J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Azad suspends 15 officials
Jammu, December 2
The Chief Minister Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, today ordered the suspension of 15 officials of the State Institute of Education, Srinagar, who were absent from duty during a surprise check.

CM committed to stamping out corruption
Jammu, December 2
On the completion of one month in the office, Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad today announced “war” against corrupt ministers, legislators and officers. “I have given one month to legislators and officers and those who do not behave, an axe will start falling on their head,” Mr Azad told mediamen in Jammu.

3 Pak militants killed, arms seized
Srinagar, December 2
The police here today claimed to have arrested two persons in bank robbery case while three Pakistan militants were also killed in an encounter with the police at a hideout on the outskirts of the city yesterday.

Two killed in blast
Jammu, December 2
Two boys were killed in a landmine blast in border Chella Dangri village near Mendhar in Poonch district last evening. Police sources said Javed Iqbal (15) and Mohammad Ikhlag (14) were working in a field, near an Army post, when a landmine exploded, killing both of them.

Azad suspends 15 officials
Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 2
The Chief Minister Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, today ordered the suspension of 15 officials of the State Institute of Education, Srinagar, who were absent from duty during a surprise check.

Among those placed under suspension are Mr Mohammad Shaffi Bhat, coordinator, Mr Ahmadullah Uwaisi, field adviser, Mr Ghulam Rasool Khatai, research officer, Mr Ghulam Mohammad Batkaloo, research officer, Ms Nuzhat Showkat, master, Ms Shalkat, master, Mr Akbar Ali, section officer and Mr Mohammad Sami, statistical assistant.

Mr Azad had got the gates of the Secretariat shut here yesterday at 9.10 am and about 130 officers and other employees had to remain out of the building for about 30 minutes till their names were noted down. Thereafter, they were warned against late coming to the office.

However, reports of officers reaching late in the offices outside the Secretariat were pouring in. There were complaints that certain officers and divisional heads were coming to their offices around noon.

CM committed to stamping out corruption
Our Correspondent

Jammu, December 2
On the completion of one month in the office, Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad today announced “war” against corrupt ministers, legislators and officers.

“I have given one month to legislators and officers and those who do not behave, an axe will start falling on their head,” Mr Azad told mediamen in Jammu.

The Chief Minister said: “fight against corruption and nepotism is one among several priorities I have set for myself.”

He said while referring to the BJP’s plan of staging dharnas against induction of corrupt people in the government. People should come forward with proof against tainted ministers and officers. “Once I receive information you will see the results,” he said.

Since November 2, when he took over as Chief Minister, Mr Azad has been spending maximum time in the Civil Secretariat in reviewing the activities of various government departments. He said: “I have been spending 16 to 19 hours a day in the Civil Secretariat and devoting four to six hours in reviewing the activities of each department.” “It was not a superficial review but I have gone into the cases to remove the shortcomings,” he added.

Referring to the allegation that he was inaccessible to legislators and people, Mr Azad said: “I am not in favour of gossip. In my 28-year-long political career, I have been against the politics of gossip. It was for the people to see the results of change in the work culture which I have brought in the Civil Secretariat where 99 per cent employees and officers have started remaining punctual.”

His first priority was to restore normalcy in the state and it could not be done in one month. He said efforts to contain militancy were on.

He added that those who could not work should sit indoors so that space was left for the unemployed educated youth to get jobs. In case they do not quit themselves the government will have to shunt them out.”

Mr Azad said during his review he had found that various development projects had not been completed. I have set an 18-month target for the completion of each development work and for delays there would an inbuilt penalty system to be imposed from the agencies entrusted with the task of building roads, bridges, hospitals or any other project.

3 Pak militants killed, arms seized
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 2
The police here today claimed to have arrested two persons in bank robbery case while three Pakistan militants were also killed in an encounter with the police at a hideout on the outskirts of the city yesterday.

Giving details a police spokesman said one person was apprehended on the spot when the bank robbery took place at Rajouri Kadal branch of J&K Bank on Wednesday last. On his disclosures, two others, Shakeel Ahmad Sofi of Kreeri, Baramulla, and advocate Shabir Ahmad Bukharui were arrested a day later for interrogations. The militants had fled with Rs 11,77,000 from the J&K Bank branch. While investigation continues and efforts to arrest others accused in the case were on, some arms and ammunition were seized. The seizure included two AK rifles, two AK magazines and 60 rounds.

Acting on a specific information about presence of one foreign militant near Soura on the outskirts of Srinagar, the police raided the area last evening, the spokesman said. The hiding militant opened fire on the search party that ensued the encounter. Three Pak militants were killed in the encounter and were identified as Obaidu-r-Rehman alias Abu Talha from Faislabad, Mohammad Saleem alias Abu Abbas, Karachi, and Saddakat Ali alias Abu Hamad, Rawalpindi. The seizure made from the spot included two AK rifles, four AK magazines, 20 AK rounds, one pistol, one pistol magazines, three pistol rounds and two grenades. The police suspects that some Pak militants from the hideout were able to flee the spot towards Ganderbal, about 25 km from here. The hunt was going on, the police said. During investigations, the police has also seized 10 AK magazines, 450 AK rounds, five Chinese grenades, a satellite phone, two remote control and five rifle grenades.

Two killed in blast

Jammu, December 2
Two boys were killed in a landmine blast in border Chella Dangri village near Mendhar in Poonch district last evening. Police sources said Javed Iqbal (15) and Mohammad Ikhlag (14) were working in a field, near an Army post, when a landmine exploded, killing both of them.

Meanwhile, an Army jawan committed suicide by shooting himself with his service weapon in Rajouri district, a police spokesman said here. The deceased identified Havildar Sukhma Suba of 3/11 GR Rifles shot himself at Gumbir Brahmna yesterday. — Agencies