Lt Sushil Khajuria MARTYERED ENCOUNTER KASHMIR UPDATE 01 OCT

ENCOUNTER AGAIN RE COMMENCES

Kupwara gun-battle enters 5th day SRINAGAR, Sept 30: The fierce encounter between militants and security forces in the frontier district of Kupwara near the Line of Control (LoC) today entered into fifth day after firing resumed early in the morning. While giving details about the fresh firing that has taken place in the Shamsbari forests, General Officer commanding (GOC) 15 Corps Srinagar, Lt Gen S A Hasnain, said, "A fresh encounter started today at 5.30 in the morning. We can't say whether it is an infiltrating or exfiltrating group. We can't say how many terrorists are present as the area is close to the LoC, but a fierce encounter is taking place." Earlier, police said yesterday that the encounter has ended after the militants stopped firing. It is one of the longest encounters between security forces and militants in the Kasmir valley in the recent months that has entered 5th day. A total of nine persons including five militants, an Army officer Lt Sushil Khajuria, a jawan and two policemen have been killed in the gunfight. The encounter broke out at Awathkul forest area of Kralipora on Monday when police assisted by Army launched a search operation following information about presence of heavily-armed militants in the forests. The bodies of the five militants were recovered yesterday during search operations of the forest area by the security forces. Large quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered from the possession of the dead militants. Army sources believed that it was a group of militants that had managed to infiltrate into Kupwara forests through Keran sector recently. When the security forces got the information about their presence in the Shambari forests, a major offensive was launched in which these militants were eliminated. The dense forest and a tough mountainous area with lots of natural caves where militants had barricaded themselves are making the operation difficult for the security forces. "These militants had chosen very tough terrain to infiltrate thinking that they will not get detected. But the alert troops not only detected them but eliminated them in one of the fierce encounters," Army sources said. This group is bigger than what Army had thought initially, said the Army sources. Yesterday after firing stopped the security forces thought the encounter was over. Meanwhile, Army personnel have arrested a Pakistani militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba after he had infiltrated into Kupwara district. Nisar Ahmad was arrested when he had infiltrated through Trehgam sector, officials said today. Ahmad was presented before the media today along with arms and ammunition recovered from his possession at the time of the arrest. The militant said he was a drug addict and had been "sold" by his brother to LeT for taking part in militant activities

BRIG HEMANT MAHAJAN TALK ON IDIAS INTERNAL SECURITY SCENE

INDIA’S INTERNAL SECURITY CHALLENGES : COMMON MANS SECURITY A DISTANT DREAM .   FOLLOWING WILL BE COVERED:-

•          PRESENT STATE

•          STATE OF PROXY WAR IN J&K.

•          INSURGENCY IN THE NORTH-EAST.

•          MAOIST/ NAXALITE  THREATS.

•          EMERGING CHALLENGES.

•          POLICY OPTIONS.

•          INTERACTION / QUESTION ANSWER SESSION

AT TARUN MANDAL,GANAPATI MANDAL CHOWK,MUNDHAWA GAV,PUNE 35.
6-8 PM
01 0CT 2011
ALL ARE INVITED TO ATTEND AS MY GUESTS 

INDIAN LEGAL SYSTEM CANNOT GIVE JUSTICE

Are we a soft State ?By Joginder Singh

Eleven people were killed and at least 82 others injured in a powerful bomb blast, on 7th September, 2011, outside Delhi High Court...
This bomb attack is 20th strike in the capital since 1996, apart from numerous others all over the country, in places like Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat, Bangluri Coimbatore, Luknow, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Assam and many other cities. We have become a soft state as the politics and especially vote bank politics has got mixed up with the fight against terrorism and other crimes. The following facts speak for themselves.
Madras High Court has stayed the execution of three killers involved in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. Earlier their appeal against the sentence had been rejected by the Supreme Court and the mercy petition was also turned down, by the President.
Tamilnadu assembly has passed a resolution recommending that the death penalty be waived. Following the resolution of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, there have been similar demands for the waiving of the death penalty imposed on a Muslim terrorist involved in the attack on Parliament, by J&K Chief Minister and also similar concession has been asked for the Sikh Terrorist who killed the former Chief Minister of Punjab, Beant Singh, himself a Sikh..
More than 105 people in India were sentenced to death in 2010, but no one was executed during the year.
The kind of crimes which are committed in India, like the rape of the kids from 3 to 10 years, child abuse leading to death, killing of girls in the name of the honour of the family, resisting rape, contract killings, terrorism are some of the ghastliest crimes, deserve the death penalty more than once, if it were possible to do so. Child abuse, assuming that a child survives it, casts a shadow for a lifetime. But since the powers that be are living with security and all amenities, they are least bothered about the rights of the victim.
Technically, the State is the victim, but actually the victim is a victim and not the State Government. We all pay lip service to the Criminal Justice System, but the reality of the crime is that the there are more rights for the criminals and more injustice for the victims.
The truth is that if a criminal, whether be it be a murderer or rapist, or a terrorist, if he is traced, gets all free legal aid. But, if you are a victim, or a parent or a relation of the victim, you literally have no rights.
Otherwise, why the States should go all out to demand clemency for the killers of Rajiv Gandhi and 11 others as well as the attacker on the National Parliament.
We as a Nation seem to have skewed priorities or at least our rulers have. Life is not like a film movie or a television serial, where in a case of heinous crime, the offender is arraigned and brought to trial within 15 minutes.
Within an hour, the killer has been tried, convicted and sent to prison for the rest of his life or ordered to be hanged. The victim's articles and possessions are taken as evidence, which may not be returned, to him for years, apart from the emotional and financial ruin.
The victim of violent crime thinks and believes that the attack was a crime against his or her person. But.. our system says, that a crime against the individual, is a crime against the state, which is a totally impersonal entity.
The result of all this is that the criminals have a whole prop of constitutional rights, victims are left out in the cold and forgotten by the system of criminal justice. The then Chief Justice of Delhi High Court A P Shah said while releasing the High Court report for 2008, that it would take the court (Delhi High Court) approximately 466 years to clear the pending 2,300 criminal appeals cases alone.
Over four million cases, are pending in India in 21 high courts 26.3 million cases are pending in subordinate courts across the country.

Taking Uttar Pradesh as a test case, for delay in criminal justice system, according to solicitor general of India, in August, 2011, 10,541 criminal trials were stayed by Allahabad HC. Of these, 9% were pending for more than 20 years and 21% for over a decade. This means, stay of trial in 30% of heinous offences continued for more than 10 years.
The Supreme Court observed that ''It's sad that administration of justice has come to such a pass.
The HCs stay the trial and forget all about it. This means, we are choking the administration of justice. No one should be denied a fair and speedy trial. But what about the victims? What about society which feels that a wrongdoer should be punished at the earliest. Through these stays, that is being denied.'' Whether it is terrorism or ordinary crime, unless the criminals or terrorists gets the message that retribution will be fast and quick, he or she will continue in the same way.
Government should remember, what Sophocles once said; ‘‘I have nothing but contempt for the kind of Governor who is afraid, for whatever reason, to follow the course that he knows is best for the State.’’

SCARY ASSESSMENT OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN NEPAL

INDIAN GOVT IS REPEATED FAILINING IN NEPAL WHILE CHINA TAKES OVER NEPAL

China takes over Nepal BY CLAUDE ARPI

 What is going on in Nepal? If one goes by the latest news, nothing good for India. Why did Mr. Shyam Saran, the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy had to pay a quick visit to the former Himalayan Kingdom to meet ‘Prachanda’, the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) Chairman and other political leaders?

The answer is that India’s special position in Nepal is waning fast, very fast.

...an expanded and enhanced connectivity between the two countries [will] also open the avenues for Nepal being a transit country between the two giant economies, China and India.

After the meeting with Prachanda, a spokesperson for the Maoists told the reporters, “The special envoy made it clear that …he was not here to impose his views on formation of a new government.” But some sources said Mr. Saran requested the Maoist leadership to clarify their stand vis-a-vis multi-party democracy and their anti-India campaign. Their answer is not known.

In the meantime, the Maoists, with the support of Beijing are clearly trying to change the status quo. An article in a national newspaper gives a significant example: “After the controversial withdrawal of the contract issued to an Indian government firm for machine readable passports, New Delhi’s initiative for a fresh India-Nepal extradition treaty seems to be the next target of Kathmandu’s political instability.”

But sources in the Nepali government say that the extradition treaty is not likely to be signed before Nepal’s new Constitution comes into force. It may take some time as in any case the Maoists are against the new treaty.

But the collaboration freeze (‘until the Constitution is passed’), is not applicable to everybody. Sino-Nepal relations flourish as never before. The website China Tibet Information Center, a subsidy of the official Xinhua news agency, announced on July 13 that that the port of Gyirong located in Shigatse Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) will be fully operational in 2011. The website affirmed: “Since the end of 2009, TAR has made great efforts to build the Gyirong Port and speed up its construction in 2010. The construction will keep on after the port reopens.”

While India has to wait for the promulgation of the new Constitution, the Chinese are happily signing agreements with Kathmandu.

The Economic Times explained further: “China is expanding its engagement with Nepal by building what is being billed as the biggest land port connecting it with the South Asian region as a whole. This is seen by observers as part of a larger move to connect Xigaze (Shigatse) with Nepal by rail,” adding: “The idea is to apparently build it as a border post larger than Nathu-la [in Sikkim].”

The message is clear and it is probably why Mr. Saran was sent in a last-chance mission. Kathmandu is also interested to import petroleum products from China once the secluded ex-Kingdom is connected by rail to the TAR. A Nepali government statement mentions that “an expanded and enhanced connectivity between the two countries [will] also open the avenues for Nepal being a transit country between the two giant economies, China and India.”

While Nathu-la does not fare too well, will future business between India and China pass through Nepal? It seems surrealistic.

The Nepalese have already started the deportation of Tibetans crossing the border: three of them have been handed over to the Chinese authorities in early June 2010.

But there is more. While India has to wait for the promulgation of the new Constitution, the Chinese are happily signing agreements with Kathmandu. It was reported that Nepal and China will soon establish ‘a high-level mechanism to share intelligence to contain anti-China activities in Nepal’. So, no extraditions of anti-India elements, but Tibetan refugees who try to flee the most-repressive regime of the world will be sent back.

It is what was decided at the Nepal-China Border Security and Law Enforcement Talks which recently concluded in Kathmandu.

Both parties agreed to set up focal points in the respective home ministries in Kathmandu and Beijing. A senior Nepali government official told the Kathmandu Post: “The Chinese side assured full support to enhance capacity building, training of Nepali security personnel to be deployed across the northern border, seeking Nepal’s full commitment on information sharing on anti-China activities with effective law enforcement mechanism to contain the activities.”

Worse for the Tibetans, the Chinese offered ‘logistic support’ worth 300,000 US dollars to the Nepalis in the form of laptops, searchlights or metal detectors. The Chinese Vice-Minister for Public Security Chen Zhiming was pleased with results of his stay in Nepal: “My visit is to find out ways to strengthen the bilateral relations between Nepal and China.”

The Nepalese have already started the deportation of Tibetans crossing the border: three of them have been handed over to the Chinese authorities in early June 2010. According to Nini Gurung, spokeswoman of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): “It is a very serious issue and we are extremely concerned.” They were sent back by helicopter with a Nepali escort (a politician accompanying them).

Since 1989, there was a ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ between the government in Kathmandu and the UNHCR: Nepal did not grant the refugee status to the Tibetans, but they were allowed a safe transit through Nepal en route to Dharamsala, India.

After the unrest on the Tibetan plateau in March/April 2008, the Chinese repression against the Tibetans was unanimously condemned. A report of the Human Right Watch recently provided more details: “the Chinese government has yet to …reveal the fate of hundreds of Tibetans arrested during the protests, or disclosed how many it has detained, sentenced, still holds pending trial, or has sentenced to extrajudicial forms of detention”. Nicholas Bequelin, who is based in Hong Kong and worked for HRW, in an interview with the French Daily Le Monde asked a pertinent question: “What is the Chinese government trying to hide by locking the entire Tibetan plateau since the demonstration of March 2008.”

Despite this, Kathmandu has tightened its border with the TAR by deploying armed police near several frontier passes. In early July, Nepal banned the celebration of the Dalai Lama’s 75th birthday. The 20,000 or so Tibetans refugees living in Nepal were asked to stay at home.

The dual standards adopted by Kathmandu to deal with China and India, as well as the games played the Maoists and some other political parties are worrying trends.

In the past, between 2,500 and 3,000 Tibetans yearly crossed the Himalayas via Nepal on their way to Dharamsala, where the Dalai Lama lives. After the events of 2008, the number of refugees nearly came to nil.

Vice-Minister Zhimin need not fume, ”anti-China activities taking in Nepal in the name of religion and human rights are unacceptable to China,” Nepal religiously obeys Beijing’s diktats, mostly anti-Indian in nature.

This reminded me of an article published by Mother India, a fortnightly magazine published in Mumbai, a week after the Chinese invaded Tibet in November 1950. The Editor wrote: “But Nepal, with sixteen railroads leading directly into India from her borders, appears to be the most likely [next] objective [of the Chinese]. There may not be direct attack at first. …What is more likely is a Communist penetration of the existing popular movements a further working up of internal disturbances dividing the political structure as well the soldiery, and then the call by one party to China for aid.”

It is what has happened today.

The dual standards adopted by Kathmandu to deal with China and India, as well as the games played the Maoists and some other political parties are worrying trends. It seems today difficult, especially after Mr Saran failed visit, to stop the situation to deteriorate further

EARTHQUQKE PUTS INDIAN ARMY BACK BY MANY YEARS IN SIKKIM

Plateau worry for army

New Delhi, Sept. 21: One of the most strategic points on the India-China frontier, a plateau at 16,500 feet with a serene lake within it on the northern tip of Sikkim, is the biggest concern for the army since Sunday’s earthquake because China claims it.  Called simply “Plateau” by the soldiers, the high tableland circled by mountains is 16km at its widest and 23km at its longest. This is the only place on the frontier where the Indian Army has a toehold on the Tibetan Plateau.  Since Sunday, there has been almost no contact with the camps of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the army in Plateau.  From Plateau, India also has possession of a narrow strip some 4km long between two high ranges. This is called “Finger” because that is what it resembles on the map — a curving bit that juts into Chinese territory.  The border is unmarked except by cairns — little heaps of stones. At the southern end of this barren landscape is Gurudongmar Lake, brilliant turquoise in summer and mostly frozen in winter.  The ITBP and the army man two camps in Plateau and from mountain-top posts that rim Plateau, they have a clear view into Tibet allowing them to observe with sophisticated viewing devices any movement from a distance of more than 20km.  The high altitude means that an Mi 17 helicopter can land or take off from Plateau with only one passenger (it can seat 14). The area is the responsibility of the 112 Brigade headquartered in Mangan.  In 2008 and 2009 there were reports that Chinese vehicles and troops had crossed into Finger and were attempting to build a road across it. But the army says that there has been no alteration of the border here in 40 years.  The Indian and Chinese armies follow a set of rules when their patrols come across one another. The soldiers are not even supposed to make eye contact and Indian soldiers have reported locking arms and turning their backs on Chinese troops.  Plateau and Finger are north of Lachen, at least four hours in a four-wheel-drive in fair weather. In the last two years the Indian army has inducted at least a squadron of tanks and armoured personnel carriers to the region — a rare place on the frontier that affords deployment of wheeled and tracked vehicles.  Maintaining the military presence in Plateau and Finger involves acclimatising the troops and keeping reserves of fuel, food and other supplies. The army assesses that the reserves will keep its men going for about a week.  But the temblor has come at a bad time for the military. In end-September and early-October each year, the army concludes its monsoon deployment and goes into an “Operational Alert” before winter sets in. This is the time when the “winter stocking” of forward posts — such as those in Plateau and Finger is carried out.  With the roads blocked by landslides and many villagers who are hired by the army as porters shelterless, winter stocking is on hold. One officer feared that the earthquake in Sikkim may have set the military infrastructure that was built up over three decades behind by about 20 years. Troops may now have to march to their posts, which were supplied by motor vehicles, on foot. This increases the military response time in the event of hostilities.

BRIG HEMANT MAHAJAN NATIONAL SECURITY: SIKKIM EARTH QUAKE & ARMY

BRIG HEMANT MAHAJAN NATIONAL SECURITY: SIKKIM EARTH QUAKE & ARMY: Strategic roads can’t be restored before two months: Army Last Sunday’s earthquake in Sikkim has severely hampered the Army’s movement and ...

SIKKIM EARTH QUAKE & ARMY

Strategic roads can’t be restored before two months: Army

 Last Sunday’s earthquake in Sikkim has severely hampered the Army’s movement and temporarily cast a shadow on its rapid counter strike ability in the strategically crucial mountainous state. The Army’s in-house assessment is that it would take more than two months to restore the road network, vital for movement in northern Sikkim that abuts China.  The infantry units under the 112 Brigade - some 5,500 men and officers - that is responsible for northern Sikkim are well stocked on all accounts - food, equipment like 105 MM artillery guns, vehicles and fuel.  The road blockade will also not affect the movement of the infantry as the troops anyway walk over obstacles. Besides, officials said that the quake would not have any impact on preparedness.  But, with the roads blocked, the movement of stocks, equipment, ammunition and weapons will be hit. The roads are needed to move heavy things that require wheeling in.  Fields reports from the Army reaching the headquarters here have led to the assessment that it could take two months to restore two key road arteries that take off from Chungthang (some 70 km north of Gangtok). One leads west to the Lachen valley and other leads east into the Lachung valley. Both the roads are vital for maintaining supplies to northern Sikkim.  In case of an exigency, there will be no way to replenish troops and equipment once the stocks stored at the forward bases finish.  Meanwhile, the Army has physically covered 94 villages in their search-and-rescue operations

BRIG HEMANT MAHAJAN NATIONAL SECURITY: MINISTERS GET SACKED BUT ARE BUREAUCRATS EVER SACK...

BRIG HEMANT MAHAJAN NATIONAL SECURITY: MINISTERS GET SACKED BUT ARE BUREAUCRATS EVER SACK...: Our Bureaucrats: Firing form the other man's shoulder !! --INTERESTING OBSERVATION a must read.... An interesting question with no answers....

MINISTERS GET SACKED BUT ARE BUREAUCRATS EVER SACKED

Our Bureaucrats: Firing form the other man's shoulder !! --INTERESTING OBSERVATION

a must read....

An interesting question with no answers.

Dear Friend

Last week Maj Gen Joshi called on me. He was an esteemed instructor during our Degree Course days, and EME officers would remember him as one of our finest engineers. Indeed, he spent most of his time with the DRDO. He was commissioned in Jun 1960 and was in the Eastern sector during the 1962 debacle. He has analyzed the event very systematically, and his study reveals the following :

 •Pt Nehru, the architect of modern India suffered a severe stroke of depression from which he never quite recovered. He died in May 1964 at the comparatively young age of 73.

•VK Krishna Menon was removed from the post of Raksha Mantri for his incorrect assessment of the situation.

•Gen Thapar, the COAS was sacked. The careers of Lt Gen Kaul and scores of other military officers took a "U" turn.

•A few thousand soldiers died; many more were wounded and some were taken prisoners.

•The psyche of the country received a severe blow. It was considered a 'National Shame'

The question he asked me was, "Who was the Defence Secretary? And what was the punishment meted out to him?"

I have asked several friends and also surfed the Internet but I am unable to find an answer. In all probability nothing was done to him, because he had no role in this!

Gen Joshi then took this discussion a step further. He observed that during the recent attack on Mumbai, dozens of soldiers and policemen have been killed. The whole nation is shaken. Mr Shivraj Patil has lost his prestigious job. The CM of Maharashtra has been axed and several heads in the government are likely to roll. Can some one tell us as to what action has been taken against the Union Home Secretary or the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra? (Thomas tells me that they will all be "promoted" soon though he does not know why).

Having spent many years in and around the South Block, I marvel at the way our government has been structured. The Civil Servants rule the roost. In terms of promotions and status they are ahead of every one else by miles. They are central in the Pay Commission and the Cabinet Secretary is involved in every major decision making process. Yet, when things go wrong, they wash their hands off so clean that one wonders how!

A slightly closer examination reveals the secret. I have figured it out this way:

 •They never do anything themselves. They always find some one else to be the head, and they know how to reduce him to be a 'figure head'. (In the Pay Commissions, they  have a retired Judge). However they place themselves in a spot which has the maximum opportunity to influence matters.

•After the event, they never face the Press or the Media. Their role is amorphous.

•The senior amongst them rarely sign a letter or order. Our pension letter is signed by a Director, who is not directly recruited IAS officer. Only rarely do you find a paper signed by a Joint Secretary. Officers above that level do not sign any document.

•They have a strong association. It protects the interests of its members dutifully and diligently.

So we have our Defence headquarters in which the postings, promotions, rewards and punishments of all senior officers are controlled by the civil servants; and they also have the final say in the process of procurement of weapons and eqpt, but they are not "responsible" if things go wrong! It is authority without responsibility. (For those who may not know, a lowly officer in the MoD can have a Deputy Chief posted out, but a Service Chief can not get even a Desk Officer moved)

 When Gen Joshi left, I found myself perplexed. What sort of system have we evolved? And how has it survived all these years? It is a bit like a unit in which the clerks are running the unit and the CO is so dependent on the Head Clerk that he can not move without their help!

Can some one give a cogent answer to the questions raised by Gen Joshi?

16 COUNTRIES TO TRAIN WITH INDIAN ARMY

VERY LARGE NUMBER OF COUNTRIES TRAIN WITH INDIAN ARMY TO BENEFIT FROM THEIR EXPERINCES OF TACKLING TERRORISM
BUT POLICE PREFER TO GET TRAINERS FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

लष्करी आणि राजनैतिक सहकार्य वाढविण्याच्या दृष्टीने जगातील १६ देशांच्या लष्करांबरोबर २०११-१२ या वर्षांत भारतीय लष्कराच्या संयुक्त कवायती होणार आहेत.

संयुक्त लष्करी कवायतींकडे परस्परांचे लष्कर आणि इतर सैन्यदलांमध्ये समन्वय आणि सहकार्य वाढविण्याचा प्रभावी उपाय म्हणून पाहिले जाते. त्यामुळेच भारतानेही या कडे लक्ष देण्यास सुरूवात केली आहे. त्यामुळेच गेल्या दशकभरापूवीर् वर्षाला दोन-एक लष्करी कवायतीत सहभागी होणाऱ्या भारताने यंदा वर्षभरात चक्क सोळा देशांशी संयुक्त लष्करी कवायतींचे आयोजन केले आहे. अमेरिका, ब्रिटन, रशिया, फ्रान्स, मंगोलिया, कझाकस्तान, उझबेकिस्तान, किरगिझस्तान, बांगलादेश, म्यानमार, नेपाळ, मालदिव, सेशेल्स, सिंगापूर, इंडोनेशिया, थायलंड या देशांशी या वर्षांत लष्करी कवायती आयोजित करण्यात येणार असल्याची माहिती लष्करातील वरिष्ठ अधिकाऱ्यांनी दिली. 'भारताचा दहशतवादविरोधी आणि बंडखोरविरोधी लढ्यातील अनुभव आणि गेल्या साठ वर्षांत जगातील प्रत्येक कोपऱ्यात आणि प्रत्येक स्वरुपाच्या रणांगणात भारतीय लष्कराने केलेली कामगिरी पाहून अनेक देशांनी संयुक्त लष्करी कवायतींचा प्रस्ताव समोर ठेवला होता. त्याचबरोबर शहरी आणि निमशहरी भागात दहशतवाद्यांशी मुकाबला करताना भारतीय लष्कर काय कारवाई करते, हे त्यांना जाणून घ्यायचे होते,' असे हा अधिकारी म्हणाला. लष्कराची 'जंगल वॉरफेअर स्कूल', 'हाय अल्टिट्यूड वॉरफेअर स्कूल' या संस्थांचाही त्यांच्या लष्कराला लाभ होऊ शकतो.

Lt Sushil KhajuriaMARTYERED ENCOUNTER KASHMIR UPDATE

Kupwara encounter ends, toll 9

Srinagar, Sept 29: One of the longest encounter in the recent months near the Line of Control (LoC) in the forests of the frontier district of Kupwara ended today after four days of fierce gun battle, leaving 5 militants and four security forces personnel including an Army officer dead.
After a jawan who was injured in the gun battle on Monday succumbed to injuries late last night, the death toll in the encounter rose to nine. The jawan died last night, police said.
A total of nine persons including five militants, an Army officer Lt Sushil Khajuria, a jawan and two policemen have been killed in the gunfight.
The encounter broke out at Awathkul forest area of Kralipora on Monday when police assisted by Army launched a search operation following information about presence of heavily-armed militants in the forests.
The bodies of the five militants were recovered today during search operations of the forest area by the security forces. Police said that they were handed over to the local Auqaf for last rites. Large quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered from the possession of the dead militants.
Early in the morning, a wreath laying ceremony was held at Badami Bagh Cantonment in which senior Army officers including the General Officer Commanding 15-Corps, Lt General S A Hasnain paid tributes to Lt Sushil Khajuria. While paying tributes to the officer, the senior officers said that he and other security force personnel have given supreme sacrifices for the nation by eliminating the militants who had come to Kashmir to spread terror.
Army sources believed that it was a group of militants that had managed to infiltrate into Kupwara forests through Keran sector recently. When the security forces got the information about their presence in the Shambari forests, a major offensive was launched in which these militants were eliminated.
The dense forest and a tough mountainous area with lots of natural caves where militants had barricaded themselves made the operation difficult for the security forces. "These militants had chosen very tough terrain to infiltrate thinking that they will not get detected. But the alert troops not only detected them but eliminated them in one of the fierce encounters," Army sources said.
The militants from across the LoC in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) are desperate to infiltrate after security forces made their LoC crossing difficult. Security officials said that a large number of militants are waiting on the launching pads in the Neelum valley just on the other side of the LoC in Karnah sector.

BRIG HEMANT MAHAJAN NATIONAL SECURITY: CONVERTING WEST BENGAL INTO BANGLADESH

BRIG HEMANT MAHAJAN NATIONAL SECURITY: CONVERTING WEST BENGAL INTO BANGLADESH: अल्पसंख्यांकांच्या जाळ्यात ममता बॅनर्जी असीमकुमार मिश्रा राज्यात मुस्लिमांच्या मतांचा वाटाच वाढला आहे , असे नाही तर मुस्लिम ...

CONVERTING WEST BENGAL INTO BANGLADESH

अल्पसंख्यांकांच्या जाळ्यात ममता बॅनर्जी असीमकुमार मिश्रा

राज्यात मुस्लिमांच्या मतांचा वाटाच वाढला आहे, असे नाही तर मुस्लिम आमदारांची संख्याही वाढली आहे. 2006 साली ती 43 इतकी होती तर 2011 मध्ये 58 इतकी वाढली. म्हणजेच यंदाच्या निवडणुकांमध्ये 15 मुस्लिम आमदारांची भर पडली. याच संख्याबळावर मुस्लिम समाज मुख्यमंत्र्यांना कडक शब्दात इशारा देत आहे. पण ममतांनीही त्यांच्या सरकारच्या विरोधात असलेल्या मुस्लिम आघाडीला तोंड देऊन आपल्यातील उपजत धैर्य दाखवून दिले आहे.कोलकाताच्या रेड रोडवरील सर्वात मोठ्या ईद समारंभासाठी मुख्यमंत्री ममता बॅनर्जी यांना आमंत्रित करण्यात आले होते आणि ममता दीदी त्याला उपस्थितही राहिल्या होत्या. (कोलकाता पोलीस सूत्रांनुसार या स्थळी सुमारे 4 लाख लोकांची उपस्थिती होती.) मुख्यमंत्र्यांनी ईदच्या नमाजात सहभाग घेतल्याची घटना प. बंगालच्या इतिहासात पहिल्यांदाच घडली आहे. क्वारी फझलूर रहमान नावाच्या इमामाने ईदची प्रार्थना म्हटली. मात्र प्रवचनापूर्वी इमाम महाशयांनी उर्दूतून 20 मिनिटे भाषण केले जे पूर्णपणे साडेतीन महिन्याच्या ममता सरकारवर ताशेरे ओढणारे होते. इमाम म्हणाले, ""सिंगूर प्रश्न, गोरखालॅण्ड प्रश्न आणि जंगल महल प्रश्न आदी सोडविण्यासाठी नवीन सरकारने लक्षणीय तत्परता दाखवली आहे. मुस्लिम समाजाच्या समस्या सोडविण्याच्या बाबतीत मात्र ही तत्परता दिसून येत नाही.''
""आधीच्या सरकारचे जे काही झाले त्यावरून नव्या सरकारने धडा घ्यावा. आधीच्या सरकारने खूप आश्र्वासने दिली, पण थोड्यांचीच पूर्ती केली. परिणामी त्यांची गच्छंती करण्यात आली. जर या सरकारने पण आम्हाला गृहीत धरले तर यांनाही दरवाजा दाखवायला आम्हाला फार वेळ लागणार नाही.'' अशा शब्दांत इमामांनी मुख्यमंत्री ममता बॅनर्जींना इशारा दिला. इमामांना आपल्या भाषणातून राज्यातील समस्त मुस्लिम समाजाला एक संदेश द्यायचा होता आणि हा संदेश होता, ""तयार रहा.'' कशासाठी तयार रहा? इमामांच्या भाषणातूनच याचे उत्तर स्पष्ट होत होते. हा संदेश राज्यातील मुस्लिम समाजापर्यंत पोहोचला असून मुख्यमंत्री ममता बॅनर्जींनीही ही बाब गांभीर्याने घेतली आहे. 31 ऑगस्ट रोजी रेड रोडवरच्या ईदच्या समारंभात क्वारी फझलूर रहमानने आपल्या भाषणातून दिलेल्या इशाऱ्यानंतर काही वेळातच ममता बॅनर्जी यांनी मुस्लिम नेत्यांना सांगितले की, कालिपूजेनंतर (दिवाळीनंतर) कधीतरी त्या त्यांची भेट घेतील. नुकत्याच जाहीर झालेल्या विधानसभा पोटनिवडणुकीसाठीच्या आचारसंहितेमुळे त्यांना आता भेटणे शक्य नसल्याचे ममता यांनी सांगितले. (ममता सध्या खासदार असून मुख्यमंत्री पदासाठी त्या विधानसभा सदस्य असणे आवश्यक आहे. म्हणून तर कोलकाताच्या भवानीपूर मतदारसंघातून त्या विधानसभेसाठी पोटनिवडणूक लढवत आहेत. ही पोटनिवडणूक 25 सप्टेंबर रोजी होणार आहे.) म्हणूनच कालिपूजेनंतर आपण भेटू असे आश्र्वासन त्यांनी दिले.इमामांच्या या इशाऱ्यामागची पार्श्र्वभूमी जाणून घेणे आवश्यक आहे. 2006 साली नोव्हेंबर महिन्यात सच्चर आयोगाचा अहवाल प्रसिद्ध झाला. या आयोगाचे अध्यक्ष न्या. राजेंद्र सच्चर यांनी आपल्या अहवालात प. बंगालमधील मुस्लिमांची अवस्था देशातील अन्य राज्यांपेक्षा खूपच वाईट असल्याचे म्हटले आहे. अगदी गुजरातमधील मुस्लिमांची स्थितीही त्यांच्या प. बंगालमधील बांधवांच्या तुलनेत खूप चांगली आहे. यामुळे राज्यातील मुस्लिम समाजात असंतोष निर्माण होऊन त्यांनी माकपाप्रणीत डाव्या आघाडीला धडा शिकविण्याचे ठरवले. डाव्या आघाडीच्या तीन दशकांच्या अखंडित सत्तेला याचा पहिला फटका 2008 सालच्या पंचायती निवडणुकांमध्ये बसला. राज्याच्या एकूण लोकसंख्येच्या 26 टक्के मुस्लिम लोकसंख्या आहे ही बाब या संदर्भात लक्षात घेतली पाहिजे. ही लोकसंख्या सुमारे 2.75 कोटी इतकी असून त्यापैकी 90 टक्के मुस्लिम जनता ग्रामीण भागात राहते. त्यामुळेच मुस्लिम मते निवडणुकीतील निकालावर नुसताच परिणाम करीत नाहीत तर वरचढही ठरतात. पंचायती निवडणुकांतील हेच चित्र नंतरच्या निवडणुकांमध्येही दिसून आले. 2008 मधील पालिका निवडणूक, 2009 मधील लोकसभा निवडणूक आणि सरतेशेवटी 2011 मधील विधानसभा निवडणुकांनी माकपाला खूप निराश केले. हे नुकसान भरून काढण्यासाठीचे कोणतेही उपाय डाव्या पक्षांना सुस्थितीत आणू शकले नाहीत. दुसऱ्या बाजूला ममता बॅनर्जींनी या परिस्थितीचा पुरेपूर फायदा घेतला. मुस्लिम जनतेला त्या अनावश्यक असलेलीही आश्र्वासने देत सुटल्या. मुस्लिम जनतेनेही ममता बॅनर्जींना खूश ठेवत आपला पाया मजबूत केला. विधानसभा निवडणुकांनी हे दाखवून दिले की, राज्यातील मुस्लिम जनता कमीत कमी 90 जागांवर आपला प्रभाव टाकू शकते आणि या विभागातील सत्ता ताब्यात घेण्याच्या स्थितीत आपण असल्याचा त्यांचा दावा आहे. या दुर्दैवी परिस्थितीकडे नि:शब्द प्रेक्षक बनून पहात राहण्याशिवाय ममता यांच्याकडे पर्याय नाही. कारण विधानसभा निवडणुकांनी हे सिद्ध केले आहे की राज्यात मुस्लिमांच्या मतांचा वाटाच वाढला आहे असे नाही तर मुस्लिम आमदारांची संख्याही वाढली आहे. 2006 साली ती 43 इतकी होती तर 2011 मध्ये 58 इतकी वाढली. म्हणजेच यंदाच्या निवडणुकांमध्ये 15 मुस्लिम आमदारांची भर पडली. वेगवेगळ्या पक्षातील मुस्लिम आमदारांचे पक्षनिहाय विभागणी पुढीलप्रमाणे आहे : तृणमूल कॉंग्रेस - 25, कॉंग्रेस - 15, माकपा - 12, रिव्हॉल्युशनरी सोशालिस्ट पार्टी - 2, फॉरवर्ड ब्लॅक - 2, समाजवादी पक्ष - 1, अपक्ष - 1. याच संख्याबळावर मुस्लिम समाज मुख्यमंत्र्यांना कडक शब्दात इशारा देत आहे. पण ममतांनीही त्यांच्या सरकारच्या विरोधात असलेल्या मुस्लिम आघाडीला तोंड देऊन आपल्यातील उपजत धैर्य दाखवून दिले आहे. मुख्यमंत्री ममता बॅनर्जी यांनी 1 सप्टेंबर रोजी म्हणजेच ईदच्या दुसर्‍याच दिवशी वक्फ बोर्डाच्या कोट्यवधी रुपयांच्या घोटाळ्याबाबत सीबीआय चौकशीचा आदेश दिला. त्यांच्याकडे असलेल्या अल्पसंख्यांक आणि मदरसा शिक्षण या खात्याबाबत विधिमंडळात तावातावाने झालेल्या अर्थसंकल्पीय चर्चेत त्यांनी , मायनॉरिटी डेव्हलपमेंट कॉर्पोरेशनला मिळणारा किती पैसा खाजगी बॅंका आणि शेअर्समध्ये गुंतवला जात आहे, हे शोधून काढण्यासाठी आपण या चौकशीचे आदेश देत असल्याचे सांगितले. ""हे खाते मी स्वत:कडेच ठेवले आहे. कारण त्याकडे दुर्लक्ष होऊ नये असे मला वाटते.'' असेही त्या म्हणाल्या. मे महिन्यात सत्तेवर आल्यानंतर आपले सरकार उर्दूभाषिक लोकसंख्या जास्त असलेल्या जिल्ह्यांमध्ये उर्दूला दुसरी भाषा म्हणून मान्यता देईल अशी घोषणा त्यांनी केली होती. याबाबतची अधिसूचना अद्याप प्रतीक्षेत आहे. ममता सरकारच्या नव्या रोजगार वितरण प्रक्रियेत मुस्लिम तरुणांवर अन्याय होत असल्याचीही मुस्लिम संस्थांची तक्रार आहे. अखिल भारतीय मुस्लिम मज्लिस - ए - मुशावरत या संस्थेचे राज्य सचिव अब्दुल अझिज म्हणाले, ""सामाजिक-धार्मिक संघटनांच्या प्रतिनिधींनी दिलेल्या माहितीनुसार, सुशिक्षित मुस्लिम तरुण आता शिक्षण आणि नोकऱ्या मिळवून देण्यासाठी मुल्ला मौलवींवर दबाव आणत आहेत.'' अझीझ पुढे म्हणाले की, ""मला भीती वाटते की तृणमूल कॉंग्रेसमधील मुस्लिम नेत्यांकडे ममता यांच्याशी थेट बोलण्याइतके धैर्य नसावे.''यावरून हे स्पष्ट होते की, बंगालमधील मुस्लिम शांत बसलेले नाहीत. त्यांना आपला वाटा कसा मिळवावा ते माहीत आहे. त्यामुळेच त्यांनी "कभी इधर कभी उधर' असा खेळ सुरू केला आहे. त्यांनी ममता बॅनर्जींना अत्यंत कठोर शब्दात आठवण करून दिली आहे की त्यांना ही सत्ता मिळाली आहे ती याच मुस्लिम समाजाच्या कृपेने. आणि ही कृपा काही त्यांनी फुकट केलेली नाही. मुस्लिमांनी ममता बॅनर्जींना त्यांच्या सर्वात मोठ्या ईद समारंभात हा इशारा देण्यासाठी बोलावले की, ""ममता बॅनर्जींनी त्यांना दिलेली आश्र्वासने विसरू नयेत. त्यांना फार काळ वाट पहायला लावू नये. नाही तर या सरकारलाही मागच्या सरकारप्रमाणे अनुभव मिळेल.'' ममतांनी वरवर आपण किती धैर्यवान असल्याचे दाखविले असले तरी मनातल्या मनात त्यांना माहीत आहे की मुस्लिम दबावापुढे त्या किती कमजोर आहेत. दुसरीकडे साडेतीन दशकांच्या सत्ताभोगानंतर कम्युनिस्टांची कशी हकालपट्टी झाली या घटनेचे कौतुक राज्यातील बहुसंख्य समाजाला आहे. हे खरं आहे की ममता बॅनर्जीच हा चमत्कार करू शकत होत्या आणि त्यांनी तो केलाही. पण आता कठोर वास्तवाशी सामना करण्याची वेळ आली आहे. ग्रामीण बंगालमधील बहुसंख्य असलेला हिंदू समाज घटत जाऊन अल्पसंख्य बनत आहे आणि क्लेशकारक स्थितीत जगत आहे. भारत-बांगलादेश सीमेवरील प. बंगालमध्ये ही बाब लक्ष वेधून घेणारी आहे. विधानसभा निवडणुकांच्या अगदी आधी उत्तर 24 परगण्यातील देगांगामध्ये हिंदू-मुस्लिम दंगल झाली होती. अशी दंगलसदृश परिस्थिती जवळजवळ सर्वच सीमाभागात अजूनही दिसून येते. आतापर्यंत बहुसंख्य समाजातील लोकांना हे कळून चुकले आहे की त्यांना शांततेने जगायचे असेल तर मुस्लिमांसमोर नमते घ्यावेच लागेल. दुर्दैवाने हिंदुबहुल भागातील सद्यपरिस्थितीबद्दल किमान मुख्यमंत्र्यांना सावध करण्याबाबत कोणतेही संस्थात्मक प्रयत्न होताना दिसत नाही. याबाबत तथाकथित राष्ट्रीय प्रसारमाध्यमांची भूमिका लज्जास्पद आहे. पण आता मुख्यमंत्र्यांना बहुसंख्य समाजाबाबतचे त्यांचे कर्तव्य लक्षात आणून देण्याची आणि या लोकांना त्यांनी फार काळ गृहीत धरू नये याची जाणीव करून देण्याची वेळ आली आहे