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Curfew relaxed in six Ahmedabad areas
Ahmedabad bore the brunt of religious clashes that rocked Gujarat in a wave of bloody reprisals following the torching of a train carrying Hindu activists by a Muslim mob in which 58 people were burnt alive. More than 800 people, mostly Muslims, have been killed in the state. The people were seen moving on the roads with business establishments and schools reopening in the old city after curfew was relaxed for 12 hours. A Muslim resident of the old city said he expected the situation to return to normal in two or three days. "The situation has become tense as a result of curfew during the past one month. If there is relaxation in the next two to three days and things return to normal, we will once again start work and run our lives," said Aarif Sheikh. The people say the administration should provide more security to instil a sense of confidence among the public. "I believe that if the government keeps on providing people with police protection, the fear will diminish. The fear existing in the minds of the people over the past one month will decrease and things will become normal," said Ashok Shah, a shopkeeper in the old city. Thirty areas in different parts of the state continue to be under curfew and nearly 100,000 people, mainly Muslims, have been put in relief camps. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is scheduled to visit the state on Thursday.(ANI) Gujarat tension escalates, curfew imposed in Kutch district Go
to top A religious place was destroyed and some shops were set on fire by a mob at Anjar on Monday night. This was the first incidence of rioting in the town since the outbreak of violence in Gujarat. In Vadodara, acid bulbs were hurled at city Police Commissioner D D Tuteja while he was supervising combing operations at Machchipith area on Monday night. The police fired five rounds to disperse the mob and arrested thirty persons, said Kutch superintendent of police Subhash Trivedi. Tension also mounted in Hajipur and Gandhidham towns of Kutch border district. Ankleswar town of Bharuch district, which was quiet for some time now, saw a communal flare-up late on Monday evening as mobs indulged in heavy stone-pelting. The police had to fire several rounds to disperse the mob and a constable was injured in the brick batting. Curfew, which was in force during the night, has been extended to the day also. Heavy stone-throwing was reported from the sensitive Khanpur area in Ahmedabad late on Monday night. (ANI) LeT commander, bodyguard killed in Kashmir
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to top Abu Hanzla from Pakistan, who was in the 'most wanted' list, and his body-guard were killed during a fierce encounter with soldiers in Serpora village in Baramulla. The spokesman said the Army personnel had sealed off the village in the early hours of Tuesday following a tip-off. The militants opened fire and Hanzla and his guard were killed when the troops retaliated. The area has been cordoned off and house-to-house searches are going on in the area to look for more militants. "Hanzla was one of the most active commanders of Lashkar," the spokesman said, "and his elimination will be a setback to the group." (ANI) Abdullah condemns attack on Lone by Shiv Sena leader
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to top Addressing the state Assembly, Abdullah said, "The entire House, including myself, condemn the incident as we do not believe in hooliganism. The government is opposed to all anti-national and pro-Pakistan elements". Reacting to concerns expressed by Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami (CPI-M), Mohammad Maqbool Lone (National Conference) and Mohammad Sultan Panditpuri (Peoples Democratic Party), Abdullah stated that he had no love for Lone or people of such ilk. He also made it clear that his party was not involved in Monday's incident. "Everybody had the right to express their views, more so when they talk about national interests", he added. Abdullah added that at last Lone seemed to have realised the tolerant democratic spirit of India, and hoped that he and people like him would participate in the forthcoming elections in the state. Shiv Sena leader Kalka Ji Maharaj heckled Lone when he was talking to television crews after addressing a press conference in KC Residency Hotel. (ANI) Army training for villagers in Punjab border
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to top Punjab, because of its proximity to the border with Pakistan, is most vulnerable to enemy attacks. The Indian Army has, therefore, sought to make the villages self- sufficient in self-defence by involving local population in the effort. It has formed "Ranjit militia" which seeks to train, motivate and equip the villagers before there is any outbreak of hostilities between India and Pakistan. The Army has begun a crash course which will import arms training, give theoretical lessons and hold classes for physical exercises."I have got my registration card made and they have told me that they will provide a uniform and a rifle for self- defence," said a young recruit, Iqbal Singh. The tasks of "Ranjit Militia" are not however restricted to protect villages. It also involves providing information to the army about any planned sabotage acts, and protecting government assets. In case of a war, the militia will serve as the Army's eyes and ears. "They are giving us training so that even the poor and the meek can defend themselves and their villages in any eventuality," said another recruit, Bhupinder Singh. The "Ranjit Militia" personnel have been trained in field and battle craft. They all have been made to fire 7.62mm bolt rifle on the range. Besides free training, the army also provides free meal to them and their wards. Many feel that the training, which has strengthened the recipients' morale, would also help in regular recruitment in the future. "Through this training I have learnt discipline and order. They are giving us training in handling weapons so that during war when the regular army forces are defending the borders, we ordinary people can defend ourselves and our villages,"said Dilbagh Singh who is currently undergoing training. "Later, we might have an edge getting recruited in the army whenever there is regular recruitment exercise," Singh added enthusiastically.(ANI) Israel dragging Middle East to all-out war: OIC
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to top The immediate provocation for the warning is the Israeli storming of Palestinian towns and villages, as well as President Yasser Arafat's headquarters. The action was severely condemned at the special three-day here of the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference. The conference urged the United Nations to impose "deterrent sanctions" on Israel because of its crackdown on the Palestinians. "Israel's terrorist actions and aggressive practices, posing a threat to international peace and security, and dragging the region towards an all-out war, necessitate immediate action by the UN Security Council to apply Chapter VII of the UN Charter," the ministers said, referring to the UN Charter clause under which the Security Council can order use of force to maintain international peace and security if all other means are deemed to have failed. The statement added that "the conference considers this assault a violation of all international norms and laws and the culmination of state terrorism as practised by Israel. The conference, while cautioning Israel of the dire consequences of the attack on the Palestinian president, requests the UN Security Council, the two sponsors of the peace process and the European Union to assume their responsibility for immediately stopping the Israeli aggression and withdrawing the Israeli troops from all occupied Arab and Palestinian territories." The conference, reaffirmed the continuing support for the Palestinian people's struggle for the liquidation of the Israeli occupation and restoration of their inalienable national rights. The ministers also welcomed the Arab peace initiative taken by the Beirut Summit and requested the Security Council to exert pressure on Israel for implementing the initiative in its entirety. This conference was called in the wake of the September 11 terrorised attacks in New York and Washington, but concern over that atrocity was mostly blown aside by Israel's latest actions in the Palestinian territories. The conference was opened earlier with the Prime Minister of host Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, controversially included Palestinian suicide bombers in his definition of "terrorists". But his call for a globally acceptable definition of terrorism as "attacks against civilians"-and joint action against it-was soon swamped by condemnation of Israel. Mahathir's description of Palestinian suicide bombers as "terrorists" was immediately challenged by Qatar Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad Jassim. "No. They are not terrorists. It is the Israelis who are terrorists but not the Palestinians because they are fighting for their land," he said. Iran called on members of the OIC to cut all negotiations with Israel over its latest crackdown on Palestinians. Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi criticised the United States, saying it had "severely damaged this international momentum against terrorism through a series of unilateral actions, short-sighted policies and arrogant statements".(ANI) US presence needed to thwart Taliban's return: Senators
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to top This is what two US senators have said after meeting Hamid Karzai, leader of the interim administration, on Monday. Both are of the view that Afghans were confident of reconstructing their country but feared that the international community might go back on its vow not to desert the war-ravaged nation now that Taliban and Al Qaeda have been defeated. In the latest in a series of visits by key US Congress members, Robert Torricelli and Jon Corzine (both New Jersey Democrats) said the message from their trip was that having won the war, the United States must win the peace. "For the US to leave after winning the war but without securing the peace would break the heart of every person in this country," said Torricelli, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee. "The people of Afghanistan still feel vulnerable. They know the Taliban has lost the battle but they still fear their return. And if the international community abandons this country, the Taliban in some form will return." Corzine, a member of the Banking Committee, said after his talks with Karzai that he believed the United States had much help to give in the fields of trade, education and military training. Afghanistan wanted immediate access to US markets for its textiles and lower tariffs on carpet production to help millions of unemployed get back to work. Asked if he agreed with statements by President George W. Bush during his presidential campaign that the United States should not be in the business of nation building, Torricelli said he suspected Bush now regretted the comment.(ANI) |