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Around 70 percent turnout in Mizoram Assembly polls

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:39:00 +0530

Around 70 per cent voter turnout was witnessed in the elections for the 40-member Mizoram Assembly today.

Polling was held amidst tight security in the remote north-eastern state of Mizoram today.

This is the fourth assembly poll since Mizoram attained statehood in February 1987; a year after the Mizo Peace Accord was signed. The three main contenders are the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), the Congress and the United Democratic Alliance.

Security forces had sealed the 722-kilometer-long international border along Bangladesh and Myanmar and Mizoram''s borders with Manipur, Assam and Tripura.

A majority of the polling booths in the state had been declared as hyper-sensitive or sensitive. Additional state police personnel had been deployed along Mizoram''s borders with Manipur and Assam. The Border Security Force and the Assam Rifles manned the international borders.

The centre had sent five additional companies of central paramilitary forces as against the state''s plea for 15 additional companies. Mizoram has three armed police battalions and four India Reserve battalions, besides state police spread over all the eight districts.

In Mizoram, women voters outnumber their male counterparts by 6,654.

Nine women candidates are in the fray for this year''s polls. Women bodies like the Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP) or the Mizo Women''s Federation and the newly-formed Women Welfare Front (WWF) are hopeful about women making it to the State Legislature.

State election officials said that majority of the 2,900 service voters and around 8,000 Bru voters, now lodged in six relief camps in neighbouring Tripura have exercised franchise through postal ballots.

The oldest candidate is the 85-year-old former chief minister and chief ministerial candidate of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Brigadier Thenphunga Sailo who is contesting from the prestigious Aizawl West-II seat where he is pitted against 36-year-old Lalruatkima of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) and the Congress lone woman candidate Zothankimi.

The MNF contested 39 seats while its pre-poll partner the Mara Democratic Front (MDF) is contesting from one constituency.

The Congress is contesting all the 40 seats and the UDA, a pre-poll alliance of the Mizoram People''s Conference and the Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) is contesting 37 seats.

Political parties like the Bharatiy Janata Party (BJP), the NCP, the Lok Janshakti Party and Lok Bharti also fielded candidates and there are 36 independent candidates. (ANI)

Naval Chief admits to ''systemic failure'' in Mumbai terror attacks

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:38:00 +0530

Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta has admitted to ''systemic failure'' in last weeks Mumbai terror attacks.

Addressing a news conference in New Delhi today, Admiral Mehta said, a lacuna did exist in country''s coastal security and intelligence mechanisms.

"It is a serious issue, a serious matter, the issue of security. There is a systemic failure and it needs to be taken stock of," said Admiral Mehta.

Days before militants struck Mumbai, Indian authorities were warned of an imminent attack by Islamist terrorists who would arrive by sea, according to a senior Coast Guard source.

Indian authorities say the militants who attacked Mumbai, killing at least 197 people, belonged to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) group, also blamed for an attack on Indian parliament in 2001.

The militants appeared to have dodged the coast guard by hijacking an Indian fishing trawler to sneak into Indian coastal waters, officials said.

The trawler Kuber was later found abandoned in the Arabian Sea close to the Mumbai coast.

Admiral Mehta, however said, that though coordination was important amongst agencies, the information available should be actionable.

"There are several agencies involved and coordination is important. What is important is that the information available should be actionable. It should have some specifics to it," said Admiral Mehta.

The militants involve in the Mumbai attacks are believed to have entered Mumbai from Pakistan via the sea route, sailing from Porbandar to Mumbai in ''Kuber'' an Indian fishing trawler.

For many months now, Indian Defence Minister has been talking about the need for beefing up coastal security in the country, but after the Mumbai attacks the people across the country are pressing the government to take some concrete steps to mount a strict vigilance along the porous Indian coastline. (ANI)

Pakistani students pay homage to Mumbai terror victims

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:38:00 +0530

Pakistani students who are in Lucknow on a goodwill visit, paid obeisance to victims, the brave commandoes and security personnel who laid their lives in fighting militants in the recent terror attacks in Mumbai.

Perturbed with the souring relations between India and Pakistan, the students condemned the attacks and said that Indians and Pakistanis should fight terrorism together.

“If something bad happens to the people of India, we feel as if it''s happening to our people because we belong to the same land and culture. So, we have the same feelings for people of both the countries. So, we want that both the countries should remain united and appreciate diversity, live with pluralism and there should not be any differences on this basis,” said Syed Hasan Adil, a Pakistani student.

Relations between India and Pakistan were improving specially after the installation of the civil government in Pakistan about eight months ago.

But, with New Delhi getting tougher with Islamabad over the links of Pakistani elements in Mumbai terror strikes and Pakistan threatening to remove its troops from the western frontier and placing them on the India Pakistan border has again turned the relations bitter between the two nuclear powered countries.

Pakistani nationals blame it on the anti-social elements who do not want India and Pakistan friendship to prosper.

“I feel that whenever Pakistan and India''s friendship is in news and any new development starts, something wrong like this happens. I feel that this is an attempt by some people who want that no friendship should develop between the two countries. This issue can be solved only when the students will make visits of universities in each other''s country, share their views, knowledge, get a chance to meet new people,” said Mohammed Shaad Mardani, a teacher from Pakistan.

The situation seemed to improve as the two countries had allowed cross border trade, but the recent turn of events with Mumbai terror strike links being traced to Pakistan, the situation has changed.

The three-day terrorist attacks in Mumbai, which began on Wednesday killed at least 197 people and left nearly 300 wounded. (ANI)

Lalu Yadav demands Kerala CM’s resignation

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:37:00 +0530

Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav demanded Kerala Chief Minister V.S Achuthanandan’s resignation here today.

“It is a very serious thing what Kerala''s Chief Minister has said and I will request the leadership that they should ask Achuthanandan to quit,” said Lalu.

He was reacting to an objectionable remark reportedly made by Kerala CM, after being snubbed by bereaved Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan’s father, when he visited his house in Bangalore on November 30.

Expressing his anger at the politician, K. Unnikrishnan, Sandeep''s father reportedly asked Achuthanandan to leave his home immediately.

Achuthanandan, however, showed no regret when he was asked by the reporters in Hyderabad about the incident.

“I did not comment anything wrong. I told Sandeep''s (slain Major of National Security Guard) father and mother, you are our family and we are coming here in respectful gesture. So this is okay,” said Achuthanandan.

This episode had hit national headlines and Achuthanandan had been criticized for delaying his visit to the bereaved family.

Meanwhile, in the news conference Lalu had declared compensation of rupees one million for Indian Railways employees who lost their lives and 997 dollar each for those who were injured when the gunmen fired in the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal train station on November 26, 2008. He also announced Grade IV government jobs for the dependents of those killed.

Ten terrorists attacked Mumbai''s top two luxury hotels, its biggest railway station and several other landmarks with grenades and assault rifles in a rampage that began on Wednesday night. (ANI)

Let the police forces do their job professionally

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:36:00 +0530

The events in Mumbai have shown us how the police forces in the metropolis have been ineffective as the first line of defence against terrorists. The reason is that over the years the police has unfortunately lost its moorings and credibility.

It has been the crying need of this country for over two decades now, if not more, that the police forces should be empowered to do their job professionally without interference from bureaucrats and political masters.

Politicians to serve their own ends have used the police forces in almost all States of India, and as a result the people of India do not trust the service.

The first duty of the state towards its citizens is to ensure law and order and provide security to the people. Under the Indian Constitution, the responsibility of maintaining law and order lies with the State Governments. Unfortunately, the State Governments have failed to ensure the safety of its citizens. Even the Central Government has been as much of a culprit in centrally administered areas.

It was a great pity that the founding fathers gave away the issue of law and order and policing to the states even though they created an all India police cadre in the form of the Indian Police Service (IPS). Politicians in the states have ensured that the police force in their areas become their errand boys. The police dance to the tune of state politicians instead of carrying out their duties as protectors of the men and women in the street.

Over a period of time, the police forces have become corrupt and overbearing. The situation has become so bad that police stations even refuse to register an FIR (First Information Report) for any crime that a citizen may report. You either bribe the policeman to get an FIR registered or move a politician to do so.

The registration of an FIR does not mean that your case would be solved or that you may get justice. It can be to the contrary. Before you realise what has happened, the concerned police station may implicate you in the case. There are many instances when complainants have been implicated as criminals. The net result has been that people do not lodge or avoid lodging any complaints.

The police forces in the states are reluctant or unable to handle criminals or terrorists. Remember the zeal and energy that the Maharashtra Police and its Home Minister (R.R.Patil) showed when they were fighting the poor hapless girls dancing away in bars to earn a living.

The Director General of Mahrashtra Police, Mr. A.N. Roy, could be seen on television every night as though he was carrying out a huge operation to rid Mahrashtra of crime. He was only acting as the moral policeman of his boss Home Minister R.R. Patil. Contrast this with the passive role played by the Mumbai Police during the recent terrorist strikes in the city.

Where has all this led the Maharashtra or Mumbai Police? Bombay Police at one time was known to be among the best not just in India but also in the whole of the then British Empire. They carried out their duties fearlessly and Bombay was among the safest cities in the world. Can Mr. R.R. Patil or Mr. Roy claim that today about Mumbai?

The handling of police forces in the centrally administered areas has been no different in recent years. I remember as a child watching every afternoon that on summer days a “bheshti” water carrier would spray water on the main street of old Delhi’s Chandni Chowk.

The “beshti” would be followed on horseback by the head of the police station along with two police constables. The immaculately turned out three horsemen would slowly take a walk towards the Fatehpuri mosque, turn around go up to the Red Fort and then back to their police station. This one gesture was enough to let criminals and others know that the police was around to deal with them.
conti...Let the..... professionally

India Arab League to form joint cooperation forum

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:36:00 +0530

India and Arab league on Tuesday signed a memorandum of cooperation to set up Arab-India Cooperation Forum, which will act as a joint mechanism to boost mutual cooperation.

Amre Moussa, Secretary General of the Arab League who is on a three-day visit to India, signed the memorandum of cooperation with Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi.

"Today the Secretary General and I have signed a memorandum of cooperation on the establishment of the India Arab Cooperation Forum. It is our common intention to make this forum a vehicle for cooperative diverse set of activities that could also cover the areas of trade and investment, energy cooperation, human resource development, cultural cooperation as well as cooperation in the field of information communication and technology," Mukherjee told reporters today after signing the agreement.

Moussa said he has taken all steps to expedite the process of establishment of the cooperation forum. He said that the agreement which has been signed was approved by the authorities of both sides, and immediate action would be taken to implement it.

Secretary General of 22-nation body, Moussa has been pushing for bilateral cooperation in various fields. He met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh earlier in the day.

The Arab world is a major source of energy for India and the fuel-rich Arab countries like UAE, Oman are most sought after destination by the Indians.

Indian workers are employed in various capacities in Arab countries. (ANI)

Shiv Sena demands removal of Maharashtra government

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:34:00 +0530

Maharashtra''s main opposition party Shiv Sena met the President, Pratibha Devisingh Patil, here today and urged her to remove the State Government in the wake of last week''s militant attacks in the city.

Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi, who headed the delegation, told reporters after their meeting with the President that they have demanded removal of the state government led by Vilasrao Deshmukh as it was unable to protest the state from terror strikes.

"We had gone to meet the President for making a demand that this (Maharashtra state) government should not continue in the state because of incidents (Mumbai militant attacks) that have taken place. These incidents are serious and it is expected that the people of Maharashtra are not happy with the government and want that the government must go," said Joshi.

Cutting short her visit to Indonesia by two days, President Patil visited Mumbai to meet the Mumbai terror attacks victims and kin of slain security personnel.

President Patil reviewed the situation with the Maharashtra''s Governor Sanayangba Chubatoshi Jamir at Raj Bhavan.

Deshmukh and other senior officials also met Patil and apprised her of the prevailing situation.

The President paid a visit to the residence of Mumbai''s slain Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) Chief Hemant Karkare''s and paid tribute to the officer and offered condolence to his family.

The three-day terrorist attacks in Mumbai, which began on Wednesday killed at least 197 people and left nearly 300 wounded. (ANI)

India demands Pakistan to handover fugitives

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:44:00 +0530

As India stepped up pressure on Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks, New Delhi has demanded Islamabad to handover about 20 fugitives.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in New Delhi today that a demarche has been handed over to the Pakistan High Commissioner in India on Monday night.

"We have asked in our demarche to handover and arrest those person who are fugitives of Indian law and are settled in Pakistan. There is a list of about 20 persons. We will await for Pakistan''s response. We appreciate the responses, which we have received from all over the world including the president elect of United States Barack Obama," said Mukherjee.

Obama said on Monday that militants based in South Asia represented the biggest threat to the United States and he was "absolutely committed" to eliminating the threat of terrorism.

With the world shocked by the deadly militant attacks on Mumbai that killed 197 people, Obama pointed to South Asia as the area of greatest concern.

India has blamed the attacks on militants from Pakistan.

The list handed over to Pakistan includes India''s most-wanted man Dawood Ibrahim, the alleged mastermind of 1993 Mumbai bombings. New Delhi has been claiming that Dawood is living in Pakistan, but Islamabad denies that. (ANI)

Three suspects arrested in Coimbatore

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:43:00 +0530

The three suspects Abdul Ameen aged 21, Iqufal Ahmed aged 20 and Jamsheel aged 21 were residing in Srilanka hotel situated opposite to the Coimbatore railway station for past twenty days.

When the police investigated about their whereabouts they tried to mislead the police and informed them that they had come to start a public telephone booth and earn their livelihood.

But the police sensing suspicion further investigated the matter and found that one of the telephone connections was in the name of an auto-rickshaw driver.

“Our special party found three youth from Calicut. They were staying there in the lodge. When they were interrogated for what they had come, they told us that they had come for the telephone business. And when we further interrogated them we came to know that they had taken telephone connection in the name of Venkateshan, who is an auto driver,” said K.C. Mahali, Police Commissioner, Coimbatore city police.

According to the police these phones were used to make calls to Gulf countries.

“And we came to know that they were residing for about 20 days in that lodge and they have been doing telephone conferencing from our country to different gulf country. We have further conducted the investigation and we have given the requisition to the Reliance as well as to the BSNL. After getting the transcription from BSNL and Reliance then only we would be able to know that which countries they have contacted and how much of.....and what kind of talk is going on,” informed Mahali.

The police also recovered the map of Coimbatore city from them. These suspects have been taken into custody and have been put on remand till the details of the call are received form BSNL and Reliance two major telecom companies of India. (ANI)

‘Coast Guards had intelligence about use of sea to attack Mumbai’

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:43:00 +0530

Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta today said the Coast Guards had intelligence inputs about the use of the sea route by terror outfits to attack India’s financial capital, Mumbai.

The fishing trawler in which terrorists came to Mumbai was intercepted by the Coast Guard, but was let off by them as all papers were in place, Admiral Mehta told reporters at his annual press conference ahead of Navy Day.

He further said that for plugging holes in coastal security, there should be better synergy between the Navy and the Coast Guard.

Commenting on the issue of a trawler from Gujarat getting free access to Mumbai, Admiral Mehta said: “There are 1-1.5 lakh trawlers in India out of which 50,000 trawlers operate on the western coast alone and it is difficult to check each one of them.”

He called for urgent improvement in the security of coastal areas, and said that while the present system was good, it needs upgrading.

“The issue of security is a serious matter. Systemic failure that was brought about by Mumbai terror attacks needs to be taken stock of and government would respond to it adequately,” Admiral Mehta said.

The Navy Chief advocated for stronger armed forces for India and especially the Navy as 70 per cent of trade comes from sea.

He also admitted that lacunae existed in coastal security and intelligence sharing, and called for better coordination among the security and intelligence agencies.

Navy Day is observed on December 4 every year. On this day Indian Navy played a significant role in the bombing of Karachi harbour during the 1971 war. Owing to its success, the day of the attack has been celebrated as Navy Day since then. (ANI)