| Rita
Bahuguna Joshi sent to 14-day judicial custody Moradabad
(UP): Uttar Pradesh Congress unit chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi has been sent
to 14 days judicial custody for allegedly making inflammatory remarks against
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati. Joshi was arrested in Ghaziabad last night
while on her way to Delhi. She was booked under Section 153 A for (delivering
inflammatory speeches), Section 109 of the IPC (using abusive language) and under
provisions of the SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act. Bahuguna had registered a complaint
against Mayawati for inciting her party workers to attack and vandalise her home.
A portion of her house was set a fire by BSP supporters last night. There has
been no move so far by the police to nab the culprits. No formal case has been
registered. Congress
worker dies in a clash with Bengal police Top Burdwan
(West Bengal): One Congress activist died and five others were injured in
a clash with police during a shutdown called by the party in the Mangalkot area
of Burdwan district on Thursday. The 12-hour shut down was called to protest against
Wednesday's attack on Congress Legislative Party leaders Manas Bhunia, Rabindranath
Chattopadhyay and party's state unit leader Nargis Begum by the alleged CPM supporters.
According to Congress sources, activist died due to charge by the police, but
the family of the deceased and police a claimed that the death happened due to
a heart attack. Superintendent of Police Raja Ram Sekharan said the police burst
tear gas shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse the protesters, who were
preventing police from entering into Burmud village. Six police vehicles were
also set ablaze by the agitators, Sekharan added. Protest in North 24 Paragana
district is also violent as agitating workers set a bus a blaze belonging to the
state transport corporation. Protestors also disrupted train service at Shyamnagar
on the Sealdah-Ranaghat main line in the district. India
concedes on terror, Balochistan, Pak agrees not to mention Kashmir Top
by
Smita Prakash Sharm-el-Sheikh
( Egypt ): India appeared to make two key concessions to Pakistan on Thursday
by first agreeing that action on terrorism should not be linked to the Composite
Dialogue process and these should not be bracketed, and second to accept Pakistan’s
request to look into information on threats in Balochistan and other areas. These
concessions on the part of New Delhi suggest that composite dialogue process between
the two countries will not take place any time soon and that the post 26/11 scenario
remains. Pakistan on its part agreed that no mention would be made of Kashmir
in the joint statement. These concessions by both sides appeared as part of a
joint communiqué worked out by the foreign secretaries of the two countries after
a significant meeting between Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and his
Pakistani counterpart Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani here this afternoon. Both leaders
agreed during their nearly three-hour-long interaction that terrorism is the main
threat to both countries. They also affirmed their resolve to fight terrorism
and to cooperate with each other to this end. According to the communiqué, Prime
Minister Singh reiterated the need to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks
to justice, while Prime Minister Gilani assured that Pakistan would do everything
in its power in this regard. Gilani said that Pakistan has provided an updated
status dossier on the investigations of the Mumbai attacks and had sought additional
information/evidence. Prime Minister Singh said that the dossier is being reviewed.
Both leaders agreed that the two countries would share real time, credible and
actionable information on any future terrorist threats. Both Prime Ministers recognized
that dialogue is the only way forward. Action on terrorism should not be linked
to the Composite Dialogue process and these should not be bracketed. Prime Minister
Singh said that India was ready to discuss all issues with Pakistan , including
all outstanding issues. According to sources, this seemed to be the point where
the two sides differed over the wording. Prime Minister Singh reiterated India
’s interest in a stable, democratic, Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Both leaders
agreed that the real challenge is development and the elimination of poverty.
Both leaders are resolved to eliminate those factors which prevent our countries
from realizing their full potential. Both agreed to work to create an atmosphere
of mutual trust and confidence. Both leaders reaffirmed their intention to promote
regional cooperation. Both Foreign Secretaries should meet as often as necessary
and report to the two Foreign Ministers who will be meeting on the sidelines of
the forthcoming UN General Assembly. According to the joint communiqué, the two
Prime Ministers had a cordial and constructive meeting during which they considered
the entire gamut of bilateral relations with a view to charting the way forward
in India - Pakistan relations. Indo-French
navies force Somali pirates to release Indian dhow Top New
Delhi: Mounting pressure from Indian and French navies forced Somali pirates
to release an Indian dhow hijacked in the Gulf of Aden. Seeing the movement of
the Indian and French warships and anticipating a combined operation, the pirates
forced the dhow to close the Somali coast and released the dhow at on July 15,
escaping in their skiffs, after robbing the crew of all their cash and valuables.
The crew of the dhow thereafter contacted the Indian warship on VHF and sought
assistance. Accordingly, the Indian warship closed the dhow and in coordination
with the French warship, boarded the dhow to provide relief. All 14 Indian crew
of the vessel were confirmed safe and the Indian warship provided them with food,
water and medicines. The dhow is now heading towards Al Mukkalla in Yemen. These
proactive actions taken by the Indian and French naval ships demonstrate the value
of combined exercises and operations and reflect the excellent coordination during
this operation. This mutual understanding and operational interoperability resulted
in the safe release of the Indian dhow and its crew without payment of any ransom.
A European Union anti-piracy force said pirates who hijacked the Indian dhow,
MV Nafeya, earlier this week abandoned the ship and left its 14-crew members unharmed.
Naval officials said the pirates left the ship about 24 kilometers off the Somali
coast. The Indian dhow was hijacked off Boosaaso, Somalia July 10 by seven pirates
armed with RPGs and AK47s. The vessel was hijacked when it was about 10 nautical
miles off Boosaaso in Puntland (the semi-autonomous north-eastern region of Somalia)
after it had discharged its cargo at the Somali harbour and was proceeding to
Dubai. After the hijacking, the pirates forced the dhow towards Bab el Mandeb
and, on July 13, attempted to hijack MV A Elephant, a Liberian oil tanker. However,
a French warship belonging to the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR), which
was in the vicinity, thwarted the attack. The French warship shadowed the pirated
dhow and, putting the well-practiced standard operating procedures with the Indian
Navy into effect, continuously exchanged information with the Indian naval ship
on anti-piracy patrol. Attempts to board the dhow for investigation by the French
ship were abandoned when the pirates threatened to kill the 14 crew held hostage
on the dhow. |
