J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Rampant embezzlement hits JAKFED staff
Srinagar, March 12
JAKFED (Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd), a unit of the Jammu and Kashmir Government, is reported to have suffered from embezzlements to the tune of hundreds of crores in fertiliser stocks and fertiliser sale proceeds during the past several years.

5 ultras among 8 killed in J&K
Srinagar, March 12
Five militants were among eight persons killed and five soldiers wounded in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir where security forces seized 200 kg of explosives and apprehended seven ultras since last evening.

Soldiers offer prayers to Lord Shiva on the occasion of Shivratri in Srinagar  on Tuesday. Shivratri is the celebration of Lord Shiva's marriage anniversary. —Reuters

Bodies of five Pak ultras recovered
Srinagar, March 12
The bodies of five Pakistani mercenaries, believed to be associated with the Jaish-e-Mohammad, have been found by the Army in a militant hideout in frontier district of Kupwara today, a Defence Ministry spokesman said.

J&K should be given more autonomy: CPM
Jammu, March 12
The state unit of the CPM has resolved to secure greater autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir and persuade both India and Pakistan to carry out de-escalation on the LoC and opt for a sustained dialogue for the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

Rampant embezzlement hits JAKFED staff
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 12
JAKFED (Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd), a unit of the Jammu and Kashmir Government, is reported to have suffered from embezzlements to the tune of hundreds of crores in fertiliser stocks and fertiliser sale proceeds during the past several years. By dint of this alleged embezzlement, farmers of the Kashmir valley have been deprived of due stocks of fertiliser at the approved prices, particularly during the last crop year (2000-2001).

Though various cases of corruption and embezzlement of public funds in JAKFED have been registered by Vigilance Organisation during the past five years, the corrupt practices allegedly continue. In many cases action has also been taken, but the bureaucratic and political patronage of a certain group of officers, allegedly comes in the way of streamlining the fertiliser distribution system at the grassroot level.

The alleged mode of corruption involving a group of officers has reportedly led about 350 families of the employees to the brink of starvation and misery. These employees have sought the intervention of the Chief Minister and the minister concerned look into the matter so that justice is done to the employees working in the department and the rampant corruption is checked.

Sources in JAKFED alleged that a former Managing Director “hatched a conspiracy” in the year 2000-2001 and succeeded in committing an embezzlement of over Rs 65 lakh. As much Rs 35 lakh was embezzled through the Srinagar office and Rs 25 lakh through sub-office, Doda.

A case under FIR No. 23/2001 has been registered by the Vigilance Organisation, Kashmir, about embezzlements of fertiliser stocks and sale proceeds in Kashmir division. The former Managing Director, allegedly enjoying patronage of politicians and bureaucrats, managed his transfer from JAKFED “in order to save himself from getting involved in this fresh scam,” sources said. These sources added that the MD got some sub-ordinate officers arrested through the Vigilance Organisation and had them suspended and “succeeded in getting a junior manager adjusted” as manager in charge, JAKFED. This in charge officer, having political patronage, reportedly owns two fertiliser dealerships in south Kashmir in addition to 15 sale centres, apart from enjoying a government job. The fertilisers are supplied to these dealerships and sale centres allegedly in connivance with senior officers at Jammu, who in turn get monetary benefits out of these supplies. These dealerships of the manager have allegedly defaulted an amount of Rs 8 lakh on account of the sale proceeds of fertiliser during the year 2001 from JAKFED office, Srinagar.

5 ultras among 8 killed in J&K
Tribune News Service and PTI

Srinagar, March 12
Five militants were among eight persons killed and five soldiers wounded in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir where security forces seized 200 kg of explosives and apprehended seven ultras since last evening.

Three militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces in Daraj forest in Jammu region’s Rajouri district, a police spokesman said.

The encounter ensued when security forces launched seek-and-destroy operations in the area, he said.

The spokesman said two ultras, believed to be foreigners, were killed in a gunbattle lasting nearly six hours with security forces at Marazigund in the Sopore area of Baramulla district today.

Five Armymen were also wounded, two of them critically, in the gunfight and admitted to hospital.

The spokesman said militants shot dead a person each in Doda district, Ganderbal on the outskirts of Srinagar and Pulwama.

Two of them, Ali Khan and Sultan Khan, were abducted and later killed by the militants who threw their bodies on the road, he said.

Security forces smashed a militant hideout at Baba Bachianwali in the Surankote area of Poonch district and seized 100 explosive sticks, weighing 200 kg.

Security forces apprehended five militants in Baramulla district and seized some arms and ammunition from them.

Two more militants, one of them an activist of the Jaish-e-Mohammad, were arrested during search operations by security forces in Kupwara district.

JAMMU: The BSF killed three dreaded militants in an encounter in Rajouri district today.

According the sources, BSF patrolling party killed three militants belonging to the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit in the Kandi area of the district. The BSF party while on routine patrolling noticed the movement. When the BSF jawans challenged, they fired upon them and in retaliatory firing, three militants were killed.

One of the militants has been identified Mukhtiar, resident of Rajouri. The arms seized from the site included rifles, magazines, hand grenades and ammunition.

Bodies of five Pak ultras recovered

Srinagar, March 12
The bodies of five Pakistani mercenaries, believed to be associated with the Jaish-e-Mohammad, have been found by the Army in a militant hideout in frontier district of Kupwara today, a Defence Ministry spokesman said.

The militants, one of them identified as Usman Jangi, were found dead inside a cave in the Duraswani forest during search operations by the Army, the spokesman said. Jangi was a wanted militant, he said.

The ultras were believed to have been killed during seek and destroy operations launched recently by the army in the area, he said.

“The militants were believed to have been injured during the operations and later succumbed in their hideout,” the spokesman said.

Eight RPG rockets and seven grenades were recovered from the hideout.

Security forces smashed a militant hideout at Baba Bachianwali in the Surankote area of Poonch district and seized 100 explosive sticks, weighing 200 kg. PTI

J&K should be given more autonomy: CPM
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 12
The state unit of the CPM has resolved to secure greater autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir and persuade both India and Pakistan to carry out de-escalation on the LoC and opt for a sustained dialogue for the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

Releasing copies of the resolution adopted by the party at its sixth conference the state secretary, Mr M.Y. Tarigami, MLA, told newspersons here today that the resolution expressed concern over the continuing tension on the LoC because of the heavy military build-up on both sides.

The CPM, he said, was for the settlement of the Kashmir issue through dialogue and a settlement which did not erode the secular and democratic fabric of the state.

Mr Tarigami said a demand for bifurcation or trifurcation, if accepted, could lead to communal polarisation.

He said the delay in the settlement of the Kashmir issue had allowed the communal and fundamentalist forces to vitiate the atmosphere in both countries.

He demanded the re-opening of the Rawalpindi and Suchetgarh and Sialkot roads.

The CPM demanded that the Centre took immediate steps for providing jobs to Kashmiri unemployed youth in Central public sector undertakings and for rehabilitation and return of the Kashmiri migrants to the valley. It also demanded withdrawal of POTO.