Govt
taking integrated view of north east situation
by Ashok Dixit
New
Delhi: Officials of the Home, Defence and Foreign Ministries
have decided to take an integrated view of the pot-boiler
situation emerging in the north eastern states of Assam
and Manipur. With the leaderships in both of these states
reportedly in quandry over a decision to continue or not
to continue with the controversial Armed Forces Special
Powers Act, 1958, informed PMO sources here, speaking on
condition of anonymity, said that all three ministries would
be focusing on ways to stabilise the Meanwhile, on Friday,
the Manipur Government detained 20 persons under the National
Security Act, as civil disobedience was stepped up against
the AFSPA. Among those detained were the president of Zeliangrong
United Club, Manipur, Maibon Phaomei and a local reporter
Ajit Singh. At least 40 others, who were also arrested in
the past few days in connection with the ongoing agitation,
have been sent to judicial custody after producing them
before the court of the chief judicial magistrate here on
Thursday, the sources said. Meanwhile, official reports
said markets, shops and business establishments in the biggest
market complex at Khwairamband here remained closed. Most
of the public transport services also remain suspended.
Sources in the 32 organisations spearheading the current
agitation, said their activists had stepped up their campaign
not to use 'India made' goods particularly cold drinks and
mineral water bottles in the first phase to press their
demand for removal of the Act.
'Public
last rites' for self-immolator (Go
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Imphal:
The week-long general strike that crippled normal life
in the Imphal valley, was called off this morning amid tension
over the ''public last rites'' for self-immolator Peban
Chittaranjan. The Apunba Lup, the organisation spearheading
the Manipur agitation, called off the strike so that people
can participate in the public last rites.'' The markets
opened. Hundreds of people assembled for the ''public last
rites'' of Chittranjan and security was beefed up against
possible violence. The agitation has slowed down considerably
and apart from damages to the land settlement office, which
was set on fire, there was no report of any violence although
pitched battle between motley group of protestors and police
are continuing. Chittranjan was cremated on the night of
August 18 after a two- day long stand-off between government
and protestors over the body as the latter sought to take
out a procession which was disallowed by the administration
fearing escalation of violence.
10th
Delhi Book Fair begins (Go
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New
Delhi: In yet another instance of strengthening ties
between India and Pakistan, over 80 publishers, booksellers
and librarians from Pakistan are participating in the ongoing
10th Delhi Book Fair. Aziz Ahmed Khan, Pakistan's High Commissioner
to India, said that increased interaction between the people
of the two nations would help ending years of hostilities.
"We hope that promotion of Pakistani books will increase
the understanding of Pakistan among the Indian people and
thus promote better understanding each others' point of
view. I am sure that Indian publishers will be invited to
participate in the book fairs there," Khan said. Over 13
stalls at the exhibition have been dedicated exclusively
to publications from Pakistan. Most Pakistani publishers
are hoping to tap the massive Indian market, which has a
similar cultural background and substantial Urdu-speaking
populace. "The Delhi Book Association invited us on a large
scale to promote print and publishing business. The book
trade will also be promoted," Irshad Mujeeb, Assistant Dirctor
of Iqbal Academy. Bibliophiles at the exhibition said that
the fair would help them get a closer feel of the Pakistani
culture. "This is a good beginning. It is beneficial for
both the countries...Such fairs not only promote harmony
but also help us in knowing each other's culture and literature,"
Atul, a visitor, said.
Thousands
of bottles of banned syrups seized (Go
To Top)
Agartala:
The Border Security Force has seized thousands of bottles
of a banned cough syrup, foreign liquor and Bangladeshi
currency notes in Tripura. Three people, including, a Bangladeshi
national, have been arrested in this connection. Y.J. Mohan
Singh, a BSF official, said that the consignment was being
taken across the border to Bangladesh. "There are thousands
of banned cough syrup bottles of Phensydl, foreign liquor
and currency notes. They were taking them across the border
when we caught them," he said. The accused has admitted
to the crime. "We were taking the materials from the town
when we were caught. We were transferring them to Bangladesh.
This is our source of income," said Uttam Rai, one of the
accused.
Bomb
blasts kills 14 at Hasina rally (Go
To Top)
by Nazrul Islam
Dhaka:
At least 14 people, including three women, were killed
and more than 300 injured in a series of grenade attacks
on an opposition party rally in the Bangladeshi capital
here on Saturday, witnesses and hospital sources said. The
country's former Prime Minister and Awami League leader,
Sheikh Hasina, who was addressing the rally in front of
the party, headquarters at downtown Bangabandhu Avenue,
narrowly escaped unhurt. Her bodyguard Mahbub Alam however,
died in the blast. Officials say that unidentified people
threw at least 13 grenades that blasted off with huge bang
at the rally as soon as the opposition leader finished her
speech at about 5.22 (local time). Among the injured are
former ministers Amir Hossain Amu, Suranjit Sengupta, Sheikh
Fazlul Karim Selim and senior party leaders Ivy Rahman,
Aktharuzzaman, Sultan Mohammad Mansur Ahmed.
Clinton
accuses Blair of betraying him over Iraq war (Go
To Top)
London:
Former US President Bill Clinton has accused Britain's
Prime Minister Tony Blair of betraying him during the Iraq
War. According to The Mirror, a senior Labour member, after
visiting Democrats in America, revealed that Clinton feels
that Blair gave Bush more respectable cover for the war
than he did for him (Clinton's), and added that he should
have challenged Bush on the issue more. But, he made it
clear that he was not going to hold a grudge against Blair
because of this. The report says that the senior Democrats
are petrified of the closeness between Blair, who was once
a very good friend of Clinton, and the Republican Bush.
They are stunned over his failure to publicly back Democrat
presidential candidate John Kerry. Former British Foreign
Secretary Robin Cook, however, hinted that the Labour Party's
relationship with the Democrats could be wrecked. "They're
confident they're going to win. This is good news for the
world, but not unalloyed joy for Tony Blair," the report
quoted Cook as saying.
Tendulkar
ruled out of tri-nation series due to injury (Go
To Top)
Amstelveen:
Sachin Tendulkar has been ruled out of the Videocon
tri-nation series that is being played here. "Tendulkar
will not be participating in any of the matches of this
tournament due to an acute onset of tennis elbow," Team
manager Gautam Dasgupta was quoted as saying. Reports indicate
that Tendulkar had initially complained of stiffness in
the elbow while practising in India. However, upon his arrival
here in Holland, the stiffness and the pain aggravated upon
which team physiotherapist Andrew Leipus advised him to
undergo conservative treatment and rehabilitation. Though
he has been completely ruled out of the tri-nation series,
the team management has not announced any replacement for
him and is optimistic of having him fit for the NatWest
Challenge against England, scheduled to take place from
the first week of September. "The Indian team is not looking
for a replacement for Tendulkar because there is not enough
time and there are already 15 players in the squad," he
further added.
NZ
beat India, 2-1 (Go
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Athens:
India's hopes of an Olympic medal in men's hockey sank
further today when it suffered a humiliating 1-2 loss against
New Zealand in a Pool B match. India, needing to win the
match to retain their slim chances for a semifinal berth,
suffered the reverse after Hayden Shaw scored the winner
off a penalty corner amidst much drama in the 70th minute.
The other scorer for New Zealand was Phillip Burrows (36th
minute) while veteran Dhanraj Pillay scored the lone goal
for India in the 62nd minute.
