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| 'Pak-based terror groups demonstrating ever-increasing reach' | | | | March 20, NEW DELHI
Pakistan-based terror groups like the Lashker-e-Taiba are "demonstrating ever-increasing reach" that is reflected by recent attacks and suicide bombings in some countries, the defence ministry said on Tuesday.
India is also concerned at the escalation of violence in recent months in parts of Afghanistan by remnants of the Taliban, Al Qaeda and Hizb-e-Islami and these acts constitute a "primary source of insecurity" in the region, said the ministry's annual report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday.
"Recent incidents of terrorism and suicide bombings in some countries have demonstrated the ever-increasing reach of Pakistan-based terrorist organisations, such as the home-grown Lashker-e-Taiba," the report said.
Asserting that there cannot be a "segmented approach to terror", it said: "For an effective end to terrorism, the training camps, launching pads and communication networks of terrorist organisations must be eliminated."
Referring to India's persisting secutity concerns with Pakistan on cross-border terror, the report said, "Terrorist groups continu... | |
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FRONT PAGE STORIES |
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| Political arithmetic may favour the Congress | | | |
NEW DELHI
J&K Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is believed to have indicated to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that his minority government will survive even if coalition partner PDP pulls out.
A day before the PM meets PDP leader Mufti Mohd Syed in a last-ditch attempt to save the tottering coalition in J&K, Azad briefed him on the political and security situation in the state.
The arithmetic in J&K seems to favour the Congress with Azad procuring signed letters of support from Independents and MLAs belonging to smaller parties. In addition, the Congress appears to be banking on the likelihood of a split in the PDP should Syed go ahead with his threat to pull out of the coalition ... | |
| | | | Musharraf rules out emergency, postponement of elections | | | |
Islamabad, Mar 20
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf
has said parliamentary elections due this year will be held as
scheduled and ruled out imposition of emergency in the country.
''Neither will emergency be imposed nor are elections going to be
postponed,'' Gen Musharraf said in a GEO TV talk show last night.
Gen Musharraf chose to appear in the talk show ten days after a
crisis, which gripped the country in the wake of his
decision to send a reference against the sitting Chief Justice
Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to the Supreme Judicial Council under
charges of misconduct and misuse of authority.
The suspended Chief Justice is to appear before the council for
the third ti... | |
| | | | Budget session to re-commence on April 26 | | | | NEW DELHI
The second part of the Budget session of Parliament has been rescheduled and would now begin on April 26 instead of April 18.
The session would conclude on May 22, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee announced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The first phase of the session is slated to conclude on Wednesday.
Chatterjee said several parties had requested for rescheduling of the Budget session in view of Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.
In Rajya Sabha, Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan said a request for delaying the start of the session by a week had been made by Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi.
... | |
| | | | Heavy rains lash state, flood alert sounded in valley | | | | SRINAGAR: A flood alert has been sounded in Kashmir valley after the water level in Jhelum river rose one foot above the alarm mark at Sangam in Anantnag district due to incessant rains lashing wide parts of Jammu and Kashmir since Monday.
"Jhelum is flowing one foot above the alarm mark, just two feet below the danger mark at upstream Sangam area. It has been raining heavily since Monday and we do not want to be caught off guard," Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Basharat Ahmad Dhar said.
As little can be done at night, orders have been issued to all district development commissioners to keep the required manpower in readiness, he said.
Dhar said special arrangements have been made ... | |
| | | | Timber logs recovered in J-K | | | |
Jammu | Mar 20
Police and forest officials have recovered 437 timber logs worth over Rs two crore from Doda district of the state, official sources said today.
Acting on a tip-off, forest department sleuths along with police conducted raids in Thakuria and Peeprian villages of Doda last night and recovered timber logs valued at Rs 2.18 crore, the sources said.
No one was arrested in this regard as the smugglers managed to flee the spot, they said, adding a case has been registered in this regard. ... | |
| | | | Four washed away in flash floods in J-K | | | | Jammu | Mar 20
Four persons, including two women, have gone missing in flash floods in the state, officials said here today.
Mansa Devi and her daughter Ujla were crossing a river when flash floods washed them away in Baderwah tehsl of Doda district this morning, they said.
A villager Ram Lal was washed away in flood in Chinab river in Udhampur last night, they said.
An unidentified person went missing in Solni river in Rajouri early today when he was crossing the river, the officials said, adding, police and security forces have launched rescue operation in the areas
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| | | | FOUR LeT TERRORISTS KILLED : GALLANT CAPTAIN LAYS DOWN LIFE | | | | Jammu | Mar 20
Four hardcore terrorists were gunned down at village Choti Margi, two kms from Takipura in Kupwara district of North Kashmir. Based on the specific information about the presence of terrorists in the village a joint operation between 2 PARA (SF), Rashtriya Rifles and STF Kupwara was launched in the wee hours of 20 Mar 2007. The terrorists had taken shelter in group of two to three houses of Choti Margi.
Captain Harshan R, in true tradition of Army, was leading his troops while establishing the inner cordon around the group of houses. The terrorists being at a place of advantage, started firing at the approaching officer at 0350hrs. Captain, along with his buddy L/Nk ... | |
| | | | DB dismisses State’s appeal in murder case | | | | Jammu | March 20
Division Bench of J&K High Court Jammu Wing, comprising Justice Nirmal Singh and Justice JP Singh, in an appeal filed by State seeking setting-aside the judgment of 1st Additional Sessions Judge of February 28 last, acquitting respondents for committing murder of wife, observed that minor daughter of deceased was not mature enough to make statement before the Trial Court was unjustified and does not find any merit in the submission of Additional Advocate General that the Trial Court erred in holding Kuljinder Kour as incompetent witness.
According to the case Milkiat Singh accused after beating his wife Paramjeet Kour strangulated her with a rope. Mehar Singh brother of ... | |
| | | | Will Mufti Meet PM? | | | | Jammu | March 20
Will Mufti Mohd. Sayeed leave for Delhi to meet Prime Minister,Dr Manmohan Singh in response to the invitation from the latter ?
This is a million dollar question after the PDP leadership seems to have been ruffled by Chief Minister, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad’s categorical “NO” to the demand for demilitarization. As per the schedule the Prime Minister had invited the Mufti for talks on Tuesday but the former Chief Minister had, on Monday decided to fly to Delhi on Wednesday. Why this cooling period? Indications are that the PDP leadership has been examining the pros and cons of Mr Azad’s statement which he had made after coming out of the meeting he had with Dr Manmohan Singh... | |
| | | | SSP Mushtaq Kinu suspended | | | | Jammu | Mar 20
Financial Commissioner, Home, B R Kundal today suspended Senior Superintendent of Police, Mushtaq Kinu, Commandant 3rd battalion Jammu and Kashmir Armed police (JKAP) for transporting official cement and bricks from Srinagar to his under construction house at Roop Nagar, Jammu in a JKAP truck some day back.
Taking serious note in this regard, Director General of Police Gopal Sharma had recommended attachment of the police officer to police Headquarters pending an inquiry against him and today he was suspend in an order.
The DGP had written to Finance commissioner (Home), B R Kundal for attachment of Kinu on the ground that a department as well as a vigilance inquiry is be... | |
| | | | Babri Masjid demolition controversy revived | | Congress washes its hands off Rahul's statement | | | NEW DELHI | MAR 20
Rahul Gandhi, Congress member of the Lok Sabha, was taken aback on Tuesday when his statement on the demolition of the Babri Masjid was virtually disowned by his party. Barely a day after he made the statement, the Congress party conveniently washed its hands off the issue. The Congress party's standpoint: The statement on the demolition of the Babri Masjid was based on Rahul Gandhi's own assessment.
Congress spokesperson, Satyavrata Chaturvedi, has said: "We have not seen or read his statements. He has said something based on his own assessment". Chaturvedi went on to say that the party has clarified its stand on the demolition of the Babri Masjid several times in ... | |
| | | | Lok Sabha Speaker's 'no action' ruling | | | | NEW DELHI | MAR 20
Congress MP, MK Subha, is not out of danger, even as the Lok Sabha Speaker, Somnath Chatterjee, on Tuesday ruled 'no action' on an Opposition appeal, seeking his expulsion from the Lok Sabha in the wake of a controversy over his nationality. Chatterjee has virtually passed the buck on to the Supreme Court.
Reacting to the recent expose that casts doubts over the nationality of the MP from Tezpur constituency in Assam, the Speaker said that in this case, the Lok Sabha is not the authority to decide the matter. "I am convinced that it would not be appropriate to draw a parallel" between the Subba case and that of the 10 members expelled in the wake of the cash-for-que... | |
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