NEW DELHI, Apr 9:
India has sought dates from Pakistan for a bilateral meeting between the Home Secretaries of the two countries after May 22 when the Budget session of Parliament comes to an end.
New Delhi has conveyed to Islamabad that it is not possible for Home Secretary R K Singh to travel to Pakistan on April 16 as suggested by it for the talks since a meeting of Chief Ministers on internal security will be held on that day.
“We have asked for fresh dates after the Parliament session,” Singh told reporters here.
Budget session of Parliament will end on May 22.
Last week, Pakistan had suggested the April 16 as the possible date for the Home Secretary level talks to be held in Islamabad but the date clashes with the crucial meeting of the Chief Ministers which is hosted by the Home Ministry.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said in Lahore yesterday that it had been agreed that the Interior and Home Secretaries of Pakistan and India would meet on April 16.
The bilateral meeting will be held amid renewed engagements between India and Pakistan. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hosted a lunch for Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari yesterday when he was here on a “private visit”.
Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai had said when the Prime Minister took up with Zardari the issue of action against 26/11 perpetrators and activities of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, Pakistan President suggested that further discussion on Saeed was required and since the Home Secretaries of the two countries will be meeting shortly, the issue will be taken up that time.
Last month Singh met Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani on the sidelines of Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul.
Earlier, India had proposed the Home Secretary level talks on December 22-23, 2011 but Islamabad could not give its consent due to its domestic political situation at that time.
This will be the first meeting between Home Secretary R K Singh and his Pakistani counterpart K Siddique Akbar.
Their predecessors Gopal K Pillai and Qamar Zaman Chaudhary, had met in March 2011 in New Delhi. (PTI)
India seeks dates for HS level talks
Army jawan killed in blast
Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Apr 9: An Army soldier was killed in a grenade explosion in Keri sector near the Line of Control in Rajouri today.
Reports said one Hardeep Singh of Sikh Regiment, presently deployed in Keri sector was seriously injured when a grenade exploded in his hands at Chiti Bakri ( K-1) post at some forward location. The mishap took place when the jawan was busy in an exercise. Due to mishandling of the grenade, it exploded in hands at around 10.15 am.
The jawan, hailing from Punjab was rushed to Rajouri hospital but he succumbed to injuries on the way. The body of the jawan was dispatched to his home this afternoon. The Army authorities have ordered court of inquiry into the incident.
HC reserves verdict in Samba spy case death
The Delhi High Court today reserved its verdict on a plea seeking a CBI probe into mysterious death of a non commissioned officer (NCO) of Army Intelligence Corp nearly 34 years ago when he was allegedly taken into military custody in connection with the infamous Samba Spy case.
The case relates to the death of Havildar Ram Swaroop whose wife Anguri Devi has sought re-opening of the investigation claiming the post-mortem report, which is now available to her under the Right to Information Act, suggested 39 injuries on his body.
Justice M L Mehta reserved the judgement after hearing detailed arguments by Deepak A Masih, counsel for Anguri Devi, and Additional Solicitor General A S Chandhioke who opposed the plea of the widow.
The widow, in her plea, said her husband, employed as a NCO in Army Intelligence Corp, was brought dead at the Base Hospital on the night of September 30, 1978, under mysterious circumstances. In the Samba Spy Case, 41 Army officers were allegedly charged with spying activities and passing on information about the troop movement to others, the petition said.
Firstly, a constable of Delhi police informed the widow that Ram Swaroop’s body had been found, the petition said, adding that later the Army retreived the body and “disposed it of by performing the last rites in the late hours under the supervision of Army officers.”
Seeking to revisit the case, the petition said as the post mortem report is available, the court may order “registration of FIR …And transfer investigation to CBI or to a Special Investigation Team (SIT).”
Ram Swaroop was killed in custody after being detained by the officers of military intelligence on August 26, 1978, in connection with the Samba Spy case. (PTI)
Mediation prog for JOs, Advocates concludes
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 9: Two days orientation programme on mediation for Judicial Officers and Advocates of Udhampur district concluded today in the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur.
Jammu and Kashmir High Court Legal Service Committee, Jammu organized the training programme in co-ordination with Main Mediation Centre of High Court of J&K.
The object of the programme was to apprise the participants and make them aware about the concept of mediation as an alternate dispute resolution incorporated recently in the Code of Civil Procedure.
Firdous Karachiwala, Advocate, Solicitor and Master Trainer of mediation was the resource person.
30 cross sides at Chakkan-da-Bagh
Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Apr 9: A total thirty (30) passengers cross sides at Chakkan-da-Bagh LoC point in district Poonch today.
Today, when the LOC point opened between 1 pm to 1.30 pm, twenty four (24) passengers came to this side from Pak Occupied Kashmir while only six persons crossed over to POK from J&K side. Out of the total 24 who came to this side, 20 were the POK residents visiting first time while four of them were Indian returnees. From this side, no J&K resident crossed over to PoK and all the six were POK Returnees who stayed here with their relatives for some days.
From Indian side, GM DIC Poonch Abdul Hamid and DSP DAR, Poonch MA Qureshi were deployed while from Pakistan side SDM Hajira (POK), Aslan Ahmed facilitated the passengers.
One killed, 7 injured in road accidents
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 9: One person died while as seven others were injured in different road mishaps across the valley.
Reports said that a Maruti Car bearing registration number JK01F/1811 fell in a deep gorge at Abhama-Rajpora, Pulwama, resulting in on spot death of the driver, Manzoor Ahmad Gorsi aged about 32 years son of Ghulam Mohammad resident of Sangerwani. Ghulam Nabi Gorsi son of Khushi Gursi resident of Bagh Sangerwani was injured in this accident. The body was handed over to the legal heirs while as the injured was shifted to Bone and Joint Hospital Srinagar for treatment. Police has registered a case in this regard.
A Tipper bearing registration number JK01/0915 hit a motor cycle bearing registration number JK13/2057 near Abdullah Masjid Shopian, resulting in injuries to motor cyclist Mushtaq Ahmad Kullay. The injured has been shifted to hospital for treatment. Police has registered a case in this regard.
A bus bearing registration number JK03/9961 collided with a pole at Bramri-Kupwara, resulting in injuries to Masooda Begum aged about 25 years wife of Abdul Rashid Lone and her daughter Tanveera Rashid age about three years residents of Khaipora, Handawara. Both the injured have been hospitalized. Police has registered a case in this regard.
An unknown Maruti car hit and injured 15-year old boy, Mohammad Aslam Tantary son of Abdul Majeed resident of Chittergul, Chowgam near Sarnal-Pehroo, Anantnag. The injured has been shifted to District Hospital Anantnag for treatment. Police has registered a case and investigation is on.
A gypsy of 118 Battalion of CRPF bearing registration number JK02J/6683 hit and injured a pedestrian, Abdul Ahad Wani aged about 55 years son of Ali Mohammad Wani resident of Shoundgund-Kangan near village Kitchpora-Kangan. The injured was hospitalized. A case has been registered and investigations have been taken up.
A Tata Sumo bearing registration number JK09/1109 hit and injured a lady namely Dilshada Begam aged about 30 years wife of Shabir Ahmad Dar resident of Wazira Wagora Bandipora near Gund Jahangir, Hajin. The injured have been shifted to hospital for treatment. Police has registered a case in this regard.
All J&K Bank branches should accept VAT amount: Chamber
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 9: The Chamber of Commerce and Industry has demanded that all the branches of J&K Bank be allowed to accept the VAT amount (Commercial Taxes) and other taxes.
The demand was made in a meeting of the Chamber during a course of general discussion today. The members of the Chamber urged the Finance Minister and Principal Secretary Finance to review the previous requests of the Chamber regarding acceptance of commercial taxes by the branches of J&K Bank located in Jammu city, as the traders are compelled to travel long distances to deposit the tax amount.
Some members of Chamber also raised the issue of extension of subsidy to the Industry which expired on March 31, 2012. They said Industry is also facing difficulty in Jammu and Kashmir because of locational disadvantage of the State.
The Chamber also sought to bring to the notice of the Government for development of new areas for industrial estates, which is the only way for growth of the State and to eradicate unemployment.
Discontinuation of subsidy to the existing industry will prove damaging for the growth of industry and development of the State, said a hand out of Chamber.
2 nabbed with 40 kg ‘Bukki’
Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Apr 9: The police arrested two drug-peddlers and recovered 40 kg poppy straw (Bukki) from their possession from Ramgarh area of district Samba last evening.
A police spokesman said that acting on a specific information, a police party from Ramgarh Thana led by SHO, intercepted two persons moving on foot and carrying bags on their back at Chak Slarian in Ramgarh. The police during frisking found poppy straw in both the bags. They were arrested and the consignment seized by police team.
Identified as Sukhjeet Singh alias Sukh, son of Lal Singh of Chak Slarian and Sarbjeet Singh alias Raju, son of Jaswant Singh of Khanpur in Ramgarh, both the drug-peddlers were put in the police lock up. A case FIR No. 18/2012 was registered against them under 8/15 NDPS Act and further investigation was in progress. The police was trying to find out the origin and destination of the consignment.
DB stays Govt order
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 9: The Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justice Mansoor Ahmed Mir and Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar today stayed the operation of Government order whereby 22 kanal forest land was allotted to one person in violation of forest laws as well as directions issued by the Supreme Court of India.
The order was passed in a PIL filed by one Kuldeep Kumar Sharma seeking direction of prohibition and restraining the respondents from changing the nature of the land, which is the part of Bahu Games Reserve.
After hearing Advocate Amit Gupta for the petitioner, DB issued notice to State through Chief Secretary, Commissioner Secretary Forest, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and private respondent Rajinder Parsad Sharma returnable within four weeks.
In the meantime, operation of Government Order NO 354-FST of 2006 dated July 3, 2006 was stayed till next date of hearing.
‘Jija-Sali’ jump in front of moving train
Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Apr 9: In a bizarre incident, a middle aged person and father of two children jumped in front of a moving train alongwith his young sister-in-law near Chadwal in tehsil Hiranagar today.
A police spokesman said both of them had held their hands together and then jumped in from of the train (DMU) at around 7 am today. While ‘Jija’ was killed on the spot, ‘Sali’ was critically injured and was rushed to GMC hospital Jammu. Both are said to have illicit relations and there was some problem going on in both the families over it. Sister- in- law is also married and has two kids.
They have been identified as Krishan Lal (36), son of Dewan Chand, resident of Chainpur and Champa Devi (26), wife of Satpal, resident of Saiswan. The police has registered a case and started investigation. Body of the Krishan Lal was handed over to the family after conducting legal formalities by police.