Holyman, five companions killed in Allahabad

    Allahabad: A holyman and five of his companions were killed by unidentified gunmen here on Friday. Fifty-year-old holyman Gyanenshwar and his followers were moving in a convoy when the assailants began firing, killing five women on the spot. The group was heading towards Varanasi and had stopped near a gas filling station when the incident occurred. "We were on our way to Varanasi. We had crossed some 3-4 kilometers. Our head priest's vehicle was in between the convoy when the unknown assailants started indiscriminate firing. The driver was hit and the vehicle went off the track. Later on, they targeted our head priest," said Kamal, an eyewitness. Police said they were still investigating the case, as nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack. Security has been tightened in the city in fear of a communal backlash.

Protest against Prophet cartoon in Lucknow  (Go To Top)
by Kamna Hajela Mathur

     Lucknow: Loud protest demonstrations were organised in Lucknow on Saturday against the recent publication of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad in a Danish newspaper. Agitated Muslims took to streets and shouted slogans against Western countries, and demanded an apology from Denmark's Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen for not taking punitive action against the Danish newspaper that printed the cartoons. "We want to tell to the world that we are not going to take any insult to our Prophet. The way Denmark, France and other European newspapers have come out against Prophet is wrong, and we demand that the Indian Government should pressurize the Denmark premier to apologise against the act. A high-level committee to ensure that no such things are repeated," said Moulana Khalid Rashid, a Muslim cleric.

    At least 11 people have been killed this year in protests over the cartoons, one of which showed Prophet Mohammad wearing a bomb-shaped turban. They were first published in Denmark and then in other European countries and elsewhere. The Palestinian militant group, Islamic Jihad, which has carried out several suicide bombings in Israel, has threatened more violence and a leading Saudi Muslim cleric called for mercy in punishing anyone mocking the Prophet. The cartoons were first published in a Danish newspaper in September. Other European newspapers, saying press freedom was more important than religious taboos, began reprinting them. The Danish newspaper editor who commissioned the cartoons was sent on holiday after suggesting he would print Iranian cartoons on the Holocaust. Many Muslims consider any image of Mohammad to be blasphemous and offensive. Activists said they seek an apology from the European world over the issue. The Danish government has expressed regret over the publication of the cartoons, but has refused to apologise saying that it is a matter for the newspaper. Despite protests and boycotts across the Muslim world, the cartoons have now appeared in papers in Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Spain, Switzerland, Hungary, New Zealand, Norway and Poland. On Thursday Rasmussen said Iran was trying to divert attention from international pressure over its nuclear program and Syria from allegations that it was behind the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri.

Indian army rebuilds Aman Setu (Go To Top)
by Bilal Butt

     Kaman Post: The Indian Army on Saturday re-erected a mountain highway connecting divided Kashmir, which was damaged in last year's the devastating earthquake on October 8. The earthquake killed more than 73,000 people in Pakistani Kashmir along with some 1,300 in Indian Kashmir. "Aman Setu' or the Peace Bridge on the 170-km (106-mile) highway connecting the capitals of Indian and Pakistani Kashmirs was made operational for a historic bus service launched in April, connecting the two sides for the first time in nearly 60 years. The service, which took small numbers of Kashmiris across the Line of Control (ceasefire line) every two weeks, had been suspended since the bridge and roads were badly damaged in the quake. The bridge that earlier been made operational to facilitate movement of relief material for the relief points established next to Kaman Post, was re-erected solely by the Indian army. "Maybe because of the more damages of their roadside and other works which they had to repair somehow they expressed the inability and it was decided it should be done by the Indian army only...a very unique task we have done at a war footing for a peaceful purpose," said Colonel D.M Gupta of the Indian army.

   The South Asian neighbours, who have fought three wars since 1947, two of them over Muslim-majority Kashmir, launched the bus service linking the Himalayan region on April 7. While the two countries have strengthened transport, cultural and sporting links since starting the peace process, they have made little headway on tackling the dispute over Kashmir, the cause of two of their three wars since independence from British rule in 1947. Indian officials say violence has declined in Kashmir. But they want Islamabad to do more to fully stop militants crossing into Indian Kashmir. Islamabad says it is doing all, and has instead asked New Delhi to begin talks to resolve the territory's future. Muslim separatist rebels have been battling security forces in Indian Kashmir since 1989. More than 45,000 have people have been killed in the revolt.

RSS to produce film on Sadashiv Golwalkar (Go To Top)
by R. Sahu

     Bhopal: The muhurat of the Film Matrubhumi, on the life of Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar (Guruji), the second sarsangachalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), was held in Bhopal today. The feature film called "Matrubhumi " is a perspective of making people aware of the history of RSS. The muhurat of the film was done at the Hamidiya College in Bhopal in the presence of RSS spokesman Ram Madhav. Madhav later said that the film will be shown to an international and national audience. "Sangh will celebrate this year as hundredth birth anniversary year of Guruji Golwalkar. We will start the year from 24th February in Nagpur with a big function. We are doing lot of preparation for this year. We have planned to release a docu- drama on the life of Guruji (M S Gowalkar ), including the history of Sangh (RSS)," Madhav said. He added that the RSS wanted to convey it's message to the people of India through this film. "Sangh wants to tell lot of important facts to the nation about it's development which can be possible through this film,"said Madhav. The director of the film, NiteshBharadwaj of Mahabharata serial fame, says that they have been doing research on the life of Gowalkar for the last one and a half year to present his real image on the screen. "We have been doing research on this topic for the last one and a half year. The research is based on the facts available. It was possible to do this muhurat only on the basis of the hard research work of last one and a half years,"said Bharadwaj. The story of the film revolves around the character of Golwalkar played by Deepak Rane. RSS is celebrating this year as the 100th birth anniversary of Gowalkar, starting from 24th February. The film will be released on the national and international level on the festival of Gudi Padwa.

Telgi admitted to Pune hospital again  (Go To Top)
by Sameer Desai

    Pune: The main accused in the fake stamp paper scam of 1995, Abdul Karim Telgi has been admitted to the Sassoon Hospital here again. Telgi was taken for a routine check-up. However, it was advised by the doctors that Telgi should be admitted for further check- ups, the sources said. On the orders of the Mumbai Special Court, a three-member team of doctors yesterday had already conducted a medical check-up of Telgi in Yerawada Central Jail, where he is lodged. Telgi was first admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the same hospital on February 8 after he complained of chest pain. He, however, was discharged in the evening, but refused to leave the hospital on the plea that his health was not good and that he was feeling weak. According to the doctors, Telgi is a HIV patient and it was necessary to observe the sugar level and blood pressure for at least eight days. Telgi had already made in-camera confessional statement before Pune's Chief Judicial Magistrate D W Modak in connection with the 1995 stamp case. The judge had recorded around 83 pages of statement on February six and seven. A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) judge had last month directed a Magistrate in Pune to record his confession statement after other accused in the case said that they had no objection to the same. Last week, Telgi had expressed the desire to confess through video conferencing, saying he would like to tell the court about his alleged role in the cases against him and others lodged by the Cuffe Parade and Colaba police stations in 1995. The court said in these two cases, the trial had already begun and hence, Telgi could not be permitted to confess at this stage. But it allowed his confession in another case registered by Mumbai CID.

    Earlier last month, a Special Court had convicted Telgi and his associates, Sanjay Gaikawad and Ramratan Soni, and sentenced them to 10-years imprisonment along with Rs. 50,000 fine to each in connection with a case of selling fake stamps worth Rs.17 lakh in 1995. The trio were charged with IPC sections 255 (counterfeiting government stamps), 256 (possessing material for counterfeiting stamps), 258 (selling counterfeit stamps) 259 (possessing counterfeit stamps), 420 (cheating) read with 511 (punishment for counterfeiting) and 120-b IPC (conspiracy) read with all these sections. Besides, they were also charged with sections 63 A and 63 B of Bombay Stamp Act. The multi-crore scam involving the printing and selling of counterfeit stamp paper across seven States was an example of the nexus between politicians, senior police officials and other Government servants. Telgi had purchased the second-hand printing equipment from the India Security Press (ISP) in Nashik for printing the fake stamp paper.

Dalai Lama to visit Bodh Gaya (Go To Top)

    Gaya: Devotees from across the globe gather in Bodh Gaya, Bihar to see the Dalai Lama at the 2, 550th anniversary of Maha Nirwan (death anniversary) of Lord Buddha. Devotees including monks are busy in preparation for the week- long festival starting from February 13. Buddhists are more enthusiastic about the arrival of Dalai Lama at the historical place of Buddha's enlightenment during the occasion. Bhante P. Sivali Thero, Incharge of Maha Bodhi Society said that there would be an International Conference on Religion in which Dalai Lama will pray for world peace. He said, "This is the most important occasion for the Buddhists. On second day there will be an International Buddhist Conference which will last for two days. Then International Homeopathic Conference will be held followed by an International Religious Conference in which the 17th Karmapa (Buddhist Monk) will pray for world peace." Tourism professional are also hopeful expecting huge inflow of foreign tourists because of the arrival of Dalai Lama. Suresh Singh said, "The whole Bihar waits for him (Dalai Lama). Large number of foreign tourists come to Bodh Gaya to see him and to listen his preaching. Though he is coming very late but I hope his arrival will boost tourism in Bodh Gaya." Though some of the tourists feel disappointed to see the present condition of temple which is being renovated. Robert Choyo, a foreign tourist said, "I have come from very far. I give so much importance to the beauty but I feel sad to see the surrounding of the temple which takes away the beauty of the entire region." Dalai Lama had attended the 2, 500th death anniversary of the Budha along with the 10th Panchen Lama here in 1956.

Bandh on Maqbool Butt's death anniversary  (Go To Top)
by Bilal Butt

     Srinagar: The Kashmir Valley observed a day-long shutdown on Saturday to mark the 22nd death anniversary of Maqbool Bhatt, the founder of the valley's independence movement. Streets in main city Srinagar wore a deserted look as people supported the strike call given by the separatist Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) faction led by Javed Mir. Activists also staged a protest march as they shouted slogans demanding the right to self-determination and freedom while marching towards the UN office. "We had given a call for shutdown today. We will move towards the United Nations and hand over a memorandum also on the martyrdom day of Maqbool Bhatt," said Mir. Bhat, the founder member of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), was hanged in New Delhi on February 11, 1984, on the charge of killing an intelligence officer. A JKLF statement called Maqbool Bhat "the pioneer of the ongoing freedom struggle of Kashmir." The JKLF declared a cease-fire with India in 1994 and has since been fighting politically for the complete independence of Kashmir, both from India and Pakistan. India, which accuses Pakistan of training and arming Kashmiri and pro-Kashmiri rebels, controls 45 percent of the Kashmir region. Islamabad controls over a third of the territory and says it only provides moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri separatists. China rules the remainder. India and Pakistan have been engaged in a cautious peace process for the past two years.

India beat Pakistan in Rawalpindi one-dayer (Go To Top)

    Islamabad: India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in the second one-day international at Rawalpindi. Set a target of 265, India won the match in the 44th over. Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif were unbeaten on 82 and nine respectively. Indian captain Rahul Dravid scored 56, his 66th ODI half- century.His was the last wicket to fall. Earlier in the innings, Indian openers, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar put up a steady 105-run partnership that was broken by Abdul Razzaq. Sachin scored 42 while Sehwag scored 67. The Indian reply came in response to Pakistan's score of 265 in their allotted 50 overs. Pakistan, which elected to bat, lost early wickets before vice- captain Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik steadied the innings through their partnership. Malik scored 95 and Younis Khan 81. The rest faltered in building up a challenging total. Four Pakistani batsmen were run-out. For India, Irfan Pathan was the pick of the bowlers, returning figures of 3 for 43. Ajit Agarkar also picked up two crucial wickets. Pakistan named an unchanged XI for the match, while India included Suresh Raina in place of Murali Kartik. Off-spinner Ramesh Powar was taken in as super-sub.

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