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Onion to cost less in Nov
Assam Police Salary Scam
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India-China military exercises delayed
Solution to insurgency lies in Constitution: Moily
TN minorities to benefit from quota
Sexual Exploitation of Minors
Undertrial can walk free under plea bargaining: HC
Rajasthan concedes to Gujjar demands
PM condoles Justice Sarkaria’s death
Sonia condoles deaths
Kayani to be first ISI boss to head Pak army
Hyderabad to get tsunami warning centre
Erstwhile prince invited to Oprah show
Trans-sexual not allowed to offer Namaz
Rhino kills man in Lucknow zoo
6 killed in accident
Diamond Theft
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Onion to cost less in Nov
Mumbai, October 14 According to the latest figures, wholesale prices for onion at the Lasalgaon market fell to 1,489 per quintal over the weekend from a high of Rs 1,951 in the beginning of this month. A further cut is expected as arrivals increase. Officials of the National Agricultural Co-operative Marketing Federation, the main canalising agency for export of onions, feel that the government may ease restrictions on the export of onions in November. It had also raised the minimum export price of onions in October by $50. Reports say following the restrictions imposed by India, onion prices had begun to increase in global markets. Meanwhile, farmers have been protesting against the government’s decision to restrict export of onions earlier this month after the prices of onions fell. Pressure from the farmers has forced the government to offer them some relief by setting up export facility centres (EFCs) in different parts of the state. Two EFCs are being set up in Nashik to help farmers export by bypassing middlemen, say officials of the Maharashtra State Agriculture Marketing Board (MSAMB), which is behind the move. “The EFCs in Pune, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Satara, Amravati and Latur will promote the export of flowers, jaggery, orange and other agricultural produce,” says Sheshrao Sangale, director, MSAMB.
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Assam Police Salary Scam
Guwahati, October 14 A source in the CID hasn’t ruled out arrests of more senior police officials in connection with the scandal. The arrested persons have been charged with fraudulent withdrawal of crores of government money from the exchequer against false salary bills against fictitious jawans of the 3rd Assam Police Battalion based in Titabor in Jorhat district of Assam. The two IPS officers arrested are Indra Kumar Gogoi, superintendent of police, Border, and Binoy Ranjan Das, superintendent of police, (Home Guard). Both officials had earlier served as commandant of the 3rd Assam Police Battalion and were responsible for endorsing salary bills of the battalion staff. The scandal was unearthed last year by the incumbent commandant of the police battalion. An arrest warrant has been issued against another superintendent of police, K.K. Das, for his alleged involvement in the scam. The CID sleuths will arrest Das within the next couple of days unless he chooses to report to the investigating officer on his own. Earlier, the CID arrested eleven other employees of the police department. Dadul Bora, a non-gazetted staff of the battalion who was serving the battalion as a motor transport officer, has been identified as the kingpin of the scandal. He had already been arrested. A huge amount of money was siphoned out of the state exchequer for payment of salaries to about 300 non-existent jawans of the battalion for at least nine years till it was unearthed last year.
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India-China military exercises delayed
New Delhi, October 14 According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) officials it would take about six weeks to plan out the exercises once an agreement has been reached about the parameters of the exercises, which would come as a major step forward for further improvement of relations between the two neighbouring countries. The exercise were to have been held in China with the participation of about 100 soldiers from each side. The dialogue for the exercises had apparently begun when the former Chief of Army Staff Gen. J.J. Singh visited Beijing in May. A delegation of the Chinese Army had been invited to New Delhi to hold the dialogue which has not happened yet. The exercise was to be themed on an “anti-terror scenario in a mountainous region”. China’s mountainous Chengdu military region was mentioned as a possible venue for the event. While neither side is publicly saying so, China is believed to be contending that the dialogue be conducted at the defence minister’s level. Incidentally, the mechanism for the Annual Defence Dialogue (ADD) was in place, but the exercises would not be discussed at that level, officials here said. The ADD is a component of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed during then Indian defence minister Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to China last year. The MoU was seen as a major step forward in improving India-China ties that had remained frosty since the two countries fought a bitter border war in 1962.
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Solution to insurgency lies in Constitution: Moily
Guwahati, October 14 The All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary (Assam) Verappa Moily today said: “The Congress government is very much alive to the insurgency problem in Assam. But everything has to be done within the domain defined in the Constitution, the best conflict resolution document.” Moily said when his attention was drawn to the banned ULFA’s often repeated allegation that it was the government, which was opposed to finding a political solution to the ‘conflict’. The AICC leader asserted that the continuing insurgency-related violence in certain areas of Assam would be contained and the next round of panchayat polls scheduled for December would be a smooth sailing. The AICC leader instructed the Assam PCC to ask the party legislators and ministers to submit details of their personal assets as per the standing instruction of the AICC and make the same public. Stating that without the party there couldn’t be sustainable power, Moily called for total involvement of the party at the grassroots level to implement what was promised to the people and advocated for a massive awareness campaign by the party on the Right to Information Act to equip people to combat corruption. “We should train our cadres to market what has been done by the party for the people. The BJP hasn’t done anything to the country, but that they a have good marketing brigade,” Moily said.
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Kingmaker now wants the throne
Patna, October 14 The ultimate target of Paswan is obviously 2010 assembly polls in the state. One cannot overlook the role played by the LJP in tilting the balance in favour of both the UPA and the NDA in 2004 and 1999 Lok Sabha poll respectively, besides, helping the NDA indirectly again in the November, 2005 assembly poll. Despite his dislike for the Rahstriya Janata Dal(RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad, in 2004 Lok Sabha poll, the UPA constituents together in Bihar had won 30 of the 40 seats in which the LJP’s share was just 4 against the RJD’s 23. Almost the same success was repeated by the NDA when Ramvilas was an ally of the BJP in the 1999 Lok Sabha poll.In undivided Bihar, as the state was bifurcated to create Jharkhand in 2000, out of the 54 Lok Sabha seats here, the NDA had bagged 40. Even though the credit of grounding Lalu goes to the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the LJP reportedly had spoiled RJD’s chances in at least 30 to 35 seats by leading a third front with the CPI. During his recent interaction with the media here Paswan was specific about his agenda suggesting his party’s decision to fight the next Lok Sabha poll on its own strength, which by and large was being viewed as a pressure tactic by him to possibly keep the doors open to both for the UPA and the NDA, sans the RJD. Paswan also surprised everyone by sharing a common dais with the deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Sushil Modi at the iftar party hosted by the latter last week. Paswan categorically stated that he had agreed to the three way alliance including the RJD only because of Sonia Gandhi in 2004. “Now it is up to Sonia Gandhi’s party to take a call on whether or not in wants to walk the elections in step with the LJP whenever polls take place”,he quipped. The media also did not overlook his apparent cordial relation with JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar in sharp contrast to his more bellligerent gesture to the RJD. The initial provocation for Ramvilas was allegedly Lalu’s shrude manourvering during the portfolio distribution after the 2004 Lok Sabha poll by depriving the LJP boss of the rail ministry. Sources in the LJP claimed that Paswan had agreed to the alliance involving the RJD against a promise made by the Congress in the run up to 2004 polls to consider the rail portfolio for him.
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TN minorities to benefit from quota Chennai, October 14 The Tamil Nadu government’s ordinance, providing for separate reservation for the backward Muslims and Christians in both education and public employment, will benefit nearly 95 per cent of the state’s Muslim population and 77 per cent of its Christian population. The ordinance stated that the reservation of 3.5 per cent for the Muslims and an equal percentage for Christians would be part of the total 30 per cent quota for the backward classes in the state. However, to ward off protests from upper caste Hindus, who already resent the existing 60 percent reservation for various kinds of backward castes in the state, which is the highest in the country, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi decided to provide reservation to only backward Muslims and Christians. The separate quotas for the two communities would cover only those sections of Muslims and Christians already notified as backward in the government’s list of various backward classes. Although this gives an impression that only some sections of the two communities are the beneficiaries, actually, it covers most of the Christian and Muslim population. The government has gone by population figures given in the 1985 report of the second Backward Classes Commission, headed by J. A. Ambashankar. Out of 27.05 lakh Muslims here, the BC list covered a population of 25.6 lakhs. Similarly, out of a total christian population of 31.91 lakhs, as many as 24.69 lakhs were covered in the list of BCs, and another 78,675 persons were in the sections listed as ‘the most backward classes’. Backward sections among the Muslims, and the BC and MBC sections among the christians had all along been availing the benefit of reservation only as part of the total BC quota of 30 per cent and MBC quota of 20 per cent. The issue was considered by the TN Backward Classes Commission, which forwarded its recommendation in this regard.
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Sexual Exploitation of Minors
New Delhi, October 13 “A case of this nature should be fully investigated once a criminal case is set in motion by lodging an information in regard to commission of the offence in terms of Section 154 of CrPC,” the court said while cancelling the anticipatory bail of two gangsters from Mumbai involved in the sex racket. They allegedly had exploited a 16-year-old girl and forced her to satisfy their clients, which included politicians, businessmen and high-ranking police officers. Cancelling the Bombay High Court order granting anticipatory bail to Mohd Sajid Hussain and Mohd S. Hussain, wanted by the police for running a sex racket, the apex court said when the case involved the “immoral conduct” of police officers themselves, the courts should take extreme care while granting bail. While ordering that the accused should surrender before the trial court if they wanted to be released on bail, it also came down heavily on the police for taking a plea that most of the officers involved in the sex racket had gone underground. The apex court said though names of all accused could not essentially figure in the FIR when it was registered, but on the progress of the investigation if the role of more persons surfaced, their names must be included in the charge sheet. It also criticised the high court for having different standard on granting bail, saying in the case of those against whom the charge sheet was filed, it refused even the regular bail but it granted the anticipatory bail to the gangsters, who were the kingpin of the racket.
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Undertrial can walk free under plea bargaining: HC
New Delhi, October 14 Plea bargaining was inserted in the Criminal Procedure Code through an amendment in 2005, to provide an opportunity to an undertrial of certain/minor offences to admit his/her guilt in a court and pay a compensation to the victim of crime and walk away with lighter or
no punishment. "In petty and trivial cases, the court should give their minds that they shall let off the accused by imposing fine, if plea bargaining is resorted to. That shall bring down the arrears in trivial and petty cases," said the guidelines prepared by the High Court in a meeting of judicial officers recently. Further, the guidelines said that day-to-day trial should take place in all sessions cases and every judge must fix continuous dates for examination of witnesses on each day, it also said. "Every sessions judge must fix continuous dates for trial with a schedule of witnesses to be examined on each day and the prosecution must be told that the witnesses, as per schedule, should be produced in the court positively," said the guidelines. It also stated that the sessions court should frame the charges against the accused without delay. "Once the chargesheet is received, the charges should be framed on the very next hearing," the court said.
— PTI
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Rajasthan concedes to Gujjar demands
Ajmer, October 14 The talks were held in the Ajmer central jail yesterday. BJP leader Ramdas Agarwal said the government has agreed to provide a job to a member of the family of those killed during the May-June agitation and provide compensation to the injured. However, the quantum of compensation will be decided during the next round of talks to be held in Jaipur. The Vasundhra Raje government has also agreed to withdraw the cases against those who participated in the rail-roko agitation at Hindon. It has agreed to expedite the work of the Chopra committee by providing additional staff. Besides Agarwal, the government was represented by health minister Digamber Singh, water resources minister Sabarmal Jat and BJP state general secretary Rampal Jat. The Gujjar side was led by Col Kirori Singh Bainsla and other 40 leaders of the community.
— UNI
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PM condoles Justice Sarkaria’s death
New Delhi, October 14 The author of a government study on centre-state relationship, Justice Sarkaria (91) was cremated on Saturday with full state honours. “I am deeply grieved to hear the sad news of the passing away of Justice R.S. Sarkaria. He was one of our tallest and most sagacious constitutional lawyers," the PM said in his message. Born on January 16, 1916, Justice Sarkaria graduated from Government College Lahore in 1936 and studied law at the University Law College, Lahore. During 1950s, he was part of a two-member committee set up to translate the Indian constitution. He was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1973 and retired in 1981. Justice Sarkaria will be remembered as the head of the committee appointed by Indira Gandhi in 1983 to study centre-state relations. The report, submitted in 1988, ran into five volumes and over 1,600 pages.
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Sonia condoles deaths
New Delhi, October 14 She conveyed her condolence to the families of those died in the incident and wished speedy recovery to those who were injured. Eleven devotees were killed and several others injured in a stampede at the temple atop Pavagadh hill. The stampede occurred between the devotees who were coming down the hill and those climbing their way up.
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Kayani to be first ISI boss to head Pak army
New Delhi, October 14 General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), till last week and handpicked by President Pervez Musharraf to head Pakistan army after he doffs his military uniform on or before November 15, will be the first ISI chief to become chief of army staff. Amid the fast-paced developments in Pakistan, this crucial input has somehow been ignored or not highlighted. But this is one development that has huge implications for India. New Delhi is keeping a close watch on Pakistan developments from this perspective. It would be of crucial importance for India's Pakistan policy-makers to see how a Pakistan army chief, who has been ISI chief, behaves vis-a-vis India and what form or shape militancy takes in India in subsequent months. From the Indian point of view, when Kayani does become army chief, his experience as ISI chief can give a new character to the ISI-fanned militancy in India. What Musharraf did as Pakistan army chief - the Kargil episode - cannot be lost sight of by
New Delhi. From Musharraf's point of view, Gen Kayani's tenure as ISI head will put him in a better position to streamline the country's intelligence agencies and seal the leaks that Jihadists are exploiting within the security network. Gen Kayani has so far acted as Musharraf's Man Friday and enjoys his total confidence and support. He has been directly involved in Gen Musharraf's negotiations with self-exiled former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. Another Pakistani military general the Indians are keeping a laser beam focus on is Gen Tariq Majid, who was promoted along with Gen Kayani and appointed chairman of the joint chiefs
of staff. Musharraf's handpicked choices for promotions in the army show that the military will continue to dominate Pakistan's political system. An increasingly assertive judiciary, civil society and media might limit the military's room to manoeuvre to a certain extent.
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Hyderabad to get tsunami warning centre
Hyderabad, October 14 National Disaster Management Authority member M. Shashidhar Reddy, MLA, said in a statement here that the facility, recently made operational, would enhance the country's capability to issue timely tsunami warnings. This was amply demonstrated last month when INCOIS issued a tsunami warning at 5.05 pm, just
25 minutes after an earthquake hit Indonesia on September 12. He appreciated the work of the nation's scientists, especially the team at INCOIS, in this regard.
— UNI
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Erstwhile prince invited to Oprah show
Rajpipla (Gujarat), October 14 Gohil is scheduled to sit across the celebrity chat show host on October 26 for an episode to discuss issues regarding gay rights, the role of his NGO,Lakshya Trust, and the plight of HIV positive people in India. “It is a fantastic feeling to be invited to talk to Oprah Winfrey in her show. I just received a communication on October 6 inviting me to be present in her New York studio”, Gohil said. The gay prince is the first male personality from India to be invited for such a globally viewed chat show. Beauty queen Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was the first woman to be interviewed. The 42-year-old is the only person of royal lineage who has openly proclaimed to being a gay and, after creating an initial stir in his native town as well as family, is now being looked upon as a champion for gay rights and an activist for HIV derelicts via his NGO.
— PTI
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Trans-sexual not allowed to offer Namaz
Suri, October 14 “When I went to the Idgah, I sensed something wrong. The situation was tense.I feared that I might be attacked. So I left the place. I was promised security by the police, but I got no help from them,” said 26-year old Syed Rehan Firdous, who was Rehana Firdous before the operation in Kolkata in June last year. Superintendent of police Satyasankar Panda said he had arranged adequate security at Dakshinkhanda village, but it could not intervene in religious matters. Rehan, a Sanskrit graduate, said his village was divided on the issue of sex change. While a small section had accepted him as a male member of society, the Mualvis were against him.
— PTI
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Rhino kills man in Lucknow zoo
Lucknow, October 14 The authorities at Lucknow zoological park were informed last night that a man from the neighbouring Narhi area had entered the zoo to pick up a kite which landed inside. When Vinod did not return, the zoo authorities and local people mounted a search. While last night they were unable to trace the man, this morning the zoo-keepers found Vinod’s wounded body inside the rhino’s enclousure. “Prima facie, he was killed by the beast,” said a zoo official. Incidentally, the same rhino had killed a zoo vet in 1996. Meanwhile, state forest and wildlife minister Kunwar Fateh Bahadur Singh has ordered a probe into the security lapses at the zoological garden.
— UNI
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6 killed in accident
Patna, October 14 The police said that the mishap occurred when the truck ploughed through a group of passengers waiting for a bus on the Aurangabad-Gaya highway before hitting the concrete structure which came crashing down on the people. District officials reportedly rushed to the spot as tensions ran high in the area following the accident.
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Diamond Theft
Mumbai, October 14 The incident had occurred on Thursday when the Thai Airways flight from Bangkok (TG-317) arrived at Mumbai airport with the consignment. “The three loaders, Prakash
Shinde, Jerial D’Costa and Rajesh Rajak who work in the container dumping ground where empty or abandoned containers are kept, were arrested for suspected involvement in the case,” assistant commissioner of police Airport Division, Janardhan Garje said. The consignment containing 3.5 kg gold ornaments and 71 polished diamonds collectively worth Rs 4.5 crore was stolen when the ornaments were kept at the dumping ground. AI is the local ground handler for goods arrived by Thai airways.
— PTI
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