Sunday, June 20, 1999

Karnad: Pak has not violated international law
MUMBAI, June 19 — Mr Bharat Karnad, a member of the National Security Council Advisory Board, has said that Pakistan by crossing the Line of Control in Kargil has not violated any international law as the LoC is not an international border.

Thakre not to contest LS poll
GUWAHATI, June 19 — BJP President Kushabhau Thakre said today that he would not contest the coming Lok Sabha elections to be held in September-October.

IAF fully prepared: Tipnis

HYDERABAD, June 19 (PTI) — Air Chief Marshal A.Y. Tipnis today described the situation in the border areas well under control but asserted that the Indian Air Force (IAF) was geared up to face any escalation in the on-going conflict in the Kargil-Dras-Batalik sectors.

"Though the IAF now has a limited role to play in the on-going crisis across the line of control (LoC) in border areas triggered by the Pakistan-backed infiltrations, it is prepared for any escalation in the conflict", the Chief of Air Staff, who was here in connection with the Air Force Academy graduation parade ceremony, told newsmen.

Though the IAF’s participation in the current crisis had a telling effect as it had achieved a considerable success in locating the forward supply bases of Pakistan, "we had not only contained their (infiltrators) advancement but we were also able to push them back", he said.

The Air Chief Marshal said no time-frame had been set to evict the intruders "since it would keep us under undue pressure. It should be done phase-wise and sector-wise. The process should be carried out calmly and with good precision and calculation."

He said it was difficult to ensure 100 per cent check across the LoC, violated by Pakistan, since the 140 km stretch (Kargil-Dras-Batalik sectors) was not a flat but a difficult terrain.

Explaining the difficulty in guarding the LoC, the Air Chief Marshal said, "it is impossible to keep every inch of the terrain guarded as it involved a collosal use of man power and equipment with huge financial costs".

The army should come out with some devices to keep the LoC under check from infiltrations, he said.

Replying to queries, he said the LoC had been clearly demarcated in the maps with an understanding between India and Pakistan and the latter had no business to transgress it.

To another query, he shot back saying that there was no need for the reassessment of the LoC.

He denied any use of out-dated weapons and asserted that suitable weapons were being used optimally. There should be no doubt on this score, he said adding "the use of airpower in the plains and mountainous regions is quite different. It is not the classical way of use of power".

On pushing back the Pakistan-backed intruders from the LoC, Air Chief Marshal Tipnis said "we have to look for their (enemy) forward supply bases and at the same time continue attacks from the rear side."

He asserted that the IAF was prepared for any escalation in the on-going conflict. "We have the confidence to face the enemy and crush it," he said.

Jessica Lal murder case
Investigating officer transferred
From Our Correspondent

NEW DELHI, June 19 — The City Police Commissioner, Mr V.N. Singh, said that transfer of the Station House Officer (SHO), Mehrauli, the Investigating Officer in the Jessica Lal murder case, would not affect further investigations in the case.

Jessica Lal was allegedly murdered in April by Manu Sharma, son of Venod Sharma, former President of Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee.

“The transfer is purely an administrative decision and it will not in, any way, affect the probe” Mr Singh said.

The SHO, Mr Surinder Sharma, was transferred yesterday following the order of Lt Governor of Delhi, Mr Vijay Kapoor, in the wake of two robberies in the Mehrauli area of South Delhi. Mr Surinder Sharma was key investigator of Jessica Lal murder case. Jessical Lal was shot dead at Tamarind Court restaurant cum illegal bar run by socialite Bina Ramani.

The Commissioner said that SHO had been transferred from Mehrauli Police Station but he would be retained in South district.

He assured that the investigation of Jessica murder case would not be hampered and Mr Surinder Sharma would not be excluded from future investigations.

Ms B. Prasad, Secretary to the Lt Governor, said that the transfer of the SHO was done to make the Delhi Police active. The snatching incident yesterday, in which a bus conductor’s bag at Mehrauli bus stand was looted, had created a feeling of insecurity among residents of the area.

The transfer was not made under any pressure. The Lt Governor was not available for comment.

However, senior officers of the Delhi Police had different views. They felt that it could demoralise the police force.

If two robbery cases were a criteria for the transfer of an SHO, 10 SHOs should be transferred everyday. The lower rank officers were always made scapegoats for the mistakes of other people, an officer said.

He said that investigations in the Jessica Lal murder case were at a crucial stage. The weapon of offence had not been recovered yet. Mr Sharma was the officer, who was handling the case from day one. His transfer could dilute the case, the officer felt.

Indo-Bangla border ‘vanishes’

PETRAPOLE (Indo-Bangla border), June 19 (PTI) — The Indo-Bangla border here ceased to exist today, albeit temporarily.

As the inaugural Calcutta-Dhaka bus "Souhardya" drove across the border into Bangladesh, a group of journalists, West Bengal policemen and others who had assembled on Indian soil to witness the historic occasion, followed in its tracks. That too without valid documents.

Border Security Force jawans and their counterparts, Bangladesh Rifles personnel turned a blind eye to the "infiltration". And Bangladesh Customs personnel loudly encouraged the "illegal" movement from the Indian side.

"Just come over and stay till the bus leaves the Benapole border on our side. No one will tell you anything," said a customs officer.

When a couple of Indian journalists, visibly tense, sought an assurance from him that there would not be any problem, the officer broke into a broad grin and said "I’m Shahjahan. If anybody stops you, just tell them my name".

Never before had the name of the bus - "Souhardya" (friendship) seemed more appropriate.

But the spirit of bonhomie was manifest even before the bus arrived at 6.45 am. Though there was a larger number of people on the Bangladesh side than on the Indian, the sense of deja vu on both sides was very perceptible.

Mohammed Surjan Ali, a resident of Barashra village on the Bangladesh side, had waited since first light for a glimpse of the bus. "the fare is cheap. Who knows, one day I may also avail of it to visit West Bengal. I have heard so much about Calcutta.’’

But the more fortunate ones — the bus passengers — displayed varied emotions. Some were overwhelmed, some thrilled, while for some youngsters it was a journey to an oft-heard of land.

"I have heard so much about Bangladesh, especially Comilla, where my relatives stay. It is a dream come true for me,’’ said Shushrusha Chakraborty, a teenager, one of the 25 passengers on board the bus who had purchased 11-dollar tickets for the inaugural run.

For former Calcutta Sheriff and filmstar of yesteryears Basanta Chowdhury, one of the VIP passengers, it was a ‘thrilling experience’.

Recalling his visit to Bangladesh by road a fortnight after the country won freedom in 1971, he said "I still remember the grand reception we received there. But then our vehicle had to be ferried over rivers four times. Now I am told that our bus has to be ferried only once’’.

Chowdhury’s co-passenger and former Vishabharati Vice-Chancellor Amlan Dutta was overcome by nostalgia.

The noted economist was born in Bangladesh and also began his education at Armenitola School in Dhaka before taking a transfer to another school in Comilla. "I’ve a number of childhood friends there. I hope I will be able to meet them this time,’’ he said.

Asked whether he would visit the house where he was born, Dutta could barely conceal his emotion. "I would love to. But I don’t even know whether the house still stands’’.

The bus did not only touch an emotional chord among the people, but was also being construed as a vital mode of conveyance for commoners.

"This will enable chronically ill patients as well as students from our country to travel to India at a cost convenient to them," said Motiur Rahman, a Customs Clearing and Forwarding agent of Bangladesh.

Exuding an air of confidence, he prophesied that the number of persons crossing the border would double within a year following the introduction of the bus service.

Child labour rampant in region
From Tripti Nath
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, June 19 — “Children in Punjab are paying the price of the Green Revolution as they are exposed to toxic chemicals while working in fields. They often cut their hands and fingers while using threshers,” said Kailash Satyarthi, founder and chairperson of South Asian Coalition on Child Servitude (SACCS).

Credited with rescuing over 50,000 children, Mr Satyarthi said that some of the worst forms of child labour are visible in Punjab and Haryana. These include debt bondage and work likely to harm the health and safety of children as defined in the new international labour convention adopted at the International Labour Conference in Geneva on Thursday.

Mr Satyarthi said that the situation is no better in Haryana. Children born to bonded labour parents work in brick kilns and stone quarries in Panchkula, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Panipat, Sonepat, Gurgaon, Faridabad and Mahendergarh.

“Favourable interventions have helped little due to lacunae in the law. Besides, there is a nexus between the law-breakers and the law-implementing agencies.”

Mr Satyarthi who addressed the General Assembly of the International Labour Conference yesterday said that the adoption of the new convention against the worst forms of child labour by 174 member States of the ILO is a moral victory for their movement.

According to a press release issued by the ILO the new Convention applies to all persons under the age of 18 and says that governments should work together urgently to realise “immediate and effective measures” to secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour. An accompanying recommendation urges ratifying states to declare the worst forms of child labour as criminal offences and impose penals sanctions on those who would perpetrate them.

According to the ILO, about 250 million children between 5 to 14 years of age work.

Mr Satyarthi told TNS that being a signatory to the convention is not enough. “Member countries ought to recognise the worst forms of child labour.”

He said that the Global March Against Child Labour will now act as a determined watchdog to monitor the progress of implementation of the convention. This exercise would continue for six months. “Countries which fail to honour their commitment will be exposed as worst performers.”

Mr Satyarthi said that children working in brick kilns in Haryana are victims of debt bondage. “They find themselves trapped in situations where they are compelled to work. They lose their freedom to move or change their job.”

Mr Satyarthi pointed out that the law permits children to work in hazardous occupations in family situations. Taking advantage of this, most factory owners claim kinship with the child labour during factory inspections and force the children to repeat the lie.

He said that the hot dust in the brick kilns affects the lungs of the children. “Loading and unloading of hot bricks is harmful as the children get blisters and suffer baldness carrying them on the heads. This adversely affects the marriage prospects of the girls later. Due to postural defects, the children get spinal problems also.”

Mr Satyarthi said that work in stone quarries can prove fatal and eye damage is common. He added that the only positive change has come about in Faridabad due to intervention by commissions appointed by the Supreme Court.

AIIMS docs join duty
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, June 19 — Health care services at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) were back to normal today, after over 600 resident doctors joined duty after a three-day mass casual leave.

The AIIMS Director, Dr P K Dave told The Tribune here today that the doctors agreed to resume duties on the assurance that their demands for better security would be considered favourably.

Dr Dave said that the institute had agreed to provide a round-the-clock faculty cover in the casualty ward. He said that their demands for security in the students hostel were also being considered.

Resident doctors decided to stay away from work to protest against misbehaviour by a patient’s attendant and an AIIMS employee with their colleagues in two separate incidents recently. The matter was reported to the police later.

Karnad: Pak has not violated international law

MUMBAI, June 19 (PTI) — Mr Bharat Karnad, a member of the National Security Council Advisory Board, has said that Pakistan by crossing the Line of Control (LoC) in Kargil has not violated any international law as the LoC is not an international border.

The international borders have to be negotiated and “until that is done, one is free to move on the ground. Therefore, Pakistan has not violated the international law,” he said while speaking at the Indian Council of World Affairs on “Relevance of nuclear deference” here last evening.

Stressing that it was time India clearly established its borders with Pakistan and China, he said the LoC or the Line of Actual Control (LAC) were elastic and could be crossed by either country.

Moving over to the other side is not wrong as long as the LoC or the LAC is not translated into international border,” said the research professor in national security studies.

Thakre not to contest LS poll

GUWAHATI, June 19 (UNI) — BJP President Kushabhau Thakre said today that he would not contest the coming Lok Sabha elections to be held in September-October.

Speaking to newspersons here Mr Thakre said that there was no plan to remove Assam unit President Narain Barkatoki.

“Mr Barkatoki is doing well and there is no need to change the state leadership,” he said.

Dare devil stunt claims one life
JAMSHEDPUR: A woman was killed and seven were injured when a motor-cyclist slipped while performing stunts on the steep walls of a “well” at a fair in Sakchi Locality here, the police said on Saturday. Shanti Devi, like many others, was leaning against the railing of the iron structure, ironically called ‘well of death’, to have a beter glimpse. The show was on with four men in motor cycles and cars, performing stunts criss-crossing each other along the steep surface, when one of the motor-cyclists lost balance. The police said of the four stuntmen, three were under 16 and did not possess any driving licence. The police stopped the ‘dare-devil’ show and filed a case against the organisers. — PTI

Two killed in landslide
GOPESHWAR (UP): Two women pilgrims were killed and seven persons injured, two of them seriously, in a landslide near the Kedarnath shrine in the Garhwal Hills of Uttar Pradesh, the police said here on Saturday. The victims, identified as Kesar Devi of Sirka village in Hamirpur district of Uttar Pradesh and Kamla from Rajasthan, were killed while returning from the shrine on Thursday. — PTI

Sanction sought to try Jethmalani
NEW DELHI: Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy has sought sanction to prosecute Law Minister Ram Jethmalani on his allegations regarding denotification of lands. Releasing his letter to the Chief Vigilance Commissioner, Dr Swamy told newsmen here on Friday that the CBI had filed its report on his allegations against Mr Jethmalani regarding denotification of lands. — UNI

Order to seal Treasury
BHAVNAGAR (Gujarat): In a landmark ruling, the district court here has ordered that the Bhavnagar Treasury be sealed for its failure to pay compensation to 105 farmers whose land had been acquired by the Gujarat Government 12 years ago for a development project. In his order earlier this week, district Judge C.A. Sejpal also asked the Treasury to open a bank account in the name of the district court and transfer into it Rs 54.80 lakh, payable to the farmers. — UNI

Sharda Sharma
JAIPUR: Mr Sharda Sharma, Vice-President of the Rajasthan Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee, has been appointed working President of the organisation. Mahila Congress President Prabha Thakur announced Ms Sharda’s appointment here on Saturday. Mr Thakur said since she would be busy in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, Sharda had been appointed working President to effectively run the organisation. — PTI

New serial
MUMBAI: “Geeta Rahasya”, a dream project of former BJP MP Nitish Bharadwaj, who played Lord Krishna in epic serial “Mahabharata” is all set to hit television screens from June 20 on Doordarshan’s national network. Bhagwad Gita, the holy book, has been painted on celluloid after a painstaking effort by the cast and crew of the serial, which stars Bharadwaj as “Krishna” Amit Behl as “Balram”, Saavri Deshmukh as “Rukmini”, Lata Sabharwal as “Draupadi” and Irfaan Khan as “Kans” among other artistes. The set for the serial was built by acclaimed art director Nitin Desai. Late Dr Vasant Dev and Dr Srihari have penned the lyrics. The songs have been brought to life by Monisha Bharadwaj, who has choreographed the dances. — UNI