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Sonia's 'Chadar' to grace Chisti's tomb

      Ajmer: A `chadar' will be offered on behalf of Congress president Sonia Gandhi during the 750th Urs of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti at his tomb at Ajmer Sharif. Party sources here said that All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, and Mukul Wasnik, another general secretary of the party, would offer the `chadar' on Sunday. On Friday, thousands of pilgrims offered prayers at the shrine to signal the beginning of the festival. Pilgrims sought the Khwaja's blessings and presented 'nazrana' at his tomb. Rose and jasmine garlands and petals, sandalwood paste, perfumes and incense were also offered on the occasion.

Defence Ministry denies theft at IDS (Go To Top)

      New Delhi: The Defence Ministry today denied reports that computer harddrives, discs and a printer were stolen from the headquarters of the Integrated Defence Services at Kashmir House. It, however, confirmed the disappearance of 13 computer printer ink cartridges worth Rs.17,000. "No hard drive, disc or printer has been stolen from Room No. 49 (South Hutments) of the headquarters of the Integrated Defence Services (HQ IDS) at Kashmir House", a Defence Ministry release stated. The Ministry also stated that it has already ordered a court inquiry by a Colonel, whose report is still awaited. "On July 24, 2006, at around 9 a.m., the security office was informed by HQ IDS about a theft in Room No. 49 which is a store room for stationery. Preliminary investigation showed that that the room had been locked and sealed by the staff of HQ IDS on the evening of July 21, 2006 (Friday) and was found sealed by the same staff at the time of opening of offices on the morning of July 24, 2006 (Monday). It was, however, discovered that 13 computer printer ink cartridges worth about Rupees17, 000 were missing from the store keeper's table drawer", the release stated. Earlier, a newspaper had reported that three hard disks along with printers were stolen from Room Number 49, South Hutments, of IDS headquarters.

Bharti given two months to appear in court

      New Delhi: A local court here has issued a proclamation against Bharti Yadav to appear before it September 28, failing to which she would be declared a proclaimed offender in the Nitish Katara murder case. This came after the Home Ministry certified that the address in Britain given by Ms. Yadav through a fax last week requesting that she be allowed to depose through video conferencing was true. However, the Ministry found the signature of Bharti on the fax to be a fake, adding to speculations thereof. Bharti Yadav's deposing before the court is significant to the case since she is the prime witness and had earlier alleged that her own brother Vikas Yadav had killed her fiancie Nitish Katara. Bharti who has been avoiding an appearance in court in spite of repeated summons had left for Britain soon after Nitish's murder in February 2002.

Detained soldier's relatives for probe (Go To Top)

       Mendhar (J and k): Relatives of an army soldier, detained by the police for his alleged links with Pakistan based militant outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (Let), defended their ward and appealed to the Government to make a thorough enquiry into the matter. "All should be punished if they are indeed involved. However, I do not think Shakeel is involved in it," said Mumtaz, mother of M. Shakeel one of the two army personnel who were detained by the police earlier this week. M. Shakeel and Abdul Haque were detained on Wednesday for allegedly helping militants in transporting weapons and obtaining SIM cards for their mobile phones. According to reports, the two soldiers had served in counter- insurgency operations with the Army in Kulgam area of south Kashmir and had developed links with rebel leaders.

J-K sex scandal: CBI files chargesheets (Go To Top)

       Srinagar: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday filed seven chargesheets against all prime accused in the much publicised sex racket in Jammu and Kashmir. G A Mir and Raman Matto, two former ministers of Jammu and Kashmir were booked under Section 5 of the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act for procuring persons for prostitution. Sabina, the alleged kingpin of the sex racket, had named Matto and Mir as the two individuals who had solicited sexual favours. A chargesheet was also filed against Iqbal Khandey, a senior IAS officer of the 1978 batch from the Jammu and Kashmir cadre. He was arrested under Section Five of the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act. Mohammade Ashraf Mir, Deputy Superintendent of Police and Rayaz Kawa, a hotel owner, were also charged by the CBI in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate M Y Akhoon. Sabeena, the alleged king-pin of the racket and her husband Abdul Hamid were also named in all the five chargesheet, CBI sources said. The case involves the sexual exploitation of Yasmeen, a 15-year- old girl, who had named several senior officials in the police, army and government, including politicians. The exposure of theinfamous sex racket shocked many and led to protests and demonstrations in Jammu and Kashmir.

Tight security for Railway stations, airports

       Kolkata: Keeping in mind the recent serial blasts at Mumbai railway stations, a stringent security measure has been planned for country's railway networks and airports. This was disclosed by the Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and Aviation Minister Praful Patel here. Yadav who was here to attend the flagging-off ceremony of the Airport-Dum Dum Cantonment stretch of Circular Railway said: "Close-circuit televisions (CCTVs) and metal detectors would be set up soon at most of the stations to monitor any suspicious movement or behaviour. Dog bomb squads would also be deployed." Praful Patel who was also in the city said that airport security was being taken to a much higher level. "That would involve a 30-metre security because there is a large area around the airport that has to be protected so we are bringing modern surveillance systems and would also include introducing biometrics identification for all the people working inside the airport", Patel said. This comes on a day when the Prime Minister held a high-level security review meeting to take stock of the country's security from the recent terror attacks.

Uttaranchal on security alert (Go To Top)

      Dehradun: In the wake of intelligence inputs that important installations like Indian Military Academy (IMA) could be the next target of terrorists, police in Uttaranchal has beefed up security across the state. Important installations like the Jolly Grant Airport, the Indian Military Academy (IMA), the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) plant-cum-office, the Forest Research Institute (FRI), and the sacred Har-ki-Pauri in Haridwar are considered viable targets in the state. "Based on whatever manpower we have at all vital installations here, we have made all security arrangements," said Sanjay Guniyal, SSP, Dehradun. The airport open from all sides is considered vulnerable, where as the IMA is home to the country's future defence officers. Haridwar is also a very popular pilgrimage centre, attracting large crowds throughout the year. Urging general citizens to be more careful and alert, DGP K.C.Bhattacharya said that they had taken the information seriously, and also the intelligence network has been activated since the border of the hill state adjoins Nepal. The sprucing up of security has come in the wake of the serial bomb blasts that killed at least 183 people in Mumbai on July 11 this year.

Delhi Metro to double its security force (Go To Top)

      New Delhi: As a measure to tighten security ahead of the Independence Day celebrations, the Delhi Metro has decided to double its security force. The Government has so far sanctioned 1,300 Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel to guard the high-risk city rail network in the wake of the 11/7 blasts in Mumbai. Presently, 650 Delhi Police and CISF personnel guard Delhi's metro rail system. Home Ministry sources said that the Government has also given clearance for engaging 300 female police personnel to frisk female passengers. The CISF is awaiting clearance for the deployment of additional security on the metro rail network that currently stretches across 65 km, covering 60 metro stations. To counter any emergency, the CISF also plans to install closed- circuit cameras and keep QRTs (Quick Reaction Teams) ready. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Managing Director E.Sreedharan had recently revealed that after the success of Delhi's Metro System, 26 cities across the country are at various stages of implementing the Metro System. With the Second Phase of the Delhi Metro having a 40 km connecting line between the Railway Station and the airport coming up, the security arrangements are likely to be extended further.

Three cattle die of Anthrax in Kerala  (Go To Top)
by Juhan Samuel

       Koothattukulam (Cochin): The bacterial disease, anthrax, has been detected among three dead cattle at Koothattukulam, 50km away from Cochin. This was confirmed positive by the Avian Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Thiruvalla. "Before the doctor reached here the cow started showing some difficulty in breathing and there was blood coming out from its anus and soon it died but the other one didn't show this much difficulty and it also died," said Krishnan Kutty, the owner of two of the three cows. Experts teams, surgeons and livestock officials have been rushed to the village to take necessary steps in and around the village area. State Avian Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Thiruvilla, Additional Director, Dr. Sashindharan Nair, said there was no cause for any panic as the department had already taken steps to prevent the spread of the disease. After conducting the blood test from the died cows it was confirmed that it had the virus Bacillus anthracis. The Ernakulam Animal Husbandry Department had already started administering anthrax spore vaccine on cattle around three kilometres radius from the incident where it occurred. Milk supply and collection from the village and nearby villages has been temperately stopped and selling of cattle in the local market also have been banned by the animal husbandry department.

    Wildlife wardens have been asked to monitor wild animals for any signs of anthrax, as the chance of the disease spreading through wild animals cannot be ruled out. Palakkad district is especially susceptible to the incidence of anthrax as truckloads of animals arrive here from other States on a regular basis. Last year, two incidents of anthrax were reported in the State, from Panachikkad in Kottayam and from Palakkad district. As almost 90 per cent of the animals coming across the border are headed towards slaughterhouses, people who consume meat are advised to exercise caution. Anthrax, a bacterial disease found primarily in herbivorous domestic animals, is caused by Bacillus anthracis, spores of which can survive in the environment for years. One can reasonably suspect anthrax if there is copious flow of dark blood from all orifices in the carcass. Humans can contract the disease directly or indirectly through occupational exposure to infected animals or through careless handling of animals.

New hurdle to Indo-US nuke deal (Go To Top)

      Washington: Reports of US State Department imposing sanctions against two Indian companies for selling missiles to Iran has created fresh ammunition for anti Indo-US nuke deal lobbyists. Questioning the postponing the release of the 'sanction' reports, Massachusetts Congressman Edward Markey accused the State administration of playing foul by deliberately delaying the release of the report, so that the US nuclear amendment Bill could sail through the House of Representatives easily. ``The Bush administration has once again delayed, obfuscated, and misled this Congress by withholding information about these violations by Indian entities before we voted to grant historic nuclear cooperation with the Indian government," said Markey, who on Wednesday had moved a 'killer' amendment to the Bill that would have required President Bush to certify that India has cooperated with efforts to curb Iran's program before going forward with sharing nuclear knowledge. However, the amendment was defeated, 192-to-235. The periodic report which was due to be submitted to the Congress by the US President on July 1, under the Iran-Syria Nonproliferation Act is likely to be released next week.

    This is not the first time that US would be imposing sanctions against Indian companies for proliferation activities. In December 2005, two Indian firms, Sabero Organic Chemicals Gujarat Ltd. and Sandhya Organic Chemicals PVT Ltd. were two among the nine companies sanctioned under US non-proliferation laws.

Every tenth Briton was born overseas (Go To Top)

      London: A recent data produced by the Office for National Statistics for MPs has revealed that one in ten people living in Britain was born overseas. The data revealed that the Labour Party's opendoor immigration policy had dramatically changed the country's makeover. Since the Tony Blair led Labour government came to power in 1997, the number of Britons born overseas had rocketed by 1,690,000 - up 42 per cent. The total now stood at 5,699,000, or 10 per cent of the population, and during last year alone, the increase was 405,000, the Daily Mail quoted the data as saying. The Office of National Statistics for MPs is investigating the Government's stance on immigration. Sir Andrew Green, chairman of the think-tank Migrationwatch UK, said the current level of migration was 'contrary to the interests of all sections of the community - and add to the problems of overcrowding and integration'.

Taliban seizes military posts in N Waziristan

      Peshawar: Military check points in North Waziristan, which were being manned by military men, have now been taken over by the Taliban, Dilawar Khan Wazir a BBC stringer has reported in his weekly diary. He said that more than a dozen check posts monitoring the highway between Kajhori and Miranshah earlier had been abandoned and that he had seen the Taliban patrolling the highway between Mir Ali and Miranshah in twin cabin pick-ups. "They were carrying automatic rifles and in some cases, rocket launchers. Militants now stand guard at the check points previously controlled by army soldiers," the Daily Times quoted Wazir as saying in his report. He warned: "North Waziristan was being taken over by the Taliban. The movements of the tribal jirga members have also been restricted and it is difficult for them to meet friends or family."

'Pak N-weapons being controlled by US' (Go To Top)

       Hyderabad: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), an Opposition alliance in Pakistan, has said that nuclear weapons of the country had been captured by the US. Addressing a big public meeting here last night, MMA president Qazi Hussain Ahmed said, "Pakistan's nuclear weapons were no more in the hands of rulers but they were talking nuclear war in response to threats by India." He accused his country's President Pervez Musharraf of reneging from his promise by not stepping down as the chief of army staff after December 2004. "It was unconstitutional that one man should hold offices of president and the chief of army staff," the Dawn quoted Ahmed as saying. He said that the army and other national institutions had become controversial, and blamed the federal government for creating a particular class of rich generals, bureaucrats, privileged and capitalists who, according to him, were "purchasing palaces abroad through wealth looted by them in the country, whereas 50 per cent of people continued to live below the poverty line".

Ganguly's removal aptly timed: Wright (Go To Top)

       New Delhi: Former India coach John Wright in his book "Indian Summers" has supported sacking of former skipper Sourav Ganguly from Team India and have termed it "appropriately timed". Opening a Pandora's box, the New Zealander has written in his book that his chemistry with Ganguly had already 'dried' during his last year of being the coach of the team. But the stringent criticism that Wright has made in his book is about the team selection process and has termed it to be 'parochial' in nature. Wright writes in his book: "The first six or seven selections were straightforward. But when it got down to the marginal selections, those last three or four spots that determine the balance of the team and your ability to develop new players, the zonal factor kicked in and things would get interesting". He has also accused the selectors of unduly dropping Mohd. Kaif and VVS Laxman. "VVS Laxman and Kaif are examples of outstanding performers who always seemed to be only one or two failures away from having their places questioned", Wright writes in the book. However, Niranjan Shah, Secretary of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) dismissed the allegations that selectors had been unfair to Laxman and Kaif. Speaking to reporters here, Shah said, the decision taken in a meeting should not be discussed publicly and termed Wright's opinion about Ganguly's dismissal as his "personal one".

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