India tests two nuclear-capable missiles

The Indian military successfully tested two short-range nuclear-capable missiles from a facility in the east of the country Wednesday, a defence research official told AFP.

The domestically-developed Prithvi-II surface-to-surface missiles were tested as part of a routine exercise at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur-on-sea in the state of Orissa, S. P. Dash, the range director, said.

The Prithvi-II missile has a range of 350 kilometres (220 miles) and can carry a conventional or nuclear payload.

The weapon was last tested from same launch site on September 24 this year, when it failed due to technical problems.

"Prithvi-II missile had proved its robustness and accuracy repeatedly during many trials earlier," a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) official told the Press Trust of India news agency.

The drill followed a test on Tuesday by Pakistan, which successfully fired a medium-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile.

Source http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hZWwgxXKq-xyyATt15lp26iRPhbA?docId=CNG.554ed2d754090c2eb6a68e72accf76bb.91

Opposition protesters at assembly held

Dozens of opposition leaders and activists were arrested for the second consecutive day on Tuesday when they marched to the Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly in Hyderabad, demanding that the government address the problems of farmers. There was tension in the high security area as protesters, including legislators, tried to advance towards the assembly building.

Led by Leader of Opposition and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) N. Chandrababu Naidu, legislators of TDP, Communist Party of India and Communist Party of India-Marxist walked to the assembly from the Goshamahal police station, where they had spent the night in police custody following their arrest Monday.

Leaders and activists of the opposition parties and some farmers' organisations too joined the one kilometre march. As the protesters tried to move towards the assembly gate along with the legislators, police pushed them back. As a mark of protest, they squatted on the road but were arrested.

Inside the assembly, opposition parties stalled the proceedings and encircled the speaker's podium forcing Deputy Speaker N. Manohar to adjourn the house. The members, including those belonging to the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP), were demanding that the government provide immediate relief to farmers who suffered crop losses during recent rains.

The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) legislators also stalled the proceedings demanding the government to withdraw all the cases booked against students during the agitation for separate Telangana state. The government had Monday announced withdrawal of petty cases.

Naidu, who spent the night along with 70 legislators in the police custody, has threatened to launch an indefinite fast from Friday if the government failed to announce a package for the farmers.

Naidu Monday staged a sit-in on the road in front of the assembly building to lodge protests on the "indifference" of the Congress government towards the problems faced by farmers.

Source http://www.hindustantimes.com/Opposition-protesters-at-assembly-held/Article1-638169.aspx

School teacher missing after complaint of harassment

A school teacher has gone missing after being accused of sexually harassing five girl students and police conducted raids in Haryana and Chandigarh on Monday to nab him, police said. Sham Bahadur Thapa, a music teacher at the Army Public School, was booked on Sunday for allegedly sexually harassing

Class 5 students on the basis of a complaint from school principal N R Baberwal.

"We received a complaint against Thapa from the school principal here. We raided his house in Sector 25 (in Panchkula) late on Sunday but did not find him there. We are raiding various places in Haryana and Chandigarh in search of the accused teacher," a police official said.

"Thapa's mobile phone has been put on surveillance and we are hopeful of arresting him soon. We would record the statements of victim students, their parents and the school authorities."

Baberwal registered the first information report (FIR) after he got complaints from the parents of five female students against the music teacher. The school authorities suspended Thapa with immediate effect.

Army Public School, which is over 25 years old, is situated at Chandimandir army cantonment area here, around 10 km from Chandigarh.

Source http://www.hindustantimes.com/Army-Public-School-teacher-missing-after-complaint-of-molestation/Article1-634919.aspx

Parliament adjourned without business for 12th day

Both houses of Parliament were adjourned Monday, again without conducting any business, as the stalemate over appointing a joint parliamentary committee to probe the alleged scam in 2G spectrum allotment continued for the 12th day. The government's every effort to break the logjam has yielded no result and question hours in both houses of parliament were derailed again with an unrelenting opposition persisting with its demand that a parliamentary panel probe the controversial second generation telephony spectrum allocation in 2008.

There were moments of peace, but these were very brief. Speaker Meira Kumar asked Lok Sabha members to join her in congratulating Indian sportspersons for their best ever medals tally in Asian Games in China.

However, as soon as she finished reading out her felicitation for the Indian medal winners at the Asiad, opposition MPs trooped near her podium and started shouting slogans "We want JPC". The speaker then adjourned the house till 12 noon.

When the house resumed the sitting at noon, the sloganeering continued and deputy speaker Karia Munda ordered the adjournment of the Lok Sabha till Tuesday.

Scenes in the Rajya Sabha were no different as the upper house was also adjourned soon after it met after the weekend. Chairman Hamid Ansari adjourned the house to meet again at noon and then for the rest of the day when MPs met at 12.

This is the 12th successive day of the Nov 9-Dec 13 winter session that parliament has not transacted any significant business and both houses have witnessed adjournments barely minutes after meeting.

There is no end in sight to the deadlock as the opposition has rebuffed the government's every request to it to give up the demand for a JPC probe into the scandal.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Sunday spoke to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Sushma Swaraj and L.K. Advani and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Sitaram Yechury to break the logjam.

But the opposition leaders refused to give up their JPC demand even as the government maintained its stance that such a panel was "not possible" to inquire into the allegations.

The two houses had some 125 working hours scheduled in the first 11 days of the session.

According to the PRS Legislative Research, the Lok Sabha has met for only 5.4 hours in 12 days of the session, which is only nine percent of the scheduled time.

The opposition, which has united over the 2G issue, and the government are blaming each other for the wasted parliament time that has also cost the national exchequer over Rs.90 crore.

Source http://www.hindustantimes.com/Parliament-adjourned-without-business-for-12th-day/Article1-632225.aspx

Yeddyurappa bends, says 'ready to obey' BJP

After striking a defiant note for days, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa on Tuesday said he would abide by the decision of the BJP high command on him. "Whatever decision our national leaders are going to take about me, I am going to obey their orders," he told reporters here this morning.

"Today, I am going to meet all our national leaders and I am going to explain the situation in Karnataka, We are facing Zila panchayat elections within a month," he said.

Asked if he would step down, the chief minister said, "I have not committed any mistake. I will meet the central leaders. Whatever they say, I will obey. But so far no body has asked my resignation".

The chief minister said he had discussed the "political situation" in Karnataka with senior leader Arun Jaitley and would meet other central leaders today.

Yeddyurappa is likely to meet BJP leader Nitin Gadkari later in the afternoon to discuss the crisis.

He maintained that the central leadership has not asked him to step down, adding that he had ordered an inquiry into the alleged land scams by a retired high court judge Justice B Patmaraj.

Yeddyurappa, who is claiming to have the support of 110-120 MLAs, said all community people were supporting him.

Top party leaders, including LK Advani, MM Joshi and Rajnath Singh are understood to have decided that the Chief Minister's continuance has become untenable and that he should be told to make way.

The Chief Minister has, however, kept the party guessing on his moves.

Yeddyurappa has reportedly told the party leadership that his removal might harm the first-ever BJP government in the South, for whose formation he had played a key part.

Yeddyurappa has earlier deputed a team of his loyalists, including Home Minister R Ashok, a prominent Vokkaliga leader, Higher Education Minister VS Acharya, a probable to replace the Chief Minister in the event of his exit, and some others to Delhi to persuade the party against change in leadership.

Source http://www.hindustantimes.com/Yeddyurappa-bends-says-ready-to-obey-BJP/H1-Article1-629837.aspx

CBI raids CWG office, registers two cases

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Monday raided the Commonwealth Games (CWG) Organising Committee office here in connection with corruption allegations and registered two cases, officials said.

"Teams of CBI are conducting raids at the organising committee office near Jantar Mantar and the houses of several officials of the committee," a CBI official told IANS.

The CBI has also registered cases against T.S. Darbari and Sanjay Mahindroo, who were allegedly involved in the Queen's Baton Relay scam, the official said.

The organising committee is understood to have paid AM Films, an Indian-owned firm, over 450,000 pounds for services during the Queen's Baton Relay function in London in October allegedly without following proper tendering procedure and paper work.

The Oct 3-14 CWG held in the capital was mired in controversy due to corruption allegations, glitches and delays.

Source http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/6928683.cms

Chavan's selection 101 per cent right decision: Deshmukh

Describing the selection of Prithviraj Chavan as new Maharashtra Chief Minister as a "101 per cent right decision", Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today said he would provide "full support and cooperation" to his party colleague.

"This is 101 per cent right decision. Our leader Sonia Gandhi has appointed Prithviraj Chavan as the Chief Minister and we welcome it. We will provide full cooperation and support to him," he told reporters here.

Asked if Chavan would be able to run the government without having much experience in state politics, Deshmukh said, "running Maharashtra is not a very difficult thing and that is something I can tell you from my experience."

"He is a very senior leader and has experience of working in organisation and has been active in state election campaign and knows Maharashtra very well," he added.

On whether he felt left out in the race, the former Maharashtra Chief Minister said, "I was not even in the race. I am a cabinet minister and I have been the Chief Minister of the sate for eight years. Coming here is a promotion for me in my political life."

On whether the new Chief minister would get the support of Sharad Pawar, Deshmukh said, "Sharad pawar will definitely support him as we are running a coalition government there."

Asked if his alleged involvement in the Adarsh scam resulted in his ouster from the race, he said a probe was on in the case and after its completion, the truth will emerge.

Source http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Chavans-selection-101-per-cent-right-decision-Deshmukh/articleshow/6901109.cms

Ayodhya verdict does not condone demolition: Sonia Gandhi

The Allahabad High Court's verdict on the Ayodhya dispute did not condone the demolition of the Babri Masjid, Congress president Sondia Gandhi said, on Tuesday, while asserting that the perpetrators must be "brought to justice". "The judgment in no way condones the demolition of the Babri Masjid," Gandhi said at a meeting of the All India Congress Committee, in the capital, on Tuesday. "It was shameful, criminal act. Perpetrators should be brought to justice," she said.

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, on September 30, divided the disputed land into three equal parts - one going to the Hindu parties, one to the Nirmohi Akhara and one to a Muslim litigant.

She praised the Indian people for ensuring that there was peace and harmony after the verdict was announced.

"The broader message for all is that our fight against communalism and fanaticism of all types has to continue unabated. The abuse of religion to inflame passions will be forcefully resisted by our government," she said.

Source http://www.hindustantimes.com/Ayodhya-verdict-does-not-condone-demolition-Sonia-Gandhi/Article1-621062.aspx

Obama's India visit to focus on pushing US exports: US

Ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit to India, the government here has said that it is looking at the country as a big market for American exports and expects several commercial deals during his stay.

Officials here said that Obama is expected to focus on removal of barriers to US exports and for greater American participation in the Indian market to create jobs back home.

"I think one of the major themes...the President is likely to emphasise is that... India is also a tremendous market, potential market, for US exports and a source of investment back in the US," Deputy National Security Advisor Mike Froman told reporters yesterday at White House briefing.

"...it's a tremendous opportunity for goods, services, agriculture that he'll be pursuing while he's there for supporting jobs back here in the US," he said, adding that some major commercial deals are likely to be announced during the Obama visit to India next week.

Besides, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama's focus during the visit would be that economic relations with India create jobs back home.

"I think we'll see as we get closer - not just the genuine potential of the market for American companies but some tangible impact in supporting and creating jobs here in America," Gibbs said, adding that it would be consistent with their national export initiative.

Froman said there's an ongoing dialogue between the two governments about outstanding trade issues, and Obama will make clear the importance of removing barriers to US exports and US participation in the Indian market.

He said a number of commercial deals are likely to be announced during the trip.

"There are a number of large contracts being worked on between US companies and their Indian counterparts, oftentimes with the support of the US government in terms of our advocacy efforts or our trade finance being available. We hope to consummate some of these deals in the run-up to the President's visits," Froman said.

Source http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Obamas-India-visit-to-focus-on-pushing-US-exports-US/articleshow/6828350.cms

Karnataka crisis: Tax officials raid Reddy brothers' aides

Income tax officials Monday raided the office of Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu, a confidant of the Reddy brothers, the residence of an advocate and the houses of a few Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators in Karnataka, officials said.

"We are conducting raids in Bangalore, Bellary and Hospet. It is a search operation," a spokesperson of the IT department said. No further details were available.

Bellary is the political stronghold of the Reddy brothers - Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy and his elder brother and Revenue Minister G Karunakara Reddy.

The Reddys are rich iron ore miners. Sriramulu is considered by them to be a part of their family. Hospet is near Bellary.

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said he had no information about the raids. "I have no information on it and will not comment," he said in Haveri in north Karnataka.

The BJP legislators whose residences were raided are Suresh Babu and B. Nagendra, both said to be close to the Reddys.

Former union minister and Karnataka government's special representative in New Delhi, V Dhananjaya Kumar, termed the raids a "political conspiracy" to destabilize the BJP ministry in the state.

Source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Karnataka-crisis-Tax-officials-raid-Reddy-brothers-aides/articleshow/6808590.cms

Australian teen pleads guilty to involvement in Nitin Garg's murder Read more: Australian teen pleads guilty to involvement in Nitin Garg's murder

A 16-year-old Australian boy on Friday pleaded guilty in a children's court for his involvement in the stabbing of Indian student Nitin Garg, who died earlier this year, in a case that shocked Indians.

The teenager has been charged with committing a robbery by stealing Garg's mobile phone and making a false statement to police in which he denied that his friend had killed the Indian.

The young boy pleaded guilty in a children's court on Friday, an AAP report said. He will appear in court again next month.

The youth's friend and co-accused, also a 16-year-old, has been charged with murdering Garg by stabbing him.

The boy charged with murder indicated in court on Thursday that he planned to plead not guilty at a committal hearing next year.

Garg was fatally stabbed as he walked through a park on the night of January 2, on his way to work at Hungry Jack's restaurant. He staggered to the restaurant and died later in hospital.

The two boys, who were aged 15 at the time of Garg's death, were arrested by homicide squad detectives and charged.

The teenager, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, appeared in the court with his mother.

According to court documents, the accused was an accessory to murder as he demanded that Garg dispose of his mobile phone, 'The Age' said.

They said the teenager gave false information to police and made false police statements to protect his co-accused friend.

The court heard on Thursday that Garg, an accountancy student, was twice followed and once threatened with a knife before his death in January.

The teenager will appear for a plea hearing in the Supreme Court later this year.

Garg's murder had sent shock waves back home and came after a series of racial attacks against Indian students in Australia.

Read more: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/indians-abroad/Australian-teen-pleads-guilty-to-involvement-in-Nitin-Gargs-murder/articleshow/6792091.cms

Mumbai: Test proves rape; doc sent nurse out of ICU

In a development that brings great shame to the medical fraternity and raises questions about the sanctity of protocol involving male doctors and female patients, medical reports have confirmed rape in Sunday's incident at Lotus hospital.

Dr Vishal Vanne, 27, accused of raping a patient in a semi-conscious state in the ICU, was produced before court on Monday; he was remanded in police custody till October 25. He was arrested under section 376 D (intercourse by any member of the management or staff of a hospital with any woman in that hospital).

"Medical reports have confirmed rape. Semen was found on her dress, on the bed and also on the underwear of the accused which confirmed his involvement in the crime. We are waiting for forensic reports," said police inspector Rajkumar Chaphekar from the Vashi police station.

The complainant -- the victim's husband -- has claimed that the accused was watching porn clippings on his cellphone before he raped his 30-year-old patient. "We have sent his mobile phone to a forensic lab in Kalina. We will get the details of the website on which he was watching the clippings from the service provider," a police official said on the condition of anonymity.

The incident took place on Saturday night, after the victim was admitted to the hospital after complaining of giddiness during Durga puja celebrations. Her husband took her to Lotus hospital where she was initially admitted to the general ward; she was put under the supervision of Vanne (BAMS) (RMO) and administered saline. Vanne, a resident of Ghansoli, is unmarried and stays with his parents. He has been working with the hospital for the last one-and-a-half years.

"Since the patient was semi-conscious, there is also a possibility that the doctor might have injected some medicine which he is not supposed to give to a low blood pressure patient. We are investigating if he had given any sedative to the victim," the officer said. Vanne later recommended that she be shifted to the ICU.

"The management did not reply properly when I went to question them. They are trying to support the accused. Police should take action against them," her husband said.

ACP (Vashi) Purushottam Karad said, "The nurse was sleeping outside the ICU as she wasn't well. If the involvement of any other person is proven, we will take strict action."

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/mumbai-test-proves-rape-doc-sent-nurse-out-of-icu-60750?trendingnow&cp

Source http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/mumbai-test-proves-rape-doc-sent-nurse-out-of-icu-60750?trendingnow

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/mumbai-test-proves-rape-doc-sent-nurse-out-of-icu-60750?trendingnow&cp

Obama's India trip to establish 'true strategic' ties: Official

US President Barack Obama's visit to India in November would not only elevate bilateral ties, but also establish a "true strategic partnership" between the world's largest democracies, a top official here said today.

The President's trip to New Delhi, Mumbai and Amritsar "will take stock of the advancement of the relationship between the two countries," the official told reporters when asked about the significance of the forthcoming visit of Obama to India.

The schedule of Obama's visit to India has not been announced yet, but he is likely to start from Mumbai; in recognition of emerging economic clout of the country as well as the influence of Bollywood all over the world.

Obama's overnight stay in Mumbai, officials said, would also be a tribute to those killed in the 2008 attacks and show of solidarity with India against its war on terrorism.

Obama -- as the then President-elect -- was among the first few American leaders to call the then Indian Ambassador to the US, Ronen Sen, in the immediate aftermath of the Mumbai terrorist attacks and had vowed to work with India to bring the perpetrators to justice.

While the Indo-US civil nuclear deal was the highlight of the previous Bush era, the anti-terror cooperation between the two countries has really picked up during the Obama Administration; which is reflected in the trips that the CIA and FBI chiefs have made to India in less than two years now.

"With this administration, you have seen the elevation and development of the relationship," the official said.

The senior Administration official said a great deal of work has been done to make the relationship between the United States and India truly strategic. "We are engaged in a wide range of issues working intensively on regional issues but also global issues."

"I think this (the visit) will be a manifestation of the hard work within this administration over almost two years to elevate the relationship and expected in the President's trip you will see the full range of the issues with which the two countries are working," the official said in response to a question.

Source http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Obamas-India-trip-to-establish-true-strategic-ties-Official/articleshow/6747676.cms

China attacks 'disrespectful' Nobel Peace Prize

China has attacked other countries for supporting the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to prominent dissident Liu Xiaobo.

In the first comprehensive and public response to the awarding of the prize, the government warned other nations to think again when considering making an issue of the Nobel Prize and not to meddle in China's internal affairs.

China's foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told a press conference the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to a prisoner was disrespectful.

"In China, the cause of human rights continues to progress - this is widely acknowledged by the world - and yet the Nobel Committee gave the Nobel Peace Prize to a prisoner who is serving his sentence in jail," he said.

"This is disrespectful to China's legal system."

The ABC asked Mr Ma what message Beijing had for governments around the world which had supported the awarding of the Nobel Prize to Mr Liu.

"Some politicians in some countries are using this opportunity to make irresponsible remarks," he said.

"It's not only disrespectful to China's legal system; we also suspect their true motives [are that]... some people want to use this method to change China's political system or to slow down Chinese people's progress.

"Obviously, they're wrong if they think this will work."

Mr Liu is serving an 11-year jail term in north-east China's Jinzhou Prison for co-authoring a document calling for widespread democratic reforms in the country.

The government saw this as advocating the overthrow of the Communist Party.

In Beijing, Mr Liu's wife, Liu Xia, is under effective house arrest.

The lockdown has stopped journalists from taking footage and interviewing her.

There is a sign outside Mrs Liu's compound saying that filming and interviews are not welcome.

Source http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/12/3036607.htm?section=justin

When Mr Ma was asked why Mr Liu's wife was being detained, he replied that he did not know who the reporter was talking about.

Bangalore BPO employee rape case: Cab driver Shiva Kumar convicted

A fast track court here on Wednesday held cab driver, Shiva Kumar, guilty for the rape and murder of Pratibha Murthy, an employee of the Hewlett-Packard run business process outsourcing arm.

Shiva Kumar had first confessed to the crime, but later backtracked and denied all charges against him.

He later went on to say that he was not all connected with the case and didn't even know the BPO employee.

Earlier on September 17, the fast-track court deferred its judgement in the case.

The trial has been in the courts for the past four-and-a-half years.

The accused driver took Murthy to an isolated place and slit her throat before dumping her body in a pit near the Anjanapura layout on December 13, 2005. (ANI)

Source http://sify.com/news/bangalore-bpo-employee-rape-case-cab-driver-shiva-kumar-convicted-news-national-kkgnugfbeeg.html

Rouvanjit suicide case: La Mart's principal, four others, arrested

Sunirmal Chakravarti, the principal of La Martiniere for Boys, was arrested on Monday morning by Kolkata Police on charges of abetting the suicide of his student, Rouvanjit Rawla, a 13-year old class VIII student. Rawla had killed himself on February 12, allegedly after being caned by the principal in the school.

175-year old La Martiniere is one of Kolkata’s elitist schools. Caning and any other form of corporal punishment has been banned by the Supreme Court of India and different state governments have become increasingly intolerant towards this form of disciplining of studnts.

Ajay Rawla, Rouvanjit’s father had filed an FIR alleging persecution by the principal and teachers of the school and physical assault that drove his son to suicide.

The four will be produced in court on Monday.

All the accused was arrested from their residences after the police conducted an enquiry for four months and were prima facie convinced of their guilt.

One of the sections that have been on the four was 305 of IPC that deals with abetment to suicide of a minor and carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and even death penalty.

A section of Junenile Justice Act that deals with assault on a minor has also been slapped against them.

After the incident came to light, Chakravarti had apologized for his act in public.

Rawla had even gone to the Assembly and appealed for the early arrest of Chakravarti and his colleagues.

National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), an autonumous body under the Central government, had conducted an enquiry in June that found the school and the teachers guilty and had recommended suspension of the accused.

NCPCR had criticized the delay of the police in arresting the four.

The school’s image has already been sullied after a teacher Sanjay Smart was arrested for extorting a laptop computer from a student. Smart is currently lodged in jail.

School authorities had always maintained that Chakravarti had confessed his guilt and it was sufficient atonement for his act.

Source http://www.hindustantimes.com/Rouvanjit-suicide-case-La-Mart-s-principal-four-others-arrested/Article1-607975.aspx

HC to give priority to Kasab case, daily hearing from Oct 18

The Bombay High Court today made it clear that it would hear on a day-to-day basis from October 18, the matter pertaining to confirmation of death penalty imposed on Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab for his role in 26/11 attacks. "We shall give this matter a top priority and shall not hear any other case from October 18 till this matter is finally heard and disposed of," said Justice Ranjana Desai and Justice R V More.

The bench asked Government Counsel Ujjwal Nikam and Kasab's lawyer Amin Solkar to ensure that they remain present and do not seek adjournments.

"We want to finish off this case as early as possible, so please cooperate," the judges told the lawyers.

Kasab has also filed an appeal challenging death sentence imposed on him. The state too has filed an appeal against the trial court's verdict acquitting Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed on the ground that evidence against them was "doubtful".

These two appeals would also be heard by the High Court along with the matter regarding confirmation of death sentence awarded to Kasab.

The Court has ordered that Kasab need not remain present and can appear through video conference in view of the threat perception to him. Accordingly, it has asked the state to make arrangements for this facility at both ends -- in the Court and in jail where Kasab is lodged.

Source http://www.hindustantimes.com/HC-to-give-priority-to-Kasab-case-daily-hearing-from-Oct-18/Article1-606007.aspx

Eight of 16 CJIs were 'corrupt', says ex-law minister

Former Union Law Minister Shanti Bhushan on Thursday told the Supreme Court that at least eight of the 16 chief justices of India (CJIs) were "definitely corrupt". In an affidavit filed on Thursday, senior counsel Shanti Bhushan said that six of the CJIs were "definitely honest" and he could not comment on the remaining two judges.

The senior counsel sought to be impleaded in a case in which his son Prashant Bhushan is facing contempt proceedings.

Sixteen CJIs that Shanti Bhushan has mentioned in his affidavit are: Justice Rangnath Mishra, Justice K N Singh, Justice M H Kaina, Justice L M Sharma, Justice M N Venkatachalliah, Justice A M Ahemadi, Justice J S Verma, Justice M M Punchhi, Justice A S Anand, Justice S P Bharucha, Justice B N Kirpal, Justice G B Pathak, Justice Rajendra Babu, Justice R C Lohati, Justice V N Khare and Justice Y K Sabharwal.

Shanti Bhushan in his affidavit said that two former CJIs had personally told him that their immediate predecessors and immediate successors were corrupt judges.

He said that the names of those four CJIs were included in the list of eight corrupt CJIs.

Source http://www.hindustantimes.com/Eight-of-16-CJIs-were-corrupt-says-ex-law-minister/Article1-600823.aspx

Kerala local body elections on October 23 and 25

The general elections to 1,208 local self-government institutions in the State will be held in two phases on October 23 and October 25, State Election Commissioner P. Kamalkutty has said.

Mr. Kutty told reporters here on Tuesday afternoon that Thiruvananthapram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta Kasargod, Kannur, Wayanad and Kozhikode districts will go to the polls on October 23 and Alappuzha, Idukki, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram on October 25. The newly-elected committees will assume office on November 1. The model code of conduct has come into force with the announcement of the elections.

Filing of nominations will begin on September 27 once the commission issues the election notification. Nominations can be filed till October 4. They papers will be scrutinised on October 5. The last date for withdrawing the nominations is October 7. Polling wil be from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Counting and result announcement having been scheduled on October 27.

As per the latest figures, there are 978 grama panchayats, 152 block panchayats, 14 district panchayats, 60 municipalities and five corporations in the State. Out of the 60 municipalities, except Mattanur municipality where elections were held only in 2006, all others will go the polls as per the schedule announced today. Elections will be held in Mattannur only in 2011. Thus voters of 21,612 divisions will exercise their franchise in the two phases. As many as 8,000 electronic voting machines will be used n the corporations and municipalities. As many as 2.25 lakh employees will be deployed for election duty. Stringent action will be taken against government employees involving in campaigning. Using places of worship for campaigning too be treated as a violation of the poll code, he said.

Source http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article642725.ece

Abu Salem can be tried for all crimes in India: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the 1993 Bombay bomb blasts accused and underworld don Abu Salem can be tried for all the crimes he had committed in the country. The court dismissed his plea that he could only be tried for the cases for which the Portugal court permitted his extradition.

Justice P Sathasivam and Justice AK Ganguly, constituting the apex court bench that heard the case, in their concurrent judgments said that beyond the extradition treaty that bound them, both India and Portugal were signatories to the UN convention on suppression of terrorism.

Concurring with Justice Sathasivam, Justice Ganguly said that all the offences Abu Salem committed made him extraditable.

Source http://www.hindustantimes.com/Abu-Salem-can-be-tried-for-all-crimes-in-India-Supreme-Court/Article1-598408.aspx

Mumbai ATS nabs two German Bakery blast suspects

The Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested two people in connection with the blast that ripped Pune's German Bakery on February 13 this year.

Earlier on August 10, Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil said the police have identified the culprits involved in the German Bakery blast.

"Police have identified those involved in the German Bakery blast. They also have proofs and know the whereabouts of these persons who are at large in various parts of the country," said Patil on the sidelines of a function in Pune.

"The ATS in coordination with Central agencies were tracking the blast accused," he added, expressing confidence that the culprits would be nabbed soon.

The Pune blast, which killed seventeen people and wounded at least 57, was seen as the first major attack on India since the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

The bakery is located in Koregaon Park, which is close to the Osho Ashram and the Chabad House, a Jewish prayer house, frequented by numerous foreigners and tourists.

Source http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Mumbai-ATS-nabs-two-German-Bakery-blast-suspects/articleshow/6518809.cms

Curfew clamped in Srinagar, curbs imposed in the Valley

Authorities on Tuesday clamped curfew in Srinagar city and imposed restrictions elsewhere in the Kashmir Valley after mobs went on a rampage attacking two police stations to protest killing of four persons allegedly in firing by security forces.

Curfew was clamped in eight police station areas -- Rainawari, Maharajgunj, Safakadal, Khanyar and Nowhatta in old city, and Maisuma, Batamaloo and Kralkhud in civil lines area -- in view of the violent protests and stone pelting incidents in many parts of Srinagar last night, police sources said.

As reports of overnight protests came in from other areas, the curfew was extended to the entire city, they said.

Srinagar District Magistrate Ahmad Kakroo said that restrictions on the movement of the people has been imposed across the city.

“We are monitoring the situation and will take a decision as per the requirements of the situation,” Kakroo said.

All curfew passes issued by the district administration were cancelled last evening. However, fresh passes were issued to employees working in essential services departments and to mediapersons.

The sources said youths came to the streets of Nowhatta in down city soon after the ‘Taraweeh’ special prayers during Ramzan and started pelting stones at the local police station.

Police fired several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the protesters but in vain. They, then resorted to firing in the air to chase away the mob, the sources said, adding no one was hurt in the incident.

Similar protests were also held in Rajouri Kadal, Karan Nagar and some other areas in the old city and Rawalpora and Maisuma areas in the civil lines area.

One person was injured in police action against protesters at Karan Nagar after the police station there was set on fire, the sources said.

Police have imposed severe restrictions under section 144 CrPC on the movement of the people in other nine districts of the Valley as a precautionary measure to prevent any further loss of the life or damage to the property.

The late night protests erupted in the city over the fresh killings at Palhalan in Pattan area of Baramulla district.

Four persons were killed and 12 others injured yesterday when security forces allegedly opened fire on a stone-pelting mob that had attacked inspector general of police SM Sahai’s convoy in Pattan area.

Police have initiated an enquiry into the incident.

The Valley was rocked by violence following the death of a teenager on June 11 after he was allegedly hit by a tear smoke shell near Rajouri Kadal area of the old city.

With yesterday’s deaths, the toll in the ongoing unrest has now gone up to 69.

Source http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article619056.ece

Day of festivity, all for the love of the Lord

The mischievous but much-adored maakhanchor is all set to receive a king's welcome in the city today, on the occasion of Janmashtami.

Portrayed in Hindu mythology as a naughty young boy with a penchant for stealing butter, Lord Krishna holds special significance in Gujarat, where He is believed to have spent a part of his life.

Naturally then, a religious wave has swept across the state ahead of Janmashtami. Temples in the city have been beautifully decorated for the occasion, even as thousands of devotees are preparing to participate in various programmes and festivities organised across the city to mark the auspicious moment.

Janmashtami celebrations at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple will commence at 4.30am. The temple plans to have a mangal aarti, kirtan and japa yagna, followed by a guru puja. .

The evening programme at ISKCON will begin at 6.00pm .
Chief minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the festivities at ISKCON and also take part in the Krishna janma abhishek and aarti at midnight, said temple authorities.

The Kalyan Pushti Haveli at Vastrapur will commence Janmashtami celebrations with a panchamrit snaan. This will be followed by rajbhog and sandhya aarti. The birth of the Lord and the second panchamrit snaan will take place at 12.00am.

The Shri Pushti Parivar Trust temple at Prahlad nagar will hold a panchamrit snaan, followed by tilak darshan and rajbhog darshan. It will also have a jaagran darshan, while Krishna janam festivities will commence at 12.00am.

The Swaminarayan temple at Kalupur will mark the birth of the Lord with bhajan-kirtan, along with raas garba, aarti and Krishna janam festivities.

The Samast Patel Social Group has organised a shobha yatra, which will commence from Diamond Park on Nikol village road at 1.00pm, and culminate at the same spot at 6.30pm . Leading clubs Rajpath and Karnavati will also celebrate Janmashtami in a grand manner.

At Rajpath, famous singer Manhar Udhas will sing a variety of bhajans of Lord Krishna in tandem with a musical orchestra. The Karnavati Club will have Janmashtami celebrations between 9.00pm and 12.00am at its lawns.

Source http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report_day-of-festivity-all-for-the-love-of-the-lord_1432479

Maoists kill five policemen in Bihar, ten missing, loot 35 rifles

Five policemen were killed and 10 others injured during a fierce encounter with Maoists, who decamped with 35 rifles of the security personnel in Lakhisarai district, a senior police official said today.

Ten other security personnel went missing after the encounter and a helicopter has been pressed into service to locate them.

The Maoists opened fire at a joint team of CRPF, Bihar Military Police (BMP) and State Auxiliary Police (SAP) personnel combing Ramtalnagar village in the district yesterday, IG (Operation) KS Dwivedi told PTI over phone from the spot.

The security forces retaliated. Three BMP personnel and two policemen were killed in the encounter though their bodies were yet to be recovered due to the difficult, hilly terrain, Dwivedi said.

The Maoists took away 35 rifles and several magazines from the security personnel, he said.

"Three sub-inspectors, two havildars and five constables have not returned to their base camp after the encounter," Director General of Police Neelmani said in Patna.

Many Maoists were believed to have been injured in the encounter, but were dragged away by colleagues, Dwivedi said.

Ten BMP and SAP personnel were injured in the encounter. Seven of them were admitted to Patna Medical College and Hospital where their condition was stated to be out of danger, officials said.

Meanwhile, Tariyani block development officer Manoj Singh, his driver and a health department employee who were kidnapped by Maoists from Ladhoura village were yet to be traced, Neelmani said.

A police team led by IG (Muzaffarpur) Gupteshwar Pandey was searching for them, he said.

Maoists on motorcycles had intercepted the BDO's vehicle and took him, his driver and a public health centre employee away, he said.

A report from Gaya district said a road construction mixing plant was bombed by Maoist at Mufassil police station area last night.

Source http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_maoists-kill-five-policemen-in-bihar-loot-35-rifles_1430839

Indian arrested at US airport for carrying jihadi materials

An Indian documentary filmmaker has been arrested at the Houston airport for allegedly carrying suspicious Islamic jihad literature, brass knuckles and $10,000 in cash.

40-year-old Vijay Kumar was arrested at the George Bush Intercontinental airport on Friday after he was spotted "acting suspicious," when screeners thought they saw a possible handgun in a scan of his baggage.

Investigators found brass knuckles, a manual for a handgun and Islamic literature in Kumar's checked luggage.

State district judge David Mendoza yesterday lowered Kumar's bail from $50,000 to $5,000 after learning more details about the case and that prosecutors were willing to let him plead to time served for unlawfully carrying a weapon in an airport.

Kumar was in Houston to lecture a Hindu organisation about Islamic fundamentalism and the books packed in his checked luggage were educational tools, authorities and his lawyer told the court.

Attorneys for Kumar said that he has surrendered his passport while he mulls the deal. He does not want a criminal record to interfere next time he visits the US, his attorney Grant Scheiner said.

"I think that everybody realised that he is not a threat. He's a peaceful man," Scheiner said.

"He was here to visit the Hindu Congress of America, to deliver a lecture. It was about an interfaith discussion between Hindus and Muslims about the harms of terrorism."

Scheiner said that Kumar, who speaks very little English, carries the brass knuckles for protection in India.

When Kumar was pulled aside for secondary screening, after raising suspicion with the transportation security administration 'behavioural detection officers,' even more alarm was raised by what was found.

The title of one book was Spycraft and another was titled New Voices of Islam and police noticed mentions of "infidels" in some of the writings that could be made out clearly, the Houston Chronicle reported.

"It definitely raised our concerns," said one law enforcement official involved in the arrest.

"Not your everyday passenger would have this sort of stuff and it definitely poses a concern for anyone involved in airport security," he said.

The books and radical material was found in stacks, packed in Kumar's carry-on luggage, according to the police report.

Officers also found a pair of brass-knuckles in the luggage he had checked with his airline to be carried in the cargo hold of the aircraft.

In Texas, brass-knuckles are prohibited by law so he was booked on a felony charge of Possessing a Prohibited Weapon in a Prohibited Place (airport).

FBI agents, who were called to the secondary screening area where Kumar was being detained, checked his name on terror watch lists and 'no fly' lists, but there is no indication that his name has appeared on any of those lists.

Besides, police also confiscated more than $10,000 in cash that Kumar is accused of carrying on his trip and the per Federal law he had not declared the currency.

Police and FBI agents said they were turning their attention to Kumar's background and what he was doing in Houston, and they're also planning to examine a computer flash drive (or "thumb drive") that Kumar was carrying.

Flash drives can hold thousands of documents or diagrams, but no one had seen the contents as of Friday.

A search warrant may be required to view the thumb drive, even though international passengers typically have fewer legal protections when the government wants to look at something they were going to be carrying onto an airliner.

Kumar told police he was in Houston attending an "Islamic seminar."

A search of federal court records in Houston shows a 2007 lawsuit filed by a man with the same name, same age and same hometown as Kumar.

In that lawsuit, Kumar described himself as a native and citizen of India, who was admitted to the United States in 2004 on a student visa to the University of Connecticut.

The lawsuit said he had earlier studied at Texas Tech University after entering the US in 2003.

He then transferred to University of Connecticut, where the lawsuit said he earned an MBA degree to bolster his undergraduate engineering degree.

The lawsuit said he married a US citizen in 2004 and he filed to change his immigration status to allow him to remain in the US past his student visa in 2005.

His lawsuit claims FBI has been holding up his citizenship paperwork by claiming it couldn't complete the proper background checks.

Source http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_indian-arrested-at-us-airport-for-carrying-jihadi-materials_1428033

Tharoors celebrate Onam at poor home

It isn't quite how you expect to find your MP - on a swing with his new bride. But that's how Sunanda and Shashi Tharoor were spotted at a welfare home for the under-privileged in Tharoor's constituency of Thiruvananthapuram.

On 'Thiruvonam', the most auspicious day of the 10-day Onam festival, the Tharoors shared a vegetarian meal served in a plantain leaf at the home. They distributed gifts, and looked on enthusiastically as Onam folk songs were performed.

The couple was married this weekend. "I had a great time. After my wedding ceremony, the best moment that I have had is at this orphanage," said Sunanda, showing none of the nerves of a rookie political wife.

Sunanda's share in the Indian Premier League team for Kochi catapulted her then-companion and now-husband into a national controversy. Confronted with charges of misusing his public office to promote private interests, Tharoor was forced to resign. Sunanda surrendered the 70-crore sweat equity she had been promised in return for marketing the Kochi cricket team.

Recently, the couple has been photographed at places of worship of different faiths - including shrines in Maharashtra, and the Ajmer Dargah.

In the midst of the celebrations today, Shashi Tharoor said that his message is " 'Onashamsakal' which means wish you all a happy Onam. It's a time for wishing everybody prosperity, joy and peace and we wish that for everyone in Kerala, India and the world."

The cameras kept rolling.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/tharoors-celebrate-onam-at-poor-home-46610?cp

Source http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/tharoors-celebrate-onam-at-poor-home-46610

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/tharoors-celebrate-onam-at-poor-home-46610?cp

Still have concerns over nuclear bill

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) today said it still has concerns over the Civil Nuclear Liability Bill though government dropped a controversial addition in a clause bowing to opposition pressure, which it termed was “good“.

“The word ‘and’ should not have been there at the first place. But now the government has changed it. That is good.

Our demands have been partially met. But we have other concerns (on the bill),” CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury told reporters.

He said the party was of the view that there should not be any sealing on the liability in case of a nuclear accident.

“You can set a minimum on liability as many other countries have done,” he suggested.

Mr. Yechury also said there should not be any ambiguity on India joining any conventions dealing with liability.

Left parties had opposed the cap of Rs. 1,500 crore on the liability of a nuclear plant operator, saying it was “hardly significant”, pointing out that a nuclear accident would be much more devastating than the Bhopal gas disaster.

The Cabinet this morning put its stamp of approval on the Civil Liability for Nuclear Bill, deciding to omit the word ’and’ — connecting two sub-clauses of Clause 17 of the draft legislation.

Source http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article583875.ece

Death toll reaches 40 in Himachal road accident

The death toll in a truck road accident in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, has gone up to 40, police said on Thursday, Aug 19.

The accident occurred on Wednesday, Aug 18, evening, when an overcrowded truck skidded off the road and fell into a 200-foot deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district.

The accident spot is some 175 km from state capital Shimla.

According to the police sources, the victims were mostly from Sudhyani village and were on their way home after attending a ceremony.

Superintendent of Police S M Agnihotri said the bodies would be handed over to the families after conducting post-mortem at the Zonal Hospital in Mandi.

He said one family has lost eight members in the accident.

Witnesses told police that the truck was overcrowded and the driver lost control over the vehicle while negotiating a turn.

Source http://news.oneindia.in/2010/08/19/death-toll-reaches-40-in-himachal-road-accident.html

Declare assets or face jail, Jharkhand tells employees

All state government employees in Jharkhand have been asked to declare their assets every three years or face a year's imprisonment, a press statement said Tuesday.

"Jharkhand Governor M O H Farook has passed an order under which all the state government employees will have to declare their assets every three years till retirement. If any employee fails to declare assets then he or she will be liable for punishment of one year in jail," the statement said.

"The newly-appointed employees will have to declare their assets within three months of appointment," it added.

The new circular, applicable to all state government employees except fourth grade employees, will cover around 60,000 employees, including over 1,200 officers.

Earlier, only IAS and IPS officials had to declare their assets every year but their declaration of assets was not monitored. More than 80 percent of IAS and IPS officials did not declare their assets for two to three years.

Under the new circular, it is mandatory for all employees to declare their assets.

Source http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Declare-assets-or-face-jail-Jharkhand-tells-employees/articleshow/6324437.cms

Farooq hopes for normalcy in Kashmir

Union minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah today expressed hope that the situation in Kashmir will improve and normalcy would be restored soon in the bruised valley.

"Kashmir won't go anywhere. The situation was worse in 1989 than what it is now. But things changed and normalcy returned to the valley. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's recent peace steps will improve the situation there," the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister told reporters here after inaugurating a solar energy system in Van Vihar Zoo.

Asked whether a sense of anger and alienation in Kashmir triggered off violence and unrest in the valley, Abdullah said there were many reasons for it.

"There are many factors. Some agencies want to destabilise the government in Kashmir and others want to secede from India," he said.

The Valley was rocked by violence following the death of a teenager on June 11 after allegedly being hit by a teargas shell at Gani stadium near Rajouri Kadal. After that street protests continued in the Valley which claimed 52 lives.

Source http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Farooq-hopes-for-normalcy-in-Kashmir/articleshow/6298875.cms

Mumbai ship collision: Captain blames Captain

The Captain of the MSC Chitra, the ship carrying oil and pesticide that collided with another close to the Mumbai harbour on Saturday, has been granted interim bail by the Sessions court. (Mumbai oil spill in pics)

Captain Mandeleno Ranjit Martin had said in his bail plea that the collision happened because of a navigational error which was caused by the failure of radio communication. He said there was no error on his part and pointed out that he had been a part of the industry for 18 years

Martin also said in his bail application that there was no point of sending him to police custody as there was nothing to recover from him.

He added that the MV Khalijia, with which his ship had collided, was not fit to sail at sea and that it was the Captain of this ship who was responsible for the accident.

The Chitra had collided with the Khalijia on Saturday and tilted dangerously. A leak in the ship caused its cargo of oil to start pouring into the sea, causing a huge oil spill. To make matters worse, some containers detached from the ship and started floating. There were fears that these contained hazardous material, but those 31 containers were later found secure in the ship's hold.

The oil leak was finally plugged on Tuesday, but 800 tonnes of oil was spilt, double of what was thought earlier. Both the Mumbai Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) have been closed. The Mumbai Port may not open till Friday. It will take days to clean up the slick and could take up to six to eight months to refloat the ship and tow it away. (Mumbai oil spill: Clean up to take 45 days)

A Singapore-based company will conduct salvage operations from Friday. A crane mounted on a ship has been placed next to the Chitra and preliminary clearing operations have begun.

First, the ships containers will be removed and oil will be pumped out and only then will the ship be towed to the shore.

Images shot by NDTV show that the oil slick is affecting marine life and the environment.

NDTV travelled to Uran in Raigad district to find out the impact of the spill, and the situation is scary. A snake which came in from the sea was covered in oil, and the mangroves here are bearing the brunt of the accident.

Source http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/mumbai-ship-collision-captain-blames-captain-43592

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/mumbai-ship-collision-captain-blames-captain-43592?cp

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/mumbai-ship-collision-captain-blames-captain-43592?cp

Rescue efforts continue in Leh, 500 still missing

After a night's halt, thousands of rescue workers fanned out across Jammu and Kashmir's Leh town on Monday, three days after a cloudburst caused flash floods, killing 132 people and causing widespread destruction. "Out of 132 bodies recovered so far, 128 have been identified,"

Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) Farooq Ahmad told IANS. "No foreigner is among the 128 dead identified. While one Spanish national is still missing, another is being treated for injuries in a Leh hospital," he said.

Over 500 people, including the Spanish tourist and 20 army soldiers, are still missing after the tragedy.

Around 1,200 foreign tourists, who had been stranded in Leh because of the cloudburst, have been evacuated by special flights of Air India and other airliners, Ahmad added.

"Helicopters have been pressed into service today (Monday) to evacuate some foreign tourists who are stranded in Zanskar Valley of Ladakh region," the officer said.

Over 400 injured people are being treated in makeshift hospitals established in Leh with the help of the army and the local administration.

Four Air India flights reached the town on Sunday to evacuate stranded passengers, most of them foreigners, while the Indian Air Force sent more planes with relief supplies.

Special Air India flights are scheduled to Leh to evacuate stranded passengers there on Monday as well.

At least 20 soldiers deployed near the base camp of Siachen glacier - the highest battleground of the world at the height of 18,000 feet above sea level - are still missing and are feared dead, army sources said in winter capital Jammu.

The police have set up tented accommodation for 2,000 victims in Choglamsar village and Leh town where free meals are being served.

Over 6,000 army soldiers and troopers of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) are involved in the massive relief and rescue operation and are assisting the local administration.

Leh is 434 km from Srinagar and 474 km from Manali in Himachal Pradesh, to which it is connected by an alternative highway.

The cloudburst occurred at Choglamsar village, which is situated above Leh town, causing flash floods and mudslides that washed away government offices, paramilitary camps and residential homes.

Among the worst hit are the Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), many local hotels and shops.

The headquarters of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), a government polytechnic, an ITBP camp, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp, some government offices and the main transmitter of All India Radio Leh have been extensively damaged.

Situated at 3,524 m above sea level, Leh is spread over 45,110 sq km comprising the main town and 12 adjacent villages.

Source http://www.hindustantimes.com/Rescue-efforts-continue-in-Leh-500-still-missing/Article1-584207.aspx

Bihar train robbery: 21 passengers injured, Rs. 2.5 lakh looted

A large group of armed robbers struck the Sealdah—New Delhi Lal Quila Express today, fired at GRP personnel, assaulted passengers and looted them near Bhalui halt in Bihar’s Lakhisarai district, leaving 21 people, including a jawan, injured.

Enraged over the incident, passengers, mostly kanwarias (devotees of Lord Shiva), shouted slogans and ransacked the office of the station master in Kiul.

Around 35 robbers boarded the train at Jamui station and walked into AC and sleeper coaches of the train and started looting cash and valuables, including jewellery and mobile phones worth Rs 2.50 lakh, from the passengers, official sources said quoting the FIR registered by six passengers.

As the unarmed GRP personnel resisted them, they opened fire critically wounding one of them. The jawan has been hospitalised at a nearby hospital, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Railway) R K Sharma said.

Passengers travelling on the reserved berths, besides the kanwariyas were assaulted by the robbers with butts of pistols and rifles when they refused to part with their belongings.

While five passengers, including three women, suffered serious injuries, 15 kanwariyas and others sustained minor injuries, sources said.

A team of doctors was called by the Railways to provide first—aid to the passengers and the train resumed the onward journey to New Delhi more than two hours behind schedule, they said.

About four to five unarmed GRP personnel were present in the train when the incident took place at around 4.45 AM, the sources said, adding “no weapons are given to the GRP personnel on the route“.

According to the sources, four robbers had earlier boarded the train at Jamui railway station, but passengers and the jawans overpowered them and caught two of them. The other two who managed to escape, alerted their accomplices and the robbery took place at the next halt.

Police sources said that of the 275 trains that need security in Bihar, only 15 per cent are patrolled by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the rest by the Bihar Police.

Senior police officials have reached the spot and raids are on to track down the robbers.

Source http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article555259.ece

College student raped by businessman in Delhi

A teenaged college student was abducted and raped in a car in west Delhi allegedly by a businessman who was arrested, the police said today.

Mukesh Singhal, who runs a paper producing factory, allegedly raped the 17-year-old first year student of a Delhi University college last evening, a senior police officer said.

Singhal stopped his car and asked her an address. When she responded, he allegedly pulled her inside the car and took her to an isolated place where he raped her, the officer said.

The businessman, who resides in Ashok Vihar in north Delhi, later dumped her in front of her college.

The victim then rushed to a police station and filed a complaint. Police personnel took her to a hospital for medical examination which confirmed sexual assault.

Following the medical report, Singhal was arrested and a case of abduction and rape was registered against him.

Source http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_college-student-raped-by-businessman-in-delhi_1419195

India railways suspends Kashmir service amid unrest

The Valley was under the grip of tension for the fifth day.

Indian railways said Wednesday that unrest in the Kashmir Valley had forced it to suspend services that were hailed at their launch two years ago as a symbol of peace and prosperity in the region.

Additional Divisional Railways Manager R.S. Ghera said the decision had been taken after a weekend attack on Sopore railway station and would only be restored once the safety of railway staff and property could be ensured.

"The service is totally disrupted since Sopore station was set on fire and it is too early to say when it could be restored because at present we cannot even assess the damage due to the security situation," Ghera said.

He said a majority of the 1,500 railways staff in the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley -- where more than 40 people have been killed since June in daily clashes between anti-India protesters and police -- were reluctant to report for duty.

"We cannot force them to return to work unless the state government gives an assurance on their safety," Ghera told AFP by telephone from Indian Railways regional headquarters in Ferozepur town in Punjab state.

Around 100 railways staff and their families have already left the region which has been under nearly constant curfew for the last two months.

The 120-kilometre (75-mile), 15-station train service links Baramulla town in the north of Indian Kashmir with Qazigund in the south.

It was personally flagged off by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in October 2008, who said it sent a message that Kashmir's future "should be socially, economically and politically bright."

The 20-billion-rupee (470-million-dollar) project was started in 2000 and involved thousands of engineers and labourers who had to contend with tough Himalayan weather and rugged terrain.

The death in early June of a teenage student -- killed by a police tear-gas shell -- sparked a series of violent protests in Indian Kashmir in which 44 people have been killed, 27 of them since Friday.

"First they damaged tracks, then a bridge and signalling system at Sopore and then a 10,000-strong mob told our employees not to report to work," Ghera said.

Source http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gmXojp2AYgiSq3kkx2ddw4BG__SQ

Another youth killed in Kashmir, clashes continue

A 23-year-old man was killed in Srinagar on Tuesday as crowds defying curfew orders clashed with security forces, taking the toll to 23 in the last five days of unrelenting violence in the Kashmir Valley. Mehraj-ud-Din was killed in Barthana locality of Srinagar city, six kilometres from the city centre Lal Chowk. "The incident occurred when a violent curfew defying mob attacked the security forces," a senior police officer said here.

In another incident, mobs attacked security forces in Sheikhpora area of central Kashmir Badgam district, 14 km from here.

"Despite repeated announcements and warnings that nobody should take to the streets since curfew continued in the area, unruly mobs came out in Sheikhpora area hurling rocks and stones at the security forces."

"In the resultant firing, two protesters were injured and immediately moved to the hospital where doctors said they were out of danger. They suffered leg injuries," the police officer said.

Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani called for a peaceful rally from Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Soura (SKIMS), where he is admitted. The rally will proceed to the martyrs' graveyard in Old City.

Geelani Monday said he would lead the rally himself and assured authorities that the rally would be peaceful.

However, authorities continued with curfew restrictions in the Srinagar city and all other major towns of the valley.

Roads were completely deserted as shops, educational institutions, banks, post offices and other businesses remained closed throughout Srinagar city. The only visible traffic movement was that of the security force vehicles.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who returned after meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in Delhi, chaired a meeting in Srinagar late Monday.

The meeting was attended by senior officers of the army, state police, central and state intelligence agencies and paramilitary forces.

An official said the security forces have been instructed to firmly tackle violence in the Kashmir Valley, but ensure that firearms are not used unless all other preventive measures are exhausted.

The valley has been on the boil due to violent protests against civilians being killed in firing by security forces since June 11. Thirty-seven civilians have been killed in the last six weeks, with 23 of them dying since Friday.

Source http://www.hindustantimes.com/rssfeed/srinagar/Another-youth-killed-in-Kashmir-clashes-continue/Article1-581552.aspx