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Friday,
September 27, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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JeM wooing
Taliban fighters Selfless
residents rise to the occasion
Package
for NSG commando family Panel to
probe attack |
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Stop aid
to countries ‘backing’ terrorism PM to open
Labour Conference SU-30 MKI
fighters to be inducted today Indo-US
naval wargames begin Jail
inmates seize barracks
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JeM wooing Taliban fighters New Delhi, September 26 Intelligence reports reaching here say top-rung JeM leaders are not showing interest in enlisting local boys in Jammu and Kashmir, but are looking at bringing in hardened elements, highly trained in war tactics, to launch a new series of attacks in the state. The concentration is only on the Taliban elements who have been in hiding in North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan and in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to push them into Jammu and Kashmir to take on the Indian security forces. One of the seniormost leaders of the JeM, Maulvi Abdul Jabbar, who is also part of the organisation’s supreme council, is presently said to be in Muzaffarabad to engage the Taliban elements for specific “employment” in Jammu and Kashmir. Reports here suggest that the JeM is not only enlisting Taliban men in the name of jehad, but is also offering them money for their services. Since being overthrown in Afghanistan, the Taliban men have been hiding in cities all over Pakistan, but their major concentration is in PoK and NWFP. Reports suggest that the Taliban men are now running out of money and that is why they are being wooed by the JeM. As of now, the JeM is said to have got in touch with the Afghans, Arabs, Yemenis and Chechens earlier part of the Taliban brigade. Once pushed into Jammu and Kashmir these hardened elements will form the frontline of terrorists organisations in Jammu and Kashmir. Reports here suggest that due to heavy rate of casualties among the terrorist organisations, the handlers in Pakistan and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) are working on this change of tactics. Although the Pakistani army has been pushing in terrorists on a regular basis from across the border, security forces here have been taking a heavy toll on them. In the past 10 days, security forces posted in Jammu and Kashmir have killed about 60 infiltrators in various operations all over the state. This has taken the terrorist organisations with surprise and as a result, they are now turning to other tactics. Reports also suggest that organisations like the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) are now looking at the operations beyond the present round of elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Training has restarted in some camps not only in Doda, Udhampur and Jammu districts, but also in Rawalakot, Sar Sawan and Kotli. The organisations have reopened their offices in PoK. Some offices which have come in the notice of Indian intelligence agencies are located near the Degree College Chowk in Hajira, Kashmir Plaza, Palamdri, Larri Adda, Hajira and Trasi, also in
Hajira. |
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Selfless residents rise to the occasion Gandhinagar, September 26 Nearly 500 people assembled at the government hospital here to donate blood as news of Tuesday evening’s shootout by terrorists spread. Thirtyseven persons were killed and 100 injured in the attack. Several volunteers carried the injured on their shoulders from the temple premises to ambulances and other vehicles stationed outside the pink sandstone temple spread over 23 acres. “It is an attack on humanity. Innocent people have been targeted. But people have shown exemplary courage and composure and have offered their services,” said Jignesh Rawal of the Gandhinagar Junior Citizens Council. Mr Rawal was sitting in front of the hospital, busy writing down the names of volunteers and their blood groups. People had also come from nearby villages to donate blood. “I am O positive, a universal donor, I can donate blood to anyone,” said Prakash Patel. Mr Patel had come from Por village, about eight kilometres from here. He said he had brought a list of 450 people whom he had organised under the banner of the Gandhinagar Seva Sangh that rendered voluntary service in circumstances like this. He came to know about the incident through television at around 5.30 p.m. The incident occurred at around 4.45 p.m. About 500 devotees and tourists were present in the temple complex when the attack occurred. The incident sparked fears around the country of renewed violence in Gujarat, where sectarian fury had claimed about 1,000 lives this year. Ripal Patel was near the temple when the shootout began. He helped carry some of the injured to hospital hundreds of metres away. He later decided to stay put at the hospital so he could donate blood. “I am sad at the attack on innocent people. But even more saddening is the fact that Gujarat is becoming a second Kashmir,” said Mr Patel.
IANS |
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Package
for NSG commando family Jaipur, September 26 Yadav, who hailed from Khatan Kheda village in Alwar district, had laid down his life in the NSG commando operation to flush out terrorists from Akshardham at Gandhinagar in Gujarat on Tuesday. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, in his condolence message, said that Yadav would be remembered for the supreme sacrifice made by him. Under the package, his widow would get Rs 1 lakh in cash, 25 bighas of irrigated land in the first or second phase of the Indira Gandhi Canal Project or an MIG house of the state housing board. Alternatively, she could opt for Rs 4 lakh in cash. A sum of Rs 1.02 lakh would be deposited in the post office, jointly in the name of Yadav’s parents.
UNI |
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Panel to probe attack New Delhi, September 26 Without naming the country, he said at a press conference that whether it was the attack on the Parliament or on the temple, the desire behind such attacks was “only one”. He did not elaborate. The committee would be headed by Director-General of Police K. Chakarvarthy which would look into all aspects of the attack, including the logistical support provided to the terrorists.
PTI |
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Stop aid to countries ‘backing’ terrorism New Delhi, September 26 Addressing the special session of Inter-Parliamentary Council meeting on “Financing of Development” in Geneva, Mr Joshi said “countries who support the evil forces of terrorism and attack temples — temples of democracy — must be identified and should not be eligible for any aid or assistance. Condemning terrorism, Mr Joshi said the cross border terrorism disturbed peace and was an obstacle to the development process. Appealing to the developed world, the Speaker said they should act like elder brothers and help the developing countries as younger brothers with grace and make them stand on their feet with dignity. |
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PM to open Labour Conference New Delhi, September 26 Social safety net, disinvestment policy of the Government and problems before the small scale industries (SSI), besides the recommendations of the Second National Labour Commission would also be taken up at the 38th session of the ILC, Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma announced today. Referring to the impact of globalisation on economy, Dr Verma said major areas of concern were informalisation of jobs as well as the stagnancy of employment in the organised sector. Since it is believed that outdated labour laws were also partly responsible for the tardy growth in employment, Dr Verma said the conference will have a fresh look at the legislations and suggest remedial changes. The issue of social security, including workers’ health, safety, conditions of work and incomes will form a part of the deliberations, he said adding that protection of interest of workers in the event of disinvestment will be taken up. There is no proposal before the government at present to lower the rate of interest on Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) from 9.5 per cent now, Dr Verma said in reply to a question. Asked at a press conference whether he proposed to meet Finance Minister Jaswant Singh to discuss the issue, he said “let me make it clear that the present rate will continue”. The minister said the question of meeting someone would arise only when there was any move to slash the interest rate. “There is no such proposal at the moment,” he said. |
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SU-30 MKI fighters to be inducted today New Delhi, September 26 With the induction of the first batch of the modified version of Sukhoi aircraft, the IAF is expected to enhance not only its fighting abilities but also those during the reconnaissance. This multi-role Sukhoi aircraft does not just have varied range of tactical and operational capabilities, but can also be used as a tanker, as an early warning system and for realistic flight and combat training. As part of New Delhi’s order the IAF had inducted 18 SU-30 K air defence fighters in 1997. This second batch of modified MKI version, which is highly sophisticated, would be formally inducted at a ceremony in the presence of Defence Minister George Fernandes. SU-30 MKI aircraft is the only fighter jet in the world which has the thrust-vector control capability. By its performance, it is quite close to the fifth generation aircraft. It is armed with the latest
RVV-AE air-to-air and Kh-31, Kh-29 and Kh-59 air-to-surface missiles, state-of-the-art avionics and phased array radars. The thrust-vector control capability substantially increases its combat efficiency. The aircraft also possesses mid-air refuelling system, which would almost double its flight range from 3,000 km to 5,200 km. The fighter plane has the additional capacity to perform a tanker mission. It is also capable of operating and carrying out combat missions in any weather condition and severe jamming environment, both by day and night. |
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Indo-US naval wargames begin New Delhi, September 26 The wargames described by US officials to increase inter-operability between the two navies would include surface, sub-surface, air events and personnel exchanges “For the next eight days US Navy’s Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville, the spurance class destroyer USS Paul F Foster and a P-3C Orion Maritime reconnaissance aircraft will be engaged in wargames with Indian Navy warships,” US officials said. The Indian Navy would field its latest Delhi class destroyer, Godavari class frigate, an SSK class submarine and Russian acquired TU-142 long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft in the exercises being held in the backdrop of Anglo-US naval build-up in the Persian Gulf region. |
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Jail inmates seize barracks Jaunpur, (Uttar Pradesh),
September 26 The police opened 30 rounds of fire and used tear-gas on the agitating 423 inmates to regain control over the barracks. However, the inmates started pelting stones on the police, which was continuing when the last reports came in. District Magistrate Chandrabhanu said at 6 am when prison guard Sanjay Sethi went to unlock the barracks, the inmates overpowered him and beat him up mercilessly. After leaving him in a serious condition, they closed the barrack door themselves. The inmates have been demanding the transfer of the Jail Superintendent and the four constables who accompany him as well as a curb on the prevailing “corruption” in the jail. The inmates have also submitted a 13-point charter of demands to the
DM. UNI |
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UK dossier on Iraq unfair: India New Delhi, September 26 “Such selective reference to an Indian firm is liable to create a totally wrong impression in the public mind”, an External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said, reacting to British Prime Minister Tony Blair naming the Indian firm in the 55-page dossier which purports to describe Iraq’s drive for WMDs since 1971.
UNI |
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HC: long hair no basis of transfer Allahabad, September 26 |
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SC reserves order in Tansi case New Delhi, September 26 A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice S. Rajendra Babu and Mr Justice P.V. Reddi, who have been hearing the appeal filed by Mr R. Sai Bharathi for over a fortnight, reserved the verdict today after the counsel for both parties completed their arguments.
PTI |
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New Delhi, September 26
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