Friday, July 25, 2003, Chandigarh, India





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J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

18 IAS, 35 police officers shifted
Srinagar, July 24
In a major administrative reshuffle, the Jammu and Kashmir Government today transferred 18 IAS and 45 state administration service officials.

Five BSF jawans hurt in blast
Jammu, July 24
Five BSF jawans were today injured when a grenade they had recovered exploded accidentally in Doda district.

Number of suicide attacks may go up, says Lt-Gen Prasad
Srinagar, July 24
Lt-Gen Hari Prasad, GOC-in-C, Northern Command, said here yesterday that the number of suicide attacks by militants in Jammu and Kashmir might increase in the future.

Soldiers patrol the streets of Chandanwari Soldiers patrol the streets of Chandanwari on Thursday. Security has been beefed up for the annual pilgrimage to Amarnath after a recent attack that killed seven pilgrims in Vaishnodevi.
— R
euters photo


YOUR TOWN
Jammu
Srinagar

 

EARLIER STORIES

 

Shabir Shah’s party splits
Srinagar, July 24
The Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) led by senior Kashmir separatist leader Shabir Shah split today with its general secretary, Mr Saleem Geelani, claiming to be the president of the outfit, hours after he was expelled by the Mr Shah from the party.

58 Bangladeshis arrested
Jammu, July 24
Fiftyeight Bangladeshi nationals, including women, were arrested while trying to enter Pakistan from the Akhnoor sector of Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said today.

3 ministers play pivotal role in hospital takeover
Jammu, July 24
The takeover of the management control of the Sher-e-Kashmir Medical Institute Trust, the Sher-e- Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences and other institution affiliated to the trust by the government is viewed as the first major salvo against the Sheikh dynasty.

Fudging of DNA samples: police official suspended
Srinagar, July 24
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered the suspension of Mr Farooq Khan, former SSP of Anantnag on the recommendations of the Cabinet subcommittee on fudging of DNA samples of five civilians killed in a fake encounter at Pathribal on March 25, 2000.
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18 IAS, 35 police officers shifted
Tribune News Service & PTI

Srinagar, July 24
In a major administrative reshuffle, the Jammu and Kashmir Government today transferred 18 IAS and 45 state administration service officials.

The Principal Secretary to the government, General Administration, Mr N.R. Gupta, has been made the Commissioner, Inquiries, a post which has been upgraded as equivalent to IAS cadre, an official spokesman told PTI.

Mr Amit Kushari, Principal Secretary, Higher and Technical Education Department, has been transferred as Principal Secretary, Transport, in place of Mr A.S. Sidhu, who has been made the Chairman of the Bureau of Public Enterprises.

Mr G.D. Wadhwa has been made the Principal Secretary, Social Welfare, in place of Mr S.L. Bhat who has been moved to the General Administration.

The Deputy Commissioners of Baramula and Kupwara and the Additional Deputy Commissioners of Jammu, Udhampur, Pulwama, Kupwara and Baramula have also been transferred.

Mr Dhreeraj Gupta is the new Deputy Commissioner of Baramula. He replaces Mr N.K. Chowdhary, who has been made the Vice-Chairman of the Jammu Development Authority. The post has been declared equivalent to an IAS-cadre post of the Deputy Commissioner.

Mr Abdul Lmajid Khanday has been made the Deputy Commissioner of Kupwara replacing Yedullah, who has been made the Special Secretary, Rural Development Department.

The Director of Information Mr K.B. Jandial, will function as Special Secretary, Information Department, in addition to his own duties. The transfers were announced after a meeting of the Cabinet which met for the second consecutive day.

The Government has promoted one IG, five DIGs and seven SSPs in the super-time scale.

Consequent upon these promotions, the government has also ordered transfers and postings of 35 police officers. In this order, district SPs of Rajouri, Anantnag, Budgam, Kupwara and Doda have been shifted.

This decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting headed by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed here on Wednesday. It also ordered promotion of six SSPs, an official spokesman said.

According to the decision, Mr Masood Choudhary, IG, has been promoted to the rank of Additional Director-General of Police. The DIGs who have been promoted as IGs are Mr S.P. Vaid, Ms D.R. Doley, Mr Navin Aggarwal, Mr P.K. Gupta and Mr J.A. Makhdoomi. Ms Doley has been promoted on proforma basis.

Announcing the decision, the Chief Secretary, Dr S.S. Bloeria said that seven SSPs, Mr L. Mohantey, Mr B. Srinivias, Mr Ravinder Kotwal, Mr M.A. Anjum, Mr M.A. Bhat, Mr Farooq Ahmad and Mr R.A. Dar, have been promoted to the rank of DIG. Mr Mohantey and Mr Srinivias have been promoted on proforma basis.

The Cabinet in view of the administrative exigencies also accorded sanction to the placement of six SSPs, Mr R.R. Swain, Mr Satveer Gupta, Mr H.K. Lohia, Mr Niyaz Mehmood, Mr B.A. Dar and Mr A.S. Lone, as DIGs, in their own pay and grade.

Mr Masood Choudhary, has been posted as ADG (Headquarters), against available vacancy; Mr S.P. Vaid as IG, Modernisation, Police Headquarters; Mr Naveen Aggarwal as IG (Headquarters); Armed Police, Mr P.K. Gupta as IG, CID (Headquarters); Mr Javed Makhdoomi as IG, (Police Headquarters); Mr Ravinder Kotwal as DIG, Anantnag; and Mr M.A. Anjum as DIG, Armed Police, Jammu.

Mr R.A. Dar as DIG, Home Guards and Civil Defence; Mr R.R. Swain as DIG, Vigilance; Mr Satveer Gupta as DIG, Doda-Udhampur; Mr H.K. Lohia as DIG (Administration) Police, Headquarters; Mr Niyaz Mehmood as DIG, Traffic; Mr B.A. Dar as DIG CID, Jammu; and Mr A.S. Lone, as DIG, Security.

Recruitment drive

The Cabinet has approved recruitment in Education, Agriculture, Social Welfare, Health, Road and Buildings Departments on a contract basis.

The Cabinet took this decision after considering the report of the committee, constituted by the government on June 23 under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, to finalise a policy on recruitment.

Development authority

The Cabinet has also decided to create a 'development authority' for Sonamarg on the pattern of similar authorities set up for development of Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Patnitop.

Municipal elections

The process of elections to the Jammu and Srinagar Municipal Corporations and other local bodies will be completed by the middle of February next year. 
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Five BSF jawans hurt in blast

Jammu, July 24
Five BSF jawans were today injured when a grenade they had recovered exploded accidentally in Doda district.

The incident took place at the Bhimdasa joint operation post around 4.15 am when the pin of the grenade came out while a jawan was handling it, official sources said.

Of the injured, the condition of two was stated to be serious, they said.

The injured have been identified as constables Amar, Prasad, Bonam Dev, Kamar Ban and J. Sarkar. — PTI
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3 ultras killed in encounters

Srinagar, July 24
Three Pakistani militants were killed in separate encounters with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir while ultras shot dead a farmer suspecting him of being a police informer, official sources said today.

Two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants, Abu Anees and Abu Vikas, were killed during search operations by the Army at Dardsun in Kupwara district, they said. Another Pakistani militant Abu Asif was shot dead at Wagbal village in the district.

Militants abducted and killed a farmer Abul Rehman Khan, suspecting him of being a police informer, in Pahalgam area of Anantnag district. — PTI
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Number of suicide attacks may go up, says
Lt-Gen Prasad
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 24
Lt-Gen Hari Prasad, GOC-in-C, Northern Command, said here yesterday that the number of suicide attacks by militants in Jammu and Kashmir might increase in the future. He said adequate preventive measures had been taken to prevent more casualities in such attacks.

Addressing a press conference, Lt-Gen-Hari Prasad, allayed fears that he was injured in the suicide attack near Akhnoor on Tuesday. He admitted that he received minor injuries, but was fit. He also denied reports that he was here for treatment.

He said he was here in connection with scheduled visit of the Chief of Army Staff, followed by the visit of Defence Minister George Fernandes, who visited the spot this morning. Clarifying his presence at the place where the suicide attack took place, he said it was in the true spirit of the Army to lead from the front.

The Northern Command chief said adequate measures had been taken to ensure the safety of Amarnath pilgrims following the attacks in the Jammu region in a quick succession. He said things were normal and there was improvement in the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. He added that a large number of tourists and pilgrims were visiting the valley.

The General said a security system was being built up, the number of QRTs was being increased and many things had been put in place. He added that fidayeen attacks could not be prevented, but efforts could be made to minimise the casualities. 
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Shabir Shah’s party splits

Srinagar, July 24
The Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) led by senior Kashmir separatist leader Shabir Shah split today with its general secretary, Mr Saleem Geelani, claiming to be the president of the outfit, hours after he was expelled by the Mr Shah from the party.

Announcing the formation of an acting body of the JKDFP at a press conference here, Mr Geelani said the decision to remove Mr Shah was taken after a two-day joint meeting of the Central Executive and the Working Committee of the party here. Mr Geelani had been appointed president of the JKDFP after removing Mr Shah from the presidentship for his “authoritarian way of functioning and violating the party constitution,” Geelani loyalists claimed.

Earlier today, Mr Shah had expelled Mr Geelani and senior party leader Bashir Ahmad Wani from the primary membership of the party on a charge of anti-party activity.

In a statement, Mr Shah said he expelled Mr Geelani and Mr Wani for their anti-party activity after a thorough investigation into serious allegations against them. However, he did not give any details.

Mr Geelani, who was flanked by senior JKDFP members, including Mr Abdul Salm Rather, claimed that the joint meeting of the Central Executive and the Working Committee unanimously dissolved the old executive body of the organisation and formed an adhoc body in order to reactivate and strengthen the organisation. — PTI
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58 Bangladeshis arrested

Jammu, July 24
Fiftyeight Bangladeshi nationals, including women, were arrested while trying to enter Pakistan from the Akhnoor sector of Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said today.

Army personnel spotted the large group of Bangladeshis moving suspiciously towards the Indo-Pak border in the Makwal area around 1 pm yesterday and arrested them, they said.

During preliminary questioning, they said they wanted to cross over to Pakistan to earn a livelihood.

They said they were brought here by touts who had promised them jobs as labourers in construction works in Pakistan.

The Army handed them over to the police for further investigation. — PTI
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3 ministers play pivotal role in hospital takeover
M.L. Kak

Jammu, July 24
The takeover of the management control of the Sher-e-Kashmir Medical Institute Trust, the Sher-e- Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences and other institution affiliated to the trust by the government is viewed as the first major salvo against the Sheikh dynasty.

Inside reports said the Finance Minister, Mr Muzaffar Hussain Beig, the Health Minister, Mr Lal Singh, and the Revenue Minister, Hakeem Mohammad Yasin, played pivotal role in motivating the Chief Minister in this regard.

In fact, the decision of Dr Ali Mohammad Mattoo, Vice-Chairman of the hospital and son-in-law of the late Sheikh Abdullah, to lease out the nursing home to a party of three doctors on rent forced the ministers to react.

It was after a five-hour screening of all revenue and lease deed records that the ministers went to the Chief Minister and conveyed to him the need for immediate takeover of the management of the trust and the hospital. Finally, the Cabinet approved their proposal.

The National Conference General Secretary, Sheikh Nazir Ahmed, has refuted the government allegations that the trust had sold the nursing home to the doctors. He said the government action was “illegal and unconstitutional.”.

Its provincial president, Mr Ajay Sadhotra, described the government action “political vendetta.”

They said it was incorrect to accuse the relations of Sheikh Abdullah of running the entire show. The members of the trust and the governing body of the institute comprised of eminent doctors, political leaders and public men. 
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Fudging of DNA samples: police official suspended
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 24
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered the suspension of Mr Farooq Khan, former SSP of Anantnag on the recommendations of the Cabinet subcommittee on fudging of DNA samples of five civilians killed in a fake encounter at Pathribal on March 25, 2000. The case has also been referred to State Vigilance Organization for investigation and prosecution.

This decision was taken at the state Cabinet meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed here last evening, an official spokesman said. It also decided to remove from the service Mr Bashir Ahmad, the then ASI besides launching prosecution against him. The then SSP, Mr Farooq Khan, IPS, could not be dismissed for it was outside the jurisdiction of the state government, sources said. These added that Bashir Ahmad was dismissed as it was under the jurisdiction of the state government.

The three-member cabinet subcommittee headed by the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma comprised the minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Mr Muzaffar Hussain Beigh and the Minister for Food and Supplies, Mr Taj Mohiuddin as its members. It had been set up to consider further course of action on Justice Kuchay Commission on fudging of DNA samples of the five civilians at Pathribal in Anantnag district in March 2000. The cabinet under the chairmanship of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed considered the report of cabinet subcommittee and accepted its all recommendations.

Further, Mr Abdul Rahman, the then Dy SP, has been ordered to be censured. He was appointed inquiry officer by the Chief Judicial Magistrate and the Inquiry Commission pointed out that he provided police para-medical staff for collection of blood samples and in the chain of things, the whole affair of collecting blood samples was found to be fishy due to the police-related support, according to the official spokesman.

The Cabinet also decided to convey government’s strong displeasure to Mr B.A. Runiyal, the then Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, for his refusal to cooperate with the inquiry commission which has condemned him in its report.

Similar displeasure would be conveyed to Dr Balbir Kour and her team of doctors for their lack of proficiency and diligence. The commission had found them inexperienced besides being negligent in their conduct.

The Cabinet subcommittee after going through the inquiry commission report had finalised the action against the indicted officers. The commission had found that in the background of the case only those persons would be interested in the destruction or falsification of evidence regarding the identification of blood samples, who must have taken part in the actual act of fake encounter of killing five persons at Pathribal on March 25, 2000. As there was involvement of Mr Farooq Khan and Mr Bashir Ahmad in the fake encounter only they could be held interested in attempting to destroy the evidence and the identity of blood samples.

The Pathribal incident took place following the massacre of 35 Sikhs at Chhatisinghpora on March 21, 2000, when the then US President, Mr Bill Clinton was on visit to South Asia. The security forces had claimed the elimination of five hardcore foreign militants at Pathribal responsible for the Chhatisinghpora, which led to a series of incidents. 
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