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Bitterness comes to fore in coalition
Samba Encounter
3 killed, 14 ultras still at large: Agency
3 suspected men handed over to police
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Pak-trained militants go hi-tech
Infiltrators ‘hoodwinked’ BSF in Samba
Dusk-to-dawn curfew in border villages
Dispute Over GI Tag
Accident Check
16,000 posts to be filled
Armymen frisked near PDP rally
It serves as an input, says DIG Khan
Two booked for graft
Tributes paid to scribe
IIM: Vakil hails Centre’s decision
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Bitterness comes to fore in coalition
Srinagar, May 13 After PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed hurled accusations at the Centre of “imposing” a chief minister to the state, the Congress has hit back saying Mufti’s “advice to the people is uncalled for and unwarranted.” “Mufti sahib is totally wrong,” stated, chief spokesperson, Mohammad Muzaffar Parray of the JKPCC here on Sunday. “The references obviously meant for reminding the people of Jammu and Kashmir that Ghulam Nabi Azad was imposed by Delhi as chief minister.” “This is factually wrong and Mufti sahib’s memory does not serve him well. The fact remains that rank and file of the Congress party had wanted the high command to implement the agreement between the PDP and Congress that the coalition would be led by a Congress man at the end of first term of three years during which the coalition was led by Mufti Mohammad
Sayeed,” Parray said. “It is to remind Mufti sahib that not only the Congress Legislature Party
(CLP) had voted for Ghulam Nabi Azad’s chief ministership but the rank and file of the party was in support of him. So the question of Delhi imposing a chief minister on J&K does not arise,” he added. “One would like to remind Mufti further when the results of October 2002 were available, Azad was chosen as leader of Legislature Party and he enjoyed support of 44 members,” he said. “It was around that time, while the discussions were going on the question of chief
ministership, that the Congress high command led by Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh decided, in the broader interests of the nation that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed should lead the coalition.” “Against this background, one could say in all fairness that Mufti sahib was imposed by Delhi as chief minister,” the spokesman added. However, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti here yesterday defended her father, saying he did not indulge in irresponsible statements. Reacting to the Congress spokesman’s statement, she said some political parties wary of the PDP agenda, were frustrated and thus indulged in such statements. The enemies of the PDP and its agenda were themselves responsible for such statements in the media and then followed these by their reactions, she added. Describing the statement attributed to Mufti Sayeed as baseless, the PDP president held that the former chief minister had not given any such statement. |
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Samba Encounter
Jammu, May 13 According to intelligence sources, the BSF, which was all praise for itself when it claimed to have foiled an infiltration bid just few hours ago of the Samba attack, at first wanted to handle the situation by itself, but when it found that the situation was slipping away from its hand, they called for the Army, that was rushed in from Jammu. “It was lack of coordination that resulted in the loss of so many innocent lives in the area. Though by killing the third militant on the second day, the Army averted a major tragedy as the militant had plans to attack the Army garrison in the area in which many more lives could have been lost. But the first encounter exposed the incoordination between the forces,” a highly placed intelligence source told
The Tribune. He said the attack was a total failure of the BSF’s intelligence network as it had the prior information about the attack but it did not act swiftly. Another reason for the delay in action has been attributed to the erratic bunker vehicle used by the BSF, which jammed on the road creating a hurdle in movement of troops. “They used the bunker vehicle which required people to push it in order to start it. In such a heavy gunfire nobody could dare to come out and push it. The result: The vehicle could not be started and got stuck in between the road,” the source said. The source said that lack of coordination between the forces created a “fiasco” and the militant took advantage of it. The source said that militants had taken no hostage and the “hostage drama” was enacted as a face saving measure by the force. “The attack was aimed at killing more and more people and if there were any hostages then how they were released unharmed in such a heavy fire,” the source said. He further said, “The hostages were in another house and if the force claimed to have rescued the hostages at 3:30 pm then what took another 4 hours to bring down
the militants.” The Army too was not prepared to tackle the situation as no quick reaction team (QRT) was ready to counter attack and the troops which could have been mobilised in one hour took few hours to prepare themselves for the attack. “If troops were out on exercise why the QRTs were not ready to deal with the situation, what took too long for the Army to mobilise its troops,” the source said. |
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3 killed, 14 ultras still at large: Agency
Jammu, May 13 Official sources believe that majority of the rest of the militants have travelled either to Udhampur or Doda district. It is in this connection that the security forces have been directed to intensify search operations on Mansar-Dhaar road, which connects south Jammu with Udhampur. Besides, search operations have been launched in Hiranagar and its adjoining areas in Kathua district during the last two days. On the basis of a police report, the security forces swooped on a village in Hiranagar, where some militants had been reported to be hiding in spacious Sarkanda near the border. The security personnel opened fire but there was no response from within the field. The security forces avoided entering into the tall Sarkanda fields and instead set the plants on fire. Nothing, however, was recovered from the area. Meanwhile, as reports reaching the government here revealed that Pakistan, in violation of agreement, had deployed troops on each border outpost right from across Akhnoor to Kathua, the BSF personnel guarding the 187-km-long international border in the Jammu sector have been directed to intensify patrolling. Official sources said here today that each border outpost in Pakistan, across the international border, was being manned by the Pakistani Rangers along with seven to 10 army personnel. The Pakistan army authorities have directed the troops to carry out regular patrolling on the border. Also reports reaching here from across the border revealed that training camp for militants had been reopened across Suchetgarh, 27 km south of Jammu, in Sialkot sector. These militants were being prepared to infiltrate into the Jammu sector from across Suchetgarh, Samba and R.S. Pora sectors. |
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3 suspected men handed over to police
Jammu, May 13 Sources said people were coming out with information after noticing any suspicious person or activity. In one such incident, the residents of Barwal village in Kathua today caught three shawl sellers and handed them over to the police. Sources said the trio hails from Kupwara and about Rs 2.5 lakh were reportedly recovered from their possession. However, no arms and ammunition were seized. Commenting on the incident during a press meet here, DIG Farooq Khan said the investigations were on and it would be too early to say anything on the matter. When contacted, Samba SDPO Ram Singh Charak confirmed that they are indeed receiving a number of phone calls from the people, giving them the information about “suspicious activities” around them. However, he said a majority of these have turned out to be
rumours. “People have gone panicky and are giving tip-offs to the police on noticing anything in their vicinity. And there are also some people who are simply testing whether the police acts on their information or not,” he added. He said the police was not taking any information lightly and was acting on these calls even in the late night hours. The Kathua SSP and the defence PRO could not be contacted for their comments. |
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Pak-trained militants go hi-tech
Jammu, May 13 Infiltrators sneaking into the Indian side from across the border are increasingly using
global positioning system devices in their ventures, posing problem for the security agencies which have no equipment to track them. Security forces yesterday recovered a sophisticated GPS device from the slain Pakistani militant who was gunned down while planning to attack the army’s garrison in
Samba sector. According to intelligence sources the infiltrators now depend more on the satellite-based GPS system instead of human guides to infiltrate
into the state. "Terrorists have gone hi-tech as they are using sophisticated devices to find their way into our territory," PRO of the Ministry of Defence Lt-Col. S.D. Goswami told The Tribune, adding, "The incidents, where militants rely on GPS to sneak into our side, have increased in the recent past." A GPS device can be as small as a mobile phone and is available for as little as Rs 3,000-5,000. It can be used by anyone with a little technical
knowledge. Earlier, infiltrators relied mostly on 'not always trustworthy' human guides who used to take hefty sums in crossing the border but now the hi-tech equipment has taken over as it can easily remain untraced. "Earlier, we used to track mobile conversations between infiltrators and their guides but now we do not have any resources to track GPS signals," an official source said. "A person sitting kilometres away can easily guide the infiltrators and we cannot trace the signals," he added. Sources in the Army told The Tribune that training in GPS equipment had been made mandatory for terrorists
operating on the other side of the LoC. “They (militants) across the border are being given special training by their trainers in operating GPS” said an
army officer. Goswami said, “Militants have become techno savvy, as they are well funded and are self-contained. To avoid being detected they always try on alternative ways, besides GPS we keep on recovering matrix, maps from them. They have been improving their communication network.” An army officer, however, says that the Army has already installed counter measures; he said “We have installed some counter measures to neutralise the militants using GPS. These equipment can only help them cross the border but cannot show them places where we have put mines." |
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Infiltrators ‘hoodwinked’ BSF in Samba
Jammu, May 13 The source said the world attention being focused on the internal affairs of Pakistan, the ISI was busy sending more infiltrators into the Indian side. The intelligence sources said the militants were planning to disrupt the peaceful conduct of annual Amarnath Yatra scheduled to commence from next month. The state would also go for assembly elections later this year and any major attacking by militants would try to force an election boycott amongst the people in the state. Meanwhile, the security forces have launched a combing operation and surprise checks and searches have been intensified in and around the area, so as to trace the sneaked in militants. According to intelligence source, the militants who had sneaked into Indian side would try to move to the Kashmir valley after they finish their operation in Jammu. “There are many border areas which fall on the borders of Western and Northern command of the Indian army which are not guarded, these militant might try to sneak into the valley from that area.” An intelligence source said. Adding he said, “Two militants in Samba killed eight people, they succeeded in their mission.” Security agencies in Jammu have been kept on their toes after intelligence inputs revealed that a group of seven to eight militants who had sneaked into the Indian side of the border through Samba were planning to strike in a big way in the region. Intelligence agencies have informed the police, the Army and the BSF that a group of ten to eleven heavily-armed militants had successfully sneaked into the Indian side of the border from Regal in Samba Sector when the BSF claimed to have foiled the infiltration bid. Three amongst who were gunned down in two different encounters. According to intelligence sources, the group that had sneaked into the Indian side has been instructed by their Pakistan-based leaders to attack in a big way. “The army foiled an attack on its garrison in Samba when it gunned down a militant yesterday, in that way army averted another Kalu-chak from happening,” said an intelligence source. |
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Dusk-to-dawn curfew in border villages Jammu, May 13 Jammu deputy inspector general of police Farooq Khan told newspersons today that the cooperation of villagers has been sought in the matter. The police and villagers have mounted joint patrolling in the villages where wild bushes and jungles and ravines pose a challenge in checking intrusion from across the border. Farooq Khan said curfew had been imposed as it would help in restricting the movement of villagers along the border and the security forces would be able to identify the non-residents, especially terrorists or intruders from across the border. Meanwhile, the BSF, facing flak after its claim on infiltration bid, would be facing an internal investigation. A team headed by BSF Director General A.K. Mitra is expected to visit Jammu to assess the situation. — IANS
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India, Pak claim rights on Kashmir handicrafts
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, May 13 However, local artisans continue to suffer due to little differentiation for general buyers between the rich but expensive Kashmiri products and their fake but cheaper competitors from China and parts of India. The government moved two years back to get the GI patent for some exclusive Kashmiri handicrafts like Pashmina and Kani shawl as it became apparent that the local artisans were at a huge loss with the influx of outside products. Officials said a Pakistani business body based in Rawalpindi opposed the grant of the GI to Kashmiri handicrafts saying that the artisans in PoK were making products of similar quality and their exclusion from the GI would harm their interests. Craft Development Institute, which was set-up here to promote the handicraft industry in the state, officials say that their products are far better than those made in PoK due to availability of unique material, and the craft confined to the valley only. The officials say that artisans in Gilgit region of PoK make their Pashmina products and other handicrafts, which they claim is as good as those in the valley. “It’s not true. They have commercially benefited by passing off their goods as Kashmiri and if we get the GI then they would suffer. Hence their objection,” an official said. Pakistani lobby has obviously denied these claims in its submission to the GI body and said if the GI was given to Kashmiri handicrafts, then their similar products would be automatically declared illegal as they were also sold as Pashmina. The officials said it would take a long time for the GI body to verify the claims and counter-claims by assessing products from both sides of the Kashmir before it comes to a conclusion. A Kani shawl costs over Rs 1 lakh while Pashmina, which cost less than Kani, is more popular due to its production on a bigger scale, but competition from fake products has affected their market despite a whopping demand. A GI tag to their product will give them an exclusive identity, thus killing the market of fake products. But it seems to be a long way off now.
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Accident Check
Srinagar, May 13 A meeting presided over by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was held here last evening to ascertain the causes of the road accidents particularly in erstwhile Doda district, Batote-Kishtwar national highway and other hilly roads in the state. The measures stressed by the Chief Minister included plying of 20-seater buses on narrow and hilly routes in Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Rajouri, Poonch, Udhampur and Kathua districts of Jammu region. He said Rs 1 crore would be released to the SRTC for purchasing small buses. To begin with, these buses will be plied on hilly routes in Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban districts, in view of the area having witnessed a large number of road accidents recently leading to loss
of many lives. The exact requirement of such vehicles and the routes would be identified immediately and the buses deployed accordingly on different routes in these areas, an official spokesman here said. The Chief Minister also issued instructions for imparting training to
drivers who would ply these buses. He called for joint inspection of the Batote-Kishtwar highway by the traffic police and the BRO authorities to identify the narrow and blind zigs and spots which need immediate widening. He said parapets and retaining walls be also constructed at the
vulnerable spots and traffic signage in Urdu and Hindi languages installed about the
condition of the road ahead. It was decided to designate nodal officers of the Traffic Department for these district headquarters and other places to ensure strict enforcement of traffic rules and regulations and check overloading and rash and negligent driving. The need was also felt for time regulations of buses and plying of more passenger buses at peak hours to avoid rash driving and overloading. |
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Farmers get land ownership rights
Srinagar, May 13 Addressing a public meeting on the occasion, Azad said his government did not differentiate between people on the basis of region, religion or political affiliation in matters of development. The Chief Minister said he had initiated a new political culture in the state based on social justice and economic opportunities to all sections of society. The Chief Minister said his government took a revolutionary initiative of conferring ownership rights of about 22 lakh kanals of state land on the farmers free of cost. He said the beneficiaries would be the owners of the land that till now belonged to the state. This, he said, would facilitate them in obtaining a permanent resident certificate and bank loan. He said the farmers now being the owners of the land would concentrate more on increasing agriculture production which, he said, was imperative for meeting the challenge of food shortage world over. Minister for transport Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen and minister for consumer affairs and public distribution Taj Mohiuddin were among those present. |
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16,000 posts to be filled
Srinagar, May 13 An official spokesman said 16,000 vacancies have been referred to the Service Selection Recruitment Board (SSRB) for recruitment on fast track basis. Chief Secretary B.R. Kundal has directed all administrative departments to refer all vacancies in their respective departments to the SSRB by May 15, the spokesman said. Meanwhile, the SSRB has invited applications from unemployed youths for filling 6,299 vacancies in health, education, rural development, revenue and other development sector in almost all districts of the state. The post to be filled included village level workers, multi purpose workers, drivers, teachers and junior assistants.
— UNI |
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Armymen frisked near PDP rally
Rajouri, May 13 The armymen were frisked near the town hall area here where former chief minister and PDP patron was addressing a youth convention of the party. “I was coming from the bus stand towards the city chowk area, but was stopped by the police. They frisked me and it was only after I proved my identity they let me go,” said an armyman, who had come to a shop to get his mobile repaired. “We cannot take chances since militants in Army dress had carried the attack in Samba. Since former chief minister is attending the public meeting we have to provide fool proof security,” a senior police officer said. Meanwhile, people going to main market for shopping had a tough time as they were frisked at many places. Commenting on the Samba incident, Mufti said people behind such attempts were trying to destabilise the existing peaceful situation in the state. |
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It serves as an input, says DIG Khan
Jammu, May 13 Interacting with the mediapersons at the Jammu Press Club, the DIG said though there was no let up in the guard from their side, the Samba incident would serve as an input in making security arrangements for the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra better. He said while the BSF had claimed to have foiled an infiltration bid at the international border in Samba, the police resorted to strict checking of vehicles to avoid any untoward incident. “May be our suspicion that some terrorists may have sneaked in was correct,” he added. The senior police official said Samba was not on infiltration route of terrorists. “The town has strong presence of serving soldiers and ex-servicemen and no militant could have gone unnoticed in the area for long,” he added. On the charge of the police not responding to phone calls in Samba after terrorists struck, he said the landline of the concerned police station was down, adding that the police still reached at the site within minutes of the militants barging into Hoshiar Singh’s house. On the slain terrorists’ identity, he said there was no proof that they had crossed over to the Indian territory from the Samba sector. He said the police’s first priority was to get the hostages released safely and acted accordingly. The DIG urged the people to cooperate with the police during checking of vehicles and not to make it a “prestige issue.” |
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Two booked for graft
Srinagar, May 13 A vigilance official here today said they demanded bribe for making entries in the revenue records regarding conferring of ownership of state land in favour of villagers of Lalyal village under the Roshini Scheme. The official said they conducted verification after receiving complaints from the villagers, which revealed that a large chunk of the state land existed under the possession of various individuals. |
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Tributes paid to scribe
Udhampur, May 13 At the condolence meeting many prominent journalists and others attended. Meeting observed two minute silence in honour of the departed soul and prayed for his internal peace in the heaven. Speaking on the occasion the members highlighted the services of Sodhi for society in general and his ferternity in particular. Prominent among who paid tributes to Ashok Sodhi included Javed
Azad, Naresh Gupta, Mast Nath Yogi and Koshal Dogra. |
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IIM: Vakil hails Centre’s decision
Srinagar, May 13 The government has also launched a programme aimed at developing infrastructure of existing colleges within a fixed time-frame of 18 months to two years, he said while addressing a public meeting at Lolab in Kupwara district.
— PTI |
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