Joint mechanism to counter fresh threats
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 10: The Government has put a very strong mechanism in place to check the activities of mischievous elements, who were responsible for resignations of about half a dozen Panchayat members in the Kashmir valley and ensure that the trend was completely curbed.
The Home Department of the State Government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has asked Police Headquarters to go into bottom of the conspiracy, identify the elements responsible for coercing Sarpanches and Panches and initiate legal action against them so that the practice was not repeated in future in any part of the State.
Preliminary findings by the Police Department have revealed that there had been no specific threat to few Panches, who had allegedly resigned and that reasons for their resignation varied from person to person.
“There was no specific reason and common reason behind half a dozen Panches issuing resignation letters in the newspapers instead of giving them to the concerned authorities”, official sources said.
When approached for comments, Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajendra confirmed that a security mechanism has been put in place all across the State, not confining it to the Kashmir Valley where some resignations have been reported, to ensure that not only the Sarpanches and Panches have a free, safe and secure environment but the common man also.
“We are on the job. We will get to bottom of the conspiracy. Who are the people behind it (the resignations)? Who have sponsored the conspirators? At who behest the posters or threatening letters to the Panchayat members have been issued? We will go into the roots and come up with a detailed report very soon’’, Mr Rajendra said.
The state police chief admitted that night police patrolling was being revived in some sensitive areas, where it had been stopped earlier due to peaceful environment.
“The patrolling has proved quite successful. The trend of any fresh resignation has stopped. Still, we have to go into roots of the problem and find out reasons for the resignations, though they were very small in numbers’’, Mr Rajendra said.
Sources told the Excelsior that a high level team of police and Intelligence agencies joined by prominent local people and the Panchayat members have met half a dozen Panches, who had not resigned officially but only issued advertisements in the newspapers announcing their resignation.
A couple of Panches were affiliated to Jamiat-e-Islami while a couple of others had different reasons for resignations, not linked to any security problem or terror threat.
Sources pointed out that police and Intelligence agencies have launched coordinated investigations in all the areas, where posters had come up allegedly issuing threats to the Panchayat members to reason. The agencies were trying to identify the element for pasting posters and issuing threat to the Sarpanches and Panches.
“They could be militants, anti-national elements, criminals or any body else with the motive of vitiating peaceful atmosphere in the State. We are close to a breakthrough. Anyone, who has done the act of spoiling peace in the State, would be identified followed by legal action against him. The case would be taken to logical conclusion’’, they said, adding the joint investigators didn’t find any specific threat to the Sarpanches and Panches, who had issued their resignation letters in the newspapers.
Sources disclosed that now all out efforts of police and Intelligence agencies were aimed at identifying the elements, who had coerced the Panchayat members to come up with the resignation letters to vitiate peaceful atmosphere in the State. They expressed confidence that all such persons would be identified and put behind the bars.
Admitting that it was not possible for any Government to provide security cover to over 30,000 Panchayat members across the State, sources said only thing required was to create safe, secure and peaceful environment not only for Sarpanches and Panches but all the people that a situation didn’t emerge in which anyone had to quite for threats.
However, sources said, security could be provided in the limited areas in general especially during the night hours where the threat perception was high till it was brought to the minimum level.

Avtar Bhat

JAMMU, June 10: Former Chief Minister and patron People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Mohammed Sayeed today said that for restoration of everlasting peace in J&K the internal and external dimensions of the Kashmir issue have to be addressed.
Addressing a function here in connection with joining of former JJSF chairman Kuldeep Singh Jamwal in the Party, Mufti Sayeed said Pakistan can’t foment trouble in the State once internal dimensions of Kashmir issue were addressed. The PDP’s document of self rule is a vision paper in this regard as it reflects how internal as well as external dimensions of the issue can be addressed, he added.
Mufti said the document, which advocated for regional federalism also suggests ways and means for addressing external dimensions by adopting fundamentals of economic free zone on the pattern of European Union and principles of common market.
He said that in Pakistan now the army has also realized that they can’t be harsh towards India but have to live like friends with the neighbouring country. Though some extremist elements are still present in Pakistan, the atmosphere of total reconciliation is taking place there also, he added.
While referring to misrule and corruption in J&K the former Chief Minister said that he wanted to create a system in which every one get justice. “I gave people rid of NC’s monopoly and tried to become a bridge in the trust deficit between people and Government by taking the people of all three regions Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh along with’’ he added.
Lambasting the Government, the PDP leader said that its failure to empower Panchayats has led to harassment to Panches and Sarpanches in Kashmir Valley who were receiving threats day in and out. Though over one and half years ago the Panchayat elections were held but till date they have not been empowered. This has led to their alienation, he added.
Strongly advocating for implementation of 73rd and 74th amendment of Indian Constitution, Mufti said empowerment of basic institutes of democracy is must but the Government lacks will to do the same. He also expressed his dismay over the failure of Government for not conducting the over due local body elections in the State.
Terming the year 2002 a turning point in the history of trouble- torn State, the former Chief Minister said that it was for the first time that free and fair elections were held in J&K under the NDA rule at Centre. Though people had many apprehensions that the Governments’ were installed by Centre on their own will and elections have no role to play in this regard, he said when “I conveyed the same feeling of the masses to then Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee who announced from the ramparts of Red Fort during the Independence day function that free and fair elections would be held in J&K and this paved a way for formation of PDP led Government in the State.”
Mufti said that many people friendly decisions were taken during his Government and the Jawahar tunnel, which was closed at 6pm by then was thrown open for 24 hours and security forces were given orders to search only that house where they have reports of militants presence instead of cordoning entire village.
The PDP led Government also adopted the healing touch formula to provide succor to the people of the State. The then coalition Government worked a lot to make the system vibrant and responsive in the state and changed the course of history. “It was only after our hard efforts that the talks were held in Islamabad between India and Pakistan”, he added.
Terming himself a great Indian who worked in Congress for decades together since 1959, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed said that canards were spread against him that he is a pro militant after he assumed the office of Chief Minister in 2002.
The PDP leader said that he was ashamed of the Nadimarg incident, which took place during his tenure as CM, in which militants eliminated entire minority community residing in the village and this was followed by attack on historic Raghunath temple at Jammu, but added that still the Government pursued the peace policy to win the hearts of the common masses.
“My main objective was to restore peaceful atmosphere in the State and I want to bring stability and prosperity’’ he said, adding “when in Congress NC gave call of social boycott against me and his Partymen in Kashmir, still I remained a loyal nationalist and challenged the misrule of the then Government’’.
He said that appointments were made in a transparent manner during his tenure as CM while at present the recruitments in police are made at selective places.

DIG asked to order inquiry by senior officer
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 10: In a significant judgment, Special Municipal Mobile Magistrate, Jammu, V S Bhou today directed DIG Jammu-Kathua range (JP Singh) to registered a FIR against four police officers including two Inspectors and two Sub Inspectors at Pacca Danga police station and get the matter of torture to a youth investigated by a competent senior officer with impeccable integrity and probity expeditiously to take it to logical conclusion.
Mr Bhou passed the verdict on a complaint filed by Balraj Singh son of Shamsher Singh of Channi Himmat that he along with his employee Ashok Saini were mercilessly beaten up in the custody of Pacca Danga police station for their “fault’’ that they had asked for parking charges from Vigilance Organisation’s Inspector Daleep Singh.
The police officers against whom the direction has been passed by Mr Bhou for registration of FIR including Inspector Daleep Singh, SHO Pacca Danga police station Inspector Bharat Sharma and two Sub Inspectors of the same police station, Sunit Sharma and Sushil Choudhary.
Mr Bhou has directed the DIG Jammu-Kathua range to share with the court the action taken on or before June 14.
He described the allegations as serious in nature “which demonstrated brazen, abuse of authority, naked dance of custodial torture, denial of right to dignity and personal liberty at the hands of accused persons, whose act can’t be justified even on the ground of exercise of discharge of official duty’’.
The Special Municipal Mobile Magistrate issued the direction in exercise of powers conferred upon him in terms of Section 156 (3) CrPC.
The Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Jammu, had transferred the complaint filed by Balraj Singh to Mr Bhou.
The complainant said he was tortured in the custody of Pacca Danga police station by Inspector Bharat Sharma, SI Sunit Sharma and SI Sushil Choudhary at the instance of Inspector Daleep Singh and even implicated in a false case under Section 107/151 CrPC.
The complainant said his only sin was that his employee, Ashok Saini demanded parking fee from Inspector Daleep Singh, who has been posted in the Vigilance Organisation, for parking his car in JDA parking at Kachi Chawni, Jammu.
The demand for parking charges infuriated Inspector Daleep Singh. SI Sunit Sharma and SI Sushil Choudhary took the complainant, Balraj Singh and his employees Ashok Saini to Pacca Danga police station. In the police station, both the SIs along with SHO Bharat Sharma mercilessly thrashed Balraj and Saini with cane sticks, fists and blows and official belts.
The left hand of the complainant was fractured and he got bruises and even swellings over the body.
“All the accused slapped a false case against the complainant under Section 107/151 CrPC and threatened to implicate him in false and frivolous case under NDPS Act and even threatened to eliminate him in case he reported the matter to higher officers or the court’’, the complainant said.
The complainant has also enclosed copy of the Patient Observation Case sheet and original photographs as well as X-Ray showing the fracture of left wrist of complainant.

Jehangir Rashid

SRINAGAR, June 10: Aiming to improve the hydropower production capacity of the State from 760 Megawatts to 8,000 Mega Watts over the next decade, experts drawn from different States would take part in a two day international hydro power convention commencing tomorrow.
During the convention the experts would deliberate upon the ways and means to improve the hydropower scenario more so on the production front. The convention assumed significance since the State has the potential capacity of producing 25,000 Mega Watts of electricity. At present, 21 power projects owned by the State are generating only 760 Mega Watts power.
Addressing a press conference held as a prelude to the convention, Principal Secretary, Power Development Department (PDD) Sudhanshu Pandey said that the State Government has taken several initiatives to harness the huge hydro power potential of the State to make it not only self reliant but also to provide electricity to other States of the country.
Mr Pandey said the purpose of holding such a convention was to highlight the State’s strategy and initiatives taken to harness state’s hydro power resources. He said the convention would showcase the investment in power sector as a lucrative investment destination for hydro power projects. He said deliberations on policies, practices and perceptions of hydro power project development in the State would be an important highlight in the convention.
“Issues relating to planning and designing of the projects and other related matters will come up for discussion during the convention. Major issues confronting protecting and preservation of environment would also come up for the discussion in the convention. Renowned power experts, developers, business companies from all over the world are attending the convention to deliberate on harnessing energy in the Himalayan region with special focus on Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
The convention is being organized by India TECH Foundation and Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation is the nodal agency for providing all requisite support to the organizers to make the event a success one.
Mr Pandey exuded confidence that the convention would provide sufficient information about the latest trends in hydro power development as well as the hydro power potential in the State. He said the convention would enthuse the developers to take up harnessing the State’s hydro power potential of over 20,000 MWs.
Managing Director, Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Basharat Ahmad Dhar said the Corporation has planned massive capacity addition of about 6000 MWs of hydro power in next 10 years in the State. He said contract for 450 Mega Watts Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project (BHEP) IInd has been finalized and work is in progress.
“The bidding process for 37.5 Mega Watts Parnai, 48 Mega Watts lower Kalanai, 93 Mega Watts new Ganderbal, 9 Mega Watts Hanu and 9 Mega Watts Dah is in advance stage and work is expected to commence soon on these projects. In case of Sawlakote Project the water availability and power potential has been approved by Central electricity Authority for 1856 MW against earlier envisaged capacity of 1200 MW,” said Basharat.
He said the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Sawlakote project along with that of 240 MW Kirthai-I and 990 MW Kirthai-II are under appraisal. He said the Corporation is actively involved in implementation of 600 Mega Watts Kiru, 500 Mega Watts Kawar and 1000 Mega Watts Pakal Dul in joint venture with NHPC and PTC.
Basharat said a new power Policy-2011 has been notified and 10 projects with aggregate capacity of 172 MW have been advertised, adding that more projects are being offered for private developers in the State through competitive bidding. He said new initiatives like restructuring of the corporation, enterprise resources planning and cadre building has been started to make the organization well rounded and professional body capable of living up to its potential as the harbinger of prosperity of the State.
“Twenty seven sites are currently performing on-line transaction and remaining sites are also go on live soon. The JKSPDC has adopted five ITIs in public private partnership mode in the State. A hydro institute is also being set up at Kangan in association with NHPC to train the local youth in power sector for better employment opportunities,” said Basharat.
President, India TECH Foundation, Indra Mohan said that electricity is vital for the county’s economy adding that India has been acknowledged as one of the world’s fastest growing economies due to its power potential. He said India TECH Foundation has been organizing National Hydro Power conventions since the year 2006 to emphasize the need to focus on harnessing environmental friendly hydro power, which is vital for meeting out country’s peaking power requirements.
“The 7th Hydro Power Convention is being organized at Srinagar keeping in view the vast hydro power potential of nearly 25000 MW in the State, out of which less than 10 percent is being harnessed so far. Jammu and Kashmir offers a very substantial opportunity for the industry to tap this potential,” said Indra.
Indra said the objectives of the convention are to focus on harnessing hydro power opportunities and challenges in hydro power rich regions and States. He said the convention would also highlight reform initiatives of the State Governments, where hydro power conventions were held to showcase latest technologies, expertise and management practices to accelerate sustainable harnessing of hydro power.

ISLAMABAD, June 10:
Indian Defence Secretary, Shashikant Sharma, arrived in Pakistan today for crucial talks on the military standoff on the Siachen glacier against the backdrop of calls to demilitarise the world’s highest battlefield following an avalanche that killed 139 people.
The two-day talks on the Siachen issue, part of the resumed dialogue process between India and Pakistan, will begin at the Defence Ministry in the garrison city of Rawalpindi tomorrow.
The Pakistani side will be led by Defence Secretary Nargis Sethi, a close confidant of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
Officials said Sharma will also hold talks with Pakistan’s Defence Minister Naveed Qamar, who recently took over the portfolio as part of a minor reshuffle.
Despite Pakistan Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani’s call for the resolution of issues like Siachen after an avalanche buried 139 people at a high-altitude army camp on April 7, analysts believe the two sides are unlikely to make progress in the talks on ending the standoff that began in 1984.
Ahead of the talks, Indian Defence Minister A K Antony cautioned against expecting any breakthrough at the meeting of the Defence Secretaries.
“Do not expect any dramatic announcement or decision on an issue which is very important for us, especially in the context of national security….You cannot expect a dramatic announcement from one discussion,” he told reporters in New Delhi.
India has a “clear-cut position” on the Siachen issue, which the Defence Secretary will explain to the Pakistani side during the talks, Antony said.
India’s Cabinet Committee on Security also discussed the Siachen issue at a meeting on Thursday.
Stung by the occupation of strategic heights in the Kargil sector in 1999, India has insisted on the authentication and demarcation of current military positions along the 110-km Actual Ground Position Line on Siachen.
The move is aimed at thwarting the possible re-induction of troops by Pakistan after any possible demilitarisation of the glacier.
President Asif Ali Zardari raised the issue of demilitarising Siachen when he meet Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh during a private visit to India a day after the glacier hit the Pakistan Army camp at Gyari.
The avalanche raised questions in Pakistan about the troop deployment in the hazardous terrain.
Despite an extensive search involving hundreds of troops, only 13 bodies have been found so far at the site of the avalanche.
Indian and Pakistani troops have been engaged in a standoff on Siachen, described as the world’s highest and coldest battlefield, since 1984.
The guns have largely been silent since late 2003, when the two countries put in place a ceasefire along the frontiers in Jammu and Kashmir, and more troops have died on the glacier due to the adverse weather than combat. (PTI)

By Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, June 10: A Pak trained ultra, hailing from Thanna Mandi area of district Rajouri, who reached home last night was captured by police.
Authoritative sources told Excelsior that this 27-year-old youth who joined militancy in 2003, along with two other Kashmiri militants managed to reach State via Nepal. They arrived Jammu Station in a train from Gorakhpur. While his two associates, moved to Kashmir valley in a bus, this youth caught a TATA Sumo and reached Rajouri and managed to reach home late last evening.
Identified as Mohd Riaz, son of Mohd Hafiz, resident of Dhara hamlet near Mangota village of Thanna Mandi, this youth joined militancy when he was just student of 10th Class. He went missing from his home on March 23, 2003. His parents lodged a missing report with Thanna Mandi police on April 27, 2003. Later, it was learnt that he joined militancy, took part in some local actions and then crossed over to PoK along with some few local youth.
Sources said Riaz was trained in Pakistani camps in PoK area and remained there since then. He was pushed into this side along with other trained youth into the State via Nepal border. With the help of ISI officials they boarded a Nepal bound aircraft from Islamabad and then reached Kathmandu. He stayed there for couple of days and then left for J&K in the company of two other Kashmiri youth.
Acting on specific inputs, a police party during mid-night operation captured him and placed under sustained interrogation. He had been declared absconder in September 2011 by a local court as well.

RAJKOT, June 10:
Sharpening his attack on the UPA Government, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said it has disappointed people as a result of scams, corruption and rising prices and taunted it for not realising that the “Congress ship is sinking.”
The BJP strongman also expressed confidence that the saffron party will retain power and emerge triumphant in the Assembly elections in Gujarat due in the end of the year.
The Chief Minister’s remarks in his address to party members on the concluding session of two-day BJP state executive meeting here came even as posters supporting arch rival Sanjay Joshi, who was forced to make an exit from BJP, and apparently targeting Modi appeared around the meeting venue.
As the poster war continued, some of the dissident workers also protested wearing masks of Joshi and carrying placards, at about 200 metres from the venue, and they were detained by the police.
“This Congress-led UPA Government has disappointed people of the country by series of scams and failure of checking corruption and price hike,” Modi said.
Modi also accused Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh of misguiding people of the country by claiming to have achieved 7 per cent GDP growth, which has come down to 5 per cent this quarter.
The Government in Delhi does not know that there was a “hole in the ship”, he said, adding the “Congress ship is sinking” as it has hurt and miscalculated human power.
“There is no chance for Congress to survive,” Modi said and asked how the party which is struggling can give stability to the nation.
“If you cannot bring the prices down, at least bring it to that level where our Atal Behari Vajpayee (former Prime Minister) left it,” he added.
“Assembly elections are likely to be held in Gujarat by year end and people of the State have to decide to choose between BJP’s politics of development and Congress’s caste-based politics,” Modi said.
“We have won in 2002, 2007 and in 2012 Assembly elections, the condition is more favourable for BJP compared to 2002 and 2007 as people of the country are disappointed with Congress rule at the Centre,” Modi said.
Modi said there were a couple of reasons for the failure of the UPA Government. As the GDP reduced and inflation increased, the Government was not concerned about it, and secondly, the Indian rupee was going down day by day, he added.
“Our Indian rupee is going down and down against dollar and Indian reputation has gone down in international market,” Modi said, adding that “people of the country want to know why Indian rupee has became weak”.
He claimed that BJP is the only party in the country which believes in peace, ‘sadbhavna’ and unity and practices politics of development and not caste-based politics.
Modi’s remarks came amid large scale dissidents and internal bickering in the state BJP on the issue of exit of Joshi from the party and revolt by former Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel and his supporters.
The state executive meeting was held in Rajkot, home town of Keshubhai, to finalise BJP’s poll strategy for the State Assembly elections which the party likes to term as ‘Mission 2012’.
On the second day of the meeting, posters supporting Joshi and apparently targeting Modi had appeared around the meeting venue. Some of the dissident workers also protested wearing masks of Joshi and carrying placards, at about 200 metres from the venue, and they were detained by the police. (PTI)

KHARGRAM (WB), June 10:
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said all the money kept by Indians abroad is not black money and noted that India has signed treaties with 37 countries to know the details of such illegal wealth.
“Not all money kept abroad is black money … It might have been deposited by businessmen or business houses. The process will take time to know the exact amount,” he told a meeting of Congress workers here.
His comments come amidst demands by yoga guru Ramdev asking the Government to take steps to bring bank black money stashed abroad. In his campaign against black money, he has been meeting leaders of various political party leaders.
The Government last month had proposed a multi-faceted strategy to unearth black money through fast-track courts and deterrent punishment but had ruled out any tax any immunity schemes.
The White Paper on black money tabled by Mukherjee in the Lok Sabha favoured a strategic mix of four pillars that will include incentives for voluntary compliance, reforms in vulnerable sectors of economy, creating effective credible deterrence and supportive measures.
The 97-page report however, did not give out any name of black money holders or estimated of such funds either in the country or outside but referred to estimates made earlier by various domestic and foreign institutions.
The Government is looking at various options to bring back unaccounted money stashed by Indian citizens abroad.
Besides signing treaties with various countries, India has joined the global crusade against black money.
India has joined the Task Force on Financial Integrity and Economic Development in order to bring greater transparency and accountability in the financial system. India has joined as the 34th member of Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
The revised Indo-Swiss Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement allows India to get banking and other information in specific cases that relate to the period starting from April 1, 2011, with limited retrospective application.
The Government is also looking into various aspects of having a UK-Switzerland type treaty under which taxes on secret Swiss bank accounts are shared without disclosing the identity of tax offender. (PTI)

Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, June 10: A middle aged man murdered his brother at a village in Thanna Mandi area of district Rajouri today.
Reports said incident took place at village Pangai (Thanna Mandi) when younger brother Mohd Hussain (46), son of Bahadur Ali was busy in the construction of a wall. He was also constructing his house for the last few days on the land given by his father. His elder brother, Fateh Mohammed (52), objected over the repair of the wall at the site, claiming that land belonged to him.
It was followed by a tiff between the two brothers. The family members from both sides also got involved in the quarrel. During the heated exchanges and scuffle, Fateh Mohammed took out a hammer and attacked his younger brother on his head. The victim fell down and started bleeding profusely. The family members sounded police and SHO Thanna Mandi Haji Bashir along with some force reached the spot.
The injured was rushed to Thanna Mandi hospital where doctors declared him as brought dead. The police arrested the accused brother, Fateh Mohammed and registered a murder case against him. The weapon of offence was also recovered.
The SHO said that incident took place at around 1 pm today. He said immediately after receiving information he rushed to the spot and shifted the victim to hospital but he died on the way. His brother Fateh was arrested and a case under Section 302 RPC was registered against him. The body after postmortem was handed over to the family for last rites, Bashir added.