200 lawyers arrested in Tamil Nadu

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Posted by Snehsan

Chennai : Over 200 lawyers were arrested in Tamil Nadu yesterday and the state assembly witnessed chaotic scenes, with opposition members being evicted, over the clashes between advocates and policemen here a day earlier.

Law Minister S Durai Murugan read out a statement under Rule 110 of the assembly that prohibits debate, blaming both the lawyers and policemen for the “unfortunate turn of events”.
Murugan appealed for calm and said the police were forced to use batons yesterday, leading to bleeding injuries to over 25 lawyers who took part in the violent protests that led to the burning of a police post.
The incident was a fallout of what had happened in the premises of the Madras High Court Tuesday when some lawyers hurled rotten eggs at Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy for his opposition to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka.
Legislators of the AIADMK, Communist Party of India, PMK and MDMK were evicted from the house following their slogan shouting and insistence on a debate. “The denial of a debate on a serious law and order issue was a shameful chapter in the annals of democracy. Further, the incidents have shown that the constitution has failed in the state,” AIADMK floor leader and former chief minister O Panneerselvam told reporters after being evicted with the rest of the opposition legislators.

While over 150 lawyers were arrested for defying prohibitory orders while taking out a procession to the secretariat, one kilometre away from the seat of the government, 50 others were held across the state for Thursday’s clashes and causing public disturbance.
Cases have been filed agains the lawyers under 307 Indian Penal Code, which among other charges includes attempt to murder.

Lawyers, however, continued to boycott courts all over Tamil Nadu protesting police action against their colleagues.

Police said lawyers set fire to government property, including public transport vehicles, and staged sit-in protests. Over 150 police personnel were injured in Thursday’s clashes. Pitched battles between lawyers and police personnel were witnessed in the court premises for several hours on Thursday.

Police officials contended that a section of lawyers demanding the arrest of the Janata Party president pelted stones at policemen - a charge denied by Madras High Court Advocates Association president S Prabhakaran.

Speaking in the assembly, the law minister admitted that Judge Arumugha Perumal Adityan and several lawyers and policemen were injured in the clashes.

A three-member division bench of the Madras High Court, headed by acting Chief Justice S Mukhopadhyay, has ordered a probe into the clashes by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has also offered to meet Mukhopadhyay to discuss the issue and defuse the situation.

“Your cooperation is very essential for me and for this government... Though I am in hospital I will come and see you in an ambulance,” Karunanidhi wrote in a letter to Mukhopadhyay. The letter was released to the media.

The Madras High Court has also posted an advance bail petition filed by movie director Seeman to February 26 for allegedly exhorting people to resort to armed rebellion in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in support of a separate homeland for Tamils in Sri Lanka.

26/11 chargesheet filed; Kasab, Lakhvi named

Posted by Snehsan

Three months after the unprecedented terror attack in Mumbai, a voluminous chargesheet was filed on Wednesday naming 38 people including Pakistani nationals Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab and suspected mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi for crimes ranging from murder to waging war against the country. Indian nationals Fahim Ansari and Sabbauddin Ahmed, arrested in the case for allegedly carrying out a recee of the targets for the attacks, have been named in the chargesheet. They were produced in the court on Wednesday, PTI reported. Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, the suspected mastermind of the 26/11 carnage and believed to be hiding in Pakistan, and Lashkar-e-Toiba operative Yosuf Muzzamil are mentioned in the chargesheet as wanted accused in the case. The 11,500-page chargesheet was filed in the Esplanade court but Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist, was not produced before the court owing to security reasons, PTI report says. Special public prosecutor Ujwal Nikam filed the chargesheet before the metropolitan magistrate M J Mirza. Nikam told reporters, “38 people have been named in the chargesheet. We want the trial to end in three-six months. We will give the copy of chargesheet to Kasab.” According to TV reports, Nikam refused to reveal how many of them are Pakistanis. He said the court has fixed March 9 as the date of next hearing. Kasab and other accused have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. They have also been charged with waging war against the country and offences under the Customs Act, Explosives Act and other Acts, PTI says.

Pakistan’s 30 plus two questions for India

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Posted by Snehsan

Following are the thirty plus two questions asked of the Indian Government by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik in connection with the November 26, 2008 terror attacks on Mumbai that claimed 179 lives and maimed over 300.

Material / evidence required from the government of India:

1. Authenticated copy of confessional statement of Ajmal Qasab recorded by the judicial authorities
2. National Identity Card number of Ajmal and other documentation/ diaries recovered from his possession.
3. Cell phone numbers used by Ajmal in the past, if disclosed during interrogation.
4. Detailed description and further particulars / maximum information of reportedly killed terrorists deposed by Ajmal during interrogation with Indian Police.
5. The digital note books/ diaries recovered from killed terrorists.
6. Authenticated copies of seizure memos of all the articles recovered from or belonging to accused terrorists along with their photographs.
7. Authentic forensic analysis reports of mobile / satellite phones and or any other evidence establishing connectivity and communication of the terrorists with militants based abroad along with identifying particulars.
8. Logs of cell phone interceptions.
9. transcripts of conversation amongst the terrorists during the terror activity from 26 to 28 Nov as well as with their handlers.
10. Cell-phone numbers targeted for transcripts immediately after the terror strike.
11. Intercepted voice recording identified by Ajmal Qasab as of Abu Hamza and Kahfa etc for voice analysis, as well as further details about alleged handlers ‘Abu Hamza’ and ‘Kahfa’.
12. Thuraya telephone forensic analysis including:

a) Numbers in stored memory.
b) Called numbers /log
c) SMS messages
d) Any other information
13. Forensic analysis of cell phones, recovered from the possession of accused including: . Dialled numbers
b. Missed and received calls.
c. Last location
d. Photographs / movies
e. Audio recording
f. IMEI no. and SIM IMSI no
g. Screen shots etc
14. Fingerprints of all the ten accused for comparison with available database.

15. Fingerprints lifted from recovered weapons, personal articles and navigation devices etc. of the accused required for comparison.
16. Clear photographs of the accused for identification and matching with the national database.
17. DNA profiles of all the terrorists arrested / killed.
18. Post mortem reports of all the killed terrorists.
19. Forensic analysis and photograph of engravings on Yamaha engine including the tampering of letters on the engine. Two letters are missing. Complete engine number must be provided.
20. Photographs of engravings on pistols /SMGs recovered from the accused for identification.
21. Confirmation as to whether the pistols used by the terrorists were 9 mm! The picture of pistol shows a TT 7.62 MM (30 Bore) and CAL-30 is clearly visible.
22. Headers of the email received from deccanmujahideen@gmail.com claiming responsibility and clarification as to which specific media received the same.
23. Complete and date wise CCTV footage of all the incidents.
24. GPS data regarding travelling log, location to check log and coordinates, etc. for identifying the launching area. This is important because certain ambiguities have been noticed in the information already provided. For instance, if the terrorists started in a small boat from Karachi at approximately 0800 hours on 22nd Nov, then how come MOB waypoint is showing the boat’s position near Keti Bandar nearly one hour before this time? Out of 17 waypoints, only three have date stamps and remaining is without the same, creating doubt whether these points are authentic or created through GPS.
25. GPS operation is dependent on internal or external batteries, thus following points need elaboration: . If internal batteries were used, a large cache of batteries were required to keep them operative for more than six days.
b. If external batteries were used on boat then picture / evidence of the same should have been included in the list of items recovered from ‘Kuber’.
c. Picture labelled ‘Thuraya satellite phone found in Kuber’ is of GPS of Garmin Company as GPS navigation buttons, waypoint names on screen and company name are clearly visible.
26. Photograph identified by Ajmal as Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi.
27. Relevant information pertaining to tailor / company marks, brand names as well as dry cleaning or laundry stamps on clothes seized.
28. Google earth does not carry details of security systems, various entries exit points, inner details. Such like information requires extensive physical reconnaissance and establishment of control centre within targets. Further details are required.
29. Why did the terrorists not come to the notice of Gujrat and Maharashtra Governments after having travelled by sea in their territory including reported refuelling enroute? Besides, how did they manage to evade so many coastal radars?
30. Details of interrogation reports of Mukhtar Ahmed (Counter-insurgency Officer) and Tausif Rehman, both Indian nationals, arrested after Mumbai attacks on charge of providing SIMs to the terrorists.

Annexure-B

Additional Information Required.

The eye witness account of Jugdev, the only survivor boarding the vehicle of ATS Chief Mr Hemant Karkare, accompanied by two other senior police officers in the same vehicle namely Mr Salasker and Mr Kamteis required to be examined by investigators in Pakistan. It is necessary as Mr Karkare was investigating the cases against militants in mass scale killings of Muslims in India including Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit, reportedly involved in Samjhota Express incident.

Linkages between diamond merchant firm Surat, Gujrat and some Hindus in Pakistan need to be clarified as the diamond merchant was alleged to sponsor Malegoen blasts through Col Purohit.

Planning Commission Approves Rs. 15,900 crore Plan for Bihar

Monday, February 23, 2009

Posted by Snehsan

Much to the satisfaction of the Bihar government and the people of Bihar, the Planning Commission on Monday okayed an annual plan of Rs. 15,900 crore for the fiscal year 2009-10, an increase of Rs. 2,400 crore over last year's plan.The announcement came soon after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi met with the Planning Commission Deputy Chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia at Vikas Bhawan in New Delhi on Monday and presented their case demanding more money for developing infrastructure in the state and help in improving power situation in Bihar."We have laid out many plans to attract investment but have not attained the desired result in the lack of adequate power in the state. Bihar is in dire need of more electricity which has led us to initiate a number of thermal power projects but this alone cannot extricate the state from its current anemic state. We must get some real help from the Center in terms of developing infrastructure if we wish to see some real change in Bihar," Kumar said at the meeting as reported by government officials.Kumar also took a dig at the previous Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) regime blaming it for pushing Bihar into the dark age by its anti-development agenda."Lalu Prasad Yadav's election symbol is lantern and that's exactly where he drove the state to during his 15 years of rule in Bihar – the lantern age. There is a serious power crisis in the state because the RJD leaders did not wish to see Bihar develop like other states. After all, how long we have to live in the dark age?" the Chief Minister asked. Montek by and large agreed with Kumar and praised him for doing extremely well during his three-year rule in Bihar.

India will respond to Pak when necessary: Pranab

Posted by Snehsan

New Delhi : Foreign Minister Pranab Mukharjee has said it would respond to any information sought by Islamabad in connection with its investigation into the Mumbai terrorist attacks case.
“Whatever information we get from Pakistan, we respond to it. But information must be made available through official channels and not through media,” External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in New Delhi on Monday. Mukherjee added that India would cooperate “as and when it is necessary” but ruled out a joint investigation in the attacks. “As far as joint investigation is concerned, I have told you we are having investigation,” Mukherjee said.

In reply to India’s dossier on the Mumbai attacks, Islamabad has reverted back with a list of 30 questions answers to which it considers crucial to its probe. Indian agencies have said they would respond to the questions and are in the process of preparing their reply.

Martin Luther King III thanks India for giving Gandhi to world

Friday, February 20, 2009

Posted by Snehsan

"I thank you for giving Mahatma Gandhi to the world," said Martin Luther King III Thursday during his visit to Mani Bhavan, residence of Mahatma Gandhi from 1917-1934.King, who is touring the country to trace his parents' "pilgrimage" to India in 1959, addressed media at the historical residence where his father Dr Martin Luther King Jr stayed during his tour to Mumbai, then Bombay.The civil rights activist got emotional saying he was honoured to visit the place where his parents came 50 years ago and felt the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi."My father and mother visited this place fifty years ago and now my wife and I are retracing those steps," he said."My father visited many countries as a tourist, but he visited this great country as a pilgrim," King III said. "We will return to the US more determined, more committed and more concerned to spread the message of love and non-violence in our nation and the whole world," King III, who is accompanied by his wife said.Speaking about Mumbai terror attacks, he said the world saw the tragedy and "wept and prayed for you".

Narendra Modiji and the missuses

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Posted by Snehsan

AHMEDABAD : Chief minister Narendra Modi is known to have a strong following among women. He also knows how much influence the woman of the house
wields. Graduating from mahila sammellans in the rural setting, Modi is now hosting wives of IAS, IPS and IFS officers at Gandhinagar ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The meeting is being organised by wife of chief secretary D Rajagopalan. In many cases it was husbands who got the call and were asked to send their wives to the meet on Friday. But of course the meet might end up with officers like Geetha Johri, Anita Karwal, Sunaina Tomar attending it too, because they happen to be wives of IPS, or IFS officers. COUNTDOWN BEGINS
Ticket aspirants in the BJP are keeping their fingers crossed. For, starting February 20, central observers of the party will fan out to different districts and collect recommendations on candidates for upcoming Lok Sabha polls from party workers. Incidentally, BJP's prime ministerial candidate L K Advani is also visiting Ahmedabad on Friday -- the day when observers will meet workers for short-listing candidates for Ahmedabad (East) seat. "To make the entire exercise constructive, we have told party workers that they are free to recommend names. But they are also told oppose names suggested by others," said a senior BJP leader. Gujarat government may have finally recognised the competence of Ravi Saxena, an IAS bureaucrat of 1978 batch, by appointing him as state health secretary, a powerful post responsible for controlling the mighty health establishment. However, the officialdom seems puzzled. Despite several reminders, the Central government is not letting him go to take up the new assignment. He took over a Central job, of development commissioner, Kandla SEZ, after feeling sidelined under the Narendra Modi government for years together. But finding that work with Modi could be more exciting, he decided to prematurely returned to the state fold.
"Though he has been appointed state health secretary, the Centre is strangely not clearing the file relieving him", a senior official known to be close to Saxena complained. Result -- health remains a parentless department. There is nobody to monitor what is happening at Modasa, where people have died due to Hepatitis-B. Even health commissioner Amarjit Singh, second in command in the department, is awaiting an appointment in Delhi.

Azhar Begins New Innings

Posted by Snehsan

AZHARUDDIN JOINS CONGRESS, MAY CONTEST LS POLLS :

Former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin formally joined the Congress party in New Delhi on Thursday.
When queried if he will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election, he responded, "If the party thinks I am good enough (to contest elections) I will do so. As of now, I don't know anything."
He added, "I have always been an admirer of Congress, which fought for India's independence. I want to give something back to the nation by joining politics."
Moily told media persons that Azharuddin had sent feelers to Congress leaders in New Delhi and Hyderabad and expressed his desire to join the party.
"I spoke to the Congress president (Sonia Gandhi [Images]) and received her consent in the matter," said Moily.
During his interaction with the media, Azharuddin refused to answer any questions about the allegations pertaining to match fixing, which had plagued his cricketing career.
"There will always be people who will criticise you. What is gone is gone for good," he stated. On a more confident note, he added, "I will work as hard as possible -- like the way I worked to improve my batting," he said.
Moily pointed out that no cases are pending against Azharuddin in any court of law. On the contrary, he said, the former cricketer's case against the Board of Cricket Control of India is still pending in the high court.
"Rajiv Gandhi, during his tenure as the prime minister, was the first person to call me up and congratulate me when the Indian team started winning," he added.
Meanwhile, BJP threw a bouncer at Congress for its move to induct Azhar alleging that only "fixers" are joining the ruling party.
"All the fixers in the nation are either joining Congress or Samajwadi Party," party spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters here today.
Azharuddin had been banned from cricket in 2000 for his alleged involvement in the match-fixing scandal that had rocked the game internationally. However, he has not been indicted for any guilt.
Azharuddin was India's most successful captain till Sourav Ganguly bettered his feat.
His entry into politics coincides with another cricketer, Chetan Sharma, joining the Bahujan Samaj Party.

Haryana cops do Google search to solve porn mystery

Friday, February 13, 2009

Posted by Snehsan

Chandigarh: Search giant Google has been approached by the Chandigarh police after apparently morphed pornographic photographs of leading Haryana politicians were posted on the Internet. The police have asked Google to trace the source of the pornographic photographs, believed to be morphed, following a complaint from Haryana Congress secretary Mahinder Singh. The pictures pertain to three senior Haryana politicians: Finance Minister Birender Singh, Education Minister Mange Ram Gupta and senior legislator and former state Congress chief Shamsher Singh Surjewala. All three are senior Jat leaders, the politically dominant, land-owning community in the state. "The cyber crime cell is investigating the matter. The message seems to have originated from a Gmail account and we have asked Google to conduct a trace. Their report should be available to us within the next few days," Chandigarh's senior superintendent of police S S. Srivastava said.

Pakistan switch game from Karachi

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Posted by Snehsan

Security has been a major factor on recent tours of Pakistan

Pakistan's fifth one-day international against South Africa on Monday has been moved from Karachi to Lahore because of security concerns।

The South Africans did not want to play in Karachi after last week's bombing of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's convoy in which 139 people were killed।

"We deeply regret this decision, especially for the people of Karachi।

"But members of our contingent are not comfortable travelling there," said team manager Logan Naidoo.
"If possible, we will play in Karachi when we tour Pakistan next time।"

Bomb attacks in the city have disrupted previous series, with New Zealand flying home in 2002 after an explosion close to their hotel, which killed 14 people.