other sophsticated machines from both sides of the Zojila, the Chief Engineer said giving credit to his men for early reopening of the highway.

He said, at Captain Morh and adjacent areas there was more than 40 feet of snow on the road.

Mr Botaney said there was however no casualty or damage to machinery during the snow clearance operation this year despite snow avalanches and shooting of stones at some places.

He said the 80-km-long Srinagar-Sonmarg was declared open last week after the BEACON and civil authorities put a joint effort.

This was for the first time that the road was reopened a month before the scheduled date. A large number of tourists visited the resort of Sonamarg and the local population, including pony walls who had left in November last year, returned back there. (UNI)

Doda gets office, other districts to follow
SVO to target corruption in remote areas

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Mar 30: The State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) has decided to extend its reach to more rural areas very soon targeting corruption in far off areas where it was said to have more roots than urban areas but was going on unchecked due to lack of awareness among the people.

Official sources said there were reports with the anti-corruption body that corruption has gained stronger routes in remote areas falling in the towns other than the capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar besides even Leh and Kargil, which were earlier said to be free from this menace.

The Vigilance Organisation has opened its full fledged office for Doda district at Khlaini and was in the process of opening similar offices in Poonch and Leh. During past few months, a number of scams have been reported from Doda district especially in Forest Department, some of which were under investigation of the agency.

Vigilance officers of the rank of DySPs and Inspectors will regularly camp at Khlaini office, which initially will be used for trap cases. The office has been equipped with necessary infrastructure to trap the officers on spot taking corruption. However, investigations of scams from Doda district will continue to be held at Vigilance Headquarters here by Udhampur-Doda range, sources said.

They pointed out that corruption cases have also increased in Kupwara and Anantnag districts of Kashmir valley but since the two towns had a run of just two hours from capital city of Srinagar, the two districts will get offices later.

The SVO has also approached the Government of India for grants under modernisation plan to open its offices in other districts so that the anti-corruption body could extend its reach in entire State.

According to sources, ultimate aim of the Vigilance was to open SSP level office in all districts as has been done by most of the Vigilance bodies across different States.

At present, the SVO has one SSP level officer covering two to three districts due to shortage of manpower and infrastructure to cover all districts.

Sources said to create awareness among the people of rural areas against anti-corruption drive of the Vigilance Organisation, the SVO has decided to hold awareness programme at Doda, Kathua, Rajouri, Ganderbal and Leh.

While the awareness camp at Leh would be addressed by Vigilance Commissioner Dr Ashok Bhan himself, the other camps would be addressed by the officers of the rank of DIG and SSPs, sources said.

They added that more people were likely to come forward against corruption in Government Departments once the Vigilance extends its reach to rural areas. Presently, many people could be reluctant to travel to Jammu and Srinagar cities for registering their complaints.

Sonia to visit Jammu on April 12

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 30: Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will visit Jammu on April 12 to address a women convention of the party.

Her visit was confirmed today by PCC (I) chief and Union Water Resources Minister Saif-ud-Din Soz.

Mr Soz along with All India Mahila Congress president Prabha Thakur will reach here on April 5 to make preparations for the convention.

Only yesterday, Mrs Gandhi had visited Srinagar to open tulip garden in Srinagar.

Sharma hospitalised after giddiness

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 30: Health and Medical Education Minister Mangat Ram Sharma was admitted to Cardiac Care Unit (CCU) of Government Medical College this afternoon after he complained of giddiness while watching a cricket match at GMC hostel ground after inaugurating it.

Mr Sharma was admitted to CCU at 5 pm and remained there for five hours. As all his tests were normal, he was discharged from the hospital at 10 pm.

The Health Minister had already attended two functions and was into the third function when he complained of giddiness and was taken to hospital.

HoD Cardiology Dr Mohan Lal along with his team and other doctors examined Mr Sharma. GMC Principal Dr Rajinder Singh, Administrator Dr Rakesh Khajuria and Medical Superintendent Dr Romesh Gupta were present in the CCU.

Rural Development Minister Mula Ram, Director General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda and a number of other Cabinet colleagues of Mr Sharma, Legislators and Congress leaders visited the GMC to enquire the condition of the Health Minister.

3 children buried alive

Excelsior Correspondent

LEH, Mar 30: Three children were buried alive when a portion of rock fell on them at Lastan Biama, 140 kilometres from here last evening.

An official spokesman said that the deceased were on their way to home when they fell victim to the sliding of the rock.

On the receipt of information about the incident, the district administration deputed a team headed by Tehsildar Khalsi to the area. The Chief Executive Councilor LAHDC Leh Chhering Dorje alongwith Deputy Commissioner Dr M K Bhandari visited the spot today to supervise the operation to trace out the bodies.

Executive Councillor Tsering Norboo Lampa and Councilor Skiurbuchan, Punchok Stanzin have also been stationed at Biama to oversee the operation. Till late this evening, bodies of two deceased were recovered while efforts were on to trace out the third.

The CEC said that Hill Council will provide relief to the family members of the deceased.

The Deputy Commissioner has also instructed the Sub-Divisional Magistrate Khalsi to approach the Army for sniffer dogs for tracing out the body of third child.

NC MP calls on Pak PM

Excelsior Correspondent

Islamabad, Mar 30: National Conference Member Parliament AR Shaheen, who is in Pakistan in connection with Pugwash conference, today called on Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousuf Raza Gillani to congratulate him for his nomination on behalf of party patron Dr Farooq Abdullah and party president Omar Abdullah.

Mr Shaheen, during his meeting with the Pakistan Prime Minister stressed for further boosting the people to people contact so that divided families could meet each other. He urged Gillani to extend all possible support for early resolution of Kashmir issue.

Mr Shaheen also attended the Pakistan National Assembly on an invitation of the Speaker. Announcing his arrival, the Speaker introduced him to the newly elected members.

Two militants held, IED defused

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Mar 30: Security forces arrested two militants belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen and averted a major tragedy in Kashmir valley where a hideout of the militants was also busted.

An official spokesman said that two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were arrested by the police from Gandbal in Kulgam district last night.

A report from Baramulla said troops today foiled a major tragedy when they detected and defused a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by militants on the highway to target convoy and other security force vehicles.

Official sources said a Road Opening Party (ROP) of the troops noticed an abandoned box on the roadside at Tehsil Bagh on Srinagar-Uri highway this morning.

The area was immediately cordoned off and traffic stopped from both sides.

Later, Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) was summoned and the IED in the box was defused without causing any damage.

Meanwhile, security forces during a search operation at Frisal Yaripora in Kulgam district of south Kashmir busted a militant hideout and recovered one AK rifle, three magazines, two hand grenades and a wireless set last evening

Efforts should be made to confront terrorism: PM

NEW DELHI : Expressing concern over the threat of terrorism in the world, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said efforts should be made to work with the international community to devise measures to combat this menace, particularly in democratic countries.

"Our world is confronted by the threat of terrorism, sometimes from non-state actors. The number of important dignitaries at risk from terrorist threats has increased and is a source of great concern for Governments around the world," he said addressing the elite Special Protection Group (SPG) Raising Day here.

Stressing the need to work with the international community to devise measures to combat this menace, particularly in democratic countries, he said "terrorism anywhere is a threat to freedom and democracy everywhere".

He said the Government was committed to deal with threats to peace, security, political stability, economic progress, social and communal harmony in the country.

"Whatever the source of terrorism, we are determined to root it out and ensure that in a democracy, political change can only come through the ballot box and not through the barrel of a gun," Singh said.

Lauding the role of SPG, Singh said political leaders in a democratic society would like to be as close to the people as possible. He said they dislike being cordoned off by a ring of impenetrable security.

To protect leaders in a democracy and at the same time ensure that they are accessible to the general public, requires considerable skill, he said adding that SPG has no alternative but to act as an interface between the people and the political leaders while ensuring their security.

He said SPG’s procedures and practice of handling the public must continue to evolve along with its professional skills.

"Today, after 23 years, SPG has developed and evolved into a formidable force, displaying a high degree of professionalism and the most outstanding level of commitment to its responsibilities," he said.

"It is indeed a matter of pride that India has such a committed and well-trained force, a force that is second to none in the world, for the security of the highest political leadership," Singh said.

Referring to SPG’s plan to set up a new Counter Sniper Unit, build capabilities in the field of ‘Bomb Disposal’ and equip itself to deal with threats from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents, Singh assured government’s support to upgrade the skills of its personnel and the organisation. (PTI)

Centre approves Rs 20.78 crore for road construction

NEW DELHI : The Centre has approved an amount of Rs 20.78 crore under the Central Road Fund (CRF) scheme for construction of a 16-km-long road from Kahara Jai road up to Jaurn village in Doda district .

This was announced by Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Minister T R Baalu here today.

Mr Baalu said the amount hadd been approved on the recommendation of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

The proposed road will connect Kahara village in Bhalessa area with Jai in Bhaderwah passing through the villages of Gugara, Malanu, Bithola, Bagdair, Halaran, Jooda and Shamdalian before entering the picturesque meadows of Jai in Bhaderwah.

"The road will open up avenues of development for people of all these villages," a ministry official said. (UNI)

Two militants holed up in mosque in Bandipora

Srinagar : Two militants were holed up in a mosque here after trading gunfire with police and security forces in Bandipora district today.

Acting on a specific information, police assisted by troops of 57 Rashtriya Rifles and 92 battalion of CRPF raided Papchan area to flush out militants, police said.

Finding themselves trapped, the militants opened indiscriminate fire on the joint search party and managed to take shelter in the mosque, police said.

They said security forces encircled the mosque and efforts were on to flush out the militants. (PTI)