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VHP leader Singhal detained, no Ayodhya rally

          Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh), Oct 17: Uttar Pradesh police on Friday detained Ashok Singhal, the international working president of the radical Vishwa Hindu Parishad, as he attempted to enter the town of Ayodhya to participate in the 'Ram Bhakt' rally.

         The authorities sealed off the town that lies on the banks of Saryu River, and riot police were brought in to patrol its narrow streets. A security cordon was also thrown around the Muslim quarter, where about 5,000 people live. However, as some kar sevaks could sneak into the town, there were pitched battles with the police. The sevaks could manage the formality of a 'sankalp sammelan' near Karsevakpuram.

         "Police in Varanasi and Allahabad have done a good job and stopped many kar sewaks (Hindu volunteers). But the problem is that the jails do not have the capacity to accommodate such large numbers, so many of them have managed to reach here. We have arrested them in Ayodhya," said B.N Rai, Superintendent of Police, Ayodhya.

         The planned rally had fuelled fears of fresh communal violence after over 1,000 people, most of them Muslims, were killed last year in Gujarat in retaliation for the burning alive of 59 Ayodhya pilgrims in a train. Hindu hardliners believe that the demolished Babri mosque stood on the birthplace of god-king Ram, and now they want to build a temple at the same spot in his honour. Muslims, who make up 12 percent of India's billion plus mainly Hindu population, want the mosque rebuilt, holding it as a touchstone of the country's secular credentials.

         In Lucknow, the police had to fire teargas shells and rubber bullets to disperse a crowd of Hindu activists who were trying to hold a rally here on Friday. Authorities said over 27,000 VHP activists were arrested. "There has been no untoward incident. So the authorities have decided that those Hindu volunteers who were arrested on their way to Ayodhya or in Ayodhya will be released. We are giving release orders and make arrangements for their peaceful return," said Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary A.P Singh.

Dawood Ibrahim a 'global terrorist', declares US (Go To Top)

          Washington, Oct 17: The US has declared Pakistan-based underworld don Dawood Ibrahim as a "global terrorist". According to the US, Dawood has a Pakistani passport, maintains links with al-Qaeda, and finances activities of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and other Islamic extremists to destabilise the Indian Government. "Ibrahim Dawood alias Ebrahim Dawood alias Hassan Sheikh Dawood, Karachi, possessing Pakistani passport number 0869537 (individual category)" has been "specially designated global terrorist" and his assets within the US have been frozen, the Treasury Department announced on Thursday. Now Washington will request the UN to list him as a global terrorist, thereby making it obligatory on the part of all member-states, including Pakistan, to take similar action.

         The US' finding vindicated India's assertion that he is in Pakistan though President Pervez Musharraf has denied it. The US action would help India in mounting pressure on Pakistan to send back the fugitive to India, who is among the 20 most- wanted persons sought by New Delhi from Islamabad. He is wanted by India, among other crimes, in connection with his involvement in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.

Terrorist attack on J and K CM house: Two jawans killed (Go To Top)

          Srinagar, Oct 17: Two Border Security Force (BSF) jawans were killed and three security personnel, including one of DSP rank, injured after militants attacked the new residence of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed here on Friday. Fortunately, the chief minister was not in the house, located on high-security Maulana Azad Road in Srinagar. He was away in Aligarh.

         Official sources said a grenade was hurled at around 10.10 a.m., and the militants tried to storm the house. The BSF jawan at the gate retaliated, following which, the attacker ran into a shopping complex located opposite the Chief Minster's residence. Gopal Sharma, the State's Director-General of Police, said a BSF deputy commandant and two jawans were injured in the gunfight.

          After the grenade attack, soldiers and police battled for several hours with the rebels holed up in the shopping complex.

          Two Pakistan-based terrorist groups, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Farzandan-e-Millat (FeM), have claimed responsibility for the attack. This was the second attack carried out on Saeed. An earlier attack took place at his own residence in Nowgaon.

US stage-managed 9/11, claims former German minister (Go To Top)

          London, Oct 17: The United States may have very well stage-managed the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in various parts of the country to justify their super power status, and their right to carry out attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq, claims a former German cabinet minister. Andreas von Bulow, 66, has written a book, 'The CIA and September 11', that has drawn huge support and is stoking the fires of anti- Americanism in Germany, according to a report in the Telegraph. Going even further, Britain's former environment minister Michael Meacher claims that the US knowingly failed to prevent the attacks. Von Bulow believes that Sept 11 was staged to justify Washington's subsequent wars on Afghanistan and Iraq. "If what I say is right, the whole US Government should end up behind the bars," he says.

          The German government has not reacted officially to the book, although its ministers have tried to distance themselves from Von Bulow's views. But Von Bulow's ideas are very popular and polls show that a fifth of Germans believe Washington ordered the attacks. The book has been written mainly from Internet research and has been declared a best-seller, with copy sales of over 100,000.

Maintain status quo on Indian consulate property: Sindh court (Go To Top)

          Karachi, Oct.17: The Sindh High Court has ordered that status quo be maintained with respect to a bungalow that once housed the Indian consulate. In its order delivered on Thursday, the court said that the status quo should be maintained till October 22 when a suit by its new buyer would come up for hearing. According to a report in the Dawn newspaper, the Indian Government has staked a claim on the 3883 square yard plot located in Karachi's Old Clifton area. According to the paper, the case came up for hearing in the court after an Indian airline official, who looks after the IHC assets in the city, saw renovations being carried out at the bungalow and reported the matter to the Indian government. The Indian government lodged a complaint with the Pakistan government, following which an inquiry was instituted.

          According to a plaint filed by Syed Ali Baqir Naqvi, who claims to be the rightful purchaser of the property, through Advocate Raja Qureshi, the plot was leased out by the defunct Karachi Municipal Corporation to Parmanand Kundamal in January 1946 for residential purposes for 99 years. The plaint alleges without elaborating that it came into the possession of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, India's first President, who entered into a sale agreement with Lateefan Begum, wife of Roshan Din, for a total consideration of 28,610 rupees, seven annas and nine paisas in 1952. Subsequently, he executed two general powers of attorney in favour of Lateefan Begum. Lateefan Begum sold the plot to Manzoor Hussain in 1964 for Rs.350,000 and the latter to Karim Ghulam Hussain Jiva in 1979 for Rs.600,000. Baqar Naqvi says that he entered into an agreement to buy the plot from Mr Jiva for Rs 33,976,500 and paid a token amount of Rs. 2 million on October 1. He claims that he invited objections to the deal, but none was received.

          The police, he claimed, started harassing him and raided his residence at Sunset Boulevard. The plaintiff requested the court to uphold and protect his right to acquire, hold and dispose of the property. Justice Khilji Arif Hussain directed that notices be issued to the Sindh government and police in the suit and ordered stay till October 22.

10 suspects picked up in Swiss diplomat's rape case (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Oct 17: Delhi Police have picked up at least 10 suspects in connection with the shocking rape of a Swiss diplomat here and claimed to be making "fair and fast progress" in the investigations. "We are thoroughly questioning the suspects and are verifying their movements at the time of the crime," Deputy Commissioner of Police Vivek Gogia told reporters Friday. He said their finger-prints were also being matched with those lifted from the victim's car. In an effort to identify the culprits from among the suspects, police has e-mailed their photographs along with those of several others to the victim in Switzerland.

Nepal troops kill 55 Maoist rebels (Go To Top)

          Kathmandu, Oct 17: As many as 55 rebels have been killed by government troops during the latest security operations in Nepal, Defence Ministry sources said here Friday. They said 16 armed rebels were killed in Sarlahi district in Terai on Thursday in an encounter between the Maoists and the security forces. In another encounter 25 rebels were killed in Achham district in west Nepal. Seven Maoists were killed in Dang district, three in Ilam, two in Mahottari and one each in Chitawan and Kapilvastu districts, the sources added. However, no damage was caused to security forces in these clashes, the sources said, adding that three pistols, one gun, 11 grenades, 150 sleeping bags and 75 combat dresses were recovered from the places where the encounters took place.

AIADMK turns 32 (Go To Top)

          Chennai, Oct 17: The All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the ruling party in Tamil Nadu, celebrated its 32nd foundation anniversary here on Friday. Enthusiastic party workers organised a function to mark the occasion. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and party president J. Jayalalita garlanded the statue of the party founder MG Ramachandran. Party workers were vying with each other to express their loyalty towards their "Puratchi thalaivi" (revolutionary leader) as Jayalalita calls herself. The late Ramachandran had floated the outfit on October 12, 1972 after his dismissal from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), another regional party and now an arch rival of the AIADMK. Ramachandran was expelled for "anti-party activities". As the party treasurer, he had demanded accounts of party funds from the party leadership, besides alleging corruption in the DMK rule headed by M. Karunanidhi.

PSLV's eighth launch (Go To Top)

          Sriharikota, Oct 17: The 1.36-ton remote sensing satellite aboard an indigenous Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) was launched from here on Friday Carrying 1360-kg satellite "Resourcesat-1", the PSLV-C5 zoomed into a murky sky despite a heavy downpour from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief Madhavan Nair said he was happy that their efforts paid off despite the unfavourable weather conditions.

Pearl murder suspect was our worker: Karachi-based trust (Go To Top)

          Karachi, Oct17: A Karachi-based trust called the Al Akhtar Trust has admitted that the suspect involved in the murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was once employed with them. "Saud Memon was our worker when we launched this organization three years ago," Mohammed Ibrahim, Vice-President of the Al- Akhtar Trust, was quoted by the Daily Times as saying at a news conference on Thursday. "He stopped visiting us after a few months and then formally resigned," Memon added. The US froze the assets of the trust after it was designated as a terrorist support organization, the paper said.

CPI (M) worried over `judicial activism' (Go To Top)
-by Gautam Ghose

          Kolkata, Oct 17: The West Bengal CPI(M) leadership is worried over what the party has described as `judicial activism' and the consequent "problems it has been causing to the administration." The general feeling among the people, however, is that the Marxists themselves are to be blamed for a pro-active judiciary in the state.

          The CPI(M), which swears by democracy, has developed a tendency to defy court orders which do not suit its political convenience. Justice Amitava Lala's order restricting rally hours in the city on weekdays is only one of several other high court verdicts which the party and the government headed by it have chosen to ignore. Many retired school teachers in the state have been denied pension and other retirement benefits despite specific orders from the high court to ensure immediate payment. There are also innumerable instances of CPI(M) workers forcibly occupying land of their political opponents in violation of high court judgements.

          According to informed sources, the Calcutta high court has, of late, become somewhat pro-active as the people, faced with an insensitive and heartless administration, are increasingly turning to it to redress their grievances. The mainline opposition parties too have failed to play their role effectively and create sufficient pressure on the state government to resolve the people's problems. Consequently, the courts have been compelled to take up people's issues in the wake of a large number of public interest litigations. Political observers believe that the ruling as well as the mainline opposition parties are equally responsible for the the current spell of judicial activism in the state.

          The CPI(M) launched an open crusade against the judiciary on September 29 when Justice Lala gave his landmark judgement restricting rally hours which was hailed by all sections of the people. The Marxists, however, publicly flouted the high court order by organising processions in the city. Shabana Parvin, the six-month old girl of a handcart-puller, was the first casualty of the CPI(M)'s decision to defy Justice Lala's order. The Marxists have understandably denied any responsibility for the tragic death of the hapless little girl whose parents, on their way to the hospital, were held up by a traffic jam caused by their rally. Ironically, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee too has remained unmoved by the child's death and refused to answer mediapersons' queries on the incident.

          What, however, has come as a shock and surprise to many is the opposition parties' failure to build public opinion against the administration on the sensitive issue. Congress leaders conceded that a divided opposition in Bengal has helped the Marxists to "flout all democratic norms and establish a one-party rule."

Laxman, Kartik come back in ODI team (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Oct 17: VVS Laxman has been rewarded for his decent batting performance in the Ahmedabad Test, by being selected for the first three one-dayers in the triangular series featuring India, New Zealand and Australia. Leg spinner Murali Kartik, who plays for the Railways, has also been recalled for the series beginning on October 24. The left-arm seamer from Delhi, Ashish Nehra, is still not fit and has not been included in the 14-man squad for the first three matches.

          Sanjay Bangar, Dinesh Mongia and Abhijit Kale are the notable omissions from the squad. Hemang Badani has been included after he got runs in the Challenger Series but there is a question mark over his availability after the left-hander suffered a blow during the three-day game against New Zealand at Rajkot. Parthiv Patel has been named in the squad, though speculations are rife that Rahul Dravid is expected to keep wickets.

          The ODI team for the tourney is: Sourav Ganguly (Capt), Virendra Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, V V S Laxman, Mohd. Kaif, Yuvraj Singh, Parthiv Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar, Murali Kartik, Aavishkar Salvi.

NZ at 536 for 5 (Go To Top)

          Mohali, Oct 17: New Zealand were at 536 for five at the end of the second day's play here Friday. Scott Styris joined the run feast with a career-best 119 as the Kiwis batsmen kindled hopes of a dream Test series win on Indian soil. New Zealand posted their best-ever total against India to leave the hosts the task of defending their impeccable home reputation. Even if the Kiwis are unable to force a win in this Test, a draw would also be a creditable result for them in what was billed as a `revenge series'.

          At close Craig McMillan was batting on 58 while Robbie hart was on ten. Resuming at their overnight score of 247 for one, both Richardson and Styris showed no signs of any urgency in the run collection as they continued to play in the same vein to frustrate the Indian bowlers even more. Richardson, who shared a marathon 231-run opening partnership with Vincent to provide the ideal platform for a mammoth Kiwi total, was the first player to depart today but not before stitching a 151-run second wicket partnership with Styris to put the Indians completely on the back foot.

Dilip Tirkey is hockey captain for Afro-Asian Games (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Oct 17: Dependable defender and former captain Dilip Tirkey has been entrusted the task of leading the side as the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) on Friday named a 16-member squad for the inaugural Afro-Asian Games starting in Hyderabad on October 24. Tirkey was the captain of the side before being replaced by the senior-most member of the team Dhanraj Pillay who took over the reins early this year. Drag flicker Len Aiyappa and Arjun Halappa made a comeback to the side while captain of the national under-21 team Prabodh Tirkey, a regular in the senior camps in recent times, made it to the side following an impressive peformance in the six-nation junior tournament at Poland. Bharat Chetri was named the second custodian in the side, the regular being Devesh Chauhan.

          Pillay alongwith seven members of the team which won its maiden Asia Cup title in Malaysia late last month, have been "rested" by the IHF keeping an eye on important tournaments ahead. The team consists of two goalkeepers, three full backs, six mid- fielders and five forwards. The team is as follows: Dilip Tirkey (capt), Devesh Chauhan, Bharat Chetri, Kanwalpreet Singh, Harpal Singh, Bimal Lakra, Vikram Pillay, Ignace Tirkey, Prabodh Tirkey, Viren Rasquinha, Len Aiyappa, Gagan Ajit Singh, Deepak Thakur, Prabhjot Singh, Sandeep Michael, Arjun Halappa.

Bottomlines

'Gothika' ghosts haunt Halle Berry! (Go To Top)

          New York, Oct 17: Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry is having some real bad time with her new film 'Gothika', as it has left her with some strange memories for her. According to a report in TeenHollywood, Halle's co-star Robert Downey broke her arm accidentally, and a mystery intruder ransacked her home while shooting for the film. The Vancouver police is still trying to figure out what happened the night the actress was disturbed by a thief. The 'Monster's Ball' star, however, is convinced it was a curse she picked up from the set of the unlucky film.

         "I was having a massage one night, and the masseuse and I kept hearing weird things, like my dogs barking", the latest Bond girl said. "When the massage was over, I went to find my wallet to pay her and I suddenly felt a lot of cold air. Then the masseuse said she felt the same thing, and we heard walking on the third floor", she added. "The police came, and sure enough the third floor of the house had been ransacked. What's mysterious is that there were no signs of breaking and entering", terrified Halle explained.

Kylie's new 'Body Language'! (Go To Top)

          Sydney, Oct 17: Come November 16 and the long awaited moment of pop star Kylie Minogue's fans will finally end. According to a report in news.com.au, the petite singer's new album 'Body Language' will be released in Australia on November 16, with pounty Kylie on the cover. And just to get the juices flowing, the cover art for the album sees Kylie in sexy Brigitte Bardot mode. 'Body Language', which is Kylie's ninth studio album, features 13 new tracks including the singer's latest single, the trance-dance tune 'Slow'. It also wraps in a special treat for local fans in the form of 'Slow Motion' - a track exclusively available in Australia.

Arnie's steamy cameo with Chan (Go To Top)

          New York, Oct 17: Arnold Schwarzenegger might be spoofing his 'Governor' image on the big screen because this time it might be too steamy. According to the New York Post, in the upcoming Jackie Chan adventure 'Around the World in 80 Days,' Schwarzenegger has a cameo in a hot tub with Chan, comic Steve Coogan and Belgian beauty Cecile De France. Schwarzenegger, a Turkish prince, begs De France to be his seventh wife. "It's a hilarious scene. Arnold is fantastic in it. This is a family adventure comedy. It's not what you're thinking", assures a Walden Media representative, which has produced the flick.

Anakin Skywalker dons gloves and goes sabre rattling (Go To Top)

          New York, Oct 17: With the wrapping up of 'Star Wars' trilogy, Hayden Christensen, who plays Anakin Skywalker, is presented a forget-me-not momento or two. "I wear this glove in 'Star Wars: Episode III' because my hand got cut off in the last one and they gave me that", says the actor, according to a New York Post report. Star Wars has also given Christensen light saber. "It sits in my closet. I see it when I go for clothes. It hasn't come out since I got back from filming in Australia, but give it a couple of years, and maybe I'll be out there in the backyard with it every day", he says.

I'd like to play a boy for a change: Kidman (Go To Top)

          London, Oct 17: Aussie actress Nicole Kidman wants to follow in the footsteps of fellow Oscar-winner Hilary Swank, of 'Boys Don't Cry' fame, by playing a boy in a flick. "I'd like to play a boy for a change. I had a father who wanted sons but got daughters," Ananova quoted the 36-year old 'Moulin Rouge' star as telling German GQ magazine. Kidman also wants no trace of her to be left when she dies and doesn't want anyone to read her day-to-day experiences later. As she puts it: "Before I die, I'll burn it all. The thoughts and feelings I had will be gone forever. I don't want that world to exist after I'm gone."

          Meanwhile, her rumoured beau, US rocker Lenny Kravitz, has met her two adopted children - Isabella Jane, 10, and eight-year-old Connor Anthony. Kidman shares their custody with ex-hubby Tom Cruise. The four were snapped laughing and playing in New York. The next night, they all attended a performance at the Matropolitan Opera House. "Nicole phoned Tom to make sure he was ok with her introducing the kids to Lenny. He thinks Lenny's a great guy," TeenHollywood quoted a pal as saying. Last week, Kidman had reportedly flown down to Miami, Florida, to spend time with Zoe, Kravitz's 14-year old daughter with ex-wife Lisa Bonet.

Jolie to adopt another child (Go To Top)

          Washington, Oct 17: More than a year after she adopted a Cambodian baby boy Maddox, Oscar-winning US actress Angelina Jolie is all set to adopt another child. "I'd like more kids, so I'm beginning the adoption process again at the moment. When Maddox starts school, it will probably be the best time and I'm trying to figure out how I can balance it all. It's hard having a child and working. I'd love to have seven kids, but I want to make sure I can do it," IMDb.com quoted the 28-year-old 'Tomb Raider' beauty as saying.

           "I'm filming Alexander in Pinewood, England, right now with Colin Farrell and Val Kilmer. I don't think there will be a Tomb Raider 3, but I'm trying to do as much as I can right now. Then I'll have another baby, and then I'll take some time off and learn to fly a plane," she added. Twice-married Jolie, who recently divorced actor Billy Bob Thornton, is raising Maddox as a single mum.

-ANI