| Centre
bans Maoist group, calls it 'terrorist' New
Delhi: The Union Government has banned the Communist Party of India (Maoist),
calling it as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activity (Prevention)
Act 1967. The Home Ministry issued the notification after a high level meeting.
The Maoist organisation is banned by many states including Andhra Pradesh and
Chattisgarh, and today's decision of the Centre overrides the West Bengal government's
decision not to ban the CPI-Maoist organisation. The two main groups of the Maoist
guerilla the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) and CPI (ML-People's War) merged in
September 2004 to form CPI (Maoist) under the leadership of M Lakshman Rao alias
Ganapati. The Naxals have made their presence felt in strategic locations like
Dandakaranya, parts of Vindhyas and Western Ghats from West Bengal to Karnataka
calling it as a "Red Corridor."According to sources there are nearly 20,000-armed
guerillas present in this 92,000 sq kilometre stretch. The ultra left outfit,
which is the largest Naxal group has been listed along with thirty four other
organisations including Lashker-e -Toiba,(LeT) and Students Islamic Movement of
India (SIMI) as a terrorist organisation. Reacting
to the Government's decision to ban the group, the CPM General Secretary Prakash
Karat said the Maoist problem has to be considered not only as a security problem
but also a political problem, and the issue should be resolved politically and
not by listing them as terrorist outfits. Disapproving the Center's decision,
senior CPM leader Gurudas Dasgupta said that , government couldn't fight the Maoist
organizations by declaring them illegal; they have to be fought politically. Five
Naxal affected States put on alert Top New
Delhi: The Union Home Ministry has issued an alert to Bihar, Jharkhand, West
Bengal, Orissa and Chattisgarh in the wake of two day bandh call given by the
Maoists starting from today. The CPI (Maoist) called for a two day shut down in
five eastern states to protest the re capturing of Lalgarh in West Bengal by security
forces. Additional Secretary (Naxal Management) in Home Ministry DRS Chaudhary
said the intelligence agencies reported, "demonstrative acts of violence" by the
guerillas and the same inputs has been shared with the respective states and asked
to take precautionary and pre-emptive measures. Intelligence agencies reported
that the left extremists might target the economic infrastructure such as trains,
buses, railway, bus stations and other places where people are likely to gather
in significant numbers. Meanwhile, after recapturing Lalgarh police station, troops
consisting of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF)
and West Bengal policemen are advancing towards Ramgarh, sanitizing road and other
connecting routes, and took control of 17 more villages held by Maoists. According
to police sources the forces are focusing on to wrest the Barapelia, Chotopelia
and Dalilpurchak in West Midnapore district where top Maoist leaders, including
Koteshwar Rao, were said to be holed up. Barapelia is the heaquarters of Maoist-backed
People's Committee against Police Atrocity (PCPA) and hometown of its chief Chatradhar
Mahato. In a statement Union Home Minster P Chidambaram described the situation
in Lalgarh as tense and asked politicians, people and the non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) to keep away from the conflict area. Chidambaram also said every effort
will be made to maintain law and order and to ensure security of people, but the
people should also remain vigilant and cooperate with the police and other security
personnel. Fearful
villagers of Lalgarh take refuge in relief camps Top Pirakata
(West Bengal): Over a thousand villagers including women and children have
fled their homes and taken refuge in relief camps, as police intensified its assault
on Maoist rebels in Lalgarh on Monday. They have taken shelter at the relief camp
at a government school, Pirakata of West Midnapur district which was opened on
Sunday by non-government organisations (NGOs). "Like every one we came here with
our family and children. Here at least we are provided with foods. We were not
getting food in our village as the shops are closed. We can not buy food," said
Barun Das, a refugee. Another villager said that some people were living in the
fields, as their houses were torched by Maoist rebels. "Some of the villagers
fled to their relative's houses and some are living in fields. I can not live
there with my 25 days old daughter," said Tuku Rai. Earlier, Maoists had called
for a 48-hour shutdown in five states -West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Orissa
and Jharkhand- demanding the clampdown by security forces in Lalgarh be withdrawn.
Police on Saturday had said that they had regained control of Lalgarh, while security
forces continued flushing out operations in some adjoining pockets.
Govt may hike petrol price by Rs 2 a litre,
diesel by Re 1 Top New
Delhi: Unstable international oil rates may force the Government of India
to increase petrol price by Rs 2 a litre and diesel by Re 1 per litre, unless
excise duty on both the fuels is cut to neutralise the increase. According to
reports, state fuel retailers- Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum-
incur a loss of Rs 135 crore per day on sale of petrol, diesel, LPG and kerosene.
While their annual revenue loss for current fiscal is estimated to be at Rs 38,700
crore. "The basket of crude oil India imports has averaged $70.49 per barrel in
the second fortnight of June against the May average of $58, sending alarm bells
ringing," said a petroleum ministry official. "We have to act to save our PSU.
The burden of rising global oil prices has to be shared equally between the companies,
the government and consumers," he added. PSUs lose Rs 2.96 a litre on diesel and
Rs 6.08 per litre on petrol. "One-third of this or Rs 2 per litre on petrol and
Re 1 on diesel can be passed on to consumers. Rest of the losses would be covered
by issue of government bonds to the retailers and subsidy sharing by upstream
firms like ONGC," he said. Currently, petrol attracts an excise duty of Rs 11.35
per litre and diesel Rs 1.60 a litre. Apart from this another Rs 2 a litre is
charged as road cess on the two fuels. "If the finance minister Pranab Mukhejree
cuts excise duty on the two fuels, consumers can be spared from price hike," he
said. Manmohan
Singh congratulates Saina Nehwal Top New
Delhi: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today congratulated ace woman shuttler
Saina Nehwal on winning the Indonesian Open Badminton Championship. In his message
he said, "I am delighted to learn that Saina Nehwal has won the Championship.
Saina is the first woman from India to win a Super Series Badminton Tournament
and this is a milestone for Indian sports." "Saina's achievement is a tribute
to her talent, determination and hard work. It will inspire the women of the country
to aim for higher goals in their chosen fields. I congratulate Saina on her extraordinary
feat and wish her many more such successes in the future," he added. In a gruelling
three set match, sixth-seed Saina beat China's World No. 3 Wang Lin 12-21, 21-18,
21-19 to win the series. Earlier on Saturday, the Hyderabadi teen had turned things
around in dramatic fashion, stunning former World No. 2 Lu Lan of China 25-23,
21-19 to storm into the final of the Indonesia Super Series, her maiden entry
at this level. Saina had beaten seventh-seed Lu 25-23, 21-19 to set up the title
clash against Lin Wang on Sunday. |
