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Jammu-Pathankot highway soft target for militants Ansari for talks sans conditions Separatists should accept Centre’s talks
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HC raps BSF
for youth’s disappearance Lashkar rejects ceasefire offer 10 injured in Pak shelling Gurdwara panel poll tomorrow J&K situation
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Jammu-Pathankot highway soft target for militants Jammu, October 28 Luckily, no passenger in the train received serious injuries as the engine and five coaches derailed due to the explosion triggered by the terrorists on the track. The terrorists have been eyeing the railway track which passes close to the Pakistan border and at places the distance is hardly 8 km. In view of reports of terrorists following the river routes along the Jammu-Pathankot highway to infiltrate into India, it is time that the police undertakes effective measures to protest railway bridges which could become an easy target for the ultras. The state police is responsible for guarding these strategic bridges, but adequate force has not so far been deployed. A group of seven terrorists had recently engaged the troops in a longest encounter at Ghatti which lasted five days. The Basnatar, Ujh and numerous other nullahs flowing to Pakistan from under the road and railway bridges have become the route of infiltration for the terrorists. The security forces were unable to plug these routes as fencing was not possible in the river bed. Terrorists attacked a tourist bus on its way here from Delhi last year near Hira Nagar on the highway and killed four passengers. A bus of the Himachal transport was also attacked sometime ago near Kalu Chak near here and many innocent persons lost their lives. What is alarming is that with the widespread deployment of the Army on the road side stations, terrorists have started wearing Army uniforms to infiltrate into the prohibited areas. They were wearing Army uniform when they got engaged in an encounter at Ghatti and also during the attack on the Himachal bus. However, this time they were clad in police uniform when they planted an IED on the railway track and subsequently stopped a car on the pretext of checking the papers. This has come as a warning to motorists as policemen stand in groups of two to three at several places on the highway either for security duty or to check the flow of traffic. There is a general complaint that traffic police personnel harass tourists by stopping their vehicles at many places on the highway with a view to extracting money from them. However, with terrorists adopting such strategies now, there is scare among the motorists who are shy to stop their vehicles even when signalled by men in
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Ansari for talks sans conditions Srinagar, October 28 “There should be no conditions for initiating a dialogue. People from the entire Jammu and Kashmir, including Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), besides India and Pakistan, should be part of talks to find a lasting solution to the vexed issue,’’ Mr Ansari told UNI here. “We welcome the announcement of the dialogue offer from the Centre and nomination of Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani to talk to us,’’ he added. The Hurriyat Chairman said it was very “unfortunate’’ that Mr Advani only wanted to discuss decentralisation of power, an issue already “rejected by the Hurriyat a number of times’’. “We only want a meaningful dialogue which should be Kashmir-centric... we don’t want chief ministership, employment or subsidy,’’ Mr Ansari said. He said the involvement of Pakistan and people of Pakistan occupied-Kashmir (PoK) was a must for making any future talks meaningful and result-oriented. “When we talk of PoK, we also mean the people of Gilgit, Baltistan, Askardu and other areas... These people have a definite say in the Kashmir issue’’ he added.
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Separatists should accept Centre’s talks Jammu, October 28 “Now when the Central Government has extended the hand of friendship and peace, all separatists should avail of this golden opportunity and have talks with the Centre,” the minister said addressing deputations coming from border villages, including refugees from the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, here yesterday. Some elements have been playing to the tunes of certain forces hostile to India, but their “nefarious designs” will never be allowed to succeed, Mr Gupta said. Warning Pakistan to stop aiding and abetting cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Gupta said militants should also understand that bloodshed is no solution of any problem. The whole world knows terrorism in India is emanating from Pakistan and “it is unfortunate that our neighbouring country is still trying to befool the world community” by saying that Pakistan was in no way involved in terrorist activities in India, Mr Gupta said. —
PTI |
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HC raps BSF for youth’s disappearance Srinagar, October 28 In its order issued yesterday, the court rejected the argument of the BSF that the arrested person escaped from custody and held that the BSF version was aimed at avoiding legal consequences. It said from the facts and circumstances as reflected from the record, it appeared that the stand taken by the force was highly improbable. The court said the BSF admitted that the youth, Ghulam Nabi Bhat, of Hawal-Srinagar, was taken into custody in 1992, and was not handed over to the police or any other agency. Even an inquiry by a district judge showed that Bhat was visited by his relatives and was found in good health, but later his whereabouts were not conveyed to his family, who filed a writ petition. Terming it as a rarest of rare cases, the court allowed the petition and directed the state to pay Rs 1 lakh as compensation to the family. The court also blamed the state for having failed to protect the life of an innocent man or to account for his
disappearance while in custody. The BSF counsel had contended that the force was not responsible for the disappearance. As per the decision of the high court, an inquiry was conducted by a District Judge and it was reported in the inquiry that Bhat was arrested by the BSF and his whereabouts were unknown. Subsequently, an FIR was registered. The court order said the BSF admitted to have lifted Bhat on June 8, 1992 through its constabulary 107 Battalion. He was handed over to constable Labhour Singh and guard N.K. Raina during the intervening night of June 9 and 10, 1992. As per the BSF version, Bhat escaped from custody on the pretext of answering the call of nature. The BSF conducted a departmental inquiry but claimed that as the two constables had died in separate encounters, no action could be against them and prayed for the dismissal of the petition. The court, however, rejected the BSF plea and ordered the government to pay Rs 1 lakh as compensation to the affected family. —
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Lashkar rejects ceasefire offer Srinagar, October 28 "The mission of mujahideen is complete liberation of Kashmir from Indian occupation. They will not cease their operations until this goal was achieved," LeT spokesman Abu Huzaifa said in a statement to an English daily here. Warning people to keep away from security installations, he said the LeT did not want people to become the unintended targets of attacks which would be intensified during Ramzan. The outfit also described the latest peace package offer by India to Pakistan as a means to deceive people. —
PTI |
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10 injured in Pak shelling Baramula, October 28 Pakistani troops fired mortar and artillery shells from across the border targeting civilian areas and security force installation in the forward area of the sector on Sunday evening. Officials said some of the shells fell in the residential area, injuring 10 persons. There was also heavy shelling from across the border in the Keran and Karnah sectors last evening. About 40 shells were fired by the Pakistani troops. However, there were no reports of any casualty or damage to property as shells exploded mid-air or fell in the forest area. A high school and other buildings at Sultan Dekhi were damaged in the shelling late last month. Meanwhile, the administration has decided to construct 6,000 underground bunkers in the northern sector for those living near the LoC after the Divisional Commissioner visited the families affected by the recent shelling in Kupwara and Baramula districts. —
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Gurdwara panel poll tomorrow Jammu, October 28 While many of the 132 seats have been won unopposed by candidates backed by Dera Nangali Sahib, a contest has emerged between the supporters of the dera and SAD for the remaining seats. Bibi Jagir Kaur, former chief of the SGPC, is campaigning for the SAD candidates. Jathedar Ranjeet Singh, former Akal Takht chief, and Mr Sucha Singh Chhotepur, former minister, are campaigning for the supporters of the dera. According to Mr T.S.Wazir, president of the state Gurdwara Parbandhak Board, 72 candidates have been elected unopposed. All 11 candidates of the Dera have returned unopposed in Poonch district, nine each in Doda and Udhampur, three in Kathua and one in Jammu. The Shiromani Akali Dal has put up 14 candidates in the Jammu division. A total number of 132 members of the committee are being elected — 66 each from the Jammu and Kashmir divisions. Thereafter, the elected members will chose 15 representatives to constitute the State Gurdwara Board. |
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J&K situation
reviewed Jammu, October 28 The meeting was presided over by Lieut. Gen. T.P.S. Brar, GOC 16 Corps, at Nagrota. The Principal Secretary (Home), Mr S.D. Singh, Mr Dileep Trivedi, IG BSF, and senior officers of the Army, CRPF, police and intelligence participated in the meeting. The current security situation prevalent in the Jammu region was reviewed and steps required for improving it were discussed. |
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