 |
Monday,
November 18, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
|
Militant-turned-MLC blames
cops Woman dies in Pak shelling Jammu border farmers await
relief
APHC to induct 2 more groups Srinagar-Leh road to
re-open today Quota for Gujjars in Assembly sought |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Militants’
courier held with money Chopper to fly
pilgrims to Vaishno Devi J-K Assembly
ex-Speaker dead
|
|
Militant-turned-MLC blames
cops Srinagar, November 17 “After the new government took over, senior police officers (DGP and IGP) conveyed to me that my boys worked as militants, which I totally denied” Mr Javed Shah told mediapersons here this morning. “I told them that I would not allow my boys to get involved in crimes and rejoin militancy”, he commented. Mr Shah said on the basis of this 60 SPOs associated with him and working as counter-insurgents were expelled. “We do not want to save ourselves... those in uniform are the killers and involved in fake encounters”, he said. He held that these boys working as SPOs were shown as witnesses in several cases of crimes and killings by the police in the Kashmir valley. Claiming that he was himself witness to many incidents during the past several years, Mr Javed Shah said his men would withdraw as witnesses in these cases. The National Conference MLC, who unsuccessfully contested the recent Assembly elections from Bandipore constituency in Baramula district, said he would give his statement before a Magistrate under Section 164. Even if I am not here, everything will be clear”, Javed Shah said in reply to a question. Mr Shah was reacting to the reports about the expulsion of 60 SPOs associated with him and other charges levelled against him by the police, saying that the action was purely based on “political vengeance”. He held that these steps were being taken by the police only to “please the new government. He clarified that over Rs 75,000 monthly withdrawals in the name of SPOs were not being drawn by him, as claimed by the police, but by the SPOs themselves. He gave various instances of crimes by the police whereby SPOs were being blamed to “give them a bad name”. He held that the police was involved, under instructions from the higher authorities, in incidents of looting bank dacoities, etc. A former militant leader who was associated with the Al-Jehad militant outfit, Mr Javed Shah (42) was earlier a police constable and joined militancy early in 1990. He surrendered and joined the mainstream in 1994 along with other militant leaders like Kukka Parray and Usman Majid. The surrendered militants, under the banner of Ikhwan-ul-Muslimoon, later constituted the Awami League. Mr Javed Shah parted ways with Kukka Parray and joined the National Conference. He was nominated as a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council by the then Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah. Mr Shah said he would be going to New Delhi and take up the issue with the Central Government. He has already spoken to Dr Abdullah and the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani. He said he would make more “startling revelations” after his return from New Delhi. |
|
Woman dies in Pak shelling Jammu, November 17 The Pakistani troops fired about 70 to 80 mortar shells bombs in Noushera sector one of which fell near a house at Namb village killing Smirti Devi. Three personnel of the Jakli Regiment sustained splinter injuries in the shelling in the area, the sources said. Besides Namb, the Pakistani forces shelled Kalsian, Bhawani, Shermakri, Kadli and Jhangar areas of the sector, the sources said adding that the Indian troops retaliated. Srinagar: The Special Operation Group((SOG) thwarted militants plan to cause large-scale blasts in the city when they hauled 100 kg RDX from a hide-out on Saturday. Official sources told UNI that SOG and the local police cordoned off Anchar area on the outskirts of the city and recovered 100 kg RDX, besides five improvised explosive devices, a pistol and a wireless set. Meanwhile, the security forces killed four militants and unearthed three hide-outs in Kashmir valley during overnight operations. Official sources said an encounter took place between militants and the security forces at a village near Shopian in Pulwama district of south Kashmir late on Saturday. In the encounter three militants were killed. A large cache of arms and ammunition were seized from the slain militants. A house and a cow-shed were also gutted in the shoot-out, they said. The security forces gunned down a militant at Kupwara on Saturday. The sources said the security forces unearthed three underground hide-outs and siezed arms and ammunition in the woods of Baramula in north Kashmir on Saturday. An infiltration bid was foiled in the Kashmir valley where three militants, including four Pakistanis, were killed and two security personnel injured in separate incidents since last night, the police said on Sunday. Three militants were killed and two security personnel injured in an exchange of fire as troops foiled an infiltration bid in Noushera area of Machil sector, they said. A large quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered from the encounter site. An LeT militant, Abu Jehad of Gujranwalla in Pakistan was killed in a gunfight with the security personnel at Sangalnar-Kandi in Kupwara, the police said. The security forces also shot dead an ultra during an ambush at Citti-Batti in Darhal tehsil of Rajouri district on Saturday. One AK-56 rifle with four magazines and 89 rounds and four hand grenades were recovered from him. A decomposed body of a militant was recovered by the Army near the Line of Control at Pinjani Nullah in Mendhar area of Poonch district on Saturday. One AK-47 rifle with 120 rounds and three magazines, four Chinese grenades, one radio set, an antenna and Rs10,000 in Indian currency were recovered from the spot. In Kathua district two militants reportedly forced their way into the house of Daya Ram (a panchayat member) at Magani village on Saturday and tried to take him hostage and demanded Rs 1 lakh from him. Ram’s wife, however, managed to escape and gather other villagers. But, the militants took, Daya Ram away to a nearby forest and beat him mercilessly, the sources said, adding that he too managed to flee. PTI, UNI |
|
Jammu border farmers await
relief Jammu, November 17 As far as the Jammu sector is concerned, the reason for the delay in the dispute between the state authorities and Defence Ministry officials. While the state government has claimed that 65,000 acres had been occupied by the Army for laying mines, the defence authorities state that only 16,000 acres were under the Army’s occupation. A survey then resolved that 36,000 acres had been occupied. But then, the Election
Commission ordered deferment in the payment of the compensation because of the two-month long electioneering. Then another dispute arose. While the border people demanded Rs 10,000 per acre as prescribed by the Defence Ministry the authorities wanted to pay that amount only for areas where crops could be sown and fixed Rs 6,000 for the rest of the area. According to Mr O.P. Kejriwal, Principal Director Estates Northern Command, “we have stopped payment of compensation as we are waiting for clarification from the Army headquarters.” Madan Lal, a small farmer in R.S. Pora, said, “I have not been able to sow crops for two seasons and as such I have nothing to bank upon for daily sustenance for my four-member family.” Shamsher Singh, another villager in R.S. Pora, said, “My two children have been craving for a glass of milk. I have no means to buy it.” He added “It is ironical that the hand which handled plough fields all these years, is today holding a shovel on road construction project.” “When shall we receive what is due to us?” This is the common refrain in the border villages. The Defence Ministry has earmarked Rs 42 crore for paying compensation to the border villagers whose land has been under the Army’s occupation. For Gurdaspur and Pathankot areas the amount sanctioned is Rs 6 crore, for the Jammu district, it is Rs 30 crore and for Kathua district Rs 6 crore. Border villagers in Poonch and Rajouri are to get Rs 50 lakh. |
|
APHC to induct 2 more groups Srinagar, November 17 Two outfits to be inducted into the 23-party amalgam are the National Front of Nayeem Ahmad Khan and Jammu-based People’s Movement of Ghulam Muhammad Mir, Hurriyat sources said. The amalgam has already despatched induction letters to the two organisations and is waiting for their response. The decision is part of the Hurriyat’s efforts to include other major and minor groups within its fold. It is, however, silent on the inclusion of Shabir Ahmed Shah’s Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) and Jammu-based Freedom Movement of Sa’adullah Tantray.
PTI |
|
Srinagar-Leh road to
re-open today Jammu, November 17 Re-opening of the road has been ordered on the instructions of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, an official spokesman said here today. The instructions came in the wake of information that the process of despatching winter supplies for the snow-bound region had not been completed yet and in the absence of adequate winter stocking of essential commodities at Kargil and Leh, the people of the region would face enormous difficulties during the winter. The Chief Minister asked the Defence authorities to relax their schedule as a special case and keep the road open till the first snowfall.
PTI |
|
Quota for Gujjars in Assembly sought Jammu, November 17 In a statement, Mr Shamsheer Haqla Poonchi slammed the previous Farooq Abdullah government for not granting reservation in Assembly to these communities. The Central Government had accorded them ST status 11 years ago, he said.
UNI |
|
Militants’ courier held with money Srinagar, November 17 A police spokesman said the police arrested scooterist Mehraj Uddin, a resident of Batmaloo, with Rs 3.90 lakh at the Bemina bypass near a petrol station today. He revealed that havala money was being passed to the Jammu and Kashmir Islamic Front, Kashmir Mass Movement, Muslim League and Hurriyat Conference through him.
UNI |
|
Chopper to fly pilgrims to Vaishno Devi Jammu, November 17 A one-way trip will cost Rs 2,000 whereas a return ticket will come for Rs 4,000 and include a “priority’’ darshan at the shrine. The aircraft will make 20 to 25 sorties daily. A nine-man helicopter will replace the five-man bird in a couple of months when the fares and the possibility of introducing a Jammu-Katra-Sanji Chhat service will also be considered. Capt G.R. Gopinath (retd), Managing Director of Deccan Aviation, comprising retired defence officers, allayed apprehensions of local transporters, including pony owners, that the helicopter service would affect their business. “The helicopter fares will not be lowered so much that it eats into the profits of others, he said. The Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Mr Chaman Lal Gupta, was present at the inaugural ceremony.
UNI |
|
|
J-K Assembly ex-Speaker dead Jammu, November 17 Azad, who is survived by a son, was cremated at the Shastri Nagar cremation ground this afternoon. Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed expressed grief over the death of Azad and said the state had lost a great statesman.
PTI |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 122 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
