Pak-based militant outfits continue to target J&K: US

WASHINGTON, Apr 30: India was among the countries worst affected by terror with militant attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and in the Northeast, strikes by Naxalites and attacks elsewhere in the country taking a toll of more than 2,300 lives in 2007, the US State Department said.

The State Department, in its annual report on terrorism, said terrorist activities along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir are on the decline but Pakistan-based militant outfits like the Lashkar-e-Toiba and other terrorist groups continue to plan attacks in the Valley.

"Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba and other Kashmir-focused groups continued regional attack planning. In 2007, Kashmir-focused groups continued to support attacks in Afghanistan, and operatives trained by the groups continued to feature in Al-Qaeda transnational attack planning,"it said.

The report said Indian Government’s counter terrorism efforts remained hampered by outdated and overburdened law enforcement and legal systems.

"The Indian court system was slow, laborious, and prone to corruption. Terrorism trials can take years to complete. Many of India’s local police forces were poorly staffed, lacked training, and were ill-equipped to combat terrorism effectively," the report said.

Noting about the attack on Samjhauta Express in February last year, the report said, it was carried out by extremists who tried to incite anger among the Hindus and Muslims.

"These attacks, which killed and injured both Muslims and Hindus, were probably conducted by extremists hoping to incite anger between the Hindu and Muslim communities.

"Indian officials claim that the perpetrators of these attacks have links to groups based in Pakistan and Bangladesh, particularly Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami, among others," the report said.

"These groups also have links to terrorist activity in Jammu and Kashmir. The number of civilians killed were approximately half of that in the previous year.

"In May, the Indian Government acknowledged that the level of infiltration across the Line of Control had fallen, but noted that insurgents had in some case shifted routes to enter India through Bangladesh and Nepal," it said.

The report also took note of the formation of the anti-terrorism mechanism between India and Pakistan to coordinate and exchange information on terrorists.

"Pakistan’s leaders took steps to prevent support to the Kashmiri militancy, and the number of violent attacks in Kashmir was down by approximately 50 per cent from 2006, according to public statements made by the Indian Defence Minister," the report said.

The report also took note of the US-India Joint Working Group on Terrorism (CTJWG) which has so far met nine times since its formation in 2000.

India participated in CTJWGS with 15 other countries, and in multilateral CTJWGS with the EU and with the Bay of Bengal initiative for multisectoral technical and economic cooperation, an organisation that promotes economic cooperation among Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal.

In October, the Indian Government held the second round of consultations with Pakistan under the bilateral counter terrorism joint mechanism, and hosted a Ministerial level meeting of the South Asia association for regional cooperation on counterterrorism," it said.

On Pakistan, the State Department said international terror organisations, including Al-Qaeda and its supporters continue to operate and carry out attacks from the country.

The report said Al-Qaeda has rebuilt some of its pre-Sept 11 capabilities from remote hiding places in Pakistan, and terrorist attacks in neighboring Afghanistan increased 16 per cent last year.

The report said despite efforts by both Afghan and Pakistani security forces, instability along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier appeared to have provided the Al-Qaeda greater mobility and ability to conduct training and operational planning, particularly targeting western Europe and the United States.

"Numerous senior Al-Qaeda operatives have been captured or killed, but Al-Qaeda leaders continued to plot attacks and to cultivate stronger operational connections that radiated outward from Pakistan to affiliates throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe, the report said. (PTI)

Lolab valley in BSNL network now
Soz begins to berate ‘politicians of hollow slogans’

Excelsior Special Correspondent

KUPWARA, Apr 30: An ardent advocate of his Congress party’s effective coordination with the J&K coalition partner, PDP, president of Jammu & Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) and Union Minister for Water Resources, Prof Saif-ud-din Soz today restricted his speech to Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s Khushhaal Kashmir and asserted that the space was shrinking fast for the State’s "politicians of hollow slogans".

After reaching here in company of senior Congress leader Ghulam Rasool Kar and Minister incharge CAPD, Taj Mohiuddin, all the way from Srinagar, Prof Soz inaugurated a telecommunication tower at Awoora. With Prof Soz’s inauguration of this facility in presence of senior BSNL officials, the far-flung Lolab valley of Kupwara district is now mapped on BSNL’s mobile phone and WLL network. Even as Airtel had set up the first mobile phone tower here last year, subscribers of BSNL had no means to interact within themselves or the outside world until today.

Later in the day, Prof Soz drove all the way to Khurhama village where his party’s Block president Haji Farooq Ahmed Mir had mobilized more than 3,000 people for the public meeting scheduled to be addressed by the Water Resources Minister. His preoccupation with the rally was outstretched to the extent that he failed to keep his programme of addressing yet another public meeting in Trehgam.

Addressing a 3,000-strong rally at Khurhama, Prof Soz said that Jammu & Kashmir had witnessed the worst period of bloodshed and political uncertainty in the last two decades. He said that the gun culture had destroyed not only the State’s infrastructure but also our value system. Prof Soz asserted that political space was shrinking fast for all those politicians who were only running the "politics of hollow slogans".

Soz said that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had announced a liberal financial package for the people of the militancy ravaged Jammu & Kashmir State. Referring to Prime Minister's package, Mr Soz said the benefits of package would positively percolate down to the people saying that he would discuss the matter of constructing more power projects with Union Power Minister, so that people get adequate power supply round the year.

Soz further said that Central Government would carry forward its talks with its neighboring country Pakistan to settle all issues.

Soz said that Rs 23 crore would be spent in Command Area Development Programme to strengthen the irrigation cannals in Jammu-Udhampur belt.

In response to the public demands, Prof Soz assured that he would recommend a high school, hospital and a bank for Khurhama area and announced Rs 10 lakh out of his MP LAD fund for high school. He also announced Rs 5 lakh for constructing food godown.

Soz demanded "a realistic approach" by the Government towards the killed militants’ relatives and children and claimed that this healing touch was part of the Prime Minister’s "revolutionary policies" for Jammu & Kashmir. He said that under Azad’s leadership, J&K had witnessed tremendous achievements in socio-economic and developmental scheme.

Soz further said that Central Government would carry forward its talks with its neighbouring country Pakistan to settle all issues. Soz said that Rs. 23 crore would be spent in Command Area Development Programme to strengthen the irrigation cannals in the district.

Minister for CA&PD, Taj Mohi-ud-Din also addressed the public meeting. He said Congress is the only party which can ensure welfare and development in the State.

Others ,who spoke on the occasion include senior congress leader Ghulam Rasool Kar and other district presidents. The speakers also expressed their heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family of the eminent Deobandh theologian, Maulana Anzar Shah Kashmiri.

In his speech, Soz referred to the hullabaloo raised by statements of some politicians and writers and made it clear that Government of India had not imposed ban on transmission of Pakistani satellite television channels.

He claimed that programmes of all Pakistani channels would be restored immediately after the cable network companies registered themselves, alongwith such private television channels, with the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in New Delhi and obtained necessary permission.

Soldier killed in LoC firing

SRINAGAR, Apr 30: An Army ambush party killed a soldier due to mistaken identity near Line of Control (LoC) in the froniter district of Kupwara, official sources said.

They said Army had laid ambush near the LoC at Gumgund Potakhan Gali in Kupwara to foil any infiltration attempt by militants from across the border.

However, the ambush party noticed some movement in the area.

Due to darkness, the ambush party could not identify the solider and fired at him, they added.

The soldier died before he could be shifted to hospital.

A police spokesman said an ambush party of 5/4 gr regiment fired accidentally on the soldier resulting in his death.

Police have registered a case in this regard, he said. (UNI)

Gillani for trade, tourism between two parts of State
Pak favours result-oriented talks with India on Kashmir

ISLAMABAD, Apr 30: Pakistan wants "fruitful and result-oriented" talks on Kashmir with India which it hoped will soon lead to a "positive" outcome, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani said today while backing the "right to self-determination" for Kashmiris.

"Pakistan wants fruitful and result-oriented talks on Kashmir with India. We hope that the political and composite dialogue process between the two countries will soon lead to some positive result," Gillani, on his first visit to Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, told a joint session of its Assembly and Council in Muzaffarabad.

He said measures initiated for People-to-People contacts in the region should be complemented by trade and tourism between the two parts of Kashmir.

"In my policy statement in the National Assembly, I had referred to Pakistan’s Kashmir policy and said we will take forward the peace process with India and use dialogue to resolve the basic issue of Kashmir," said Gillani who was sworn in last month as the head of the ruling PPP-led coalition.

"We want friendly relations with all our neighbours, including India. Peace is necessary for the 1.3 billion people living in South Asia," he said

"The people of Jammu and Kashmir have made many supreme sacrifices to achieve their birth right to self-determination and are still doing so. I assure you that the sacrifices of the Kashmiri people will not go waste," he said.

"Their struggle is not directed against anyone but is aimed at achieving the right to self-determination that was promised by the UN," Gillani said. "This is a question of their rights and Kashmiris should get these rights."

Pointing out that Islamabad has adopted the path of peace because this alone would lead to prosperity and security, Gillani said dialogue is being used to resolve problems around the world and Pakistan too has "faith in such an approach".

He added: "Pakistan announced a unilateral cease-fire in Jammu and Kashmir in November 2003 and this is still being observed."

Noting that the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar route had been reopened and entry points created along the Line of Control for meetings between divided Kashmiri families, Gillani said, "we also want trade and tourism to be started between the two parts of Kashmir."

This will enable Kashmiris to meet freely in all spheres, he added.

Gillani also called for an end to alleged human rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir, saying this would help improve the atmosphere.

The Prime Minister also pointed out that slain former premier Benazir Bhutto had always strongly backed the dialogue and peace process with India.

Gillani said it was the PPP which had always taken up the issue of Kashmir and the party’s founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had once said the struggle for Kashmir would continue for 1,000 years if necessary.

"The aspirations of the Kashmiris are very important for us," he said.

He also announced several initiates for the development of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and the speedy reconstruction of areas affected by the October 2005 earthquake.(PTI)

Kingpin nabbed by cops, CID
Fake gold racket traced to Alwar

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Apr 30: Police and Intelligence agencies have unearthed a nexus among the gangsters of Jammu and Rajasthan, who had been cheating the people by promising them gold at very cheap rates. The gang was operating from Alwar, Rajasthan and had its network in Haryana and Jammu.

Official sources said police and Intelligence agencies were alerted by some local people who received a number of telephone calls by unidentified persons from different States promising them gold at very negligible rates. The people were tried to be lured by the gangsters that they have found gold in large quantity from unidentified places and wanted to dispose it of on very cheap rates. The callers advised the people to collect gold from their villages.

Some people did make an attempt to become rich overnight and were either robbed of their money or were given only gold coated material. A jeweller from Jain Bazar was among those who were cheated. He was given a gold plated slab at Kanachak which he realised only after reaching his showroom.

Sources said police and Intelligence agencies have subjected one of the gangster, Pawan Kumar son of Ram Pal Sharma, a resident of Karloop, Kanachak to sustained interrogation during which he unravelled modus operandi of the gang.

Pawan Kumar, according to sources, was linked to the gang operating from Alwar, Rajasthan. The gang had spread its network in Ghaziabad, Rohtak, Jaipur and Jammu. The gang was headed by Shamsher Singh Rounak in Alwar.

All members of the gang used to be in touch with each other through mobile telephones. They had been getting number of some important persons of each other’s State and calling them from mobile telephones asking them to visit a particular village of their State along with cash if they were interested in purchasing gold in bulk at very cheap rates.

The gang had prepared gold coated slabs which they had given to the people who approached them. Some of them managed to identify that slabs were not original gold and sought their money back. They were beaten-up by the goons and thrown out of the village.

This process, according to sources, was going on for the last five to six months and several people had been duped at different places in three States by the racketeers.

The gang was in the process of spreading its network to Punjab and Madhya Pradesh, sources said, adding identity of gangsters operating at Alwar, Rajasthan, the gang’s headquarters, and other places has been ascertained during the questioning of Pawan Kumar.

Information is likely to be shared with police of other States soon, sources said, adding some more arrests were expected in this connection.

Setting up of Kiru, Pakal Dul, Karwa projects
JV agreement between NHPC, PDC by May end

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Apr 30: A Joint Venture agreement between hydropower utility National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and State’s Power Development Corporation (PDC) for setting up of three major power projects on river Chenab will be signed by May end.

These projects—600 Mega Watt (MW) Kiru, 1000 MW Pakal Dul and 520 MW Karwa fall in the Kishtwar district of the Jammu province and would entail an investment of over Rs 12,720 crore. The projects would be set-up in next four years and on completion will help the State upto large extent in tiding over the power crisis.

Following the State Cabinet’s nod to set up these projects in joint venture with NHPC on April 25, the talks between the hydro power utility and State Government were progressing well and the agreement is all set to be signed by May end as State Government was interested in early tapping of available power potential.

In the Joint Venture, the NHPC will hold 51 per cent share while remaining share will be owned by the Power Development Corporation. As per the draft agreement prepared by the State Government, the PDC and NHPC would have the right to purchase share holding of other partner in the joint venture in accordance with mutually agreed terms and conditions.

The Joint Venture company which will come to shape after the agreement will be under an obligation to provide 12 per cent of power generated from the projects, free of cost to State Government besides one per cent free power for local area development. Similarly, the State Government will also provide one per cent power from their share of 12 per cent free of cost for local area development.

Out of the balance 87 per cent, the State Government would have the right to purchase power from the JVC in proportion to the share of PDC in the equity. After this, the Central Government in accordance with its policy will allocate the balance power to entitled States and organisations including Jammu and Kashmir.

The Joint Venture Company will sell power including the share of PDC at the rate decided and approved by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC).

The revenue receipts on account of sale of timber, royalty on river bed materials besides rights in fisheries, navigation and exploitation of tourism potential in respect of ponds created by the projects will vest with the State Government.

As per the policy, the staff for rehabilitation and resettlement activities will be deputed by State Government to JVC. Eighty per cent of Group C&D staff in JVC will be permanent residents of State subject to suitability, availability and eligibility. One third of Group A&B staff requirement will be met from NHPC, PDC and State Government departments on deputation basis in proportion to their shareholding in the JVC.

The balance requirement of staff under this category will be met in such a manner that permanent residents of State constitute minimum 49 per cent of the balance requirement.

The costs of projects will be met by way of debt equity norms as approved by Government of India while according the approval for the projects. Union Ministry of Power, NHPC, State Government and PDC will facilitate the financial closure of the projects.

The Jammu and Kashmir Bank will be the preferred banker of the JVC provided its terms and conditions including rates of interest and tenure of loans are competitive with other financial institutions and acceptable to the JVC.

The implementation of the agreement will be monitored by a committee comprising of a representative each from Union Ministry of Power, State Government, NHPC and PDC. The committee will meet atleast once in three months till the formation of JVC.

Only one incident of water for diesel scam

NEW DELHI, Apr 30: Only one incident has so far been reported when water, instead of diesel, was supplied in fuel tankers to the icy heights of Ladakh, the Government informed the Rajya Sabha today.

Defence Minister A K Antony said a solitary incident came to the notice of the Government in July, 2005 about water being supplied instead of diesel in seven tankers of Indian Oil Corporation in Ladakh region of Northern Command.

A Court of Inquiry instituted by Army Headquarters completed its report soon after. Disciplinary action was directed against two Army officers, among others based on the report. Administrative action was initiated against four other officers involved in the incident.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police had lodged FIR against the civilian drivers of the tankers, Mr Antony informed the Upper House in a written reply.

The State Police also filed a chargesheet against one Brigadier level officer and one Lt Colonel level officer alongwith others in March this year in a local Leh court.

As the case came up for hearing this month, the Army was given time to exercise option of taking over the case in terms of section 549 Criminal Procedure Code and Army Act section 125. (UNI)

NC supporters clash, 5 stabbed

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 30: Five persons were severely injured in a violent clash between workers of two National Conference leaders at Gole Gujral under the jurisdiction of Domana Police Station this morning.

Police sources said that supporters of National Conference MLA from Marh Ajay Sadhotra and another NC leader Jagdev Singh Jagga clashed for getting the credit of the upgradation of Government Girls High School at Gole Gujral to Higher Secondary level.

Last evening, the supporters of NC MLA installed a stone mentioning that the school has been upgraded due to the efforts of Ajay Sadhotra. After sometime, the stone was removed by supporters of another party leader from the constituency, Jagdev Singh Jagga.

When MLA’s supporters came to know about the removal of the stone in the morning, they again attempted to install another stone which was strongly objected by the supporters of Jagga.

After heated exchanges, the supporters of both the leaders brought out sharp-edged weapons and started inflicting injuries on each other in full public view. In the clash, five persons of both the factions were severely injured.

On getting information about the violent clash between NC workers, police teams from Domana Police Station and Pouni Chak Police Post rushed to the spot and shifted the critically injured persons to Government Medical College and Hospital. The condition of all the injured persons was stated to be serious when reports last came in.

The injured have been identified as Tarandeep Singh, son of Jagdev Singh Jagga, Amandeep Singh, son of Jagga’s brother-in-law, Sahil Bhagat, friend of Tarandeep Singh, Gajinder Singh alias Shikari and his son Meharban Singh, both the supporters of NC MLA Ajay Sadhotra.

Both the factions have lodged counter FIRs against each other under Section 307 RPC (attempt to murder) at Pouni Chak Police Post.

It is pertinent to mention here that despite repeated intervention by the party high command, the differences between NC MLA and Jagdev Singh Jagga continue to persist.

Young girl raped in school

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 30: A young girl was raped in a Government school at Ratnuchak in Bari Barahamana area last night by two miscreants. All three rapists and one of their colleague were arrested by the police today.

A young girl Usha Kumari, a resident of Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh, whose father was working here, had gone to a canal for washing clothes at Trait Basti, Bari Barahamana when she was kidnapped by four miscreants last evening.

One of the kidnapper, Pinku, a local boy, stole keys of Government Middle School, Ratnuchak from his relative, who was caretaker of the school building, where two youths, Bhola and Beeru, also hailing from UP, committed rape on the girl.

SSP Samba Rajinder Gupta said both the rapists and their associates, Pinku and Joginder were arrested this morning by police parties led by SDPO Bari Barahamana Yogesh Sharma and SHO Khaliq Hussain.

The girl was shifted to hospital for medical examination. A case against the rapists has been registered at Bari Barahamana police station.

Eight labourers killed

JAMMU, May Eight labourers were killed and 20 others trapped after two trucks carrying them were hit by a landslide in Kishtwar district today.

The trucks carrying the labourers of General Reserve Engineering Force (GREF) came under the landslide during road construction work at Thalaran area on Kishtwar-Sinthan road in the district around 1210 hours, defence sources said.

Eight bodies have so far been recovered from the spot. (PTI)

Around 18 lakh pilgrims visit Vaishno Devi shrine in 4 months

JAMMU, May The number of pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine, situated at the Trikuta hills of Reasi district, has shown a record increase in the first four months this year as compared to previous year, official sources said.

The rush has been unprecedented from January 1 to April 30 this and is not expected to go down during the coming summer, an official spokesman said.

According to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, about 18,000 to 20,000 pilgrims are visiting the shrine every day from all parts of the country to pay obeisance. On April 26,2008, the figure of visiting pilgrims crossed 26,000, which was a record breaking in the last four months, they added.

"15,90,105 pilgrims visited the holy shrine in the first four months in the year 2007 whereas the inflow of pilgrims has shown an extraordinary rise this year and the figure touched 17,82,115 thus showing tremendous increase, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, M K Diwedi said.

Once the summer breaks begin in other parts of the country, huge rush of pilgrims is expected this year. We cannot rule out 40,000 to 50,000 of pilgrims, visiting every day at the katra base camp to trek 13-kilometres long track after may 20, Mr Diwedi said.

However, the rush has gladdened the hearts of traders and hoteliers of the area while it has also come as a boost to the economy of Jammu. Mr Diwedi also said that all suitable arrangements have been made for the pilgrims including water and required facilities. (UNI)