Internal Security Watch

[ramana]

So they really pass the buck upstairs all the way to the President. Why cant they decide at lower levels and pass only the most iffy ones? If the recommendation is to hang why send it upstairs so they can claim the President wills it? Isn't that shirking responsibility?

[SSridhar]

No, not really. The President and the State Governors are the only authority who can commute the death sentence. The MHA can only send its recommendations. That's all.

All along, I was under the impression that it was the MHA which was the bottleneck by not forwarding the Mercy petition and its recommendation for the President to decide.

Added later Though I do not agree with the conclusion of this Frontline article, it gives fairly good details about mercy petitions etc. It also says

As many as 25 petitions, submitted by the MHA with its advice, are pending with the President for a final decision.

[chaanakya]

On Death Sentence

Constitution of India provides for power to grant pardon by The President to a person sentenced to death

Art. 72. Power of President to grant pardons, etc., and to suspend, remit or commute sentences in certain cases.— (1) The President shall have the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence—
(a) in all cases where the punishment or sentence is by a Court Martial;
(b) in all cases where the punishment or sentence is for an offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the Union extends;
(c) in all cases where the sentence is a sentence of death.
(2) Nothing in sub-clause (a) of clause (1) shall affect the power conferred by law on any officer of the Armed Forces of the Union to suspend, remit or commute a sentence passed by a Court Martial.
(3) Nothing in sub-clause (c) of clause (1) shall affect the power to suspend, remit or commute a sentence of death exercisable by the Governor of a State under any law for the time being in force.

Art. 73. Extent of executive power of the Union.— (1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the executive power of the Union shall extend—
(a) to the matters with respect to which Parliament has power to make laws; and
(b) to the exercise of such rights, authority and jurisdiction as are exercisable by the Government of India by virtue of any treaty or agreement:
Provided that the executive power referred to in sub-clause (a) shall not, save as expressly provided in this Constitution or in any law made by Parliament, extend in any State to matters with respect to which the Legislature of the State has also power to make laws.
(2) Until otherwise provided by Parliament, a State and any officer or authority of a State may, notwithstanding anything in this article, continue to exercise in matters with respect to which Parliament has power to make laws for that State such executive power or functions as the State or officer or authority thereof could exercise immediately before the commencement of this Constitution.

Similarly , Governor of a State has power to Grant pardon

Art. 161. Power of Governor to grant pardons, etc., and to suspend, remit or commute sentences in certain cases.—The Governor of a State shall have the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the State extends.

Art. 162. Extent of executive power of State.—Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the executive power of a State shall extend to the matters with respect to which the Legislature of the State has power to make laws:
Provided that in any matter with respect to which the Legislature of a State and Parliament have power to make laws, the executive power of the State shall be subject to, and limited by, the executive power expressly conferred by this Constitution or by any law made by Parliament upon the Union or authorities thereof.

Contd.

[chaanakya]

Contd..

On Death Sentence

Criminal Procedure Code

414. Execution of sentence of death passed by High Court.

When a sentence of death is passed by the High Court in appeal or in revision, the Court of Session shall, on receiving the order of the High Court, cause the sentence to be carried into effect by issuing a warrant.



415. Postponement of execution of sentence of death in case of appeal to Supreme Court.

(1) Where a person is sentenced to death by the High Court and an appeal from its judgment lies to the Supreme Court under sub-clause (a) or sub-clause (b) of clause (1) of Article 134 of the Constitution, the High Court shall order the execution of the sentence to be postponed until the period allowed for preferring such appeal has expired, or if an appeal is preferred within that period, until such appeal is disposed of.

(2) where a sentence of death is passed of confirm by the high court, and the person sentenced makes an application to the High Court for the grant of a certificate under Article 132 or under sub-clause (c) of clause (1) of article 134 of the Constitution, the High Court shall order the execution of the sentence to be postponed until such application is disposed of by the High Court, or if a certificate is granted on such application until the period allowed for preferring an appeal to the Supreme Court on such certificate has expired.

(3) Where a sentence of death is passed or confirmed by the High Court, and the High Court is satisfied that the person sentenced intends to present a petition to the Supreme Court for the grant of special leave to appeal under Article 136 of the Constitution, the High Court shall order the execution of the sentence to be postponed for such period as it considers sufficient to enable him to present such petition.


416. Postponement of capital sentence on pregnant woman.

If a woman sentenced to death is found to be pregnant, the High Court shall order the execution of the sentence to be postponed and may, if thinks fit commute the sentence to imprisonment for life.


433. Power to commute sentence.

The appropriate Government may, without the consent of the person-sentenced commute-

(a) A sentence of death, for any other punishment provided by the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860);

(b) A sentence of imprisonment for life, for imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years or for fine;

(c) A sentence of rigorous imprisonment for simple imprisonment for any term to which that person might have been sentenced, or for fine;

(d) A sentence of simple imprisonment, for fine.


433A. Restriction on powers of remission or commutation in certain cases.


Notwithstanding anything contained in section 432, where a sentence of imprisonment for life is imposed on conviction of a person for an offence for which death is one of the punishment provided by laws or where a sentence of death imposed on a person has been commuted under section 433 into one of imprisonment for life, such person shall not be released from prison unless he had served at least fourteen years of imprisonment.]


"Appropriate Govt"

Section 432(7) In this section and in section 433, the expression "appropriate Government" means, -

(a) In cases where the sentence is for an offence against, or the order referred to in sub-section (6) is passed under, any law relating to a matter is passed under, any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the Union extends, the Central Government.

(b) In other cases the Government of the State within which the offender is sentenced or the said order is passed.




434. Concurrent power of Central Government in case of death sentences.

The powers conferred by sections 432 and 433 upon the State Government may, in the case of sentences of death, also be exercised by the Central Government.

435. State Government to act after consultation with Central Government in certain cases.

(1) The powers conferred by sections 432 and 433 upon the State Government to remit or commute a sentence, in any case where the sentence is for an offence-

(a) Which was investigated by the Delhi Special Police Establishment constituted under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 (25 of 1946), or by any other agency empowered to make investigation into an offence under any Central Act other than this Code, or

(b) Which involved the misappropriation or destruction of or damage to, any property belonging to the Central Government, or

(c) Which was committed by a person in the service of the Central Government, while acting or purporting to act in the discharge of his official duty

shall not be exercised by the State Government except after consultation with the Central Government.

(2) No order of suspension, remission or commutation of sentences passed by the State Government in relation to a person, who has been convicted of offences, some of which relate to matters to which the executive power of the Union extends, and who has been sentenced to separate terms of imprisonment which arc to run concurrently, shall have effect unless an order for the suspension, remission or commutation, as the case may be, of such sentences has also been made by the Central Government in relation to the offences committed by such person with regard to matters to which the executive power of the Union extends.

[Stan_Savljevic]

Lift blockade or face action, Pillai tells Naga groups
http://www.sentinelassam.com/meghalaya/ ... pr=1#38044

Ibobi steps in to block Muivah ---- Forces rushed to Ukhrul, Senapati
http://telegraphindia.com/1100605/jsp/f ... 530373.jsp

Are Manipuris less important than Kashmiris?
http://news.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/ ... hmiris.htm

I am reminded of another era and another blockade. I refer to the oil pipeline blockade organised by Assam agitators in 1980s. The idea was that if the oil remained blocked in the pipeline through winter, the heavy crude would freeze. Oil experts had warned that if the oil was not flushed out, the whole pipeline would have to be replaced as cleaning the wax would cost more than a new pipeline. We had the no-nonsense Indira Gandhi as the prime minister then. She ordered the army to solve the problem.

Hate to ask this, is the GoI's softness on the NSCN have anything to do with the baptist connection?

[chaanakya]

Contd.

On Death Sentence

Procedure by Concerned Authorities under Prison Rules of various states ( rules are more or less similar in all states and UTs)

Action on final confirmation of sentence

11.44. The State Government shall fix the date of execution if Mercy Petition is rejected.

11.45. On receipt from the Government of the final confirmation and the date of execution of the prisoner sentenced to death:-
(i) the prisoner and his relatives will be informed about the date of execution by the Superintendent, and
(ii) The prisoner’s will may be prepared in accordance with his wish.
Note: No prisoner sentenced to death shall be executed on a public holiday.

Arrangement for execution

11.46. On receipt of the date of execution of the prisoner, the Superintendent shall be authorized to fix the time of execution sufficiently in advance. A report intimating the time of the execution shall be sent to the Inspector General, the Sessions Judge and the Government.

Note:- The execution shall take place early in the morning before it gets bright. The latest time of the day for different seasons will be in accordance with orders passed separately by the Government.

11.47. The Executive Engineer shall arrange the inspection of the gallows every quarter and before the date of a hanging as and when intimated by the Superintendent.

11.48. The Medical Officer shall report in the medical report about the drop to be given to the prisoner at least four days before the date on which the prisoner is to be executed.

11.49. The Medical Officer of the prison shall work out the details of the length of the drop to be given to a prisoner on principles shown below:-
(i) if the prisoner weighs less than 100 lbs. or 45 kgs, he should be given a drop of 8 feet or 2.5 mtrs.;
(ii) If the prisoner weighs from 100 to 133 lbs. or 45 to 60 kgs, he should be given a drop of 7 feet 8 inches or 2.3 mtrs.
(iii) If the prisoner weighs more than 133 lbs. or 60 kgs, but not more than 166 lbs. or 75 kgs, he should be given a drop of 7 feet or 2.2 mtrs.;
(iv) if the prisoner weighs more than 166 lbs. or 75 kgs. but not more than 200 lbs. or 91 kgs, he should be given a drop of 6 feet 6 inches or 2 mtrs.;
(v) if the prisoner weighs more than 200 lbs. or 91 kgs, he should be given a drop of 6 feet 1.83 mtrs.;

11.50. Provided that so long as the extreme limits of 6 feet or 1.83 mtrs on the one hand and 8 feet or 2.5 mtrs on the other hand are adhered to if, owing to physical peculiarity of the prisoner, the Medical Officer is of opinion that the drop should be increased or decreased, effect should be given to the Medical Officer’s opinion.

Note:- The above calculations are based on the assumption that the execution rope will be made of cotton yarn / manila of 1 inch to 1-½ inches or 2.59 to 3.81 cms Diameter.

11.51. The following measures shall be adopted regarding the fixing of the length of the rope to permit the required drop. The height of the prisoner to the angle of the jaw immediately below the left ear shall be accurately measured, as should also be the height from the drop shutter, when fixed in position, to the lower portion of the ring in the beam to which the rope will be affixed. These two measurements will determine the distance when the prisoner is standing in position on the drop, from the point of the latter’s jaw to the ring in the beam. The measurement of the prisoners neck shall also be carefully taken, the neck measurement and the height measurement to angle of jaw being carried out immediately after the prisoner has been admitted. The length of rope for any given drop shall be the length of the drop plus the distance from the angle of the prisoner’s jaw to the ring in the beam.

11.52. The gallows shall be inspected and the rope tested in the presence of the Superintendent the evening before the execution; he being personally responsible that these arrangements are properly made. A new rope need not necessarily be used for every execution but the Superintendent shall see that the rope is carefully tested. As a rule, a dummy or a bag of sand weighing 1½ times the weight of the prisoner, hung and dropped between 6 and 8 feet or 1.83 and 2.50 mtrs. will afford a safe test of the rope. Two spare ropes for each prisoner shall always be kept ready in reserve on the scaffold to meet any contingency.

11.53. Wax / butter shall be applied to the loop of the rope. After testing, the ropes and other equipment shall be securely locked and sealed in a steel box and shall be kept in charge of the Deputy Superintendent.

Venue and presence of officers and others

11.54. All executions shall take place at the prison to which the warrant is directed, unless expressly ordered otherwise. Executions shall usually be carried out in a special enclosure attached to, or within the walls, of the prison.

11.55. The Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent in charge and Medical Officer shall be present at all executions. An Executive Magistrate deputed by the District Magistrate shall attend the execution and countersign the warrant. If the prisoner so desires, a priest of his faith may be allowed, at the discretion of the Superintendent, to be present at the place of execution, subject to the requirements of security and prison discipline.

11.56. Relatives of the prisoner and other prisoners shall not be allowed to witness the execution. The Superintendent may, however, permit social scientists, psychologists, psychiatrists, etc. who are conducting research to be present. The Superintendent’s discretion shall prevail in the matters relating to grant of permission to witness execution. As a matter of general policy, other persons shall not be permitted to be present.

11.57. A police guard of not less than ten constables and two Head Constables or an equal number from the prison Armed Guards, shall be present at every execution. The Superintendent of Police will supply the guard on application, where no armed guard of the prison exists.

11.58. Prisoners of all categories shall be kept locked up until the execution is over.

Execution

11.59. The Superintendent, the Executive Magistrate, The Medical Officer and the Deputy Superintendent will visit the prisoner in his cell before the hour fixed for execution. The Superintendent and the Executive Magistrate shall then identify the prisoner as the person named in the warrant and read over to him a translation of the warrant in his mother tongue. Any other documents requiring attestation by the prisoner such as his will etc. shall be signed and attested in the presence of Superintendent and the Executive Magistrate. The hands of the convict shall be pinioned behind his back.

11.60. A cotton cap with flap shall be put on the prisoners face just before he enters the gallows-enclosures. The prisoner should not be allowed to see the gallows.

11.61. On the arrival of the prisoner at the scaffold, he shall be a made over to the batch of executioners.
Note:- The required number of executioners may always be posted at the Headquarters / Central Prison / Prison where executions have to be carried out. The executioners shall be trained in all matters pertaining to execution of prisoners. At fixed intervals, the executioners shall be required to practice on dummies.

Duty of Executioners

11.62. The duty of the executioner or executioners shall be:-
(i) to place the prisoner exactly under the part of the beam to which the rope is attached,
(ii) to strap the prisoner’s hand tightly, and
(iii) to put the noose round the neck tightly, the knot or metal eye being just in front of and below the angle of the jaw, so as to run up behind the ear when the prisoner falls and receives the jerk. Care must be taken to adjust the rope so that the part to which the metal eye belongs shall pass in front of the throat. The noose should be kept tight, having been adjusted by means of a stiff leather washer on the rope. The flap of the cap should hang in front free from the rope.

11.63. The Superintendent shall see that the rope round the neck of the prisoner is adjusted properly and the knot is in proper position.
11.64. The operations mentioned above should be done simultaneously and as quickly as possible. On completion of all these operations the Superintendent shall give a signal, on seeing which the executioner in charge shall push the lever to let down the trap-door.

11.65. The body shall remain suspended for half an hour and shall then be taken down only after the Medical Officer has certified that life is extinct.
Note:- For each execution, the executioner shall be paid requisite execution fees.

Disposal of body

11.66. The body of the executed prisoner shall be disposed of according to the religious requirements.

11.67. If the executed prisoner’s relatives make a written application for performing the last rites, the Superintendent may, in his discretion, allow such request, provided that the relatives give an undertaking in writing that they will not make a public demonstration at cremation / burial. In cases where the Superintendent thinks that there is a likelihood of a public demonstration, he has the authority to refuse such permission. In cases of disposal of the body of executed prisoner, in whose case there is likelihood of public demonstration, the Superintendent shall consult the District Magistrate and arrangements for the disposal of the body shall be made according the requirements of the situation. In such event, the Superintendent shall act in accordance with the instructions of the District Magistrate.

11.68. The body of the executed prisoner shall be taken out of the prison with all solemnity. A municipal hearse or ambulance shall be used for the transportation of the body to the cremation / burial ground. The Superintendent is authorized to incur all reasonable expenditure required for the transportation and disposal of the dead body.

Subsequent action

11.69. The Superintendent shall return the warrant, to the Court which issued it with an endorsement in the prescribed form (Appendix-9) to be countersigned by the Medical Officer and the Executive Magistrate.

11.70. The Superintendent shall submit the execution report to the Inspector General of Prisons

[chaanakya]

Contd...

On Death Sentence

Mercy Petition

Appeal facilities

11.33. The Deputy Superintendent shall explain to the convict his/her right of appeal and the facilities available and shall record the statement of the prisoner whether he/she wishes to appeal and to have his/her appeal forwarded by the prison authorities. If he/she desires to do so, the Deputy Superintendent shall at once get the appeal prepared for him/her as far as possible in his own words and shall forward it under registered cover to the Registrar of the High Court. The Deputy Superintendent shall explain to the prisoner the procedure relating to petition for special leave to appeal to the Supreme Court and the facilities available for this purpose. If the prisoner desires to appeal or apply for special leave to appeal, the intention shall be recorded and he/she should be helped to prepare the necessary petitions which should be immediately forwarded to the Registrar, Supreme Court of India, under intimation to the Government and the Inspector General of Prisons.

Stay of execution — petition for mercy

11.34. Execution of a prisoner sentenced to death should be stayed in the following cases after the date of execution has been fixed by Government:-
(i) If the prisoner desires to send an appeal to a higher Court, if he/she has not done so previously,
(ii) In the case of a prisoner desiring to send mercy petition, if he has not done so previously, and
(iii) In the case of a telephonic order for execution received from competent authority, if confirmation thereof has not been received.
11.35. On receipt of an intimation from the State Government that the appeal, or application to the Supreme Court, has not been lodged within the period prescribed by the Supreme Court Rules, the execution of the sentence shall not thereafter be postponed, unless a petition for mercy has been submitted by or on behalf of the convict.

11.36. Immediately on receipt of intimation of the confirmation by the High Court of a sentence of death on a prisoner or of the dismissal by the Supreme Court of the prisoner’s appeal or his application for special leave to appeal, the Superintendent shall personally inform the prisoner that if he desires to submit a petition for mercy, it should be submitted in writing within seven days.

11.37. If the prisoner submit a petition within the period of seven days, it should be addressed to the Governor or the State and to the President of India and dispatched by registered post with acknowledgement due, to the Secretary to Government, Home Department, together with a covering letter bearing in red ink, the words ‘Death Sentence’, ‘Petition for Mercy’ and ‘Urgent’ reporting the date fixed for the execution and certifying that the execution has been stayed pending receipt of the orders of the Government on the petition. If no reply is received within 15 days from the date of dispatch of the Petition, the superintendent shall send an express letter to the Secretary to the State Government drawing attention to the fact. He shall in no case carry out the execution before receipt of a reply from the State Government.

11.38. If at any time before the execution of the sentence it comes to the knowledge of the Superintendent that exceptional circumstances have arisen which plainly demand a reconsideration of the sentence, he should report the circumstances by wireless to the State Government and ask for its orders. In such a case the Superintendent shall defer execution of the prisoner till Government orders are received.

Communication to have special marking

11.39. The words ‘Death sentence’ should be inserted before the address in telegrams relating to capital sentence.

11.40. In all cases receipts of orders communicating the rejection of petitions shall invariably be acknowledged by registered letter. The orders of Government postponing the execution shall immediately be acknowledged by telegram.

11.41. Telephonic orders regarding prisoners shall be got confirmed by telephoning back to the concerned authority in the Government.

11.42. A distinctive red envelop with the words ‘Death Sentence’ and ‘Immediate’ marked on the top left and right hand corners respectively, shall be used in death sentence cases. All Superintendents shall make special arrangements to ensure that communication received in these distinctive envelopes are received in the prison at any time of the day or night either by the Deputy Superintendent or in his absence by the Assistant Superintendent in charge who:-
(i) shall note the time and date of receipt of the communication in the receipt register, and
(ii) shall immediately place the communication before the Superintendent, or in his absence the officer next below him, for orders.

11.43. The Superintendent shall see that prompt replies and acknowledgements are furnished where these are required and that in the case of orders staying execution acknowledgements are promptly sent to the Government by special messenger or telegram and well in advance of the time fixed for execution of the sentence.

[SSridhar]

DGP, Chattisgarh predicts Arundhathi Roy will be discarded by people soon

Chhattisgarh Director General of Police Vishwa Ranjan has hit out at social activists for supporting Maoists and their activities.

Ranjan was quite critical in his views on renowned author-turned social activist Arundhati Roy , who has openly opposed police action against the ultras.

"I believe that people who talk a lot about Maoists don't have the courage to hold a gun and go into the jungle, or those people, who talk while sitting in air-conditioned rooms in Delhi, Calcutta and Mumbai, they do not have the courage to go to Maoist regions," said Ranjan.

"We don't need to take them very seriously. The people will soon dismiss Arundhati Roy," he added, while talking to the media after delivering the valedictory address at the 40th All India Police Science Congress.

[chaanakya]

Court Rulings

CASE NO.:
Appeal (crl.) 393-394 of 2004

PETITIONER:
Dhananjoy Chatterjee alias Dhana

RESPONDENT:
State of West Bengal & Ors.

DATE OF JUDGMENT: 26/03/2004

"After examining and considering the prayer the State Government rejected it, thereafter it was transmitted to the Governor only because it was addressed to him, and therefore, the Governor in his turn, rejected the convict's prayer which was duly
communicated to the convict."

From the above averments, it is clear that the Governor was deprived of the opportunity to exercise his power in a fair and just manner. It is true that the power under Article 161 of the Constitution is to be exercised by the Governor on the basis of the aid and advice given by the State Government. However, the material facts should have been placed before the Governor. Pursuant to our direction, the relevant file was produced before this Court. We have also perused the same and we feel that all material facts, including the mitigating factors were not placed before the Governor. The appellant's mercy petition was rejected on 16.2.1994 without their being a proper consideration of all relevant facts.

Therefore, we direct the respondent authorities to put up the mercy petition filed by the appellant on 2.2.1994 to the Governor again and bring all relevant facts to the notice of the Governor for an appropriate decision in the case. It is made clear that the delay caused due to filing of the present special leave petitions shall not be taken as a ground by the appellant for commutation of his death sentence before any judicial fora.

In T.V.Vatheeswaran vs. State of Tamil Nadu (1983) 2 SCC 68 and Ediga Anamma vs. State of Andhra Pradesh (1974) 4 SCC 443 it has been held that a delay of two years was permissible beyond which the sentence ought to be converted to life. In Bhagwan Bux Singh & Anr. vs. The State of U.P. (1978) 1 SCC 214 similar observations were made with respect to a delay of two and a half years and in Sadhu Singh vs. State of U.P. (1978) 4 SCC 428 to a delay of three and a half years. We find, however, that as per the latest position in law, no hard and fast rules can be laid down with respect to the delay which could result as a mitigating circumstance, and each case must depend on its own facts. We have in this connection gone through the judgment in Vivian Rodrick vs. The State of West Bengal (1971) 1 SCC 468 and this is what the Court had to say:

“It seems to us that the extremely excessive delay in the disposal of the case of the appellant would by itself be sufficient for imposing a lesser sentence of imprisonment for life under Section 302. Section 302, IPC prescribes two alternate sentences, namely, death sentence or imprisonment for life, and when there has been inordinate delay in the disposal of the appeal by the High Court it seems to us that it is a relevant factor for the High Court to take into consideration for imposing the lesser sentence. In this particularcase, as pointed out above, the appellant was committed to trial by the Presidency Magistrate

The Bench also relied on a sociological study “Condemned to Die, Life Under Sentence of Death” by Robert Johnson which we too have found appropriate to quote to complete the narrative :

“Death row is barren and uninviting. The death row inmate must contend with a segregated environment marked by immobility, reduced stimulation, and the prospect of harassment by staff. There is also the risk that visits from loved ones will become increasingly rate, for the man who is “civilly dead” is bandoned by the living. The condemned prisoner’s ordeal is usually a lonely one and must be met largely through his own resources. The uncertainties of his case – pending appeals, unanswered bids for commutation, possible changes in the law – may aggravate adjustment problems. A continuing and pressing concern is whether one will join the substantial minority who obtain a reprieve or will be counted among the to-be-dead. Uncertainty may make the dilemma of the death row inmate more complicated than simply choosing between maintaining hope or surrendering to despair. The condemned can afford neither alternative, but must nurture both a desire to life and an acceptance of imminent death. As revealed in the suffering of terminally ill patients, this is an extremely difficult task, one in which resources afforded by family or those within the institutional context may prove critical to the persons’s adjustment. The death row inmate must achieve equilibrium with few coping supports. In the process, he must somehow maintain his dignity and integrity. Death row is a prison within a prison, physically and socially isolated from the prison community and the outside world. Condemned prisoners life twenty-three and one-half hours alone in their cells…..”

The Court concluded with the following significant observations :

“A prisoner who has experienced living death for years on end is therefore entitled to invoke the jurisdiction of this Court for examining the question whether, after all the agony and torment he has been subjected to, it is just and fair to allow the sentence of death to be executed. That is the true implication of Article 21 of the Constitution and to that extent, we express our broad and respectful agreement with our learned Brethren in their visualisation of the meaning of that Article.

The horizons of Article 21 are ever widening and the final word on its conspectus shall never have been said. So long as life lasts, so long shall it be the duty and endeavour of this Court to give to the provisions of our

Constitution a meaning which will prevent human suffering and degradation. Therefore, Article 21 is as much relevant at the stage of execution of the death sentence as it is in the interregnum between the imposition of that sentence and its execution. The essence of the matter is that all procedure, no matter what the stage, must be fair, just and reasonable.”

BY the way there is no fixed timeframe within which mercy petition has to be decided by the President or the Governor of a State.


The last word on Kasab or Guru is yet to be written on their execution. Likewise , there are several cases ,as pointed out by other members, on death rows. 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.

[Stan_Savljevic]

Emergence of Hills Tiger Force raises questions

Since the 80’s, the erstwhile North Cachar Hills has been witness to the growth and rise of a surfeit of extremist organizations beginning with Dimasa National Security Force (DNSF) followed by DHD which split into two factions- one led by Dilip Nunisa and the other by Jewel Gorlosa. Along with that came up KLO, KNF besides forays by NSCN (IM), NSCN (K) and HPC (D). Quite significantly, the hills based outfits have been motivated, trained and armed by NSCN (IM) with the sole objective of extending its influence in the Naga inhabited areas as a part of its greater Nagaland or Nagalim design. It was under the tutelage of NSCN (IM) that all these outfits have been carrying on unabated extortions, ransoms, kidnappings and killings to create chaos and anarchy and disturb the State notwithstanding their own struggle for a home land. Extortions were done on the basis of 70:30 ratio between the outfits and NSCN (IM). All these facts came out from the grilling of their leaders and cadres.

But more out of frustration and growing disillusionment among rank and file, besides crackdown by the Sheikh Hasina Government on the bases and hideouts of Northeast rebels in general along with flush out operations by Indian security forces, the outfits realizing the ultimate fate of their campaign for home land had no option than to surrender and opt for dialogue. Disgruntled elements among them however continue to roam in jungle, perhaps in search of some moorings for resurgence which however looks remote, considered against the backdrop of NSCN (IM)’s talks with the Centre entering a crucial phase, besides its general secretary Thuingelang Muivah’s greatest discomfiture in not being able to make it to his native village of Somdal in Ukhrul district due mainly to the stiff opposition of Manipur Government and the Meitei people.

The floating of Hills Tiger Force cannot be viewed in isolation. With the naming of North Cachar Hills as Dima Hasao and as approved by the State Government, united voice of resentment and protest by various non Dimasa bodies has been raging across the district. These bodies of Zeme Nagas, Kukis, Karbis, Jaintias, Hmars, Vaipeis, Baetis and Hrangkhals have cried foul, apprehending discrimination by the autonomous district council and also an exercise to drive them out. They have even cautioned if the earlier name of the district is not restored, it will again boil. The bandhs called by these organizations under the banner of Indigenous People’s Forum over the issue of bifurcation of the district into two have already caused a sort of ethnic divide.

A look at the leaders forming the Hills Tiger Force led by Kapchy Naga, chairman, Arnal Kuki, secretary general, Hrangthang Hmar, ‘commander-in-chief’, Lunnel Kuki, secretary publicity and Stephen Lungchuong, secretary finance, with base in Borail Hills gives an indication of the material and logistic support it might get from the sources in the event of its attempt to fish in trouble water, taking advantage of the simmering ethnic divide. It might look for support to Kuki or Naga or Hmar extremist groups. It has already begun its operation by serving ‘extortion notices’. Or is its emergence to put psychological pressure for reverting to the original name of North Cachar Hills? Intelligence and security agencies will have to keep a tab on the development in order to foil its any mischievous design.

Someone put a bullet in the heads of these NSCN oiseaules. But then, every substitute from Neiphiu Rio down under seem to be oiseaules in a sheep clothing.
http://www.sentinelassam.com/cachar/sto ... pr=1#37997

[chaanakya]

Jingoes here can also calculate the length of rope etc required for hanging kasab and guru, if they know weight etc. No scope for ambiguities.

[Stan_Savljevic]

Long-time overdue... Get that idiot by the name David charo first...
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Indi ... 013138.cms

[shyamd]

Probe on Dawood link with stars

SAMYABRATA RAY GOSWAMI

Sanjay Dutt
Mumbai, June 4: The CBI has sent letters rogatory to the UAE seeking details of the association of Sanjay Dutt, Mahesh Manjrekar and other Bollywood figures with Dawood Ibrahim’s “D-Company”, a top agency official said.

The names of two Bollywood actresses — both of whom “allegedly” shared romantic liaisons with Dawood and his brother Anees— also figure on the list. The CBI sent the letters after approval from the home ministry.

“We have information that in the 90s, these people were guests of Dawood in Dubai on various occasions. Their hotel bills were picked up by the D-Company. They were regulars at their parties and weddings. We want to know the extent of these associations,” the CBI official said.

The information, though, has not been sought in connection with any particular ongoing investigation. ‘‘But as investigators, we need these records as some of them are still in touch with the underworld,’’ the official said.

Letters rogatory are formal requests for judicial assistance from courts in one country to those in another nation. They remain one of the most common methods for collection of evidence from a foreign country, and are usually entertained when the nations have an extradition and mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT).

“In the case of the UAE, we have had a MLAT in place for over a decade, but it did not produce the desired results. Things are changing now with stronger bonds between the two nations, helping investigative agencies,” the CBI official said.

The bilateral ties, always warm, got a boost from the visit of UAE Vice-President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid to New Delhi in March.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), too, hopes to leverage the robust relations between the two nations to achieve a breakthrough in the multi-crore bribery case involving former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda.

The ED had sent a letter rogatory after approval from a Ranchi court in February, but things have started moving only in the past two months.

“We suspect that a part of Koda’s multi-crore fortune was invested in nine luxury properties in Dubai worth around Rs 221 crore in all. We are also probing five foreign bank accounts and eight foreign and Indian firms,” said an ED official.

Officials suspect Koda invested money in real estate projects in Dubai through his business associates Binod Sinha and Anil Bastawade.

“According to our information, Koda and his associates invested in nine plots valued at over Rs 221 crore. Of this, Rs 80 crore has already been paid. The properties include state-of-the-art residential apartments Spica and Triangle Tower located at prime locations in Dubai, including in the upscale Jumeira village. We need documents from the UAE to corroborate our findings. The letter rogatory is for this purpose,” said the ED official.

Koda’s money, ED sources said, was wired — transferred online — to Dubai through hawala channels. “We are hopeful of getting concrete evidences and leads” the official said.

Another case being held up as an example is the arrest last month of Abdul Samad Bhatkal, believed to be linked to the German Bakery blast in Pune in February, soon after he arrived in Mangalore from Dubai. The arrest, officially made in a 2009 arms seizure, triggered speculation Bhatkal may have been deported.

[Stan_Savljevic]

dna claims one ranju chowdhury, ulfa nutjob, arrested by rab in mymensingh, bd.
http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_ul ... sh_1392785

dal khalsa leads the chorus for khalistan in the bluestar remembrances with sgpc going silent.

[Prem]

PM to host farewell dinner for outgoing NSA
In an unusual gesture, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [ Images ] will be hosting a farewell dinner for outgoing National Security Adviser M K Narayanan on Saturday.The new National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon will not have to handle internal security and anti-terror measures, as these sectors will be handled by the new mechanism proposed by Home Minister P Chidambaram [ Images ] under the home ministry.
Earlier, it was said that Narayanan's successor might not get the designation of the NSA, but of a foreign affairs advisor.

http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/jan/ ... ng-nsa.htm

[Pranav]

Blockade keeps prices high in Manipur - http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/07/stories ... 550100.htm

..... while the Neros continue to fiddle.

A litre of petrol now costs Rs.120-Rs.150, onion Rs.28 a kg and rice Rs. 26. The exorbitant prices apart, many essential items were not available ...

[Prem]

http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/jun/ ... -mafia.htm
Centre to crack down on K'taka mining mafia

With the Karnataka [ Images ] government rejecting suggestions for a Central Bureau of Investigations probe, the Union mines ministry is pursuing other moves to crack down on the mining mafia in the state. In the face of the Karnataka government's resistance to a CBI probe, the matter was referred to the Cabinet and the issue was discussed in the Prime Minister's office, Mines Minister B K Handique told PTI. One of his concerns was whether any money from illegal mining was going to terrorists and the issue was discussed at the prime minister's office.sserting that the "crackdown" on illegal mining was on the top of his agenda, Handique said that at present there were not enough legal provisions for central intervention and he would make attempts to incorporate provisions for this in the proposed Mining Act. "There were discussions at the PMO level (on illegal mining). It would be tracked down. If money goes to terrorists, then licenses will be cancelled. It is a big thing. With NIA (National Investigation Agency) now, things are moving," he said."We thought that CBI will be the right approach. But we can't enforce it. We have given it to Cabinet now. We have asked them (their help) for investigation," he said. Asked to elaborate, he said that there was a provision in the law governing National Investigative Agency and the home ministry may be on the path of tracking where the money was going. "They have been consulting us also on this," he added. Handique said the problem of not having adequate provisions in the law now was also discussed with Law Minister Veerappa Moily [ Images ]. "

[Kati]

Two things from the recent civic election in Kolkata and other parts of WB:

1. People, though handed down mamata a solid victory against CPM, didn't like the
votebank politics based on minority card / sympathy factor. Trinamool candidate
Rukhbanoor Rahman (elder brother of Rizwanoor rahman) has been defeated.

2. People found out the dirty trick played by CPM regarding the Gnaneshwari Express
accident/sabotage and putting the blame on maoists and leaving the responsibility of
railway safety on Mamata. The accident happened just 3-4 days before the accident.
A large chunk of the urban middleclass thinks that it was the CPM cadres who removed
the fishplates so that mamata could be blamed for the accident. CPM left no opportunity
to raise this accident issue in every election meeting/campaign/street-corner. That
raised public suspicion.

[derkonig]

Re. point 1, TC is heavily dependent on the minority card, so IMHO, one case of a candidate losing may not reflect the trend. The middle class may not be comfortable with the minority based rhetoric of TC, but it is unlikely that TC will quit tomtoming sekoolaarism. Infact, given her infatuation with sekolaarism, TC & CPM do seem joined at the hip. Either way, the majority is on the losing end.

[ajit_tr]

ULFA leaders in Bangladesh, Myanmar to surrender: Pillai

ULFA leader arrested in Bangladesh

[shyamd]

7 semesters for terror trainees
By: Anshuman G Dutta

Recruitment camps in Pakistan prepare tougher courses for spreading hate. Devise commando training manual to take on Indian security forces

If the image of Ajmal Amir Qasab raining bullets at the CST station with a smirk on his face shook you, then you should know Qasab is among the new breed of terrorists being prepared by Pakistan to carry out attacks on India.

Terrorists are chosen for specific mission based upon their performance
in the academy representative photo

Highly-placed sources in the intelligence agencies have told MiD DAY that the terror masters are putting in a lot of thought in designing modules for training new recruits much like the special forces of many countries. Apart from the basic training, which is imparted to every member, a recruit is chosen for a particular mission based upon his strengths and then sent for special training.

In the aftermath of the 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai, MiD DAY had reported how those who carried out the attack learnt sea-tricks at a Pakistani Navy facility in Badin where Islamabad trains its best marine commandos.

"The training programmes have become extensive and aim-specific. The training was already divided into batches and semesters but now it has become more mission and purpose oriented. It has become selective in nature with the entire focus on preparing commandos who can bring an entire city on its knees for a few days," said an Intelligence Bureau (IB) official, requesting anonymity.

Past practices
Earlier, the terrorists were given two-tier training for using arms and explosives, infiltration, avoiding detection and carrying out mass killings. But under the new training regime only those youngsters who prove their mental and physical fitness are allowed to go for advanced training.

The training begins with the basic foundation or Tasis course, which is more into religious teachings and gives a very basic insight of further training. While the stipulated time for this stage is one month, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) insists on completing it in three weeks (21 days). The first round is followed by a three-month capsule course called Al-Raad that aims at making the terror cadet physically fitter and mentally tougher. "An important aspect of this stage is continuous brain washing of the cadre through propaganda. They are shown video tapes and given material to read about their enemy to fuel their imagination," the sources said.

The specialists
Almost all the terror cadres are made to go through these two stages, but beyond this, cadets are divided into groups for specialised training keeping in mind the requirement for specific missions. "For example, in case of Ajmal Amir Qasab, the group was specially trained for marine operations which are amongst the most difficult military operations. The third training programme known as Guerrilla is meant only for those who have to perform actual operations in sea, land, jungle or an urban scenario," said the officer.

After Guerrilla training, recruits are then initiated into another advanced course. It teaches the terror cadres to operate all kinds of modern weapons. "During this stage, the terrorists are given a brief of their coming mission which could be based anywhere. Groups are divided for land and sea-based operations and further training is carried out under extreme secrecy. The groups are smaller in nature where every person is trained to maximise his skill. At this stage every terrorist is an expert shooter besides having an individual skill like assembling bombs or tackling security forces in a pre-decided scenario," said an IB official.

Survival of the fittest
The terrorists are taught the art of surviving in worst case scenarios to maximise the loss of life and property as it happened during the Mumbai attack.
Further training takes place in the similar environment and candidates are selected for lessons into bomb- making, mining and firing shoulder-carried weapons like rocket launchers.

The sixth and seventh stages are considered extremely difficult and have been rated as most dangerous by the Indian security agencies. In these, the terrorists are taught the skills of negotiating with aerial targets. Sources
Weapons of terror

Lashkar-e-Toiba uses rifles of AK series, Kiran Kope, Kala Kope, rocket projectile guns, grenades, improvised explosive devices and machine guns.
The most potent weapon is its fidayeen attack or suicide operations, which are different from other suicide militancy attacks across the world. Since Islam prohibits suicide, Lashkar's fidayeen do not go on missions where death is certain, but select assaults where they do have a chance, however slim, of
returning alive.
hinted towards 9/11 attacks in USA where the terrorists brought down the twin towers by hijacking civil aircraft. "Very few terrorists reach this stage. While it needs extremely determined people, being accustomed with latest technology and qualities like fluency in English are some of the prerequisites," said the officer.

The seventh and the last stage has not changed in all these years and though it was adopted from the Talibans operating in Afghanistan, they are aimed at creating top-ranking commanders in the terror groups.
"Unlike the earlier terrorists who were trained with arms, the new breed is extremely determined and mission oriented. They are at par with the commandos operating in most countries; the only difference is that they are trained for a single mission and they are like killing machines," said an officer attached to the Union Home Ministry.

Propaganda
Jamat-ud-Dawa runs an Urdu monthly journal, Al Dawa, which has a circulation of 80,000, an Urdu weekly, Gazwa, a children's monthly, Nanhe Mujahid, and an English monthly, Voice of Islam. Besides, there is also a multi-lingual website.

Objectives of Jihad

In May 1999, Lashkar-e-Toiba published a booklet, Why we do Jihad, written by Abdul Salam bin Mohammad. It listed eight objectives:
¢ Muslims should fight as long as a dispute persists
¢ It is obligatory for Muslims to fight till Allah's kingdom is established in the world
¢ It is obligatory for Muslims to fight till they overthrow all infidel governments
¢ Wherever there is oppression, Muslims are bound to fight it
¢ If any infidel kills a Muslim, it is to be avenged
¢ If any nation breaches a contract with Muslims, it is obligatory to fight that nation
¢ Muslims should fight against aggression by any other nation
¢ If infidels encroach upon any part of a Muslim land, it is obligatory to fight them and restore it

[Dmurphy]

ULFA military chief held in Bangladesh

United Liberation Front of Asom military wing leader Ranjan Chowdhury was arrested in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh on Monday.

Chowdhury was arrested from a nursing home in Sherpur where he was undergoing treatment, said a Bangladeshi news agency.

He may be handed over to India, it added.

Chowdhury's wife Sabitri Sangma had confirmed the arrest over telephone Bangladesh's New Age newspaper.

Five ULFA leaders, including its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, were arrested and handed over to India earlier this year.

Atta boy, BD!

[R Vaidya]

http://www.dnaindia.com/opinion/main-ar ... ic_1393243

Enemies of the Republic
R Vaidyanathan
Tuesday, June 8, 2010 0:45 IST

Assume that Kasab and other terrorists attacked only the Chhatrapati Shivaji Train station and, say, Dharavi slums. The reaction of the elites would have been one of commiseration. But they attacked the core of Indian business that shook the Page Three crowd. The entire media and State sprung into action. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) had even prepared a document on the terrorism threat from Pakistan. The Naxals are creating mayhem and killing innocents too. But as this happens in the backwaters of East of Kanpur (EoK), we only have slovenly debates and discussions about dealing with them. One set of useful idiots — in the words of Lenin — supporting the Maoists are arguing about means and ends in the air-conditioned TV studios of Delhi. Make no mistake and have no illusions. The aim of Maoists is to “uproot the current republic run by comprador bourgeoisie and establish the dictatorship of the proletariat”. Their means are savage and the goal is brutal dictatorship. The ‘jholawalas’ will not have multiple TV stations to debate when Maoists come to power. There will be just one station propagating the party line.
Some senile experts want the government to have a dialogue with the insurgents. Should it be about handing over the republic to the rebels? Some years ago, the Andhra Pradesh government had an elaborate dialogue with the People’s War Group (PWG). All that happened was the collection of truckloads of medicines, cotton and other surgical accessories. Also the ammunition was replenished. It is standard procedure of terrorist organizations: Go for talks when the going is tough and prepare for the next round of offensive.
The political class has blood on its hands — blood of innocent Indians. This class which operates under the three-B system of bow, bribe and blackmail thinks it can deal with Maoists in the same fashion. Congress leader Digvijay Singh who was chief minister of Madhya Pradesh for 10 years talks about the need for development and talks of Maoists not attacking temples and mutts when they have killed Swami Laxmananada Saraswathi working for tribals in Orissa. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad who was chief minister of Bihar and a Union minister talks about Naxals killing only police informers as if that is an acceptable thing. Let us not worry about inanities of rootless wonders like Mani Shankar Aiyars.
Even mainstream left parties like the CPI and CPM are behaving like Luddites to prevent any industries coming up in EoK. Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee is playing the dangerous game of riding the Naxal tiger to become chief minister of West Bengal.
The political class is so short-sighted that it does not see the global encouragement to Maoist groups. Suddenly, the Church of England found sacredness in the Nyamgiri hills in Orissa and it has started a movement to prevent any mining there. During British rule the same church did not discover this sacredness. The Bishop of Jharkand in an interview supports Maoist as saviours of the poor and says they never harm the Church.
What then are the State and corporations to do? Arrest all sympathizers of the Naxals since they want to destroy this republic and make it treason under our statutes. They should be put in solitary confinement with a one-book (Little Red Book of Mao) library which used to be practiced during the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (GPCR) in China. Most of the leaders of Maoists are from two districts of Andhra Pradesh. It should not be difficult for special forces to locate them and “neutralize” them as the Americans call it.
Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) is a banned organization but not All India Students Association (AISA), the student wing of the Maoists functioning from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi. The army should be asked to de-mine the entire Naxal corridor. Top 200 corporations should each start 100 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the EoK belt and hand over the running of these 20,000 ITIs to the army. Let the home ministry publish the sources of funds of the human rights groups, particularly their foreign sources. There should be a massive police recruitment drive. If these things are done, then it will be possible to uproot the Maoists in about 20 years.
Can the current government do it? Does it have the political will? Our home minister is sincere but he lacks credibility within his own party. Also he cannot speak in Hindi and the EoK problem (about which he himself has written extensively when out of power) requires oratorical skills in Hindi. He at the least needs a number two who is very fluent in Hindi and the local dialects of EoK.

[Sachin]

Police question a unique couple .
Karnataka Police made a short (and discrete) visit to the socialist republic to have some tea and snacks with that wonderful couple from the state Sufiya and Abdul Nassar Mahdani. The Karnataka police had earlier served a notice on them asking them to come to Bengaluru and get questioned. Citing health reasons the duo ignored it. So as the saying goes "if the mountain does not come to Mohammed, Mohammed would go next to the Mountain" .

A local language daily has a news clipping of Mahdani starting his rumour mongering. Mahdani says that the repeated interrogation of him and wifey is an IB tactic to irritate the young Muslim people, make them feel as victims so that they will be back to the trick of terrorism.

PS: If Mahdani and family moves into the health resort at Parappana Agrahara in Bengaluru, it may become a record of sorts. That of a person spending maximum time in prison, and also in the maximum number of prisons .

[SSridhar]

R Vaidya, well done, as usual.

[SSridhar]

Madani may be booked for Bangalore blasts
To add to what Sachin has posted above,

"A lot of evidence has been collected to substantiate his role in the Bangalore serial blasts. We are getting legal opinion on how to fix his role in the chargesheet," a senior police official told Express.

"We have collected the telephone conversations between Madani and T Nasir, the main accused in the serial blasts case. Documents of phone conversation between Sarfaraz Nawaz (the financier of the blasts, arrested by IB) and Madani, has been collected. There is more evidence of the link between Madani and Shaunu Sattar (the main technician who made the bombs)," he said.

[chaanakya]

http://www.dnaindia.com/opinion/main-ar ... ic_1393243

Enemies of the Republic
R Vaidyanathan
Tuesday, June 8, 2010 0:45 IST

Indeed well said.

Arrest all sympathizers of the Naxals ( do we have guts to go through this) since they want to destroy this republic and make it treason under our statutes. They should be put in solitary confinement with a one-book (Little Red Book of Mao) library which used to be practiced during the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (GPCR) in China. Most of the leaders of Maoists are from two districts of Andhra Pradesh. It should not be difficult for special forces to locate them and “neutralize” ( operational doctrine)them as the Americans call it.

Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) is a banned organization but not All India Students Association (AISA), the student wing of the Maoists functioning from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi.

The army should be asked to de-mine the entire Naxal corridor. Top 200 corporations should each start 100 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the EoK belt and hand over the running of these 20,000 ITIs to the army. ( too much to ask from our corporations)Let the home ministry publish the sources of funds of the human rights groups, particularly their foreign sources. ( pandora's box)There should be a massive police recruitment drive. If these things are done, then it will be possible to uproot the Maoists in about 20 years.( shows how difficult the task is)

[sum]

Search on for ‘terrorist'

TIRUPATI: Police are on the lookout for an alleged Pakistani terrorist who has reportedly sent email to different addresses in the last five days from an Internet centre in Chittoor, 64 km from here.

The arrival of a 10-member team from the Bengaluru-based Cyber Crimes division has created ripples in the district headquarters town, which is close to the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka borders. Superintendent of Police Ramakrishna, however, said what brought the Bengaluru team was the fact that the “terrorist” had, in his email address, claimed he belonged to Pakistan.

Good that even e-mails to Paki land are being closely monitored...

[sum]

Another Ghar Wapsi, this time from Abu Dhabi:
CBI arrests 1993 serial blasts accused Tahir Merchant

"Merchant alias Tahir Taklya, a close associate of prime accused in the case Tiger Memon, was brought to Mumbai this afternoon and was produced before a special TADA court here which remanded him in police custody till June 14," CBI official Anand Somani told PTI.

The TADA court had issued non-bailable warrant against Merchant in October 1993 after he was declared absconding in the blasts case. "A red corner notice was issued against Merchant and also he was declared a proclaimed offender by the TADA court," said defence lawyer Farhana Shah, who represented nearly 100 accused in the case.

"Merchant had in Dubai received several accused from India and had arranged for them to be sent to Karachi in Pakistan for arms training. He allegedly provided them with travel documents and money for the training," Somani said.

No mention in this report ( saw it in some other report) that the accused was given ceremonial escort all the way from Abu Dhabi...

[Stan_Savljevic]

Youths flee rebel camp in Bangla ----- Assam Rifles rescues boys from Mizoram
http://telegraphindia.com/1100610/jsp/n ... 546779.jsp

“The militants took us to Bangladesh and kept us in a jungle. They ill-treated and beat us and did not give us enough food. So we decided to flee. We walked for three days without food before we were rescued by Assam Rifles,” Bony said.

Where are the effing pontificating canadian doofusi that thrive the visa desk?

[Sachin]

In "Socialist Republic" a rumour is afloat that Karnataka Police have already reached Kollam town, in Kerala to say pranaams to Mr & Mrs Mahdani and escort them to Karnataka. Mahdani's political outfit PDP is also summoning their cadre to the village (Anwarsseri) where Mahdani is holed up. Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan says he is not aware of the presence of Karnataka policemen in the state.

[Kati]

My 2 paise


The situation in Manipur is slowly going out of hand. If GoI doesn't take
any measure to counter the blockade then the resultant cost will be
unimaginable. The manipuri militants are just relishing the opportunity to
turn the popular anger against GoI and bring back the scenarios of early eighties.

What to do?

Beat back the nagas to lift the blockade?

That will be another suicide for the time being.

Bring naga social / cultural leaders to discussion and urging them to lift this fracticidal embargo on a humanatarian basis. At the same time, press IAF into massive airlifting of
essential commodities into Imphal valley. especially cooking oil, kerosine, medicine, etc.
Let this air-lift operation go on indefinitely - since this will be a war of wirs between GoI
and the naga bodies enforcing the embargo. Hopefully, seeing the futility of the blockade
in the face of air-lift the nagas will relent.

Otherwise the overall cost will be manyfolds.

[shyamd]

Terror suspects received money from Pak national to strike ONGC: ATS

Latif, Riyaz gave info on Memon aide: CBI

A senior CBI officer involved in the extradition process said Latif and Riyaz had given “vital information” against Merchant. “We are seeking help from the ATS to interrogate Merchant. Although the extraditon process began in early 2004, Latif and Riyaz are believed to have been in touch with a person in Pakistan, who possibly could be their handler,” the officer said.

Latif and Riyaz, brothers-in-law from Bandra (East) and Dahisar respectively, are accused of plotting strikes on several Mumbai sites.

The TADA court had issued a non-bailable warrant against Merchant in 1993. “In 2004, an Interpol red-corner notice was issued; the following year, his passport was confiscated by the Dubai police. We had him deported from Abu Dhabi Tuesday. He is in our custody till June 14. Another 1993 blast accused, Feroze Abdul Rashid Khan, was arrested by the Crime Branch few months ago. We might seek information on him too,,” the CBI officer said.

Looks like Merchant was still involved in funding terror activity in India and we have halted possible attacks. Excellent news! Of course, a big thanks to the UAE.

[SSridhar]

Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan says he is not aware of the presence of Karnataka policemen in the state.

Kodiyeri promises complete help to Karnataka Police

Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has said that the State government will extend all possible support to the Karnataka Police in their functioning in Kerala in connection with the investigation into terrorist activities.

Speaking to mediapersons who met him on the sidelines of a public hearing of the Assembly Select Committee on Kerala Police Bill, 2010 at Kottayam Collectorate Conference Hall on Wednesday, Mr. Balakrishnan said the Karnataka Police had not made any special request to arrest any person so far.

[SSridhar]

Contact us if you want smooth train service: Maoists to South Eastern Railway

he Communist Party of India (Maoist) on Thursday appealed to South Eastern Railway (SER) authorities to directly contact the outfit to ensure the smooth running of trains in Left-wing extremism-affected areas.

The group also dismissed allegations of its involvement in the derailment of the Jnaneswari Express on May 28 and denied that it had plans to target the Howrah-bound Duronto Express on Wednesday.

In a statement issued by Akash, a senior leader of the State unit, the Maoists urged passengers to travel without fear and not to “pay attention to false campaigns run by the State government.”

[SSridhar]

Crackdown on smugglers

Five residents of the border villages of Thakarkora and Havelia were arrested by the Punjab police in Amritsar on Thursday. Six kg of RDX, 2 kg of heroin, 20 detonators and 10 timer devices were recovered from them.

Smugglers will smuggle in and out anything. So, Pakistan is using smugglers who will then be contacted by their agents/sleeper cells/terrorists to take possession of the 'maal'.

[RamaY]

Contact us if you want smooth train service: Maoists to South Eastern Railway

This is nothing but a spit on MMS/SG's face. Of course they will wipe it and continue living.

[Sachin]

Contact us if you want smooth train service: Maoists to South Eastern Railway

Reminds me of some of the tricks played by the Mopillah rebel leaders during the 1921 Malabar Riots in then Madras Presidency. The rebels even had thought about issuing passports for people in the areas controlled by them . But then it was days of The Raj and they knew how to deal with these upstarts. Troops brought in by special trains from Bengaluru, massive combing operations and a military tribunal which gave really super-quick justice. Mopillah rebel leaders found themselves facing the gallows or firing squad within 2-3 month of their capture.

[Aditya_V]

From the Socialist Republic - Sorry might be OT here, But I feel this kind of manupulation for Political gains will have internal security consequences.

Loan Waiver Scheme for Christian converts

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/states/ke ... 451983.ece

Under the debt waiver scheme for the Christian Converts, loans up to Rs.25,000 maturing on 31 March 2006 would be written off fully. In cases where the loan amount exceeds the stipulated amount, penal interest part would be written off, providing the persons with an opportunity to avail a one time benefit.

Is it legal in India to open a scheme for one religion and not to poor under debt in anther religion?? How is this secularism??

I guess we will never see such debates on the Media. Are parties nurturing and ensuring thier vote banks through such means?

[Singha]

urban samurai - CRPF is getting some cool new riot control gear

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story ... urais.html

if you glue a couple of horns on the helmet and replace that danda with a katana or wazikashi, it does feel very samurai like.