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J&K police raid 'terror cell',
claim major breakthrough 

What is India News Service, Tuesday,2 November 2004, 2000 hrs IST

The police today claimed to have achieved a major breakthrough in various cases of murder, including that of a former minister of the National Conference, Safdar Ali Beigh, with the arrest of 11 persons in Anantnag district of Kashmir.

The module of the Hizbul Mujahideen comprising 13 persons was also responsible for the IED explosion at Sarnal in Anantnag town in which National Conference President Omar Abdullah had a narrow escape on October 24.

Briefing newspersons, Mr J. A. Makhdoomi, Inspector-General of Police, Kashmir range, said the module had been busted with the active assistance of the Army and the Central Reserve Police Force. The seizures made during the searches to nab the suspects included two AK 47 rifles, four magazines and one hand grenade. A major tragedy was also averted with the recovery of a live 20 kg RDX IED yesterday during the operations. The DIG of Police, Anantnag-Pulwama range, Mr Ravinder Kotwal, and the SSP, Anantnag, Mr Ashiq Hussain Bukhari, were also present.

HC issues notice to Advani, Thackeray: The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday issued notices to BJP leader LK Advani, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray and 18 others on a CBI petition challenging the 2001 order of the special CBI court dropping proceedings against them in the Babri Masjid demolition case on technical ground relating to the chargesheet.

Best Bakery case main accused identified: he second eyewitness to the Best Bakery carnage today identified five accused in the court. Raiz Khan alleged they were members of the riotous crowd that attacked the bakery on March 1, 2002, killing 14 persons. 

Centre, Assam, NDFB to work out ground rules for ceasefire: The Centre and the Assam Government will jointly discuss the ground rules for declaration of ceasefire with the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).

Panel set up for better Cong-govt ties: A four-member committee, comprising government and Congress representatives, has been set up in an effort to forge better ties between the party and the government and ensure proper projection of official policies.

Review of Armed Forces Act will be considered: The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, is reported to have promised to "review and, if necessary, replace" the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act "with a more humane law".

Centre tells SC consensus on river-linking being worked out: The Centre has told Supreme Court that it is working on evolving a consensus over the proposed link between rivers Ken and Betwa and another through Parbati-Kalisindhi-Chambal.

Sahitya Akademi has enriched democracy, says PM: The Prime Minister conferred fellowship of the Akademi on Dr U R Ananthamurhty and Young Writer Award on Ranjit Hoskote.

 States

Chautala\92s bonanza for govt staff, aged: Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala today announced a bonanza for the senior citizens, unemployed blind, poor sections of society and the government employees.

Mystery illness kills 62 children in UP: Though all indications are that the disease could be brain fever, doctors are awaiting test results to confirm the same.

Deshmukh to meet Sonia for portfolio allocation: Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh is expected to consult Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday and finalise the party's list of ministers in the new state government.

Police open fire to quell violence: Tension gripped parts of the communally sensitive old city today during the funeral procession of Mujahid, a young man who was killed in firing by a visiting Gujarat police team on Sunday. 

Jaya attacks UPA on Governor issue: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today slammed the UPA government accusing it of transferring governors on "flimsy and frivolous grounds" and "not consulting" state governments before appointing them.

New Governors for Rajasthan, Bihar: The Governor of Uttar Pradesh, T.V. Rajeshwar Rao, was today sworn in acting Governor of Rajasthan. The Jharkhand Governor, Ved Prakash Marwah, took oath as the acting Governor of Bihar today. 

Neighbours

No sell-out on Kashmir, says Musharraf: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said on Monday there would be no sell-out on Kashmir, stating that Pakistan was not under any pressure whatsoever on the long-standing dispute. 

Pakistan to extend cooperation with Nepal: Pakistan prime minister Shaukat Aziz said here on Monday said that there was a complete unanimity of views between Pakistan and Nepal on all regional and international issues.

Sobhraj plans laptop jail break: "Bikini killer" Charles Sobhraj crafted a hi-tech escape using his laptop and mobile.


View from abroad



Overall:

Kashmir police claimed breakthrough: They said they had busted a terror cell and arrested key men.