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Govt vows to eliminate ULFA
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Bring research closer to science depts, varsities, PM to CSIR
Cash-For-Query Scam
Somnath: A lesson for all MPs, MLAs
DSGMC poll: Acid test for SAD
UP Cabinet sticks to earlier decision to convene House
PDP, APHC, too, follow Sajjad Lone
Parties welcome SC ruling
Buddha admits ‘mishandling’ land acquisition issue
Surendra Koli ‘admits’ to serial killings
All 37 accused in Imam Ali case get sentence
Guantanamo: Amnesty International demands closure
Naval training ship on 10-month long voyage
Airports again put on high alert
7 killed in building collapse
Pakistan repatriates 115 Indian fishermen Portugal president arrives Bitta claims threat to life FIR against Orissa DGP
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Govt vows to eliminate ULFA
Guwahati, January 10 All-out strikes against ULFA got the green signal from the government last night, with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today vowing no respite till the militants were wiped out. While no fresh incidents were reported from Upper Asom since last night, the venue of the outfit’s strikes appeared to have shifted to capital Guwahati. Three blasts took place in the city in the past two days while as many ULFA militants were arrested in Udalguri today. The banned outfit will face long and uninterrupted operation in the state, as well as Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, with top brass looking after internal security in the country to meet in New Delhi on Friday to draw out a long-ranged operation. However, the visits and repeated assurances by the leaders to the migrant workers from Bihar have failed to pacify their fears. Mass exodus of Hindi-speaking labourers was reported from across the state, though official sources refused to confirm it. Meanwhile, 20 paramilitary companies have reached upper Asom, dispatched by the Centre on Monday, and the deployment has started. The total strength has now reached 140 companies, roughly about 12,000 jawans. Another batch of 10 companies are being sent. The strategy is to use paramilitary forces and the Asom police as ground force, leaving the Army for more specific strike force. There are already 70,000 personnel drawn from the Army, state police and paramilitary forces in the state.
— UNI
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PSLV-C7 launch successful
Sriharikota (AP), January 10 The PSLV-C7 carries four satellites, the 680 kg Indian remote sensing satellite, CARTOSAT-2 and the 550 kg space capsule recovery experiment (SRE-I), Indonesia’s 56 kg Lapan-Tubsat and the 6 kg Argentina’s nano-satellite, Pehuensat-I. For the first time the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is carrying out a new experiment in which a 550 kg capsule (SRE-I) will return to the Earth after 15 days. It is intended to demonstrate the technology of an orbiting platform for performing experiments in microgravity conditions. After completion of the experiments the capsule will be de-orbited and recovered. The splashdown is planned about 140 km into the Bay of Bengal away from the Sriharikota High Altitude Range (SHAR). The launch took place precisely at 9.23 am. Addressing a press conference after the launch, ISRO Chairman G. Madhavan Nair expressed happiness for achieving the perfect mission and said, “The entire ISRO team has done a great job with dedication after the earlier mission failed six months ago”. The GLSV launch in July last year had failed as the rocket deviated from its path and was destroyed within few minutes after the launch. Mr Nair said the ISRO was not under any pressure despite the last failure. He said another satellite INSAT-4B, a communication satellite, would be launched in March this year and another PSLV launch would be in early April. He said the CARTOSAT-2B costs Rs 180 crore while the PSLV costs Rs 80 crore. The SRE-I mission will provide valuable experience in important fields like navigation, guidance and control during the re-entry phase, hypersonic aero-thermodynamics facilitating the development of reusable thermal protection system. The PSLV was initially designed by the ISRO to place 1,000 kg class Indian remote sensing satellites into the 900-km Polar Sun Synchronous Orbits. In its present configuration, the 44.4 m tall, 295-tonne PSLV has four stages using solid and liquid propulsion systems alternately. The first stage carrying 138 tonne of propellant is one of the largest solid propellant boosters in the world. Six solid propellant strap-on motors each carrying nine tonne of solid propellant are strapped on to the core stage. The second stage carries 41.5 tonne of liquid propellant. The third stage uses 7.6 tonne of solid propellant and the fourth has a twin-engine configuration with two tonne of liquid propellant. With eight consecutively successful flights so far, the PSLV has proved itself as a reliable workhorse. It has demonstrated multiple satellite launch capability having launched four small satellites for international customers besides eight Indian satellites of which seven were remote sensing satellites and one a meteorological (weather watching) satellite. The 680 kg Cartosat-2 is the 12th in the Indian remote sensing satellite series. It is a state-of-the-art remote sensing satellite. The data from the satellite will find applications in cartography at cadastral level, urban and rural infrastructural development and management, as well as land information systems and geographical information systems. The satellite will be placed in a 635-km high Polar Sun Synchronous Orbit. Soon after its injection into the orbit and separation from the PSLV fourth stage, the two solar panels of Cartosat-2 will be automatically deployed. The satellite’s health will be continuously monitored from the spacecraft control centre at Bangalore with the help of Istrac network at Bangalore, Lucknow, Mauritius, Bears Lake in Russia, Biak in Indonesia and Svalbard in Sweden.
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Bring research closer to science depts, varsities,
New Delhi, January 10 Even as Dr Manmohan Singh had assured the scientific community in Tamil Nadu last week that the government was committed to increasing the spending on science, he told the CSIR society here today that the apex science body should have a re-look at its own charter to become market and stake-holder friendly. Emphasising that science and research in the country must move closer to universities, the Prime Minister called for reforming and restructuring the university system. “If the CSIR has to survive as a major force in the development of civilian technology, many radical changes are required. Interaction and collaboration with industry, especially in the private sector, have to become easier and simpler," Dr Manmohan Singh observed. He had no doubt that universities must be more open to the free flow of talent facilitating research and teaching activity to develop in tandem. Dwelling on the widening regional disparities in promoting science and technology, Dr Manmohan Singh said the government had tried to reduce this by funding fresh research institutions in the states that were lagging behind. At the same time, Dr Manmohan Singh pointed out that it was only to a limited extent that the Centre could intervene. “What we need is massive investment at the bottom of the pyramid in financial, social and organisation terms, which is the challenge for all.” He felt that managerial reforms both at the CSIR laboratories and universities could be beneficial. Administrative responsibility should be delinked from leadership in research and development and academic work in research establishments. On the issue of losing young scientists and researchers to private industry, the Prime Minister said ways must be devised so that they felt free to pursue their work and secure remuneration without being hindered by administrative constraints. He suggested incentive payments related to research productivity. In this context he said there were already some arrangements for handling consultancy projects or selling intellectual property rights. Dr Manmohan Singh said this was an important issue requiring urgent consideration by the scientific community, the government and the private sector companies. He said the country could have a tremendous opportunity to leapfrog in the race for development by taking science to rural areas and that the CSIR should specially focus on this aspect. The Prime Minister stressed that there was need to focus on achieving fresh breakthroughs in food production and improving food processing. Simultaneously, the country required new and innovative ways of meeting the burgeoning energy needs. “This should not be just on a pilot scale but on a one matching the vast, growing country like ours.” While commending the CSIR’s contribution in increasing the number of patents, Dr Manmohan Singh said the country had a long way to go in catching up with other countries, especially China and South Korea, in Intellectual Property Rights acquisitions, both quantitatively and qualitatively.
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SC praises Speaker’s role
S.S. Negi Legal Correspondent
New Delhi, January 10 Mr Chatterjee, who in Kolkata welcomed the apex court’s verdict, was quoted by the court as saying that he had in his speech on December 12, 2005 in Lok Sabha, stating that “no body would be spared” for such gross misconduct, in fact inspired the confidence of the entire House. The court accepted the argument of government counsel quoting Speaker’s speech that the decision was taken by the House with “utmost good faith in the interest of safeguarding the standing and reputation of Parliament”. The majority judgement, delivered by Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, further accepted government counsel T.R. Andhyarujina’s stand that no member of the either House had disputed the findings of the misconduct and it was not open to anyone to question anything said or done in the House suggesting that the action or words were inspired by improper motive in expelling them. “The relevant part of the speech of the Hon’ble Speaker made on the floor of the House has been extracted in the counter affidavit filed by the Union Government… the Speaker had exhorted the members of the House to rise to the occasion and to see to it that such an event does not occur ever and commended that if any body is guilty, he should be punished,” the court quoting from the government reply said, relying on it for the views of the Speaker when he had not preferred to file one. On the face of the intention shown by the Speaker to deal with the malaise, the court said, “It is difficult to attribute motive” to the action of Parliament to expel the MPs. “We are unable to subscribe to this reasoning so as to find fault with the action,” the majority judges said.
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Somnath: A lesson for all MPs, MLAs
Kolkata, January 10 Talking to media persons here today, Mr Chatterjee said it was indeed a welcoming judgment which would be a lesson to all MPs and MLAs in the country. He said there was no quarrel between the judiciary and the legislature and for the smooth running of the country both had important roles to play. Mr Chatterjee , who is an eminent barrister of Calcutta High Court, however, refused to make any comment on the supreme court’s ruling that the supreme court did have the right to challenge the Speaker’s decisions. He said he was yet to see the full text of the 90-page judgement delivered today by the Supreme Court on the “suspended MPs case. The eleven MPs, comprised five from the BJP, three from the BSP and each one from the Congress, RJD and the SP, had jointly filed a petition with the Division Bench against the Lok Sabha’s decision to suspend them from Parliament for life. Earlier, a five-member committee was constituted by the Speaker to look into the charges of taking money by these MPs. The committee recommended the MPs suspension which both Houses of Parliament endorsed.
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DSGMC poll: Acid test for SAD
New Delhi, January 10 The outgoing Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi seems to be facing little anti-incumbency factor and indications are that it could romp home with an impressive performance. Last time SAD Delhi, headed by Mr Paramjit Singh Sarna, had won 27 seats and the SAD 14 seats. Five seats had gone to Independents. The entry of Manjit Singh Greater Kailash to cash in on the legacy of his father Jathedar Santok Singh does not seem to be having the desired effect and indications are that the party could end up in the third position without much significance. The significance being attached to the DSGMC poll can be gauged by the fact that the president of the SGPC, Jathedar Avtar Singh Makkar, had been making rounds of different constituencies, formulating strategies and meeting BJP and other saffron leaders. Even SAD president Parkash Singh Badal had addressed a few rallies in the Capital. However, the infighting in the Delhi unit of the SAD seems to be taking its toll and denting the party’s poll prospects. The Sarna brothers-led SAD Delhi, however, has been urging the 3.92 lakh electorate to break free the running of DSGMC from Punjab. They have been asking people to shun those who are being remote controlled from outside Delhi. Although the Sarna brothers are seen to be close to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, the Congress leader has restrained himself from openly canvassing for them, lest it rubs salt on the wound of 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims. The newly formed party of Manjit Singh has a tall promise of focusing on educational reform and making the DSGMC members accountable. But, the electoral number game seems to be skewed against him. The campaigning ends on January 12 and the candidates have little time to push to tilt the tide in their favour before the voters cast their ballot on January 14. The counting of ballot papers will be held on January 16 at the reception-cum-counting centres set up at various polytechnics or ITIs of Delhi. The House is of 51 members. While 46 members are elected, two are selected from various Singh Sabhas through a draw of lots and one is nominated by the SGPC. And two are co-opted by the general house of the DSGMC after its constitution.
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UP Cabinet sticks to earlier decision to convene House
Lucknow, January 10 The Cabinet, at its emergency meeting lasting barely five minutes this evening, stuck to its last night’s decision to rescind its earlier recommendation to prorogue the assembly. The development came after the Governor prorogued the state assembly this morning negating the Cabinet’s last night decision to convene a special session on January 15. “We believe in democracy. The proposal to re-convene the House has already been sent,” Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav told reporters here. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Azam Khan said the meeting also discussed the strategy to be adopted on January 15. Transport Minister Naresh Agarwal said the government would prove its majority on the floor of the House on that day. Unfazed by ally RLD pulling out its ministers yesterday delivering a blow to the coalition government, the Chief Minister, earlier in the day, expressed confidence that he would prove his government’s majority. Shortly afterwards, the Governor accepted the Cabinet’s January 3 decision to prorogue the House.
— PTI
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PDP, APHC, too, follow Sajjad Lone
Jammu, January 10 Highly placed sources said Mr Lone was motivated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for preparing a roadmap on Kashmir when the former had met him in Delhi a year ago. Sources said today, Mr Lone had assured the Prime Minister, that he would prepare the document shortly. Sources said Dr Manmohan Singh suggested to APHC leaders, during his meeting with them on May 3, 2006, they too should submit, in writing, what they felt could be a solution to the Kashmir issue. This connection both the PDP and the APHC leadership have started completing roadmaps on Kashmir. Though the PDP has laid emphasis on self-rule and joint management, in water resources, tourism, trade, it is yet to release the document on it despite a committee, headed by former Deputy Chief Minister, Muzaffar Hussain Beig, having been constituted four months ago. Till date only the National Conference has not only drafted its document on the restoration of greater autonomy but had got it adopted by the state legislature, and the Peoples’ Conference, led by Mr Lone, have drafted their roadmaps on Kashmir. Meanwhile, political circles have been taken by surprise by the way APHC chairman, Maulvi Umar Farooq, has supported the roadmap on Kashmir released by Mr Lone. Mirwaiz has lauded Mr Lone for having touched all aspects of the Kashmir issue in the roadmap. Amazement on Maulvi Umar Farooq’s support to Lone’s document is the result of prolonged confrontation between the two. In fact Mr Lone had quit the APHC, which resulted in the split of the Peoples’ Conference with his brither Mr Bilal Ghani Lone, heading a rival faction to support the APHC, when he objected to the Kashmir Mirwaiz heading a funeral procession of a slain militant whom Mr Lone had believed to be a killer of his father, Mr Abdul Gani Lone.
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Parties welcome SC ruling
New Delhi, January 10 BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra said it was good that punishment was awarded for corruption, but there should also be rules in place to decide such cases, he said. The CPI national secretary D. Raja said the verdict proves that Parliament was supreme as it represents the will of the people and upholds the democratic system of governance. “It will also have an impact on the MPs and all other elected bodies and make them more accountable.”
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Buddha admits ‘mishandling’ land acquisition issue
Kolkata, January 10 However, Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi exalted the Chief Minister for taking right decision on Nandigram issue and hoped for an early solution. But TMC leader Partha Chatterjee, who is also the leader of Opposition in the Assembly, said they first wanted to see the Chief Minister to act according to his words and then only they would be satisfied. He alleged that contrary to his assurances even to President Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Chief Minister had reimposed Section 144 CrPc at Singur and he was still continuing the same repressive measures on the poor farmers. Mr Chatterjee also accused Mr Bhattacharjee of protecting party workers involved in gang rapping and killing a young girl, Tapashi Mallick, who was the leader of the Singur Krishi Bacchaoo Committee. The Chief Minister declared last evening that the land acquisition process at Nandigram would be suspended for now and attempts would be made for adopting a consensus of opinions among all political parties and landowners on the use of land for industries. He candidly accepted the responsibilities of mishandling the issue but now he would rectify the mistakes. Meanwhile, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, after her visit to Nandigram today, alleged that the police and CPM cadres were still terrorising the poor villagers and farmers and forcing them to transferring their lands to the Salim group. She asked for Chief Minister’s resignation and President’s rule in the state. On the other hand, social activist Medha Patkar was today arrested on her way to Singur and “imprisoned” at the youth hostel at Salt Lake. However, Ms Anuradha Talwar and several other social activists and workers of the Krishi Bachaoo Committee somehow managed to enter Singur, where they held meetings in calling upon the poor farmers and landowners to launch massive agitation for protecting their lands.
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Surendra Koli ‘admits’ to serial killings
Ahmedabad, January 10 The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Koli’s “admissions” during the tests indicated he used to rape and kill children as an “ego-satisfying habit” as he was sexually deprived and feared that he was becoming impotent. Koli, the servant of the prime accused, businessman Moninder Singh Pandher, also said under the influence of the “truth serum” that he saw his employer entertaining several prostitutes at his house in Noida where skeletal remains of several children were found by the police last month. DFS sources said Koli had “admitted” to systematically chopping the bodies of the children, including minor girls, and dumping them in the drain behind Pandher’s house on several occassions. The accused made some “admission” regarding the murder of a Noida-based sex worker Payal, whose missing cell phone led police to the skeletal remains. Koli’s narco-analysis test was conducted on January 8 by a panel of forensic experts, including psychologists, psychiatrists, anaesthetists and doctors, while Pandher’s test was conducted the next day. However, Koli’s admission regarding the role of Pandher in the killings was unclear and officials were tight-lipped about this matter. Meanwhile, Moninder Singh Pandher and his servant Surendra Koli, suspects in the Noida serial killings, today underwent health check-up following forensic tests conducted on them, the police said. The Noida police officials, who were present during the tests, also did not disclose any thing about the analysis. They did not tell whether either of the accused confessed to the allegations of serial kilings. In another development the court today extended the police remand of the duo by two days. The Cheif Judicial Magistrate extended the remand of the accused after the police moved an application stating that doctors at the DFS in Gandhinagar had asked for more time to complete tests on the duo. — PTI
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All 37 accused in Imam Ali case get sentence
Madurai, January 10 An Al-Umma activist, Imam Ali and Hyder Ali, both accused in a couple of bomb explosions and murder cases, were rescued by an armed gang on March 7, 2002 from the Tirumangalam police station near Madurai. District and Fast Track Court Judge G. Savitri awarded A. Syed Ali, Fakruddin, Abdul Nainar, Jagubar Sadiq Ali, Shajahan and Akbar Saleem to seven years of imprisonment while 31 others were handed down five years of jail term. Although a fine was also slapped on each of them, the amount would be decided later. All 37 accused are said to be either Islamic fundamentalists or their associates. After the escape of Imam Ali and Hyder Ali, the investigation into the case was handed over to the Special Investigation Team (SIT). On September 28, 2002, Imran Ali along with three others were killed by the SIT team in an encounter in Bangalore while 37 others were arrested of the 42 accused. All 190 witnesses, including five from defence, were examined. Besides, 215 documents and 107 articles were also examined by the court.
— UNI
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Guantanamo: Amnesty International demands closure
New Delhi, January 10 In a letter to the US Ambassador to India, David C. Mulford, the Director of Amnesty International (India), Mukul Sharma has observed that the indefinite detention of more than 400 detainees in Guantanamo, has caused serious distress to them and their families and has damaged the reputation of the USA. In a press statement issued here today, Amnesty International (India) has said that the Indian Government, being an elected member of the newly constituted UN Human Rights Council, should take an active stand against the Guantanamo Bay. According to Amnesty International, about 775 detainees have been held in Guantanamo since January 11, 2002. Till late November 2006, some 345 had been released or sent to around 26 different countries.
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Naval training ship on 10-month long voyage
Mumbai, January 10 The ship set sail from Kochi with Vice-Admiral J.S. Bedi, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command flagging off the vessel. Apart from the voyage, “Lokayan 07’, INS Tarangini will participate in the ‘Tall Ships Challenge Series-2007’ held by the American Sail Training Association (ASTA) in May this year. INS Tarangini will participate in the Tall Ships races including “The World Peace Cup’, ‘Sail Virginia’, ‘Sail Rhode Island’, ‘Sail Boston’ and the 50th anniversary celebrations of the International Programme of the Naval War College at New Port, Rhode Island, according to the Navy. On this voyage, the ship is commanded by Commander Sunil Balakrishnan with a crew of seven officers, 43 sailors and 39 cadets. Another 255 Indian naval cadets and 40 foreign cadets will also join the crew in groups at various ports. In all INS Tarangini will call on 23 ports in 16 countries. According to naval sources, INS Tarangini is the first training ship from the Indian navy to have circumnavigated the globe in 2003-04. INS Tarangini, commissioned on November 11, 1997, was built at the Goa Shipyard.
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Airports again put on high alert
New Delhi, January 10 The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has instructed the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to upgrade security measures at the airports, including introduction of additional checks and searches and enhancement in the strength of personnel. Airlines have been advised to inform passengers to reach airports well ahead of time to avoid delays due to enhanced security checks. The BCAS has been periodically reviewing threat perceptions.
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7 killed in building collapse
Allahabad, January 10 Labourers were sleeping inside the building when the structure collapsed around 6.30 p.m., Inspector General of Police (Allahabad Zone) Amar Dutt Misra told PTI. He said seven labourers were buried alive while 27 others were injured, some of them seriously. The injured were admitted to S.R.N. Hospital here. Army personnel and district adminstration officials were engaged in clearing the debris. Mr Misra said the criminal proceedings would be initiated against the contractor of the building.
— PTI
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Pakistan repatriates 115 Indian fishermen Wagah, January 10 The repatriation of the fishermen was delayed as they reached the checkpost from Karachi late in the evening. Normally after the daily Retreat Ceremony, the gates on the Radcliffe Line dividing the two countries are shut, but both the Border Security Force (BSF) and their counterparts, the Pakistan Rangers met after the ceremony and decided to go ahead with the repatriation even as darkness descended along the border. — UNI
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Portugal president arrives New Delhi, January 10 An extradition treaty, a cultural exchange programme and an education exchange programme for the years 2007-2009 are expected to be signed during the visit. MoUs on Cooperation between Delhi University and the Portuguese Instituto
Camoes; and Jawaharlal Nehru University with the Portuguese University Institute for Social Sciences, Business Studies and Technologies will also be signed.
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Bitta claims threat to life
New Delhi, January 10 He filed the complaint at the Preet Vihar police station last night and a case was registered. According to him, he received the call on his mobile phone in the late evening while attending a function in the Preet Vihar area. The caller identified himself as a friend of Afzal and threatened him with dire consequences if he continued his campaign against Afzal.
— OC
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86 airguns, pistols seized More deers rescued ZP member shot dead Salman allowed to go abroad RI for abetting wife to suicide
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