Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Mar 2: Sharp shooters of militants this morning made a comeback by killing two policemen at point blank range in North Kashmir’s Handwara township.
Security forces launched a massive hunt against the militants responsible for shooting of two policemen. Handwara is near the Line of Control (LoC) and this has been one of the active infiltration routes.
IGP Kashmir, Shive Murari Sahai said here that two militants fired at two Indian Reserve Police (IRP) men who were performing their duty in Handwara town at around 11.10 a.m.
The two IPR men were identified as Constable Santosh Singh, 26, son of Tara Singh of Katiyal in district Kathua and Constable  Azad Chand, 27,  son of Purab Chand of Ghangwalt, Chenani district of Udhampur in Jammu.
Police said that two militants who fired at the two cops at point blank range were masked. “They fired two bullets, one each at the two cops. Both the cops were shot in the neck and the bullet pierced through their heads”, police added.
The militants fled from the scene after carrying out the attack leaving the cops in a pool of blood. They were immediately rushed to the Sub-district Hospital Handwara where doctors declared them brought dead. Both of them had joined police in 2009 and were attached with IRP 16th Battalion.
Panic gripped the township and shopkeepers closed their shops. Senior police and Army officers rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. The IGP Kashmir also visited the spot to assess the situation and attended the wreath laying ceremony of the two cops.
Police sources said that the militants who carried out the attack are believed to be highly trained and used only two bullets to kill the two cops. Both the cops were shot in the neck. Police recovered two empty shells of pistol bullets from the spot.
The sharp shooters returned after eight months as last time they killed two policemen in Pulwama and Kulgam towns of South Kashmir in July last year in a single day.
Police sources said that Lashkar-e-Toiba or Hizbul Mujahideen might be involved in the killings as they had been carrying such type of attacks in the past. In January this year, a Sarpanch was killed and a woman Sarpanch was shot at in the neck in a similar fashion in Sopore area of North Kashmir. Police believes that these militants might be the same who shot the Panchayat members in Sopore.
However, Hizbul Mujahideen and Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the attack. The spokesman of Jamiat told local news agencies that it was a revenge attack against police for targeting “innocent” youth across Kashmir valley.
It may be mentioned here that after the security forces countered Fidayeen attacks of militants, the militant groups focused on sharpshooting tactics in 2009 under which they shoot security personnel in busy market places by using silencer fitted pistols. Over 10 security men have been killed in such point blank attacks in Kashmir valley since 2009.
The killings of two police men came a week after a Sarpanch was killed in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district by militants at point blank range.
The IGP Kashmir while talking to reporters in Handwara after wreath laying ceremony of two constables said that these incidents do take place and last year such incidents took place in other parts of Kashmir valley.
Sahai said that Kashmir police is being targeted for being active against the militants and the successes they achieve against them. “We are paying price for being active in anti-militancy operations. As we are getting successes, we are being targeted for that”, he added.
The IGP said that militancy is on wane and there has been 40 per cent reduction in militant violence for past one year. He said that militancy has been here for long and these kinds of attacks might take place.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has condemned the killing of police personnel at Handwara and described it an act of cowards. In a condolence message to the bereaved families, the Chief Minister conveyed his sympathy and expressed solidarity with them and prayed for peace to the departed soils.

NEW DELHI, Mar 2: BJP today demanded that the Government nominate representatives of Kashmiri Pandits, who had to leave the State due to terror threats, and the people displaced from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
“There are 111 seats in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly out of which elections are held only on 87 seats as 24 seats lie in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir that remain vacant.
“We think that the provisions should be made to fill these 24 seats by nominations from the people displaced from PoK,” BJP President Rajnath Singh said.
He was delivering the president’s address at the BJP National Council Meet here.
Singh also said Kashmiri Pandits, who had to leave the Valley when terrorism was at its peak, should also be nominated to the Assembly.
The party also expressed concern over the recent killings of Sarpanchs in Jammu and Kashmir by terrorists.
“We condemn the manner in which democracy is being suppressed by terrorist outfits at the Panchayat level.
“The Government of Jammu and Kashmir is not only dilly-dallying in giving financial help to the Panchayats but has even failed in ensuing the safety of the Sarpanchs,” Singh said.
He charged that terrorists have killed Sarpanchs and publicly warned them to resign from their position.
“Due to fear of terrorists, hundreds of Sarpanchs have collectively tendered their resignation. Sarpanchs are demanding security…,” he said.
Singh claimed that though he has written a letter to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on this issue, the UPA Government has been silent on the matter.
The main opposition also suggested that Government should make a clear distinction between the Hindu refugees fleeing from Pakistan and the illegal migrants crossing the border from Bangladesh.
The party demanded that the Hindu refugees be given citizenship as they had fled due to persecution.
“In India, families belonging to minorities living in Pakistan have taken refuge. Due to lack of any well thought out refugee relief and rehabilitation policy, the refugees coming to India have to live in an atmosphere of uncertainty,” the BJP chief said.
He demanded that Government form a proper refugee policy keeping in mind the distinction between an infiltrator and a refugee.
India has always given refuge to victim groups, he said.
“A clear and special refugee rehabilitation policy should be made in the context of those who are justifiably refugees and those who are coming as victims.
“If we get an opportunity to form the Government, we will make a rational refugee policy,” Singh said.
He also emphasised on the need for checking illegal immigration from Bangladesh which he alleged was changing the demographic profile of the country, especially in the bordering states like Assam and West Bengal.
BJP, which has been opposing NCTC, today accused the Congress-led UPA Government of failing to provide leadership in fighting terror and asked it to bring in a strong anti-terror law if it was serious on the issue.
“The Congress-led UPA is not providing the leadership to fight terrorism. We cannot win over the fight against terror under UPA,” BJP President Rajnath Singh said in his inaugural address at the National Council meet, where he condoled the loss of lives in the recent bomb blasts in Hyderabad.
Claiming that the proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre was against the country’s federal structure, he said BJP was not against any laws to shore up internal security but will not accept anything that “poses a question mark on the nation’s federal structure”.
“If the Government brings a law to fight terror, BJP will support it,” he said.
“If the Government is so serious on the issue of terrorism that it wants to make an anti-terrorism institution like NCTC at Central level then why it is not keen on enacting an anti-terrorism law at the Centre,” the BJP chief questioned.
He said the one-sided effort which the UPA Government made for friendship despite not getting expected help from Pakistan projected the image of India as a ‘soft State’.
“As long as the Government does not take a tough stand against terrorism, the terrorists with their emboldened spirit would keep targeting cities, trains, buses and other important institutions,” Singh said.
The BJP also hit out at Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde for his ‘Hindu terror’ remarks, saying they were made under a ‘pre-planned conspiracy’.
“The remarks were made not by mistake but under a well-planned conspiracy,” Singh said and accused the Congress of indulging in vote bank politics for the last over six decades.
Shinde had later expressed regret over his remarks linking BJP and RSS to terrorism, which he had made during an AICC meet in Jaipur in January, after strong objections from these organisations.
The opposition party also hit out at the ruling dispensation over corruption in the wake of the VVIP helicopter scam and price rise.
The opposition party also charged the Government with failing on the diplomatic front while dealing with neighbouring countries.
He said India needs to maintain good relations with neighbouring Pakistan but this has to be mutual.
“Pakistan is waging a multi-dimensional war with India through training to terrorists, supply of weapons, smuggling of drugs, fake currencies and communal propaganda on internet which may be called hybrid war,” he said, adding that “the Government does not possess the will power to fight it.”
Lamenting the lack of an “aggressive policy” against terrorism, Singh cited the example of US President Barack Obama “who had said ‘we will search you and finish you’ to Osama bin Laden after the World Trade Centre attack” and Israeli Prime Minister who had declared “‘we will hunt you down, we will annihilate you’ and responds aggressively against terrorist hideouts”.
With Pakistan continuously waging a war against India by sponsoring terrorism from across the border, Singh said India has not been talking tough and has instead taken a stand that “we will not play cricket” whenever a terror attack sponsored by Pakistan has taken place.
“The UPA government dealt a severe blow to India’s fight against terrorism when Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh gave up his own policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism in the wake of Mumbai attack in 2008 in the city of Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt.
“UPA Government bent its knees before Pakistan in Sharm-el-Sheikh and accepted that Pakistan is also a victim of terrorism like India,” Singh claimed.
While expressing concern over the growing “all weather friendship”  between Pakistan and China, he also raised the issue of construction of a dam on river Brahmaputra by China and claimed it will “destroy” the entire North-East region.
Rajnath Singh alleged the Congress wanted to form a Government by dividing the nation on the basis of caste and religion.
“The Congress party has ruled the nation for 65 years by doing only vote-bank politics. The BJP will form a Government to build the nation,” he said.
“Congress party is knowingly indulging in vote-bank politics by giving communal colour to the issue of terrorism. Congress leaders have always been indulging in the vote-bank politics at the cost of national interest,” Singh alleged, adding that “BJP is completely against giving any religious colour to terrorism.”
Terming the issues of illegal immigration and internal security as serious, Singh said “with fake currency to the tune of Rs 16,000 crore coming in”, it also posed a serious threat to the country’s economy.
Meanwhile, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, projected by many within the BJP as the next Prime Ministerial candidate, today grabbed the limelight at the National Council Meet here with party president Rajnath Singh lauding him for three consecutive victories in Assembly polls.
Modi’s popularity among the BJP office-bearers from across the country, who have gathered here for the conclave, was apparent with the crowd breaking into applause each time his name was mentioned.
Though the main task before this National Council is the ratification of Rajnath Singh’s presidentship and no announcement of a national role for Modi is in the offing, the Gujarat Chief Minister was the star of the meet.
Delhi BJP chief Vijay Goel set the stage when he announced that it appears as if not Manmohan Singh but Modi is the Prime Minister of the country.
“Though the Prime Ministerial candidate will be chosen later it appears as if he (Modi) is the PM,” Goel said about the Gujarat Chief Minister which was welcomed with a round of applause from the audience.
At the beginning of his 95-minute long inaugural speech, party president Rajnath Singh accorded a special welcome to Modi by asking the 2,200-strong crowd to give him a standing ovation for his third consecutive Assembly election victory, which is unprecedented for any BJP Chief Minister.
“He has made a hat-trick. We were delighted to hear about his victory. We had never seen a BJP Chief Minister win three consecutive terms. His development model has been lauded by all, even at the international forum. Be it the US or the European Union all have praised his good governance,” Singh said.
“It won’t be proper to welcome Modi with mere words. He deserves a good round of applause, a standing ovation,” the BJP president said. He garlanded Modi amid slogan shouting by enthusiastic party members.
The party top brass, comprising of Central leaders as well as Chief Ministers seated on the dais, were on their feet and and clapped for Modi.
Though Rajnath Singh tried a balancing act towards the end of his speech by praising other Chief Ministers, Modi appeared to be the favourite with the crowd.
The BJP president said he was confident that Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his Chhattisgarh counterpart Raman Singh will also win three consecutive elections when Assembly polls are held later this year in the two states.
Singh also exhorted party leaders assembled at the National Council, which is meeting to chalk out its roadmap for the upcoming Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Delhi and Jharkhand, as well as the general elections slated for 2014, to bury their differences and fight unitedly.
Modi and Chouhan will make their presentations tomorrow at the conclave. Modi’s speech on “good governance” is being looked forward to by the Council members. Chouhan, whom Modi’s detractors are pushing forward as a counter to Modi, will speak on agricultural growth.
Top sources in the party, however, clarified that no decision on a national role for Modi and Chouhan — both of whom are likely to be made members of the BJP Parliamentary Board — will be taken at the conclave.
But an announcement to this effect may be made by Rajnath Singh later this month.
The party has clarified that a decision on who should be made the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate will be taken at an appropriate time by the Parliamentary Board. Some of the top party leaders as well as allies like JD(U) are opposed to Modi being the Prime Ministerial candidate of the BJP and the NDA.
Meanwhile, BJP National Council today authorised newly elected President Rajnath Singh to constitute his Parliamentary Board, which may see Narendra Modi being formally brought to the party’s central polity.
BJP General Secretary Ananth Kumar moved the resolution at the National Council meeting here authorising Singh to constitute Parliamentary Board, the highest decision making body of the BJP, Central Election Committee and Disciplinary Committee and it was passed unanimously by the members who raised their hands in support.
Rajnath Singh told the Council members that he will consult senior leader L K Advani and others before constituting his team. The new president will also reconstitute the National Executive which has around 200 members.
Though passing of such a resolution is a routine exercise undertaken each time a new president takes charge, it assumes significance in the present scenario as Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and his Madhya Pradesh counterpart Shivraj Singh Chouhan are likely to be inducted into the Parliamentary Board.
The Parliamentary Board comprises of 11 members. It is unclear if the party will decide to expand the body or remove two members to accommodate Modi and Chouhan in case a decision to induct them is taken.
Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who is a member of the Board, has not attended any of its meetings since 2007 due to ill-health.
Party leaders said these two chief ministers are likely to be inducted as they are at the helm of big states having a sizeable population. Also, there is clamour among party leaders and workers to bring Modi to national politics to cash in on his growing popularity.
BJP is hoping to come back to power at the Centre after losing two consecutive general elections in 2004 and 2009.
Modi may also be given a key role in the election campaign of the BJP.
Party sources said Rajnath Singh is likely to announce his team of central office-bearers, including general secretaries, vice-presidents and secretaries, later this month.
This would be followed by the appointment of the Parliamentary Board, Central Election Committee, National Executive and Disciplinary Committee.(PTI)

Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Mar 2: Construction work on mega flyover project from Bikram Chowk to Government Women College Gandhi Nagar is likely to commence next month as its tendering process is in final stage and formal allotment of the job may be done in next few days.
On Monday, the prize bid is being forwarded by Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) to Asian Development Bank (ADB) headquarters in Manila for its formal clearance there and the file is likely to be received back here by mid of March, official sources informed the Excelsior.
Thereafter, sources added, the remaining formalities for allotment of work by ERA to the successful bidder are likely to be completed by end of this month and construction work of the flyover may begin by first week of April, sources added.
The upcoming flyover from Bikram Chowk to Government Women College Gandhi Nagar will be completed in three years and total cost of the project is Rs 95 crores.
The allied work for construction of the flyover, such as widening of road from Bikram Chowk to GCW Gandhi Nagar is already on as no major hurdle has been encountered for the same, sources informed.
Boundary walls of Kala Kendra, the Women College, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation headquarters, PHE office etc are being pushed backward while formalities for shifting of Alson Motors and Paramjeet Filling Station opposite Hotel Asia are also in advanced stage at Government level. Alternate land is being provided to Alson Motors and Paramjeet Filling Station at SRTC Yard  and the process for preparing lease transfer documents is going on while compensation to the affected parties has already been given, sources informed.
The 1.3 kilometer long flyover, being executed by Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA), will go a long way in reducing the traffic congestion in the capital city Jammu, particularly on this stretch of the road, which leads to City from the Airport and Jammu-Pathankote National Highway via Satwari.
Even as a proposal for extending this proposed flyover from the Women College to Satwari was submitted by the local MLA and Minister for Housing and Culture Raman Bhalla a few months ago, no decision on the same has been taken by ERA.
According to the sources, no change was affected in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and length of the flyover would remain 1.3 kilometer from Bikram Chowk to Gandhi Nagar Women College.

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 2: The Congress (I), a coalition partner of National Conference, has sounded the party High Command in New Delhi over admission of adjournment motions on execution of Afzal Guru by Speaker Mubarak Gul and likely debate on them on Monday.
The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) would take a final call on its strategy to be adopted in both Houses of Legislature especially the Legislative Assembly as the situation emerged on Monday morning based on the briefing of AICC (I) general secretary, Incharge Jammu and Kashmir, Mohan Prakash and PCC (I) chief Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz, who were in touch with senior party functionaries and keeping a close watch on emerging political scenario.
While Speaker Mubarak Gul had last evening decided to admit adjournment motions in the Assembly followed by debate on them on Monday, Legislative Council Chairman Amrit Malhotra, who belonged to Congress, said that he hasn’t admitted adjournment motion moved by the PDP in the Upper House seeking discussion on the situation arising out of execution of 2001 Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru.
“The adjournment motion has lapsed as it was meant for suspension of House business for Friday and discussion on post-Guru hanging scenario. If a fresh motion was moved for Monday, I would take a decision then as per the Constitutional and legal provisions”, Mr Malhotra said, adding the National Conference had not moved any adjournment motion in the Upper House on Friday.
Congress sources said their senior leaders including Ministers and legislators have met twice during last two days and could meet again tomorrow, if required, to devise the party’s strategy if the debate was held on the execution of Afzal Guru in the Legislative Assembly as the Speaker has already announced that he has admitted the adjournment motions and would hold debate on them on Monday.
During massive uproar in the Assembly on Friday when the House was adjourned thrice, the Congress had maintained a complete silence on the issue of Afzal Guru with none of its Ministers or MLAs saying any word on the uproar. Sources said it was part of the Congress strategy to maintain silence unless the adjournment motions were admitted and a debate followed.
Sources said if the Speaker allowed a debate on the adjournment motions on Monday, the Congress would have little choice but to speak against the motions as it was their Government at the Centre, which had ordered secret execution of Guru. Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who had refused to hand over body of Guru to the family in Sopore for last rites, also belonged to the Congress. Another option being explored by the Congress was to abstain from the House but majority leaders were of the view that they should speak against the motions-whatever the consequences.
“We would wait and watch till Monday morning. We are in touch with the party High Command in New Delhi. We would take directions from them and take a final call on our strategy on Monday morning as the situation demands. We would play an appropriate role”, party sources said, adding that there can be no compromise on national interests as Guru was executed for attack on the country’s Parliament.
Admitting that it was a unique situation that has posed bigger question than politics, sources were of the view that definitely the two Alliance partners-National Conference and Congress have divergent views on the execution of Guru. Though the State Congress leaders have refrained from giving any major statement on the execution of Guru, the National Conference leadership including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has openly questioned the execution. He had met Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde seeking return of Guru’s body to the family. The Centre had turned down the demand.
As expected, Guru’s issue had rocked the Legislature right from the first day with disturbances during Governor’s Address to joint session of Legislature on Thursday. The next day, ruling NC and Opposition PDP and CPM had moved adjournment motions on Afzal Guru. On the other, the BJP and NPP had moved adjournment motions seeking return of Indian prisoner Chamel Singh’s body from Pakistan jail.
The Speaker had reserved judgment on the adjournment motions but virtually no business could be transacted in the House due to pandemonium created by the PDP and other Opposition members. Late in the evening yesterday, the Speaker had admitted all adjournment motions and fixed Monday for debate.