Internal Security Watch

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 21 Jun 2010 15:40

Sanku wrote:A positive move by Shri Chidambaram.

Kudos..

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/now-m ... k/636466/0

Now, MHA to scrutinise all visa applications from Pak

Home Minister P Chidambaram is said to have been quite determined to have this process put in place. This is in tune with what is followed by most developed countries, especially in the case of Pakistan. It also ensures that the Home Ministry remains in full control of the visa issuance process, at least in the case of Pakistan.
As a pattern Shri Chidambarabam seems to be moving aggressively on ALL security related measures, often filling in the decision and governance vacuum created by other ministries responsible.

Especially external affairs....

Good going.

Someone has to curb the over enthusiastic pappi jappi lot from running away with their anti India agendas.

One sharm el sheik is more than enough.

Also note

Chidambaram rips apart Pak's 'state, non-state actor' theory
The Times of India2010-03-13
NEW DELHI: India on Friday took off the gloves to batter Pakistan for its reluctance to act on the Indian dossiers against 26/11 masterminds. A combative Union home minister P Chidambaram came close to telling Pakistani High Commissioner Shahid Malik there are no receptive ears here for the spurious “state-non state actor” distinction and asked Islamabad to provide the voice samples of the list...

Prem Kumar · Post by **Prem Kumar** » 21 Jun 2010 23:37

Excellent move by Chidu. "When placed in charge, take charge".

However, I dont understand the need to "turnaround" Paki visa applications in a hurry. If there is one area where babudom delays have their place, this is it. In the future, we should also collect fingerprints, voice samples and Iris scans. Make it as comprehensive & painful as possible. Let the Pakis sweat, wait, grumble, feel insulted & give up.

pgbhat · Post by **pgbhat** » 21 Jun 2010 23:39

^

In their quest for == they will have to buy the equipment too.

satyam · Post by **satyam** » 21 Jun 2010 23:45

I am on Indiamike.com . This is an Indian travel website. Lots of American and Brit Pakiz are abusing Indian visa officers for not issuing them visa even after 3 months.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 22 Jun 2010 08:30

satyam wrote:I am on Indiamike.com . This is an Indian travel website. Lots of American and Brit Pakiz are abusing Indian visa officers for not issuing them visa even after 3 months.

#@#%$!

DCH's relatives?

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 23 Jun 2010 14:14

Govt. likely to recomend rejection of Afzal Guru's mercy petition

Sources said Home Minister P. Chidambaram is likely to decide that such a recommendation could be sent to the President before whom the mercy petition is pending.

The relevant file is expected to be sent to the Prime Minister’s Office shortly from where it will sent to the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

So, what happened to the 'queue', all of a sudden, that P.Chidambaram was so furiously explaining about all these days ?

amdavadi · Post by **amdavadi** » 23 Jun 2010 14:21

GOI needs people to stop focusing on bhopal issue.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 23 Jun 2010 21:20

SSridhar wrote:Govt. likely to recomend rejection of Afzal Guru's mercy petition
Sources said Home Minister P. Chidambaram is likely to decide that such a recommendation could be sent to the President before whom the mercy petition is pending.

The relevant file is expected to be sent to the Prime Minister’s Office shortly from where it will sent to the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
So, what happened to the 'queue', all of a sudden, that P.Chidambaram was so furiously explaining about all these days ?

http://forums.bharat-rakshak.com/viewto ... 30#p882930

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 24 Jun 2010 03:49

Human rights activists protest govt's 'witch hunt'

Human right activists and civil society groups have protested the arrest of Abdul Shakeel Bhasha, who was picked up from his residence in Delhi [ Images ] on June 17 for his 'Maoist links'.He was detained in connection with a case registered against him and several others in Kamrej near Surat [ Images ]. Shabnam Hashim, social activist of Act Now for Harmony And Democracy, Indu Prakash of Shahri Adhikar Manch and Tanveer Afaque of Haq held a press conference to protest his arrest on Wednesday.
They alleged that the arrest of Abdul Shakeel Basha was an example of the government "unleashing a witch hunt against rights activists and civil society groups in India [ Images ]"."I have been closely associated with Shakeel and he has never been involved in any kind of activity that is now being attributed to him," said Shabnam Hashmi.Tanveer Afaque of Haq recalled that despite their best efforts, the special cell of the Delhi police continued to deny that Shakeel was with them. "But information was leaked out to the media and on the morning of June 18, by the time we were allowed to meet him, television channels were reporting about the arrest of a noted Maoist leader from a hide- out in Delhi. He had been working for the homeless and street children with an organisation called Aman Biradari between 2004 and 2008. After that, he joined us to work for Shahri Adhikar

Ab

http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/jun/ ... h-hunt.htm

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 24 Jun 2010 09:01

Chanaakya, you wrote

Contrary to popular misconception there is no queue system . Each Prison Authority decides the time of execution based on set procedure and warrant issued by the court and orders of the State Govt.

There are two things. One is the mercy petition and the other is the death warrant itself. The 'queue' was spoken of in the context of the mercy petition. The 'queue' is not a popular misconception. It would be fair to say that we were not aware of the mechanism until the Home Minister opened his mouth on this issue. That is what the Home Minister himself said and repeated it many times, the latest being :

"The Opposition may be obsessed with Afzal Guru. I have explained so many times and I am surprised that you in the media are repeating the question... We will take up each case according to the order in which the case is pending before the ministry of home affairs and before the President of India.{and that is the definition of a queue, FIFO} So, the cases will be taken up one by one, " he said.

The actual execution is another matter.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 24 Jun 2010 09:03

Now, the Home Ministry says news about rejection of Afzal Guru's petition is premature

Sources in the Ministry denied reports that any recommendation on the mercy plea had been sent to President Pratibha Patil.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 24 Jun 2010 10:43

SSridhar wrote:There are two things. One is the mercy petition and the other is the death warrant itself. The 'queue' was spoken of in the context of the mercy petition. The 'queue' is not a popular misconception.

I have a question there. The last execution was that of Dhananjoy Chatterjee, which was nearly 3 years back. Was his the top-most case (as per the FIFO logic)? Or were there other mercy petitions lying in the queue (before his)?

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 24 Jun 2010 11:44

Sachin wrote:I have a question there. The last execution was that of Dhananjoy Chatterjee, which was nearly 3 years back. Was his the top-most case (as per the FIFO logic)? Or were there other mercy petitions lying in the queue (before his)?

IIRC, Dhananjoy's mercy petition had been rejected way back by the then Pres. SD Sharma but his execution was kept pending. When it was finally fixed for in 2004 (?), he once again appealed to the President. This was also rejected. His case was therefore slightly different because of a second appeal.

It appears that SD Sharma was most scrupulous in disposing off these mercy petitions in time. He was the last President not to have left a backlog. From my earlier post a couple of pages back,

A perusal of the home ministry's records show that the trouble - of pending mercy petitions - started after 1998. In 1998, there was just one mercy petition pending before the government.

Since then, 31 more mercy petitions reached the desks of Indian Presidents.

But only three pleas were decided upon in the last 12 years.

Late President K. R. Narayanan did not decide on any mercy plea during his tenure from 1997 to 2002, leaving a backlog of 14 mercy petitions for President APJ Abdul Kalam.

During his tenure till 2007, Kalam decided only on two petitions - death for rapist Dhananjoy Chatterji and pardon for another.

Now, I understand from the print edition of ToI, that Pres. Pratibha Patil might reject GoI's recommendation of death for Afzal Guru because of her strong religious beliefs against death sentence.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 24 Jun 2010 12:54

Kerala IG's terror links to be probed

In an unprecedented move, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan has sought an investigation by a Central agency into the allegations against senior IPS officer Tomin J Thachankary, including his meeting with terrorists during his trip to the Gulf early this year.

The Chief Minister’s request to the Union Home Minister and the Cabinet Secretary came following the latter’s letter to the Chief Secretary seeking details of the cases involving Thachankary.

While acknowledging that the government had received a letter from the Union Cabinet Secretary, Achuthanandan said after the Cabinet meeting here on Wednesday that the Chief Secretary is taking necessary steps on the issue. “Details of the steps cannot be revealed to the media,’’ he said.

Sources said the Chief Minister has told the Centre that it would be most appropriate if a Central agency inquired into the serious allegations against Thachankary as his foreign connections are involved.

The request from the Chief Minister for a probe by a Central agency assumes significance in the light of the Intelligence Bureau reporting that Tomin Thachankary had met four most-wanted men during his Gulf trip. Of this, two are Yusuf and Asar who had taken refuge in Saudi Arabia after playing a role in the Kozhikode blast. The others, Ayub and Suhaib have close links with the ISI. The Government has sought the extradition of both.

sum · Post by **sum** » 24 Jun 2010 17:18

Kerala top cop in the dock for meeting criminals in Qatar

A letter written by Union home ministry under secretary K Natarajan to the Kerala [ Images ] chief secretary has clearly indicted state Inspector General of Police Tomin Thachankery on his recent visit to Qatar.

The letter clearly mentions that the IG had called on the India [ Images ]n ambassador to Qatar and sought the latter's help in getting information regarding some wanted criminals, without proper authorisation. He reportedly told the ambassador that wanted to meet them and convince them to return to India.

The ministry of external affairs had told the Union home ministry that the IG had been asked whether he had received clearance from the government for such a step. Thachankery reportedly told the ambassador that in a criminal investigation process, sanctions could not be taken continuously.

The letter also points out that the IG had gone to Qatar after interrogating Lashkar-e-Tayiba [ Images ] operative Thadiyantavida Nasir, who is one of the suspects in the Bengaluru [ Images ] serial blasts. The letter mentions that Thachankery had collected the address and other details of the suspects who raised funds for Indian terror operations after interrogating Nasir.

While in Qatar, Thachankery allegedly met suspected terror operatives Yusuf, Asar, Ayub and Shohaib, sources told rediff.com. Ayub and Shohaib are reportedly the main fund raisers for terror operations and are considered to be top agents of Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence for its operations in south India.

Could Sachin or any other guru please enlighten as to what is going on here??

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 24 Jun 2010 18:16

sum wrote:Could Sachin or any other guru please enlighten as to what is going on here??

Info which is open source only...

.
1. Tomin Thachankary is an IG rank officer who was in charge of Northern Range in Kerala. He was also leading the Cyber crime unit of the state police.
2. He had applied leave stating that he going for a small vacation to the North East. Ultimately it turns out that our man was visiting certain middle eastern countries. This was also at the same time when certain top-level commissars of the CPI(M) in Kerala were visiting the "Gelf" for fund collection. Thachankary first tried to stick to his story of him being in North East, but a nosy media came up with evidence that he was outside the country.
3. The Chief Minister Com. V.S Achu is furious about this and orders the suspension of IGP Thachankary. The charges were not informing superior officers and getting the leave approved, plus travelling to a foreign country without due permission. Thachankary hits back stating that other IAS/IPS officers too have done such things in the past. Thachankary takes this up with the Central Administrative Tribunal who throws out the suspension orders. The state public prosecutor to plays some tricks which helped him out.
4. In last two days news leaked out that IGP Thachankary has met up with some notorious anti-national elements in Qatar during his foreign tour. Com.V.S Achu has now formally asked Central Govt. to start an investigation (by the central agencies) as the state agencies are not capable of investigating crimes of this magnitude. Guess, Achu is also not very comfortable of any state police agency touching this case as these agencies are totally under the control of folks from his rival gang (in CPI(M)).
5. IGP Thachankary had also got into trouble when a audio/video recording studio owned by him (or by his wife) in Kochi was accused of abetting piracy. This was when there as an anti-piracy drive launched by IGP Rishiraj Singh (who is now in deputation with CBI).
6. Before #5, there was allegations that this officer had helped in bringing in lots of electronics stuff to setup the commies' TV channel in Kerala. The commies had no clue on any thing associated with music or broadcasting, relied on this chap to get the neccessary equipments.

~~Honestly, I dont know whether IGP Thachankary met the anti-national folks at Qatar knowing their history in full. The meeting could have been for other business deals.~~. After re-reading a couple of posts above looks like Thachankary interrogated Thadiyantavida Nazir, got the names of his pals and then flew of to Qatar. And the chief minister also may pursue this case with more gusto, as this officer was never in his good books. IGP Thachankary is known as leaning towards the "official faction" of CPI(M); the chief minister is on the "rebel camp". Thadiyantavida Nazir yesterday had told media persons that he never named Abdul Nassar Mahdani for playing any part in Bengaluru blasts and police were framing him up. Thadiyan asked the media to do an honest investigation

.

sum · Post by **sum** » 24 Jun 2010 21:58

After re-reading a couple of posts above looks like Thachankary interrogated Thadiyantavida Nazir, got the names of his pals and then flew of to Qatar.

Could it have been that the IG actually went to the gelf on a "undercover" mission to let the scum hiding there that they were being watched etc or to cultivate a few of the guys there?

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 24 Jun 2010 21:59

SSridhar wrote:Chanaakya, you wrote
Contrary to popular misconception there is no queue system . Each Prison Authority decides the time of execution based on set procedure and warrant issued by the court and orders of the State Govt.
There are two things. One is the mercy petition and the other is the death warrant itself. The 'queue' was spoken of in the context of the mercy petition. The 'queue' is not a popular misconception. It would be fair to say that we were not aware of the mechanism until the Home Minister opened his mouth on this issue. That is what the Home Minister himself said and repeated it many times, the latest being :
"The Opposition may be obsessed with Afzal Guru. I have explained so many times and I am surprised that you in the media are repeating the question... We will take up each case according to the order in which the case is pending before the ministry of home affairs and before the President of India.{and that is the definition of a queue, FIFO} So, the cases will be taken up one by one, " he said.
The actual execution is another matter.

Ok , let me clarify further, there is no queue system, as popularly believed and as propounded by PC to explain the delay, even for mercy petition. ( it had been spoken in the context of mercy petition and statement of chidambaram therefore I had used the word, hope now it is clear). I was also referring to posts made earlier indicating that there are large number of convicts on death row prior to AG.
Home ministry may process the file on FIFO basis, not that they adhere to it strictly in all cases or that is how it is prescribed in office manual.
PC may be stickler to FIFO but not sure how far he would adhere to. AG could become priority or urgent if existence of Govt is at stake. As of now, it is a political dramabaazi and not the touted queue system.

derkonig · Post by **derkonig** » 24 Jun 2010 23:35

Is the IGP from RoP?

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 25 Jun 2010 09:21

sum wrote:Could it have been that the IG actually went to the gelf on a "undercover" mission to let the scum hiding there that they were being watched etc or to cultivate a few of the guys there?

Possible, but the history of this particular officer is creating all the suspicion.

In the meanwhile, blacksheep among cops protecting the Thadiyan: Central Intelligence agencies

Central intelligence agencies have expressed serious concern over the handling of suspected LeT operative Thadiyantavide Nazeer by the Kerala police. Top officials of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) are learnt to have informed Union Home Minister P Chidambaram that ‘certain black sheep in the Kerala police are trying to help Nazeer.’ The Home Ministry is likely to seek an explanation from the state government on the matter soon, sources said.

The charges levelled against the police range from taking Nazeer to court without covering his face and giving him enough opportunities to talk to the media. Moreover, the media is aware of Nazeer’s movements. The lapses would derail the investigation into terrorist activities against the nation, intelligence agencies said.

The intelligence officials also told the Home Minister that Nazeer’s statement to the media in Ko chi on Wednesday that he did not give any statement against Madhani is not true. Nazeer had revealed his links with Madhani during the interrogation by the National Investigation Agency and Karnataka police.

“Though the National Investigation Agency had taken Nazeer to several places for investigation, they ensured that his face did not appear in the media. However, the Kerala police seem to have deliberately presented Nazeer to the media which raises many suspicions,’’ an Intelligence Bureau official said.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 25 Jun 2010 10:03

sum wrote:Could it have been that the IG actually went to the gelf on a "undercover" mission to let the scum hiding there that they were being watched etc or to cultivate a few of the guys there?

That is what the IGP also says. His version is that he went there, met these folks and asked them to come back and face justice. But here again there are two story threads making it rounds.
a. IGP Thachankary contacted the Indian Embassy at Qatar and asked their help in arranging meetings with certain people. The embassy officials felt some thing fishy and informed the Central Govt in India.
b. IGP Thachankary met these shady characters all by himself. Indian Embassy officials through their men found this out, found some thing fishy and informed the Central Govt in India.

Also for an undercover operation I feel whether this officer would be the ideal candidate. For right and wrong reasons his face is recognized by allmost any Mallu. His presence would be easily noted.

Next one of the people who he wanted to meet, "advice" and bring back to face justice was a chap who made an e-mail which had the picture of a palatial house and said it belonged to the CPI(M) State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. IGP Thachankary and his team went on an over-drive, and started picking up people who also forwarded this mail to others. It seems it violated some sections in the IT Act. For some time in the socialist republic the biggest crime prevention activity for the Kerala Police was apprehending e-mail forwarders.

derkonig wrote:Is the IGP from RoP?

Nope he is from the RoL (Religion of Love)

.

SSridhar wrote:In the meanwhile, blacksheep among cops protecting the Thadiyan: Central Intelligence agencies

Had seen this live on TV News. Thadiyan when coming out of the court, was handcuffed but his face was uncovered. The police men escorting him were a few steps behind or away from him, and Thadiyan in a soft tone said that he has not named Mahdani and the charges are all cooked up. I feel this a game-plan of GoK to avoid the arrest of Mahdani. There is lot of pressure from various muslim outfits (PDP,NDF) etc. to go easy on Mahdani. So now a news leak from Thadiyan can be used as excuse for GoK to "believe" that Mahdani should be innocent and it is not right to help the Karnataka Police in arresting this chap.

sum · Post by **sum** » 25 Jun 2010 21:53

Pak-bound vessel with arms detained in Bengal

A Karachi-bound cargo vessel from Bangladesh with heavy military supplies, including explosives, was on Friday detained by the police at Diamond Harbour in West Bengal's [ Images ] South 24 Parganas district, top police officials said.

Director General of Police Bhupinder Singh said, "It is a consignment of heavy military supplies meant for a consignee in Karachi. Five tonnes of explosives and a huge quantity of arms and ammunition were found after the police detained the vessel."

Describing the incident as 'alarming', he said, "It's surprising why the Pakistani-bound vessel was passing through Indian waters."

Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) S Karpurakayastha said the arms and ammunition were seized from two large containers on board the ship which had set sail from Chittagong in Bangladesh and was registered in Liberia.

"The ship was detained after an intelligence tip-off," he said.

The DGP said a police team was searching the vessel and Coast Guard and Navy personnel had cordoned it off.

"The police, Coast Guard and Navy are searching the ship and verifying documents," police sources said.

Rocket launchers and anti-aircraft guns were found on board, said sources.

Good intel work here.

But, weapons are being shipped out to Pak??

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 25 Jun 2010 22:09

No they would get dropped off in India along the way.

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 26 Jun 2010 00:27

Kerala CM asks Centre to probe controversial police officer

By John Mary

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Government has urged the Centre to probe its controversial police officer, IG Tomin Thachankary, who recently travelled to Gulf countries and allegedly offered to bail out fugitives from Kerala for “a consideration”.

The move against the officer has been initiated by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan who suspended him April after the State Intelligence chief, Siby Mathews, confirmed that he had visited UAE, Qatar and Bahrain without the formal clearance from the Government.

The Kerala police have approached Interpol for help in the wake of the allegation that Thachankary had also met people with terror links during his visit.

The Chief Minister’s move against the high-ranking police officer, known to be close to his rival faction in the CPM, has triggered Opposition demands to take the probe to a higher level against his alleged “patrons, especially Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan”.

It was the Indian ambassador in Doha, Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa, who brought the controversial visit to the notice of the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Home Ministry note, dated May 21, to Kerala Government highlights the ambassador’s complaint about Thachankary. When she queried whether he had taken due permission from the Government prior to the visit, he replied that a police officer probing cases could not wait on protocol. He spoke to her “vaguely” about relatives of Lashkar-e-Taiba south India commander T Nazir and said he should be able to convince them to go back to India to face charges. Nazir is now in custody in connection with Bangalore blasts,

Later, she got reports from the Indian community in Qatar that the officer had met “wanted” people-those facing charges- from Kerala and offered to ensure their safe return in return for “a consideration”.

Citing the ambassador’s note, the Home Ministry urged the Chief Minister to proceed against the all-India service officer for breach of rules. But, taking a serious view of the officer’s alleged direct or indirect contacts with fugitives from Kerala, Achuthanandan has urged the Centre to initiate a probe since it involved the officer’s foreign visits.

Incidentally, Thachenkary as the northern range IG in the politically sensitive district of Kannur, a CPM stronghold, had questioned T Nazir in Bangalore soon after he was nabbed on the India-Bangla border.

“He is just a tool of the Home Minister and CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. You wait and see more skeletons will tumble out”, alleged Kerala Congress (M) vice-chairman PC George.

This is the second suspension that Thachankary has got under the Achuthanandan Government. The first was in July 2007 when he was suspended in the wake of a first information report (FIR) filed in a vigilance court, accusing him of amassing assets worth Rs 95 lakh between Janaury 1, 2003 and March 31, 2005, when he was managing director of the state-owned Books and Publication Society. However, Thachankary had defended his foreign trip, saying he had “undertaken a family trip after informing higher authorities concerned before leaving the country”. It was purely a family visit and the expenses were met by him personally.

But the ambassador’s report contradicts his denial because he had held discussions that were official in nature. But the more important question being raised in police circles is why should a police officer go on a foreign visit to probe criminals, without the Government’s clearance. The Government had also not given him any specific assignment

He must have have informed MHA before this trip - don't they have to get MHA clearance before travelling? This could easily be a trip to convince the respected terrorists to return to India to face charges or GOI will forcefully bring them back.

sum · Post by **sum** » 26 Jun 2010 10:16

He must have have informed MHA before this trip - don't they have to get MHA clearance before travelling? This could easily be a trip to convince the respected terrorists to return to India to face charges or GOI will forcefully bring them back.

Even my spider senses tell the same...Its just that either some terrorists themselves leaked this news to the DDM ( to get the cop in trouble) or some overzealous journo caught hold of this and splashed it all over the place.

Could be wrong though..

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 26 Jun 2010 14:31

shyamd wrote:He must have have informed MHA before this trip - don't they have to get MHA clearance before travelling? This could easily be a trip to convince the respected terrorists to return to India to face charges or GOI will forcefully bring them back.

You mean the Ministry of Home Affairs at Central Govt.? As for the state Home Ministry, Thachankary had only informed his colleagues and superiors on phone before proceeding on leave. And that leave too was stated to be for a vacation in India's North East. It was after he got back, that he did the paper work etc. But by that time the story that he visited the Middle East was already public knowledge.

It was the Indian embassy at Qatar which informed the Central Govt. that this officer was scouting for information/meeting people. And the central govt. ministry forwarded the information to Kerala Govt. to take follow up action. So if IGP Thachankary had informed MHA (at the Centre) in advance, this would not have got routed to Kerala Govt. for action.

It may be quite possible that IGP Thachankary this time made an incognito visit to the Middle East to coerce people to come back and face justice. But his antecedents, and some previous incidents also show that this officer have violated lots of rules and regulations.

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 26 Jun 2010 15:53

Thanks Sachin. Does seem quite fishy in that case. Qatar and India have a very close security relationship.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 28 Jun 2010 07:12

President commutes death sentences of eight

During the last three decades, Presidents had commuted the sentence in only 10 cases out of the 77 petitions decided by them.

So far President Patil has decided on three petitions and in all of them the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.

Is this a forerunner to what can be expected in Afzal Guru's case ? There was a news report earlier that her strong religious beliefs will prevent her from rejecting mercy petitions. The interesting thing in the above petitions to note would be what were the recommendations of the Home Ministry.

Here is the process of mercy petitions (from the same report)

The broad guidelines generally considered while examining grant of mercy under Article 72 of the Constitution relate to age, sex or mental state of the accused, circumstances of the case, conduct of the offender and medical abnormality falling short of legal insanity.

After examination, the case is submitted to the President’s Secretariat for a final decision with the due recommendation of the Union Home Minister.

There is no time limit given under the Article for the President to take decision on a mercy plea.

If the appeal is rejected under the Article 72, the decision of the President is communicated to the concerned State governments and Union Territories, which decide the date of execution in the matter under the existing rules.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 29 Jun 2010 03:10

What have one's religious beliefs got to do with commuting the death sentence as the Head of State? Isnt that a case of chcking ones beliefs at the gate or door and acting in the interests of the State?

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 29 Jun 2010 09:32

ramana wrote:What have one's religious beliefs got to do with commuting the death sentence as the Head of State?

And we still say we are a "secular" democracy

. Hope this does not become set precedence. If this indeed true all mercy petitions should be kept aside till Prathiba Patil moves out of Presidentship. Other wise all it requires for vested interests would be to file mercy petitions at the correct oppurtunity. The entire justice system would be become the laughing stock of the day. What next, judges also deciding punishments according to their religious beliefs?

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 30 Jun 2010 11:56

One major siphoning of DONER money has been the scam caught red-handed in North Cachar Hills district, the newly renamed Dima Hasao Raje district -- Dimasa stronghold which has led to a clarion call for bifurcation of the district from non-Dimasas. The issue is that the Tarun Gogoi-government is not too far away from the main accused RH Khan. Nor is this primarily an Assam problem, this is a universal problem in the NE. In fact, Tarun Gogoi and PK Mahanta -- neither of whom are saints -- are in a public spat on where the cash went. I read a report where the GoI plans on reneging all DONER cash for incomplete projects and let the state governments go find money to finish off projects in case they cant be done on time. Easy said -- folks like Patricia Mukhim will drop in and whine about how the Nagas have their own unique history

.
http://www.sentinelassam.com/mainnews/s ... pr=1#40148

The "only" peaceful state in NE celebrates
Lal Thanhawla greets Mizos on accord anniversary
http://www.sentinelassam.com/northeast/ ... pr=1#40163

Mizoram is one of the most peaceful States in India and the accord signed by MNF rebel leader Pu Laldenga with the Centre is often taken as a model for peace settlements in the trouble-torn northeastern States. At present Mizoram is the second most literate State after Kerala and it is “trying to overtake” the southern State.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 30 Jun 2010 20:11

NIA Probe into Kerala Top Cop's Terror Links

The central government on Wednesday ordered a National Investigation Agency probe into the alleged terror links of controversial Kerala police officer Tomin J. Thachenkery.

Home Secretary G.K. Pillai made the announcement on Thursday.

Thachenkery, holds the rank of Inspector General of Police, was posted in Kannur. He was suspended in April after his alleged terror links surfaced.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 01 Jul 2010 11:53

Debris littered across battle site points to long and bloody encounter

A day after suspected fighters of the CPI (Maoist) killed 27 Central Reserve Police Force personnel in an ambush in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district, the debris littered across the battle site speaks of a prolonged and bloody encounter.

Police sources said the CRPF and Maoists exchanged fire for nearly three hours on Tuesday afternoon before the rebels retreated.

While 33 soldiers escaped, the remaining 27 found themselves trapped in a three-way ambush.

“We lost wireless contact with the CRPF party at 2.45 p.m.,” said a source, implying that the wireless operators were probably killed soon after. The encounter finally ended when reinforcements arrived at the spot at 4.30 p.m. The wireless sets are missing, as are at least 20 INSAS and SLR rifles and two automatic Kalashnikovs.

Backup support seems to be a problem. They were hardly 4 Kms from their base camp and yet it took nearly 2 Hours for support to reach them. Questions will be asked as to what did the escaped 33 CRPF jawans do ? When wireless contact is lost, the worst must be assumed and SOP for support/rescue must kick in immediately. Helicopters must be employed as such massacres are becoming one too many and precious lives are being lost in large numbers.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 01 Jul 2010 16:17

With the wireless sets lost, the Maoists can only monitor the communication of the CRPF. Changing frequencies after every attack is practically impossible. Changing of code-sheets (if any) would also take some time to set-in. At this stage, we also need to see how many wireless sets have been robbed by Maoists, and what sort of communication secrecy is there for the CRPF.

Kanson · Post by **Kanson** » 01 Jul 2010 17:12

http://blogs.intoday.in/index.php?optio ... ntid=61958

Fight a guerrilla like a guerrilla

There is a basic flaw in the anti-Naxal operations being undertaken by the security forces. There is a clear lack of aim and no clarity on standard operating procedures (SOPs) resulting in Dantewada-like disasters. Headlines Today accessed the E.N. Rammohan report on the Dantewada massacre, and even to a layman it is unbelievable how the 81-member CRPF company moved around like headless chicken for three days before finally being slaughtered.

There is a crisis in command. The Director General of CRPF needs to do some serious soul-searching. If this is how his men are going to fight the Naxals they'd better pack their bags and leave. Not just the officers on the ground, what was the CRPF brass doing? What was their plan B, their contingency plans for an ambush-like situation? If they had not factored in an ambush, they were not doing their basic job right.

Headlines Today's Ashish Khetan travelled to the forests in Dantewada where the encounter took place. He spoke to his sources on the ground and also in the Ministry of Home Affairs. It was shocking that the CRPF patrol did not even follow the SOPs.

While they left the camp at 7 pm on April 4, they did not enter the forest as tasked. Instead they camped a few hundred metres outside their base. This indicates their fear of entering the jungle they were tasked to dominate.

Camped inside village
The CRPF personnel violated the patrol plan and entered village Mukram, 4 kilometres from their Chintalnar camp. They asked villagers for cots, utensils to cook and a goat for meat. As per their SOPs they were supposed to maintain secrecy and not mingle with local villagers or stay at any location for long.

This was a big mistake. By camping just outside their camp, they displayed a total lack of seriousness of approach. By asking the villagers to bring cots to sleep in, utensils to cook food and a goat for meat, the CRPF team behaved like an 'occupation army'. Not a lean mean war machine out to neutralise Maoist guerrillas. They were just marking time - in the bargain - the better trained, armed and motivated Maoists found time to plan their operation annihilation.

Lost wireless set during patrolling
The CRPF personnel botched the patrolling operation at every stage. Such was the level of fear and demoralisation that they did not even follow the set plan for area domination.

The CRPF personnel did not follow the laid out plan for patrolling. They entered another housing cluster at Tadmetla. A CRPF officer lost his wireless set here. The personnel looked for the set but gave it up midway.

Returned to same village at night
Ignoring the grid references for the patrol, the CRPF patrol party returned to Mukram village and camped at the Chintalnar Ashram for school children 4 kilometres away. Again a violation of norms.

Did not dominate high ground
The CRPF patrol party patrolled the same area for more than 24 hours, giving ample time to the Maoists to follow their movement and plan an ambush. This is exactly what the Maoists did on April 6. They ambushed the 82-member CRPF patrol at Tadmetla and killed 76 personnel.

Maoist training, strategy and operations
Maoist literature seized by the security forces indicates their high level of military training and tactics. Consider this:

1. How to launch an offensive on a security forces patrol party. How company of Maoist guerrillas (100-120 men) will split into three platoons (25-30 men each) and attack from flanks…how a reserve platoon of Maoists will launch a deception attack…and then the main party will hit from the rear…how another platoon will be in place to beat back any rescue operation mounted by the security forces.

2. How the Maoists will disengage from operations if outnumbered, re-group and then launch another offensive.

3. How to plant IEDs and trigger them at an appropriate time to inflict maximum damage and disappear into the jungles and then regroup at a pre-appointed place.

4. There are several such training maps and sketches that talk of how sections (10 men) will loot weapons and reach the reserve platoon and secure the flanks to beat back counter attacks.

And this is exactly what the Maoists did during the four-hour long offensive in Dantewada. They took the high ground, launched an ambush with military precision, attacking the security forces from three sides. The jawans ran in one direction for cover. That is where the Maoists had apparently placed guns on tree tops and opened fire, cutting down the jawans.

Two Maoist platoons were in place to beat back the CRPF rescue operation. They triggered a landmine to ensure mine protected vehicles could also not reach the troops.

Maoist air defence and attack plans
Even as the Centre and the states debate the use of airpower, the Maoists already have a air defence and counterattack plan in place.

From aiming at rotor blades to bring down a chopper, the Maoist air defence training manual says engage helicopters with small arms when they are hovering or moving slowly. Also aim at the hub of the rotor so that the bullet or the debris falls into the engine that will bring the chopper down.

Using natural camouflage and total radio silence is also a part of the passive air defence systems being taught to the guerrillas.

Naxals are also being trained to fix light machine guns on treetops to be used as anti-aircraft guns for low-flying helicopters.

Naxals are also being trained to lob grenades at helipads and fire at helicopters when they come in to land and take-off. Four such attacks have already been carried out in the past two years.

Neutralise top leaders
The counter Maoist forces need to improve their intelligence gathering abilities. Some of the top IB officers are now heading forces in the region and they need to pinpoint the location of Ganpathy, Kishenji, Kosa, Nambala Kesav and Kisan Da among others. A entire sector of CRPF and state police will not be able to locate them. It is shocking that the media reaches Kishenji each time but the state police and other forces are still unable to locate him. This despite the best technology available with the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Pinpoint the location of these commanders and neutralise them. The movement will be directionless. But don't rest on your laurels. Before the second-rung leadership can completely take over, neutralise them. Then the guerrillas will move around like headless chicken and will be easier to pick.

But this would require a national resolve. It is hard to believe that the Maoists who seriously started arming themselves only in 2001 are today too powerful for the state to handle. It appears that the state - or elements within the state - is happy to let the situation continue the way it is.

Poverty helps politicians and both bureaucrats and the police benefit from additional funds - being pumped into states in the name of development and counter-insurgency operations.

Learn from the army
I don't buy the logic that you don't use the army against your own people. This is the most flawed argument. Are Kashmiris not our own people? Just to name a few: Are Nagas, Manipuris, Assamese, Punjabis not our own people? Yet we have used the army extensively in all these states. The army runs the counter-insurgency and jungle warfare school in Vairangte. Use their training and tactics. Fight a guerrilla like a guerrilla. And you shall win. Behave like an occupation army and you will be like the Romans taking on the Gauls. Bound to lose. Wake up before it is too late. It is now or never.

I guess retired Army mens should be embedded with the team. There must be a way to put the fear back into the yahoos in the jungle. They must come calling for the surrender.

Kanson · Post by **Kanson** » 01 Jul 2010 17:13

Sachin wrote:With the wireless sets lost, the Maoists can only monitor the communication of the CRPF. Changing frequencies after every attack is practically impossible. Changing of code-sheets (if any) would also take some time to set-in. At this stage, we also need to see how many wireless sets have been robbed by Maoists, and what sort of communication secrecy is there for the CRPF.

No other way ?

Dilbu · Post by **Dilbu** » 01 Jul 2010 18:54

sum wrote:
After re-reading a couple of posts above looks like Thachankary interrogated Thadiyantavida Nazir, got the names of his pals and then flew of to Qatar.
Could it have been that the IG actually went to the gelf on a "undercover" mission to let the scum hiding there that they were being watched etc or to cultivate a few of the guys there?

He is too high profile for such a mission. He has a habit of staying in the limelight for some or other reason. If Kerala Police wanted to undertake such a mission I am sure there were atleast a dozen better men than him for this job. Something is not right here.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 01 Jul 2010 20:14

Kanson wrote:No other way ?

The other way seems to be the good-old mobile phone. But network coverage would be a problem. In many places private Telecom providers dont even go, and BSNL towers are routinely blown up. Reading the accounts of the CRPF men regarding the recent attack, they say that all communication stopped and it was presumed that the wireless sets have been taken. And no one was in a position to communicate with HQ in any manner.

munna · Post by **munna** » 01 Jul 2010 20:46

X-post

Gagan wrote:I don't know exactly how things are in Punjab, everything seems calm on the outside, perhaps some BRFite from there might shed some light. I know there were some minor churning taking place during the BJP days.

Gagan saab some tazaa maal.

I had a chat with a very senior political scientist and prolific author from Punjab. As per him the P landers had moved in to open the khalistani front against India ever since the loss of strategic depth in Afghanistan. Some of the key operatives that were sheltered in P-land during the early 2000s such as Rode, Panjwar, Neeta, Wadhawa Singh and Gajinder Singh were ordered to get active or be ready to be "betrayed". These chaps apparently got in touch with the families of the ex-militants who had suffered under the police in some cases. Such folks were then asked to indulge in sporadic (big time failures) acts which were foiled by an alert internal intelligence set up of police.
There IS money, smuggling and weapons but not enough footsoldiers or extremism and on top of that the police has managed to do its job admirably well. This is the good news.

Now the bad news. People may remember that about a few months ago there was violence in Ludhiana where the migrant wrokers had suddenly mobilized and fought pitched street battles with authorities on streets.

Naxals ‘fuelled’ Ludhiana arson

Ludhiana, June 26
The migrant violence in Ludhiana, that shook the entire state in December last, could have been fuelled by Naxalites. The state police has received strong indications of a Naxalite hand behind the arson, said Director General of Police, PS Gill.
The state police head, who was here to flag off the Queen’s Baton relay, said Maoists were spreading their tentacles in Malwa region.

Indicating the involvement of a particular group of Bharti Kisan Union (BKU) in Naxal operations, the DGP said: “The Naxals make their mass base by harping on social issues. They are trying to rope in kisan bodies.”

Gill said Pakistan’s ISI was still training militants to strike in Punjab. ‘‘We have confirmed reports that many militants were being trained there. The latest case is that of Bakshish Singh, a dreaded militant arrested in Amritsar recently,” he said.

The DGP, however, said the police was well equipped to handle any eventuality arising out of the situation. ‘‘Being a border state, the police is keeping a strong watch on all such activities. We are well aware of the enemy within the country and across the country. We would not allow anybody to hold the state to ransom,” said Gill.

Refusing to comment on the importance of dialogue between India and Pakistan vis-a-vis terrorism, the DGP said it is entirely a political issue. ‘‘The leaders have to decide how to go about it,’’ Gill said.

So the danger lies in a tie-up between the various Kisan Organizations, Naxalites and Khalistanis. The Punjab Police is well aware of the danger and has doubled its efforts to penetrate and bring under control any new variety of fundoos out there. However over the years some kind of rural stress is visible in the Southern districts of Punjab and that may be a vulnerable place from the position of Mao-pests especially since these very areas have a history of naxalite violence in the 1970s.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 01 Jul 2010 22:07

So can these groups be activated in case of hostilities with TSP?