Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, June 22: General Officer Commanding of Army’s 15 Corps, Lt General Gurmit Singh, today said that Army’s preparedness is excellent enough to take on any security challenge in Kashmir including the possible Al-Qaeda threat.
When asked about the Al-Qaeda video calling on Muslims in Kashmir to join jihad against India, the GOC expressed his confidence on taking any security challenge in Kashmir including the Al-Qaeda threat.
Singh, who is handing over command of the 15 Corps to Lt General Subrata Saha tomorrow, said that Army is aware of the intent, capacity and capability and the threat perception of Al-Qaeda in Kashmir.
“We have effective intelligence network in place. We are aware about their intention, their capability and capacity and the threats which are there. I am proud of the soldiers and commanders on the ground that we will be able to take on any challenge of that sort. I am very confident that our preparedness is excellent”, said the GOC.
Lt Gen Singh said that Army is committed to the requirements of national security in Kashmir. “Security situation in the hinterland is under control, we have very effective counter insurgency grid along the LoC in place. We are prepared to take on any challenge. Our troops are committed to the requirements of national security”, he added.
The GOC said an effective counter-infiltration grid is in place along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Valley to prevent infiltration of militants from the other side.
“We have an excellent intelligence network and good synergy with Jammu and Kashmir police and other security forces agencies to deal with any kind of challenge,” he said.
Singh said that the situation along the LoC and the hinterland is under control. “For last two years the way we have done area domination in hinterland and along the LoC, the results are in front of you”, he added.
Giving details of the anti-militancy operations, the Corps Commander said the security forces have managed to neutralise 63 militants in the first half of this year.
“We have killed 40 terrorists including 17 from Lashkar-e-Toiba, 11 from Hizbul Mujahideen and 8 from Jaish-e-Mohammad. 23 terrorists have been apprehended during this period,” Singh said. He said that among 40 killed, 18 each are foreign and local militants while nationality of 4 was not confirmed.
The GOC said 140 weapons including 60 pistols have been recovered during the operations against militants in the Valley. “When pistols are recovered they have potential of close range firing”, he added.
The Corps Commander said that last year 10 top militant commanders were killed in Kashmir valley while this year so far equal numbers of commanders were eliminated.
Singh said that these successful operations were possible with the help of excellent intelligence provided by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and people. He said that these operations were surgical and there was no collateral damage due to excellent synergy among various security agencies in Kashmir.
GOC praised his troops for carrying out professional operations during which he said there had been no human rights violations.

Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, June 22: In a step forward towards inauguration of Udhampur-Katra railway line, which would take the train to base camp of holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji, Railways Minister Sadanand Gowda is meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) tomorrow to finalise date for start of the train service.
Modi, Gowda and Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh would be inaugurating the train service to Katra, most likely by this month end.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Gowda after getting a detailed briefing from Northern Railways Headquarters that 25 kilometers train track from Udhampur to Katra was complete for inauguration would be meeting Modi in the PMO tomorrow to seek date for launch of the train service.
The Railways Ministry wants the train to Katra, which would benefit millions of Mata Vaishno Devi ji devotees, to be inaugurated by Modi, who had launched election campaign of the BJP for Parliamentary elections with the blessings of the Goddess on March 26 followed by a massive rally at Hiranagar in Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha constituency, a seat the BJP won comprehensively.
Excelsior had exclusively reported earlier this month that Modi, Gowda and Singh would be dedicating Northern Railways prestigious project to the people by the end of this month.
Sources said the Railways Minister was likely to propose the dates of June 27 and 28 to the Prime Minister for inauguration of the train. However, a final date would be decided by Modi depending upon availability of time.
“In any case, the train is now set for inauguration any time in the next few days as the Northern Railways top brass, who had taken first ever long distance 20 bogies train from New Delhi to Katra on June 11, has given report to the Railways Minister that the track from Udhampur to Katra was ready for launch and that all deficiencies pointed out by the Commissioner of Railways Safety (CRS) during his two days inspection of the track on January 27 and 28 have been overcome,” sources said.
They added that Modi once again wanted to visit the holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji after becoming the Prime Minister. The inauguration of Udhampur-Katra railway line, constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 1050 crores, would coincide with the Prime Minister’s visit to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
Sources said the Railways Ministry wanted inauguration of Katra railway line before presentation of rail budget in the Parliament on July 9.
To begin with, Railways would introduce three direct trains to Katra including Katra-Kalka Express, Delhi Sarai Rohilla-Udhampur Express and Ahmedabad-Udhampur Express besides extending Jammu Mail and Samparak Kranti, both of which runs between Udhampur and Delhi from Udhampur to Katra.
A set of DMUs are proposed to be launched between Jammu and Pathankot to Katra. This would facilitate Vaishno Devi pilgrims boarding off at Jammu to reach directly to Katra, sources said.
In the later stage, there is a proposal with the Railways to link every State of the country with Katra by train to help pilgrims all over India to reach the base camp of the cave shrine directly.
Sources said there were three platforms at Katra railway station, which were enough to accommodate more than dozen long distance trains.
Sources said there are demands from several Railways zones for train services to Katra but the Railways would consider them slowly.
An estimated 10 million devotees visit the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine every year.
The line to Katra has seven tunnels and over 30 small and big bridges. Katra station has been completed with modern facilities, including tourist guide counter, cloak room, waiting hall, VIP lounge, escalators and lifts and parking space on either side, sources said.

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, June 22: A fierce gun battle is on in North Kashmir’s Sopore town between top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander who is trapped in a house and security forces.
Police sources said that Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Sopore, 52 and 22-Rashtriya Rifles and Central Reserve Police Force cordoned off Krankshawan Colony of Sopore this evening after a tip off that three LeT men were hiding in the area. They had information about presence of LeT commander for Sopore area Muzza Molvi, his deputy Mehmood Bhai and another local militant in a house in Krankshawan Colony of Sopore.
Initially the troops evacuated the people who were trapped in the cordoned area where the militants were hiding. Troops also made announcements asking people not to venture inside the cordoned area.
Later in the evening at around 8 p.m., the hiding militants tried to break the cordon and fired indiscriminately on troops and troops retaliated leading to a gun battle.
Sources said that Mehmood Bai of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit is believed to be trapped in the area. However, they believed LeT’s top commander Muzza Molvi may have fled the area when the troops laid cordon.
The adjacent areas of Baghe Islam, Naseem Bagh and Baba Raza Colony were also cordoned off to prevent the militant commander from fleeing the cordoned area.
Mehmood Bhai who was earlier operating in Handwara and later shifted to Srinagar before moving to Sopore has fled from security forces around six times so far this year. Earlier, he fled from cordon twice in Ahmad Nagar area of Srinagar early this year, then twice from Sopore and once from Hajan area of Bandipora district.
Reports said that the intermittent firing was going on but the security forces have put operation on the hold and it will be resumed at first light tomorrow. However, they strengthened the cordon around the area to prevent the militant commander from fleeing.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 22: Army and police today averted a major tragedy by recovering a large quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives including 60 kg deadly RDX, 40 detonators and 43 hand grenades from a militant hideout at Keshwan in Kishtwar district while an Army soldier was injured in a mine blast at forward area of Nakerkot in Digwar sub sector of Poonch district.
Official sources said a major terror plot has been foiled with such a massive recovery especially 60 kg RDX, which was capable of causing major destruction.
They added that a joint team of 8 Rashtriya Rifles and police conducted a search operation at Keshwan in Kishtwar district this afternoon after developing specific inputs about dumps of arms and ammunition in a militant hideout.
After more than two hour long search operation, Army and police recovered the consignment of arms, ammunition and explosives.
The seizure included 60 kg RDX, one kg Russian marking explosive, two kg unidentified explosive, 40 detonators, 43 hand grenades, three RPGs, one AK-47 rifles, one normal rifles, three 12 bore rifles, 19 rounds of UBGL ammunition, 608 rounds of AK-47, 940 rounds of 7.62mm rifle, six rounds of 9mm, 13 magazines of AK-47 rifles, one magazine of 9mm, one binocular and one radio set.
The operation was supervised by SSP Kishtwar Sanjay Kotwal.
Sources said Army and police conducted searches soon after the recoveries but no arrests were made so far. It appeared that the militants had dumped arms, ammunition and explosives in the hideout to pick-up them later and used them during upcoming Assembly elections.
However, with timely recovery of the consignment, Army and police have foiled the militant plot to carry out terror strikes during the elections.
The hideout reportedly belonged to slain Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Habib Gujjar.
It may be mentioned here that Kishtwar district still has about half a dozen active militants apart from the Over Ground Workers (OGWs).
Sources said Army and police continued searches in Keshwan and surrounding areas to trace the militants.
Meanwhile, an Army jawan was injured in a mine blast along the Line of Control (LoC) at forward area of Nakerkot in Digwar sub sector of Poonch district this morning.
The injured jawan has been identified as Sepoy Mahroof Khan of 17 JAK Rifles.
Army evacuated the injured jawan from the LoC and shifted him to hospital, where his condition was stated to be stable.
Sources said the injured Army jawan stepped over the mine during patrolling leading to explosion.

Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, June 22: On the direction of  AICC president Sonia Gandhi, the State Congress leadership is meeting tomorrow for  a decisive  discussion on option of pre-poll alliance in Jammu and Kashmir where Assembly elections are approaching nearer.
Besides AICC general secretary and incharge  J&K affairs Ambika Soni, former Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and  PCC president Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz, all the Congress Ministers in Coalition Government, MLAs, MLCs, PCC general secretaries, vice-presidents and district presidents will attend the crucial meeting,  which will be held at SKICC Srinagar at 3 pm on Monday.
In addition, Chief Executive Councilor of Ladakh Hill Development Council, Leh, Rigzin Spalbar, CEC Ladakh Hill Development Council, Kargil, Asgar Ali Karbalaie, Congress candidates in recently held  Lok Sabha elections, Madan Lal Sharma and T Samphel will also participate in the meeting, sources in Congress circles informed the Excelsior.
In the  scheduled meeting, sources added, the Congress leaders will deliberate on various issues, including the strategy for forthcoming Assembly  elections and pros and cons of a  pre-poll alliance with National Conference.
The top leaders will assess the ground political situation on the basis of feed back from the participating ministers, Legislators and   senior functionaries  for apprising Sonia Gandhi about the same, sources said.
Besides, sources added, a thorough  discussion on forming election campaign committee and panel committee for short listing the Assembly poll candidates, is also likely to be held in the scheduled meeting.
According to the sources, the high-level  meeting is being convened on the direction of AICC president Sonia Gandhi, who was visited by  Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ambika Soni and Prof Soz  yesterday evening for seeking direction on the party stand over various issues in the wake of forthcoming Assembly elections in Jammu Kashmir.
During the top -level meeting at 10-Janpath in New Delhi, in  which AICC vice-president  Rahul Gandhi was also present, the senior Congress leaders apprised Sonia Gandhi about Congress position in J&K vis-à-vis ground situation  and particularly sought a final decision on option for a pre-poll alliance with  National Conference, sources informed.
The meeting lasted for about  two and half hours and instead of making any verdict on the option of pre-poll alliance with National Conference, sources disclosed that Sonia Gandhi asked the party leaders to seek opinion of Congress workers over the issue and then apprise her about the feed back.
Several other political issues pertaining to Jammu Kashmir, including early declaration of party candidates for the Assembly elections and   nomination for  Upper House in wake of  expiry of  the term of MLC Subash Gupta, were also discussed during the meeting with Sonia Gandhi, sources said.
Meanwhile, a Congress spokesperson confirmed that Ambika Soni, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz are arriving tomorrow for holding a meeting with Congress ministers, Legislators and senior party functionaries at SKICC Srinagar. At close of the meeting, the trio will be available to take media questions, if any, the spokesperson added.
Tomorrow’s  scheduled meeting will be second high-level deliberation in  State Congress within four days for  discussing the party strategy vis-à-vis forthcoming Assembly elections for which the party appears to be  fully gearing up for avoiding a repeat of Lok Sabha debacle.

Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 22: Notwithstanding the oft repeated claims of the National Conference-Congress Coalition Government about providing transparent and responsive governance to the people, about half a dozen bodies having greater role to play in actually ensuring such an administration at different levels have failed to see the light of the day.
Despite being aware of the fact that these bodies could have been its eyes and ears, the Government did not take any serious step to establish or make them fully functional during the past over five and half years.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that during the past five years the State Government, while making annual plan presentations before the Planning Commission of India, is boasting of taking adequate steps towards ensuring transparent and responsive governance. Even tall claims in this regard are often made by the Ministers in their official statements thereby trying to send a message to the people that transparency is the hallmark of the Government.
Quoting an example, sources said, “during the power point presentation on the Annual Plan 2012-13 made before the Planning Commission of India on July 13, 2012, the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah had specifically mentioned, “new institutions such as Road Development Corporation, State Election Commission and local Ombudsmen will provide impetus to transparent and responsive governance”.
“However, the situation on the ground is contrary to these claims thereby indicating that transparent and responsive governance is merely a slogan for the Coalition Government”, sources said while disclosing that about six bodies like the three mentioned by the Chief Minister on July 13, 2012, have failed to see the light of the day despite the fact that they have greater role to play in actually ensuring transparent and responsive governance.
As far as transparency is concerned, the post of Ombudsman for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) has not been filled up ever since the enactment of Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Ombudsman Act, 2010, sources said. “The casual response of the Government in this regard is notwithstanding the fact that Ombudsman was required to be appointed in order to check mal-administration and corruption in the Urban Local Government institutions”, they said, adding “the law pertaining to the independent Ombudsman was also one of the recommendations of the 13th Finance Commission”.
Similar is the fate of Ombudsmen under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. “As per the provisions of this flagship scheme of the Union Government, the State Government was required to appoint Ombudsman in each district ever since the launch of the scheme in Jammu and Kashmir in order to address the complaints relating to implementation of the scheme”, they said.
However, during the past over five and half years, the Government could not appoint Ombudsmen, which otherwise was imperative for ensuring 100% transparency in the implementation of the scheme, sources said, adding “the Government has not shun non-serious approach in this regard although the Union Government had repeatedly expressed serious concern on this issue during the past several years”.
Likewise, the Finance Commission for Municipalities and Panchayats, which was to be established following the passage of Jammu and Kashmir State Finance Commission Act in April 2011, has not seen the light of the day till date.
Linking this Commission with the responsive administration, sources said, “the Commission had to recommend distribution between the State and the Municipalities and Panchayats  the net proceeds of the taxes, duties, tolls and fees leviable by the State, which may be divided between them; determination of the taxes, duties, tolls and fees which may be assigned to, or appropriated by the Municipalities/ Panchayats and the measures needed to improve the financial position of the Panchayats”.
Another body——State Planning Board, which too had an important role to play in ensuring responsive governance, could not be established although announcement in this regard was first made by none else than the Chief Minister in 2012 Budget Session, sources said, adding the intention behind establishment of Planning Board was to address the developmental needs of all regions and sub-regions especially the backward and under-privileged pockets.
“However, the objective could not be achieved during the past over two years”, sources said while disclosing that 13th Finance Commission had also suggested the State Government to set up its own Planning Board to address needs of all regions, districts and areas in development.
According to the sources, the Government by way of amendment in the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act in 2011 had paved the way for creation of State Election Commission but till date the Commission has not been constituted. As per the Act, this Commission has the superintendence and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections under the Act.
About the State Road Development Corporation, whose establishment was cleared by the State Cabinet on May 30, 2012, sources said, “this body is also meeting the fate of many others and existing only in the files”, adding “it has not been learnt till date that this Corporation has made any recommendation”.
This Corporation was supposed to promote surface infrastructure by taking up road works, including tunneling and appurtenant structures and take up projects on Build-Own Transfer (BOT), Build-Own-Operate and Transfer (BOOT), Build-Own-Lease and Transfer (BOLT) under Public Private Partnership (PPP) as well as major projects entrusted by State and Central Governments, sources said.
Its objective was also to act as nodal agency of the State Government for execution of major roads and allied infrastructure projects, prepare and develop plans for the State road sector and identification and selection of projects based upon economic, social, technical and commercial criteria.