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Saturday,
June 7, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Pak
cyclist pedals 10 km into Indian territory Three
militants among 10 killed
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Warrant
issued against Malik Mixed
reaction to Mufti’s move on Rawalpindi road QUESTION HOUR
Missing
police official sacked Anti-corruption
panel set up
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Pak cyclist pedals 10 km into Indian territory Jammu, June 6 Mohammad Ishfaq, who cycled a 10 km into the Indian territory un-noticed on Monday, has been sent to the Joint Interrogation Centre here for questioning by intelligence agencies of the Army, BSF, the intelligence Bureau and the state police. Ishaq was noticed by Vimal Kumar, of Miran Sahib town, 10 km from the Indo-Pakistan border, while he was heading for Jammu. Vimal informed the police which took the intruder into custody. Sometime ago a motorcyclist had driven into the Indian territory from Pakistan and was arrested when he got his vehicle fuelled and offered Pakistani currency to the petrol station owner. The police said that Ishfaq had stated that he was to get married 10 days later on June 15 and had crossed the border inadvertently after quarrel with his father regarding the purchase of a television. The police said that he had been booked under the Foreigners Act and will be prosecuted under Section 14/6 of the Criminal procedure which provides
imprisonment for six months. The 20-year-old Ishfaq belongs to the Jangri village of Sialkot district of Pakistan and pleaded that there was no ulterior motive behind his entry into the Indian territory. He repairs pressure cooker and has a shop in his village. What is intriguing is that he simply pedalled through the most-guarded Suchetgarh border which witnesses firing between the BSF and Pakistani Rangers almost every day. Thereafter, he crossed defence strategic ditch cum bundh in the Ranbir Singhpura sector which is guarded by the Army and civilians are not easily allowed to come near it. These days the Suchetgarh border is being fenced by the BSF to prevent infiltration of militants. This border is known for smuggling of contraband and other items from across the border. The police said prints of cycle tyre were found at the place from where Ishfaq claimed to have crossed the border. However, there is no road link with Pakistan at that place and he drove in the fields which have many mine areas on this side of the border. The incident has exposed chinks in security of the border and the Line of Control with Pakistan. The recent exposure of Pakistani and Afghan militants having constructed concrete bunkers in the Indian territory at Hill Kaka and other places in the Poonch and Rajouri districts in the past few years has created a controversy. |
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Three militants among 10 killed
Srinagar, June 6 The Pakistani intruder was killed when he ignored the signal of the security forces after sneaking into the Malu Chak area of Jammu from across the border in the wee hours today, the spokesman said. He said three militants were killed in a fierce gunfight with the security forces at Shrung village in Rajouri district, this morning. A civilian was also killed during the encounter which broke out when the troops moved to the village following information that a group of ultras had raided the house of Muneer Hussain and had injured his wife Akbar Bi and a relative Shameema, the spokesman said. Bullet-riddled bodies of two persons, one of whom was identified as Mohammad Ismail Gorsi of Sangerwani, were recovered by the police from Keller and Lassipora villages of Pulwama district today. Militants abducted and later killed two persons in the Subar Dhar area of Baderwah in Doda district, he said. A Gujjar youth Mohammad Amin Bakerwal of Rajouri was killed in a firing incident at Panner forest in Baramulla district late last night, the spokesman said. However, his relatives alleged that the firing was resorted to by Army without any provocation. Meanwhile, the BSF foiled a major bid by the Hizbul Mujahideen to cause blasts in the city by seizing 25 kg of RDX before it reached militants, a BSF spokesman said. The RDX, with three timers, five detonators and a cordex wire, was seized by the troops of 96 Battalion of the BSF in the Hawal area in downtown Srinagar early today, the spokesman said. The explosive was found hidden in a graveyard, adjacent to Islamia College, and was seized before the militants could lay their hands on it. The spokesman said the BSF had intensified vigil in the city after receiving information through its sources that militants, particularly those belonging to the Hizbul Mujahideen, were planning to carry out a series of blasts during the ongoing Assembly session. JAMMU: Militants have been using some of their hideouts in higher reaches as resting places, equipping them with bedding and adequate rations, the police said here. This come to light when a joint party of the police and the security forces busted two hideouts of militants in the Mohra-Sanji-Bhagla area in the Noushera area of Rajouri district yesterday. The hideouts were in the forest area, the police said, adding that about 80 kg of rations in tin and plastic boxes were seized from the hideouts. Cross firing between the security forces and militants was also reported last night in the Khows area of Budhal tehsil in Rajouri district. However, there was no report of any casualty or damage in the incident, it said. The security forces have arrested four activists of militant outfit Harkat-ul-Mujahideen in Poonch district. Acting on a tip-off, the troops raided a hideout of the outfit and arrested the four from the Surankote forest belt of the district last night, the sources said. Some documents, ammunition and explosives were seized from them. Militants exploded an IED inside a bus in the Nerojal area in Rajouri district late last night, which caused no casualties, the police said today. The police said ultras had planted the IED inside the bus and later detonated it with a timer device. The blast, however, caused no injuries.
PTI, UNI |
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1 hurt in Pak shelling Jammu, June 6 For the third consecutive day, Pakistani troops fired 100 to 120 mortar shells early today along the LoC in
Makri, Seer, Bhawani, Laam and Jangard areas of Noushera sub-sector of Rajouri district, the sources added. One civilian, identified as Raj Kumar, was injured in the attack. Four heads of cattle were killed and two houses were damaged in the shelling. Residents of the houses had taken shelter in trenches and bunkers soon after shelling started. Indian troops also retaliated and exchanges between the two sides were still on when reports last came in from the area, the sources said.
PTI |
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Magnetic
hill, Leh’s wonder Leh, June 6 A hill near picturesque Leh has magnetic properties which attracts metallic objects, making vehicles move up at a speed of about 20 km per hour with the engines off. The “magnetic hill” is located on the Leh-Kargil-Baltik national highway, about 30 km from Leh, at a height of 14,000 feet above sea level. On its eastern side, flows the Sindhu, which originates in Tibet and goes to Pakistan. A group of journalists, visiting Leh to cover the Sindhu Darshan festival, were surprised when they had a first-hand experience of the hill. The local administration has put up a billboard near the hill, stating that if a vehicle is stopped at a particular spot on the road and the engine is switched off, it will not slide down but move up. When the Swaraj Mazda in which the journalists were travelling reached the particular point with the ignition switched off, the vehicle actually started moving upward at a speed of more than 20 km. Considering it to be a mere fluke, the journalists made the driver take the vehicle back to the same point. The same thing happened again. The exercise was repeated several times with the same result. Locals and ITBP personnel, who man the Ladakh border with China, say that to escape the magnetic impact of the hill, helicopters and aircraft have to fly at a relatively greater height. Those aircraft which come into the radius of the hill face jerks similar to those witnessed during turbulence. A few kilometres from the hill is Gurdwara Patthar Sahib where Guru Gobind Singh, had meditated. Maintained by the Army, the gurdwara is more of a place of prayer for the locals, Armymen and tourists. Not many Sikhs from other parts of the country visit it. It is said when Guru Gobind Singh was meditating here, an evil spirit threw a rock from the hilltop at him. The rock did hit him, but Guru Gobind Singh was unhurt. However, the mark of the Guru was left on the rock which is still lying at the gurdwara. The religious place remained unexplored for a long time and was developed only after the Army deputed its personnel for maintenance. The hill is one of the several unique things in Ladakh. The hills and mountains in this region bear different colours.
UNI |
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Warrant
issued against Malik Jammu, June 6 The other accused in the case
—Shamima, alias Shazia, and Mushtaq Ahmed Dar — were present in the court. However, no effective proceedings took place due to the absence of
Malik. Malik and others are facing trial in connection with the seizure of $1 lakh and Rs 19,000 in Indian currency from Shamima and
Mushtaq, who were arrested by the Kud police on March 23, 2002. The accused confessed that they had received the amount from Altaf
Qadri, an executive member of Hurriyat Conference, in Kathmandu at the instance of Yasin
Malik. However, Shamima and Mushtaq retracted their confession before the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Jammu and said they had not made any statement to the police regarding the
involvement of Yasin Malik in this matter.
PTI |
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Mixed reaction to Mufti’s move on Rawalpindi road Jammu, June 6 Feroze Din and Khalid Bashir of R.S. Pora have supported the Mufti’s demand on the plea that “it will save a lot of time for us keen on meeting our relations across the border, as for visiting Pakistan we have to shuttle between Jammu and Delhi and then to Amritsar. Khalid Bashir wants the Suchetgar-Sialkot road to be reopened. He explains that for any person living in the Jammu region and keen to visit Muzaffarabad or Rawalpindi crossing the border from Suchetgarh, 27 km south of Jammu, would be easier than any other route. The demand for the reopening of the Rawalpindi road is not new. It has been raised from time to time and the National Conference, even after it assumed power in 1975 after 22 years in the wilderness, incorporated this demand in its poll manifestos. Since a large number of families in Poonch and Rajauri districts besides those living in Doda, Udhampur, Akhnoor, R.S. Pora areas, have relatives in Pakistan and occupied Kashmir the Congress has not been averse to the idea of reopening of the Uri-Rawalpindi or the Suchetgarh-Sialkot roads. While Dharam Chand (80), Jammuite, becomes nostalgic when he recalls how a large number of people would travel by train from Sialkot for sound sleep in Jammu city in summer. In the same vein Ghulam Rasool of interior of Srinagar remembers people, political leaders and employees visiting Rawalpindi, Lahore, Mirpur, Muzaffarabad and other areas in Pakistan and occupied Kashmir from Uri side before the partition. He said the Uri-Rawalpindi road used to be called the Jhelum view road. Majority of people in the Kashmir valley have usually supported the demand for the reopening of the Rawalpindi road. And it is in this context that the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, has conveyed to the Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and AICC President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, that once the relations between Delhi and Islamabad improved and crossborder terrorism ended Uri-Rawalpindi be reopened for travel and trade. However, the state unit of the BJP and the VHP have criticised the demand of the Kashmir Chief Minister for the reopening of the Rawalpindi road. Dr Hari Om, BJP spokesman, said that the Mufti was trying to “pursue an agenda” which could endanger the security of the state. He explained that the “security situation had not shown any improvement warranting reopening of the Rawalpindi road.” He said “even when the border had remained closed and the troops were carrying patrolling groups of militants sneaked into Jammu and Kashmir. “What will happen when the border is opened for trade and travel,” he asked. He added that once the Rawalpindi road was reopened “it will open floodgates for the militants.” But Khalid Bashir and Ghulam Rasool, supporters of the Mufti’s idea, wish to remind Dr Hari Om that “reopening of the Rawalpindi road was subject to the normalisation of the relations between Delhi and Islamabad. They explained that “reopening of Uri-Rawalpindi road on the Suchetgarh-Sialkot road did not mean that all check points are to be dismantled. It will be a Wagah-type arrangement at Uri and Suchetgarh.” The Chief of the VHP, Dr Ramakant Dubey, endorsed the BJP stand on the issue. Dr Dubey said “those who demand reopening of the Rawalpindi road were toeing the line of separatists in the Kashmir.” He said the National Conference had raised the demand for the reopening of the Rawalpindi road when it was in opposition or when its leaders were managing the affairs of the Plebiscite Front. The PDP circles are of the view that the idea of reopening of the Rawalpindi road had been mooted as part of the Government’s eagerness to “raze the wall of mistrust between Delhi and Islamabad. They stated that the road could be reopened only after the peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue which was possible once the proposed India-Pakistan talks took off. |
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QUESTION HOUR Srinagar, June 6 Announcing this in the Legislative Assembly here this morning, Mufti Sayeed said the University Grants Commission (UGC) had already granted permission for setting up additional campuses of Kashmir University at Baramula, Anantnag and Leh. He said the matter had been taken up with the UGC for setting up two additional campuses of Jammu University as well. The funds for this purpose would be no constraint, as the UGC would bear the expenses of faculties and infrastructure. Referring to the introduction of post-graduate classes in the colleges of Jammu region, the Chief Minister said these had been planned for Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua, Doda, Poonch and Rajouri in a phased manner. The Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, said more buses would be added to the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) fleet and other measures taken to make the corporation economically viable. In reply to the main question, Mr Sharma said the SRTC was plying its bus services in most far-flung areas of the state. However, the plying of buses from Jammu to Sagra, Balakote and Chhatral in the Mendhar constituency would be considered after assessing the road condition and economic viability. The Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Mr Taj Mohi-ud-Din, told the House that the oil industry had set up 155 retail outlets in Jammu and Kashmir and these were sufficient to cater to the demand of all districts. The Minister for Health and Medical Education, Mr Lal Singh, told the House that the department had at present no proposal to open more medical colleges in the private sector in the state.
Legislative Council The Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Mr Ghulam Hassan Mir told the Legislative Council today that no formal orders of transfer of the land for the construction of the
residential house for the Director-General of Police were issued by the previous government. An amount of Rs 61.82 lakh was spent on the construction, he said. The land belongs to the Tourism Department and its transfer to the Police Department had been approved by the former Chief Minister. The minister said no permission had been obtained from the competent authority. He said notice under Section-7 (I) of the Control of Building Operations Act, 1998, read with Amendment No. VI of 1997 was issued to the Managing Director, JK Housing Corporation, asking him to show cause why the construction not be demolished. Meanwhile, the construction work had been stayed by the high court, he said. The J&K Government was committed to providing all facilities to the families who had migrated from PoK, said the Minister for Revenue Relief and Rehabilitation Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen. The Minister of State for R&B, Mr A.R. Veeri said the government was exploring the possibility of rehabilitating persons who had been affected during the government’s recent drive of demolishing encroachments in the state but whose cases were genuine. Mr Veeri was replying to a question of Mrs Shamima Firdous. Replying to the main question, Mr Veeri said that Khanabal-Pahalgam road was being developed on four-lane specifications to facilitate the tourists, yatris, transporters and the general public. |
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Missing
police official sacked Srinagar, June 6 The official went missing soon after he had arrested three persons who had been returning home after attending a marriage ceremony and were, later, allegedly killed in custody. While the body of one of them was fished out from Dal Lake, the bodies of the others were recovered from Sheeri in Baramulla district.
PTI |
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Anti-corruption panel set up Srinagar, June 6 Headed by the Chief Secretary, the panel will have the Financial Commissioner, Finance and Commissioner and Secretary, Law, as its members. Announcing various measures against corruption during his speech in the legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister said the Vigilance was being made vibrant on the pattern of the CBI, with wings at the district level. Giving a warning to corrupt officials, the Chief Minister said though his government would not indulge in witch-hunting or victimisation, whosoever came under the Vigilance net would not be shielded.
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In video: An ISI-trained militant
surrenders after several years of fighting with the Indian forces.
