M A I N   N E W S

New CBI Judge posted at Patna
High Court to hear Laloo’s plea on May 14
Santosh Jha

Patna, May 11
The Patna High Court bench on Friday posted further hearing on the petition filed by Laloo Prasad Yadav and Jagannath Mishra for May 14 thus allowing the legal conundrum over the finality of the CBI chargesheet in the RC-47 case of the Rs. 950 crore fodder scam case to linger on. The CBI court had earlier reserved its verdict till May 15. The bench of Justice Narayan Rai while listening the petition listed further hearing of the case on Monday. The state government in the meantime added a new twist to the case by finally issuing the notification for the posting of the new Special Judge of the CBI at Patna. The new Judge, Mr S K Mishra is to take over from Mr S K Pathak who moved to Jharkhand after the cadre division.

The criminal motion bench of the Patna HC had on Thursday listed the hearing for today. Laloo had petitioned the court to direct the CBI to file its chargesheet in the RC-47 case before the CBI judge at Patna as the case did not relate exclusively to the territory of Jharkhand.

Meanwhile the political analysts believe the government decision to notify for the posting of a new CBI judge (AHD case) at Patna on Wednesday as a well-timed move. The Patna High Court had over a month ago cleared the name of Mr. S K Mishra as the new designated CBI judge who would hear the Disproportionate Assets (DA) case that also involves Chief Minister Rabri Devi as an accused. Earlier when granting provisional bail to Laloo Yadav in the DA case, the High Court had directed Laloo Yadav to be present on all the dates. This was the first time he was given instructions to be bodily present.

It is believed that Rabri government has timed the issuance of the notification of the new judge to facilitate Laloo Yadav’s ultimate shifting to Patna Beur Jail even if he has to surrender and sent to Birsa Munda Jail of Ranchi for some time. His daily production before the Patna court from Ranchi would not be possible and therefore, Laloo will have to be shifted to Beur Jail, Patna. This is what Laloo wants. He has submitted before the Patna high Court on Thursday that the CBI charge sheet be shifted from Ranchi to Patna special court.

In the meantime, the Director General of Police (DGP) of Bihar, Mr. R R Prasad was handed over the arrest warrants to execute it and inform the court before May 22. The CBI court had on Thursday not stayed the arrest warrant. The DGP is avoiding the scribes, his mobile being off and the usually very freely available DGP is out of reach. It is learnt that the DGP and Chief Secretary (CS) had long discussion over the legal details of the warrant. Late on Thursday night, the DGP and CS went to the “king” of Bihar and informed him about the receipt of the warrants. Legal opinion is being taken.

It is to be seen whether the arrest warrant is executed or Laloo surrenders before the court. Given the past record, it is believed that Laloo would use his surrender as a political tool to raise a sentimental wave in his favour. RJD sources maintain that Laloo Yadav may go rallying to Ranchi all the way addressing meetings with masses on the roadside to surrender.

The legal experts believe that Laloo Yadav has got continuous reprieve as the verdicts of higher courts are eluding him. It is felt that Laloo Yadav may move the Supreme Court after the verdict of the Patna High Court. His lawyers have reportedly advised him to explore all legal options so that his surrender and arrest could be avoided as far as possible. The experts also feel that there is no need to execute the arrest warrant, as the matter is still subjudice.

Curfew clamped on Kishtwar
M. L. Kak
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 11
Indefinite curfew restrictions were imposed on Kishtwar town today following tension having gripped the town after seven Hindus had been kidnapped and killed by the militants at Atholi village near Padar in Doda district.

Militants had kidnapped 11 civilians yesterday and seven bodies were recovered by the police late in the evening. Three were wounded and one was still missing.

This selective killing had gripped Kishtwar and its adjoining areas with panic and anger. Groups of people staged demonstrations and shops remained closed. Sensing trouble, the authorities immediately imposed curfew restrictions to prevent people from kicking up any communal trouble.

The police and the security forces patrolled the town which otherwise wore a deserted look. The Inspector-General of Police, Mr R.V. Raju, and other senior officers rushed to Paddar and Kishtwar where they assured people that additional security pickets would be set up.

Meanwhile, the security forces have launched a manhunt for nabbing or eliminating the killers.

Several political parties, including the BJP, the Congress and the BSP, have condemned the massacre. They demanded better security cover for the people in the remote areas of Kishtwar and other tehsils in Doda district.

National Conference leaders appealed to the people to maintain calm because the militants were trying to kick up communal trouble after they had failed to destabilise peace.

The BJP president Mr D.K. Kotwal, demanded members of the village defence committees should be equipped with sophisticated weapons so that they could act against the militants. He said the VDC members were ill equipped and were not even paid their wages suitably and added that strong VDCs would defeat the militants camping in the hilly side in Doda district.

SRINAGAR: Three policemen, including a Station House Officer (SHO), and a counter-insurgent were injured in a grenade attack by militants in Anantnag district of South Kashmir on Friday, official sources said here.

Militants lobbed a grenade towards the policemen near Jamia Masjid Ashmuqam, wounding SHO Feroz Ahmad, two cops and a counter-insurgent, Shabir Ahmad, alias Parbat, the sources said.

The injured were rushed to hospital where the condition of Shabir was stated to be “serious”, the sources said.

Meanwhile, a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) exploded near Tangmarg on the Srinagar-Gulmarg road. No one was hurt in the explosion, the sources said.

The IED was targeted on a moving security vehicle but it missed its target. The sources said. PTI