M A I N   N E W S

Al-Badr chief held, 5 kg RDX seized
From Our Correspondent

NEW DELHI, June 20 — Within days of the twin bomb blast which killed two persons and injured 11 others, the Delhi police today claimed to have averted a major bomb explosion in the Capital with the recovery of 5 kg of RDX and the arrest of militants associated with dreaded groups like Al-Badr and the Hizbul Mujahideen.

The militants, Saifullah, alias Iqbal, alias Wahid, alias Jafar, Chief Commander of the Al-Badr active in the valley, and Munir Ahmed, an activist of the Hizbul Mujahideen, came to the Capital to make a safe hideout and cause bomb explosion, the Delhi Police Commissioner, Mr Ajai Raj Sharma, said.

They were arrested from New Delhi railway station where Saifullah went to receive a consignment from Munir. The police seized 5 kg of RDX, two pencil timers and five detonators from their possession. The consignment was brought to cause bomb explosions in the Capital.

While addressing the media, the Police Commissioner said the Al-Badr operated in coordination with the valley-based outfits, the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Lashkar-e-Toiba. Saifullah was recently directed by his boss in Pakistan to leave the Kashmir valley for Delhi to make a safe hideout and cause bomb explosions. He was told he would receive consignments there.

He stayed in a guesthouse in the walled city. But he left it and started living at some other place in the Capital as raids were conducted in guesthouses and hotels in sensitive areas after the twin bomb explosion near Red Fort on Sunday evening.

Intelligence agencies passed on information to the Delhi police about the activities of some other militants. While the police was in the process of nabbing those militants, it received information that Saifullah and Munir would meet each other at New Delhi railway station. The police laid a trap and arrested them. They are on police remand for five days for interrogation, the Police Commissioner said.

During interrogation Saifullah disclosed that he had taken over the leadership of Al-Badr for six months when its former chief, Lukman, left for Pakistan. 

Mohan’s name cleared for Home Secy’s post
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 20 — The Union Home Ministry is reported to have cleared the name of Mr Krishan Mohan, a former Deputy Commissioner-cum-Estate Officer of Chandigarh, for the post of Home Secretary, Chandigarh Administration.

The Administration had recommended the panel in order of merit-cum-seniority to the Home Ministry. The names that figured in the panel, included Mr R.S. Gujral and Mr Krishan Mohan. The post had fallen vacant after the Union Home Ministry ordered the reversion of Mr N.K. Jain to his parent state of Haryana after he was arrested in a case of corruption by the special cell of the CBI.