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Five killed, 29 injured in heavy shelling by Pak troops
JAMMU: Five villagers were killed and 29 injured in heavy mortar shelling and firing by Pakistani troops targeting hamlets and outposts along the International Border in Jammu district today in one of the worst ceasefire violations.
"Pakistani Rangers resorted to heavy and unprovoked firing and shelling of mortars on 10 corder outposts (BoPs) and civilian areas along international border (IB) in Arnia belt of Jammu district from 10 PM last night," a BSF spokesman said today.
They used small, automatic weapons and mortar bombs to target the border hamlets and BoPs along the borderline. BSF troops guarding the borderline retaliated effectively and gave a befitting reply, he said, adding that the intermittent firing exchanges are going on in the area.
In the shelling, five villagers were killed and 29 injured in several hamlets, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), R S Pura Tehsil, Devender Shingh told
PTI.
25 of the injured have been shifted to GMC hospital Jammu.
A large number of houses were damaged and livestock perished in the firing and shelling, said Singh, who was leading a team of police personnel who risked their lives to shift the injured people to hospital during the heavy shelling.
"People living in critical zones along the border will be evacuated," he said
A BSF spokesman said that the force did not suffer any casualty.
This was the 11th ceasefire violations along Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir during last four days. There have been seven ceasefire violations along Line of Control in Poonch and four along IB in Jammu.
On October 3, Pakistani troops and rangers violated ceasefire in Gulamarg sector of Kashmir Valley and in Poonch and Jammu sectors in which a girl was killed and six persons were injured. Fear was writ large of the faces of kin of the injured, who were shifted to the hospital here. "We thought we will die any time, such was the firing of mortar bombs and their bursting sound," Karan Singh of Pindi village said.
"We have become sitting ducks for Pakistan to target us.
Government should do something immediately. We cannot live on the border to die," Rano Devi said.
Yesterday, Pakistani troops violated ceasefire by resorting to unprovoked and heavy firing on Indian forward posts along LoC in Balnoie sub-sector of Poonch district around 0800 hours.
On October 4, Pakistani troops resorted heaviest firing and mortar shelling along LoC in in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, drawing retaliation from Army.
On October 1 and 2, Pakistani troops violated ceasefire two times along LoC in Poonch district resulting in injuries to six people, including three women.
With assembly elections due in Jammu and Kashmir, the Pakistan-based militant leadership is desperate to push in a large number of militants into the Indian side in the cover of the heavy firing to carry out terrorism related activities, according to the Army.
"They want to disrupt the assembly elections in the state as they know that a large number of their cadre has already been eliminated. So to reinforce their numbers, they are desperately trying to infiltrate more people into the state and that is why there has been an increase in the number of ceasefire violations," Udhampur-based defense spokesman Col SD Goswami had said.
Before this, the heaviest ceasefire violation by the Pakistani troops was witnessed on August 26 night.
In a bid to defuse border tension, triggered by firing and shelling by Pakistani troops stretching to 45 days, the heaviest since 1971 war, India and Pakistan on August 29 held a crucial Sector Commander (DIG-Brigadier) level flag meeting on Octerio BoP in Jammu district's R S Pura sector.
On August 28, BSF troops held Commandant level flag-meeting with Rangers along IB at Ballard Post in Samba sector. –PTI
Three
terrorists killed, Army foils infiltration bid along LoC
JAMMU: Three terrorists were killed as army foiled an infiltration bid along Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir.
"There was movement of a group of militants entering Indian side along LoC in Tangdhar belt of North Kashmir during the intervening night of October 5 and 6. They were challenged by Army troops," a senior Army officer told PTI.
In the ensuing gun-battle, three terrorists were killed, he said, adding that the infiltration bid was foiled.
Three AK rifles were seized from the site, he said. –PTI
India asks Pak to end ceasefire violations along border
NEW DELHI: India on Monday asked Pakistan to put an immediate end to ceasefire violations along the border in Jammu and Kashmir as the ground realities in the country had changed.
"Pakistan should realise that the situation in India has changed now," Home Minister Rajnath Singh told reporters on the sidelines of a function.
He was reacting to the ceasefire violations by Pakistan in Jammu district in which five villagers were killed and 29 injured.
The Narendra Modi government had adopted a tough stance vis-a-vis Pakistan and even cancelled Foreign Secretary level talks in August after Pakistan embassy in New Delhi had called separatist leaders from Kashmir for consultations.
Singh said he has spoken to BSF Director General D K Pathak to get first hand information about the situation in Arina area along the International Border in Jammu region.
"DG, BSF has been instructed to rush to the border areas of J&K where incidents of ceasefire violations have been reported," he said.
Last time Singh had asked the BSF chief to give a befitting reply to Pakistan for violating the ceasefire in the state.
Congress and BJP said the ceasefire violations by Pakistan were a "serious" issue and it should desist from such activities.
"Whatever Pakistan is doing is certainly a serious matter. And we want to tell Pakistan that indulging in such activities is not good for that country," BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.
Condemning Pakistan's actions, former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said it is despicable that such incidents have occurred on Eid.
"There cannot be anything worse than this," the Congress leader said.
Congress leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad wondered why the Modi government was keeping silent on the violations.
"It is most unfortunate that firing is going on from Pakistan side in Jammu and Kashmir and at this juncture any firing from across the border is very very critical. It is most unfortunate that the Government is also keeping silent," he said.
Taking pot shots at the Prime Minister, Azad asked where had the bravado shown during election rallies vanished.
"They were daring Pakistan before elections but now they are silent," Azad said. –PTI
EC should probe Hooda govt's clearance to Vadra
land deal: Modi
HISAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked the Election Commission to take serious note of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda clearing the land deal between Robert Vadra and DLF, alleging that it was done hastily as the Congress faced "certain defeat" in the October 15 Haryana Assembly polls.
"They (Hooda government) know that after the elections, the son-in-law (Vadra) will not get any clearances for illegal deals. So, in between the election process, they have dared to take such a decision," Modi said at an election rally here.
"I think Hooda was pressurised from the top (Congress leadership) to take such a decision," he said.
The Election Commission, the Prime Minister hoped, would take "serious note" of the state government's decision.
"I hope they will take appropriate action for any violation of the Model Code of Conduct," he said raking up the alleged land deal involving Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law.
The Hooda Government had reportedly legitimised the land deal while holding as illegal the order of the state's former Director General (Consolidation) Ashok Khemka who had cancelled the mutation of the land in Gurgaon.
"It is clear from this decision of the shameless Hooda government that both he and the Congress party have already accepted defeat in Haryana," Modi said.
Modi also hit out at former Chief Minister and INLD leader Om Prakash Chautala, saying some people are dreaming of taking oath as Haryana's Chief Minister from jail.
"I don't need support from jail. I don't need support of goons who are in jail," he said, adding that some people are spreading lies by showing his old photos with them.
The Prime Minister said that his government enjoys the support of 1.25 billion people of the nation.
Noting that dynasty politics has ruined Haryana, Modi asked BJP workers to fight against the leaders who have worked only for their kins.
"The Haryana ministers are running the government only for their kith and kin. Unless this is stopped the pride of Haryana won't be restored," he said.
"The state of Haryana never been free of dynasty politics. Vote out dynasty politics," he said and stated that the BJP has made a tea-seller as the Prime Minister of the country.
Expressing confidence that the BJP will win the assembly elections, Modi said that his party will bring development in Haryana.
Modi said BJP is fighting this election in Haryana for good governance.
Attacking the Congress, he said the grand old party had not given an account of the work it had done for 60 years, and were seeking an account of 60 days of his Government.
The Prime Minister said the NDA Government had decided to give two railway lines to Hisar in the first railway budget, and had also decided on one National Highway for Hisar.
Slamming the Hooda government, he said the people in the Haryana Government were playing the game of "Kaun Banega Arabpati"
During his speech, the Prime Minister congratulated all the players from Haryana who won medals and made India proud at the recently concluded Asian Games.
Modi also said that the 125th birth anniversary of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru would be celebrated by generating awareness about cleanliness and hygiene among children.
"From 14th to 19th November (Indira Gandhi's birth anniversary), there would be a special campaign on cleanliness in schools across the country," the Prime Minister said and added that the current age should be one of Hi-fi, Wi-fi and "safai" (cleanliness).
Modi highlighted the Prime Minister Krishi Sinchai Yojana, which would provide irrigation to the farmers.
He said Haryana was the land of Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan - jawans from Haryana defended the country, and kisans from Haryana raised foodgrains for the country.
The Prime Minister said soil health cards would be given to all farmers.
He said One-Rank One Pension for the armed forces was not given by Congress Government, and was done by the BJP Government at the Centre in the first budget itself.
Highlighting the poor sex ratio of Haryana, Modi said 9 out of the 15 districts with worst sex ratio in the country were in
Haryana.
He assured the mothers and sisters of Haryana that when a brother was sitting in Delhi, female foeticide would not be allowed.
Society could not be happy by abusing mothers and daughters, he stressed.
He highlighted the incidents of rape of Dalit girls, and said Haryana needed a state government which would act to prevent such incidents.
The Prime Minister said today there was a new respect across the world for India.
"This was due to the decisive mandate given to the Union Government by 125 crore Indians," he said and added if the people wanted Haryana to make a name on the world stage, then a stable state government (with full BJP majority), was necessary.
He said Japan, USA and China had promised massive investment in India, which would lead to employment opportunities for the youth.
The Prime Minister asked the people of Haryana to give him a chance to serve them.
Seeking votes on the plank of development, Modi assured the people that the BJP, if voted to power, would give clean and good governance and work for welfare of the poor people.
"You have given many chances to the Congress and other parties in the state, but they failed to fulfil their promises. Now it is the turn of the BJP to get the chance to serve the people," he said.
Modi charged that the state was reeling under "goondaraj".
"Don't you want to rid the state of extortionist who illegally take possession of lands belonging to farmers," he said. –PTI
Ceasefire violations: Azad slams government
JAMMU: Hitting out at the government for "failing" to respond adequately and effectively to ceasefire violations by Pakistan, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday said it has emboldened the neighbouring country to perpetuate tension in the border areas.
The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said deaths of jawans and civilians on the borders have become a "regular feature" ever since the NDA Government has come to power at
Centre.
Reminding the BJP leadership of its pre-election rhetoric on the subject, Azad asked why the ceasefire violations have not come to an end after the NDA Government came to power, as was promised so ostentatiously by the Prime Minister before the Lok Sabha elections.
He said the "failure" of the NDA Government is visible in the light of the BSF Director General's statement in August that firing and shelling on the International Border with Pakistan was the "heaviest" after the 1971 war.
While condemning Pakistani forces for repeated ceasefire violations, Azad said the Centre has "failed to respond proportionately, adequately and effectively which probably has emboldened Pakistani forces to perpetuate tensions, thus creating hardships for people residing in border areas".
"It seems that Pakistan is taking the new government non-seriously and is hell bent on creating tension in border areas of Jammu and Kashmir", said
Azad.
The senior Congress leader said NDA Government's Pakistan policy is marked by "inconsistencies and flip-flops of weird proportions, as one day it is over zealously enthusiastic about talks, and the other day it raises shrill jingoistic clamour for war," and added that the people of the country are wise enough not to lose sight of the "manipulative politics" being played by BJP. -PTI
2 local BJP leaders killed in accident in Hisar
HISAR: Two local BJP leaders were killed and equal number of workers seriously injured when a jeep in which they were travelling overturned near Bandaheri village on the Hisar- Balsamand road, police said on Monday.
Rajender Bisla (45), President of Balsamand Mandal of BJP and Satbir Godara (50), District Organiser of Co-operative Cell of BJP alongwith some other workers were returning to their village yesterday after distributing the entry passes and invitations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally.
When their vehicle reached near village Bandaheri, about 40 km from here, it overturned , police said.
While Rajender Bisla and Satbir Godara died on the spot, two injured workers were rushed to a private hospital here where their condition was stated to be critical. PTI
Search for MH370 resumes in Indian Ocean
CANBERRA: The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) on Monday announced that the underwater search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which vanished March 8, has resumed.
The GO Phoenix, a Malaysian government contracted ship, is the first of the three vessels that arrived in the search zone and the fleet will spend around a year to hunt for the wreckage of MH370 in an area of about 60,000 sq km, Xinhua reported.
One of the largest international aviation searches in history was underway after MH370 disappeared with 239 people on board during its journey from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
However, the multinational search team had to stop the hunt after nearly two months of fruitless work and the related countries began to map the sea floor which was crucial to continue the underwater mission.
According to the plan, GO Phoenix will use an underwater sonar device called towfish to operate over the seabed.
When the device detects any suspicious wreckage, the ship would put down highly sensitive camera equipment to film it and decide whether it belongs to the MH370.
GO Phoenix would stay in the mission area for 12 days before heading to the Australian coast for refuelling and supply.
Two other ships provided by Dutch contractor Fugro would join the GO Phoenix later this month.
ATSB Chief Commissioner Martin Dolan said: "All we want to indicate to everyone is that we're cautiously optimistic... We'll locate the missing aircraft." –IANS
Kedarnath pilgrims to get weather updates on phone
DEHRADUN: Drawing lessons from 2013 calamity at Kedarnath which caught thousands of pilgrims offguard, the state government has completed the digital mapping of Rudraprayag district which will help pilgrims heading for the Himalayan shrine to get weather updates on their mobile phone.
"The Geographic Information System/digital mapping of Rudraprayag district in which the famous shrine is located has been done.
"Devotees going to the high-altitude temple can now get updates on the quickly changing weather and road conditions en route on their mobile phones and prepare themselves accordingly," Rudraprayag District Magistrate Raghav Langar said adding it is a major step towards the safety of pilgrims.
Chief Minister Harish Rawat had asked District Magistrates in calamity prone regions to do the digital mapping of their respective areas in a time bound manner a couple of months back.
Prepared in an elaborate way, the digital map application of the district considered highly vulnerable to natural calamities will help deal with any emergency, the DM said.
The magnitude of last year's natural calamity and the large scale loss of life and property it caused in Kedar valley is also attributed to its suddenness and to the fact that pilgrims did not have a clear idea of the terrain, weather and road conditions in the area.
The digital map application of the district which includes vital information on roads, alternative pedestrian roads, government infrastructural facilities, revenue checkposts and important phone numbers in the area will be formally launched at the District Magistrate's office tomorrow, he said.
Meanwhile, a Shri Kedar rescue demo android application will also be launched at the DM office tomorrow which can be used by pilgrims, tourists and locals alike on their mobile phone.
It will tell users about different landmarks close to the shrine, Langar said. -PTI
'Closure of helicopter service to Dharchula act of treachery'
DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand BJP today said the sudden closure of helicopter service to Dharchula which was launched just before the July bypoll was an act of treachery with people of the area.
"Chopper service to Dharchula which began ahead of the bypoll has turned out to be an election stunt. Soon after the bypoll, its fare was hiked and now the service itself has been closed much to the disappointment of people of the area who feel cheated," Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Ajay Bhatt said.
Chief Minister Harish Rawat won from Dharchula in a bypoll held to the seat in July this year to secure his entry into the state Assembly.
Criticising the state government for the continuing strike by ministerial employees in support of a three-point charter of demands including revision of promotional norms, he said it has not held talks with them despite the fact that they are on strike for the past 20 days.
Accusing the state government of being "callous" in its approach, he said it should immediately hold talks with the striking ministerial employees and put an end to their stir by conceding to their demands. -PTI
Three win medicine Nobel for brain study
STOCKHOLM: US-British scientist John O'Keefe and Norwegian husband and wife Edvard Moser and May-Britt Moser have won the Nobel Prize in medicine for discoveries of cells that constitute a positioning system in the brain.
The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska institute says their discoveries have helped explain how the brain creates "a map of the space surrounding us and how we can navigate our way through a complex environment." –Agencies
Shelling exposes Pak frustration after failure to get response on Kashmir: Omar
JAMMU: Condemning the shelling on civilians in Arnia belt of Jammu that left five dead, J-K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that the targeting of civilian areas exposed the frustration of the Pakistani government after its failure to gain international attention on the Kashmir issue.
"They (the Pakistani leadership) have nothing else to speak, but only Kashmir. Whenever they go abroad, they try to raise only Kashmir issue, but every time they miserably fail to get international attention. The cross-border shelling is an indication of their frustration," he told reporters after meeting civilians injured in the shelling at the Government Medical College Hospital here.
Omar strongly condemned the firing and said, "Either we are unable to understand Pakistan's motive behind the increase in the incidents of ceasefire violations or the internal situation in Pakistan is so bad that by targeting Indian side they want to divert the attention of their own people from their internal turmoil."
The Chief Minister said that at a time when people of Jammu and Kashmir should be getting Eid greetings from the Pakistan side, the Pakistani army has gifted them with bombs.
"There was no reason to violate the ceasefire. It was a deliberate attempt from the Pakistani side to target the civilian areas. The death and injury to so many innocent civilians is a part of their nefarious designs," he said. –PTI
Bureaucrats, ex-servicemen in fray for Haryana polls
CHANDIGARH: In the dust and din raised in wake of forthcoming assembly polls in Haryana, retired bureaucrats and police officers have also thrown their hat in the ring to make a future in politics.
Some of the recently retired officers are in the fray to test political waters in the 'jat' heartland which goes to polls on October 15.
Sunita Duggal, who resigned recently after a career in Indian Revenue Services, has been fielded by the Bharatiya Janata Party from Ratia constituency.
Her husband, Rajesh Duggal is IPS officer and Faridabad Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).
Recently retired from Indian Administrative Services officer and Additional Chief Secretary of Haryana, Ramindra Jakhu, too joined the BJP.
Jakhu, who retired in December last year, said inclusive development will take place under the new dispensation which is bound to impact the state.
With 35 years of administrative experience behind him as a bureaucrat from the state, Jakhu says he is "ready to play any role that the party assigns him."
His wife Shakuntala, is the Chief Secretary of Haryana.
Santosh Sarwan, wife of former IAS officer M L Sarwan, got a BJP ticket from Mulana (Reserve) constituency.
Besides, the saffron party is feilding retired officer Abhay Singh Yadav from Nangal Choudhary constituency.
"Former officers have also been given ticket as with administrative experience they can serve the people better after becoming a legislator. Winnability factor was also kept in mind," a Haryana BJP spokesman said.
The spokesman further said retired officers are part of the society and if any one of them has a desire to join politics, they have a right to do so.
Meanwhile, two recently retired IPS officers, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Ram Chander Jowal and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ranbir Sharma have floated their own parties.
While Jowal has floated 'Apna Raj Front', Sharma, who had joined Aam Aadmi Party during the Lok Sabha elections has floated 'Lok Swaraj Party' after quitting the Arvind Kejriwal-led party.
Jowal who believes the present "rotten system" needs to be changed, says "we promise to provide equal opportunities to people of all castes and communities in power politics." Sharma, who is son-in-law of former union minister I D Swami, says he resigned from service as he didn't want to be part of corruption.
"The present system has collapsed and needs to be changed," he said.
Another cop, Raj Singh Mor, is the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) nominee from the Narnaund Assembly segment.
Two former Director General of Police (DGP), Mahender Singh Malik and A S Bhatotia, too are participating in the political slugfest in the state.
While Malik is associated with the Om Parkash Chautala-led Indian National Lok Dal, Bhatotia, a 1973 batch officer shifted from BJP to Congress and then to AAP.
Former ADGP P V Rathi, who recently resigned as the principal adviser to Haryana Chief Minister, is also attempting to make forays into the political arena. -PTI
Omar donates blood on Eid, asks people to help flood victims
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah did not celebrate Eid-ul Azha and instead donated blood at a government hospital as mark of solidarity with the flood-affected people of the state.
Abdullah, who offered Eid Prayers at Hazratbal, rushed straight to SMHS Hospital in Karan Nagar area of the city to donate blood, an official spokesman said.
He asked people to donate blood at the donation camps and save precious lives.
Abdullah said donation of blood on Eid is all the more important to seek munificence of the Almighty.
The Chief Minister then drove to airport from where he took off to Jammu to meet the victims of cross border firing that took place in Arnia sector, the spokesman said.
He said the CM is also scheduled to visit villages affected by the firing incident.
Abdullah, in his message on Eid-ul-Azha, appealed to the people to celebrate the holy occasion with simplicity keeping in mind the plight of sufferers of devastating floods which claimed precious human lives, inflicted
unprece
He sought wholehearted support to flood survivors and prayed for the well-being of the people and the state.
"Let us dedicate this year's Eid-ul-Azha to the flood sufferers and extend all help to them for their rehabilitation and welfare," he said, adding that supporting the needy and sufferers of calamities is the essence of holy occasions like Eid. -PTI
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