Crashing Indian Air Force MiG kills three villagers (Go To Top)

         Jamnagar: At least three persons were killed and around 11 injured when an Indian Air Force (IAF) MiG-21 aircraft crashed in a village near here this morning. The pilot, Flying Officer Ghumman, however, safely ejected and was said to be at a local hospital where the doctors declared him out of danger. The aircraft crashed into a house in Lakha Bawal village, about 25 km from Jamnagar, close to the airport at around 9.45 a.m. It caught fire before crashing. Witnesses said they saw a fireball coming down from the sky. One of the family members of Sashikant Bawa, on whose house the plane crashed, was killed instantly. Sources said that at least four houses in the village were damaged because of the impact and the subsequent fire.

         Sources were not able to say from which base the aircraft had taken off. It is yet to be confirmed whether the crash was because of a bird hit or due to a technical fault. According to sources, the aircraft had gone off the radar screen and communications with the ATC (Air Traffic Control) snapped just before the crash. Because of their frequent crashes, the MiGs have acquired the sobriquet "flying coffin". More than a hundred such planes have crashed in different parts of the country in the past ten years.

SC stays Afzal's execution in Parliament attack case (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the execution of Mohammad Afzal, convicted in the Parliament attack case. The court also issued a notice to the Delhi Government on his petition challenging the conviction and sentence. With this the execution of both the condemned prisoners in the Parliament attack case has been stayed till the disposal of the appeal. The court had on January 19 stayed the execution of Shaukat Hussain Guru on his petition challenging his conviction. A SC bench comprising Justice Ashok Bhan and Justice H.K. Sema issued the notice on Afzal's petition and tagged it along with the petitions filed by the Delhi Government and another condemned prisoner Shaukat Hussain Guru. The court adjourned hearing on all the matters by four weeks.

          On January 19 the court had also issued notices to Delhi University lecturer S.A.R. Geelani and Afsan Guru on a petition filed by the Delhi police challenging the Delhi High Court order acquitting them of all charges in the case. Police in its appeal said the HC had "erred" in acquitting Geelani, who was sentenced to death by the trial court for his role in the conspiracy by militants to storm the parliament. Earlier, last year in October, the HC had acquitted two of the case convicts - Geelani and Afsan, wife of condemned prisoner Shaukat, - by absolving them of all charges but confirmed the death sentence imposed by the lower court on alleged Jaish-e- Mohammed militants Afzal and Guru.

Centre clears merger of 50 pc DA with basic pay (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Friday cleared a proposal for the merger of 50 per cent of the Central Government employees dearness allowance with their basic pay. The proposal was discussed at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the light of recommendations by the Fifth Pay Commission and suggestions by the BJP to the government. The move would benefit the Central government employees in terms of a substantial increase in their provident fund (PF) and other retirement benefits like House Rent Allowance (HRA). The Union Cabinet is also understood to have cleared a proposal relating to Rural Electrification Corporation aimed at improving electricity supply for the rural areas. But the modalities would be worked out by the Ministry of Power in consultation with the Planning Commission. Besides, well-informed sources said that the Union Cabinet was also considering a proposal to provide electricity to one crore households in one lakh villages.

Jaya fears for life, bans flower pots, bouquets (Go To Top)

          Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha has directed her party workers not to present her with flower pots and bouquets during the next one month of electioneering. In a press release issued here late last night, she said that she sustained minor injuries when party workers threw bouquets and flower pots at her. She asked the cadres to desist from such actions. The move assumes significance even as the state police had warned that some attempts might be made on her life by terrorists, particularly the LTTE. In her statement, the AIADMK chief said "such elements might get closer to her in the guise of party men and plant a bomb in the bouquets". Hence, she asked party workers to desist from presenting her with flower pots, bouquets and garlands during her month-long electioneering for the coming Lok Sabha polls, beginning March 1. The CM also directed the party men not to waste money on putting up huge cutouts of her, as the people did not like such extravaganza. Instead, they could donate the money that might be spent on such things to the party fund, the statement added.

Elections likely to be held in four phases: EC (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: The Election Commission on Friday said that the upcoming general elections are likely to be held over four phases. But, it didn't announce any election schedule. The commission said the election panel would keep in mind the schedule of school and college exams across the country, important festivals, weather conditions, farm harvesting and procurement schedules of grains, before setting dates. "In preparing the schedule for elections, the commission will take in mind the schedule of examinations in different states. Important festivals which fall in this period, weather conditions, special things like harvesting, procurement of food grains etc. So all these factors are built in and only then the schedule will be announced," Deputy Election Commissioner A.N. Jha told a news conference here.

          Earlier in the day, the three-member Election Commission held a meeting with leaders of recognised political parties regarding the conduct of free and fair elections. Once the dates are announced the code of conduct comes into force. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who attended the meeting, said the Central ministers were not bound by the code of conduct till the dates were announced. After the meeting, BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan told reporters: "The Election Commission has made it clear that according to the Supreme Court's decision, the model code of conduct will come into effect from the date the elections dates are announced. And before that there will be no code of conduct. We want that if the elections are held in four phases then the nominations should also be filled in four phases."

          The main Opposition Congress party, however, said the conventions should be followed in the application of the code of conduct. Senior party leader Pranab Mukherjee said: "Of course, we raised the issue that election commission should ponder on the application and operationalisation of code of conduct. Whenever the Lok Sabha is dissolved it is quite clear that the elections should be held six months from the date of dissolution of the Lok Sabha."

          Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Laloo Prasad Yadav raised the issue of photo identity cards to the voters in the meeting with the CEC. "We raised the issue of I-cards. Our party has always been against it. There are so many poor people in the country. They don't have places to live...where will they keep their I-cards. Such people are devoid of their rights to vote. Arrangements should be made for them also," Yadav said.

          Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA has called for early elections, instead of going full term to October, in a bid to capitalise on a booming economy, strong gains in state polls and prospects of peace with Pakistan. Analysts and political parties say they expect voting to begin sometime in mid-April and probably spill over into May. The dates are expected to be announced soon.

US air force jet makes emergency landing in Delhi (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: A US Air Force re-fuelling aircraft made an emergency landing Delhi airport on Friday after it developed a technical fault. The KC-10 tanker, in India for joint air force exercises, landed soon after take-off. David Kennedy, spokesperson of the US embassy, denied a spark or fire in the engine, as reported by local media. "What actually happened was that technicians identified that a pneumatic duct had separated and it can be fixed and they hope to depart soon. There was no spark or fire or anything...They are about ten (people in the aircraft)...there were reports of a large number of people but they are only ten. There are usually between four and ten on the aircraft but they are ten this time," Kennedy told reporters here. He confirmed that none of the crew was injured.

Mulayam scraps 'half-day school' order, but not in toto (Go To Top)

          Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, who was under attack from the BJP over the order to the effect of closing schools and colleges by 12 noon on Fridays throughout the state, today withdrew the order, but authorised District Magistrates to decide the matter at the local level. He directed his officials to consult with the school authorities at the local level, especially in pre-dominantly Muslim areas.

          "The Government order regarding closing the government schools and colleges (upto intermediate level) at 12.00 on Fridays has been scrapped," Yadav said while speaking in the state Assembly. Yadav said that new government order (GO) has been issued authorising the District Magistrates to issue appropriate orders in consultation with the District Inspector of Schools and the District Basic Education Officers especially for the Muslim dominated areas. The District Magistrates, if necessary, can use their discretion for closing the schools on Fridays at 1200 hours in consultation with the district school authorities in Muslim dominated areas at local level," Yadav said.

          According to political analysts, Mulayam's latest decision to this effect has given clear indications to the minority community that he was their greatest messiah. He is said to have generated support among his old vote bank, the Muslims, even as the BJP opposed the move. A GO issued on February 16 had directed all government schools and colleges up to intermediate level affiliated to the State Education Board to conduct the teaching work till 12.00 noon on every Friday. The decision had drawn flak from the Opposition BJP, which said it was a "politically motivated" move to woo the minorities. Party state president Vinay Katiyar termed it as a move aimed at "communalising" education and demanded a similar relaxation be made on Tuesdays to help Hindus to offer prayers at temples.

Security forces kill two NLFT insurgents in Tripura (Go To Top)

          Agartala: At least two extremists belonging to the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) were killed in an encounter with security forces in West Tripura district, police said on Friday. A group of NLFT insurgents hiding in the Jamadarbari jungles of the district fired upon an Assam Rifles patrol and in the ensuing gun-battle the two insurgents were shot dead last night, they said. One Chinese grenade, one country-made gun and some electronic detonators were recovered from the killed insurgents who were identified to be Rabikanta Debbarma (18) and Swapan Debbarma (17), the local police added.

PCB goes into security and organisational mode (Go To Top)

          Karachi: With the Indian cricket team's tour of Pakistan looming over their heads, top Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials have gone into security and organizational mode to prevent untoward hiccups during the all important series that takes place on Pakistani soil after 14 long years. "The coordination meeting basically focussed on security and organizational arrangements, including for the media for the series and it was decided that visitors from India should not face any problems while in Pakistan for the matches," a PCB spokesman was quoted by the News, as saying. He also said that it had been decided to set aside a certain quota of tickets for the Indian visitors, especially for the games in Lahore so that the problems of the 1996 World Cup were not repeated.

          "The PCB has also requested the Foreign Ministry and Pakistan High Commission in India to have a speedy visa issuance system for Indians intending to visit Pakistan for the matches," the spokesman said. He said in all probability the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the series between the two boards would be signed today. "A draft copy of the MoU will be faxed to the BCCI, and they will sign and return it to us, paving the way for what promises to be a scintillating series," the spokesman said. The MoU will be signed after BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya approves the itinerary of the tour at a meeting with the board's joint secretary, Ratnakar Shetty. Shetty had led a three-member team to Pakistan to study the security and other arrangements for the tour. "The itinerary of the tour has already been sent to the Indian team and it will be approved by Mr. Dalmiya tomorrow," the PCB spokesman said. India, which is to play three Tests and five one-day internationals during the tour, has expressed reservations about playing in Karachi and Peshawar, the places that are known for harbouring suspected terrorists and gun-running activities.

Mentally tough Irfan may be handful for Pak: Wasim Akram (Go To Top)

          Karachi: India's latest teenage pace sensation Irfan Pathan could prove to be a handful for Pakistan's batsmen, as he has picked up the nuances of fast bowling at the international level quite rapidly, says former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram. "He (Pathan) is a very quick and eager learner. Any tips passed on to him, he tried to do them as quick as possible, and whatever I saw of him in Australia, he has proved himself to be a mentally tough bowler which is so important in international cricket," Wasim told the News.

          Wasim, who spent some time with Pathan in the nets during his visit to Australia as a cricket commentator, also admitted that he had provided Irfan with inputs for developing an effective yorker. "He did ask me about yorkers. And, I told him it would be advisable for him to work on his yorkers. And, specially in one- day cricket, it is advisable for him to have a good yorker," Wasim said. That the former Pakistani great spent some time with Pathan in the nets drew lot of attention and flak in India and Pakistan respectively. There were allegations that Wasim might be passing on valuable tips to the Indian bowlers, which Akram shrugged off by saying that every international cricket player had a right to help out another young upcoming player. "I and many other Pakistani players have taken help and advice from Indian and other international players in the past. What is wrong with that? However, he said that Pathan could find the conditions in Pakistan very different to what was available in India and Australia. Pathan on the other said: "I am aware of the abilities of the Pakistan batsmen on home soil. So, I am concentrating hard on how to take their wickets without allowing them to score runs."

End chucking in cricket: Bedi to ICC (Go To Top)

         Lahore: Former India captain Bishen Singh Bedi has warned that chucking is far greater threat to cricket than bribery and match fixing. "To me cricket is a gentleman's game, but chucking is an unfair act and I believe Asian bowlers are more involved in it," Bedi was quoted by the Dawn, as telling reporters here. Describing Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan as a chucker and Australia's Brett Lee as an "occasional chucker", Bedi said every team had two or three chuckers and urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to make strict rules to check this trend. "To me making the rules for the first or second stages of chucking by the ICC is unfair, because chucking is chucking, and there should be no relaxation," he said.

          Praising former Pakistani skipper Imran Khan, Bedi said: "Imran was a true professional cricketer. As a captain, he led from the front in the field and also in selection matters. He knew the importance of physical fitness." "It would be unfair to compare Imran with Shoaib Akhtar," he added. Bedi also admitted that his team that toured Pakistan in 1977-78 was not as prepared as the team visiting Pakistan next month. "In 1977-78, India sent the team only on a goodwill tour on the instructions of the then prime minister, but the current team looks strong and well prepared," he said. He admitted that both the Indian and Pakistani players lacked mental toughness.