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Thursday,
January 10, 2002, Chandigarh, India   
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Israel against India
striking terrorist camps Custodial deaths: NHRC relaxes directions No special status for Bihar |
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Jessica’s sister testifies in court Tansi case: 2 IAS officers acquitted US visa fees to change from January 14 Govindacharya not removed, says
RSS First Global Director’s bail plea rejected Remand of 2 DD officials extended Sanjay Dutt appears in court
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Israel against India striking terrorist camps Bangalore, January 9 Addressing a press conference at the CII Partnership summit here, he said “I will not dare to advise the Indian Government to do it (strike terrorist camps in Pakistan). I don’t think it is needed nor is it wise.’’ Mr Peres was replying to a question on whether he would support the coalition forces to strike the terrorist camps in Pakistan if the diplomatic offensive launched by the Indian Government failed. “I will not answer hypothetical questions,’’ he replied when asked again about the coalition forces striking the terrorist bases. Asked if he foresaw a war between India and Pakistan in the wake of escalation of tension in the border, he said “I hope, like all Indians, it will not take place. I did not come here to pray for the war. I think India is bothered about its security. It is understandable. Let us not overlook the December 13 attack on Indian Parliament. It was one of the greatest scandals of our life. India is making supreme efforts to resolve the problem without a war and without compromising on its security and territorial integrity. I pray for success,’’ he added. Mr Peres, who arrived here last night after holding wide-ranging discussions with top Indian leaders in New Delhi, will address a session on “Strategies to deal with multiple challenges’’ at the summit tomorrow along with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Asked whether his country would help India in tackling terrorism, he said if assistance was sought, it was willing to help. When newspersons pointed out that Israel did not wait to act against terrorism and asked whether it supported the Indian action in the past three to four months, he said “We do it (act against terrorism) when nobody else is doing it. I understand India too prefers that terrorism would stop. I don’t think India and Israel have any choice but to settle it by ourselves.’’ Stating that India was passing through a very demanding challenge, Mr Peres said “We are dealing with a highly-reasonable group of people in India.’’ India would emerge stronger from this phase, he added. The USA “cannot and will not stop’’ acts against terrorism, he said, adding that all forms of terrorism was a threat to the humanity. On whether Israel would be selling the AWACS to India, he quipped, “I did not come here as a salesman. I came to cooperate and coordinate the policies and relationship and not with a basket to sell out of it.’’
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Custodial deaths: NHRC relaxes directions New Delhi, January 9 In a recent letter to Chief Ministers and Chief Administrators of all states and union territories, the NHRC Chairperson, Justice J.S. Verma, has said while its instructions regarding videography of postmortem examination in respect of death in police custody would remain in force as before, the requirement of videography of postmortem examination in respect of death in jail would be applicable only when the preliminary inquest by the Magistrate had raised suspicion of some foul play or where such a complaint or suspicion had been made or raised. Sources in the Commission said an analysis of cases of custodial deaths reported to it in the past five years had highlighted the need for re-examination of the instructions on videography in cases of deaths in jail. A scrutiny of the reports showed that while deaths in police custody often resulted from custodial violence, a majority of deaths reported from jails were due to illness aggravated by negligence in treatment. Although the Commission viewed that postmortem examination was essential even in such cases, it felt that the requirement of videography of the examination could be relaxed to some extent. |
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No special status for Bihar Patna, January 9 The Planning Commission member and former Bihar-cadre IAS officer, Mr N.K. Singh, while talking to ‘The Tribune’ said there was a certain framework for a state to be declared a special state and Bihar did not fit in it. He, however, said the state qualified for special and large financial assistance in the wake of carving out of Jharkhand. Bihar needed to be compensated well for losing out revenue, mineral and other resources to Jharkhand., he added. Mr N.K. Singh said the plan panel was not the competent authority to decide on the special status as it would be decided by the Union Cabinet and that too after the ‘requisite approval’ from the National Development Council (NDC). The state and central governments had not been on best of terms over ‘core developmental’ issues in Bihar with the NDA leadership clearly saying that “no development is possible in Bihar till Laloo-Rabri rule exists”. Mr N.K. Singh, however, said the commission had got three different financial packages demanded by Bihar assembly (Rs 1.79 lakh crore), Bihar MPs (1.5 lakh crore) and Rabri government. The state government had so far submitted plans to the tune of Rs 4.144 crore only, he said. The Commission was weighing various aspects of the financial package to be given, he added. |
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Jessica’s sister testifies in court New Delhi, January 9 Ms Lal, who identified Jessica’s body, told the court of Additional Sessions Judge R.L. Chugh that she and her parents reached the hospital after they were informed that Jessica was shot at 0230 hours. At the hospital they saw Bina Ramani, Rohit Bal, Shyan Munshi and few others. When they tried to find out what had happened to Jessica, they were told that Shyan Munshi was in the room when Jessica was shot, she stated. She said in the testimony: “I learnt from him (Shyan Munshi) that a fair and stocky boy, wearing white T-shirt and blue jeans had entered the Tamarind Court restaurant along with four of his friends. He had an argument over a drink with Malini and she left the room. When she tried to pacify the person, he shot at her.’’ Ms Lal told the judge that she saw Jessica last in white T-shirt and blue denim shorts on April 29, 1999, night when she left home for the party at Qutub Colonade at 2200 hours. Her statement is significant as Shyan Munshi had turned hostile in the case saying that he never served liquor in the party and denied of having seen the person who shot at Jessica on the fateful night. Ms Lal told that her sister was a friend of Malini and was asked by her to help her out at the bar in her parties on Thursday night. Mr R.K. Naseem, defence counsel for prime accused Siddharth Vashist alias Manu Sharma, who cross-examined her, said Sabrina’s testimony was an improvement to her statement given to the police. On cross-examination she denied of having told the police about her conversation with Shyan Munshi, who narrated her how Jessica was shot and who shot at her.
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Tansi case: 2 IAS officers acquitted Chennai, January 9 Clearing them of charges under various sections of the IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act, Special Judge P. Anbazhagan said from the oral and documentary evidence “it is clear there is no proof to show any agreement between them or a meeting of minds to commit any illegal acts.” Besides, he said, there was also no circumstantial evidence to prove the case. On October 9, 2000, Mr Anbazhagan had convicted the two officers — a former Tansi Chairman and Managing Director T.R. Srinivasan and the then Joint Secretary in the office of Chief Minister R. Karpoorasundarapandian — along with former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, her close friend Sasikala Natarajan and two others, in two other cases relating to alleged irregularities in the purchase of Tansi property by firms owned by Ms Jayalalithaa and Sasikala. The Madras High Court on December 4 last had, however, set aside their convictions by the special court.
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US visa fees to change from January 14 New Delhi, January 9 The Consular Sections of the American Embassy New Delhi, and the Consulates General in Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata periodically alter the rupee payments for their consular application and issuance fees to bring them in line with the changing exchange rate. The fees in US dollars will remain unchanged, a statement issued here today by the US Embassy said. The Embassy and the Consulates General in Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata, including their Consular/Visa sections, will be closed on January 21 in observance of Martin Luther King’s birthday, an official US holiday. |
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Govindacharya not removed, says RSS New Delhi, January 9 In a short statement, Mr Devi clarified that Mr Govindacharya was sanctioned leave to study economic issues and globalisation and he would be back after January 14. “Mr Govindacharya is an important functionary and there is no question of his giving up his position”. Yesterday RSS spokesman M.G. Vaidya stated at a press conference that Mr Govindacharya had been removed as “sangh pracharak”. The BJP, meanwhile, today declined to comment on the Govindacharya controversy saying as far as the party was concerned he continued to be national executive member.
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First Global Director’s bail plea rejected New Delhi, January 9 In his order, Mr Justice S.K. Agarwal said the bail had been rejected considering the seriousness of the allegations against Mr Sharma and the possibility of his trying to frustrate the effort of the investigation agency to collect evidence if he was released. The judge also dismissed Mr Sharma’s allegation that he was being harassed because of his connection with the Tehelka.com issue saying the investigation in his case started on March 7 last year, prior to the defence deal expose, which came to light on March 13. He also said he was unable to accept the contention of Mr Sharma’s counsel that even if the contentions of FERA violations against his client were assumed to be true, no offence was made out. As the investigations were still in progress, any detailed discussion on merits was not called for. On Friday, the judge had reserved orders after the prosecution said it was a classic case where the accused, if released on bail, could destroy all evidence. Most of the evidence was stored in computers, and press of a button or a single message would wipe out the data, Solicitor-General Harish Salve had argued. He had said Sharma was an influential person
with considerable resources at his disposal and international contacts.
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Remand of 2 DD officials extended New Delhi, January 9 Special Judge V.K. Jain yesterday also rejected the anticipatory bail of an absconding accused Asfaq, alleged to have delivered the bribe money to a tout as well as the regular bail of T.K. Das, Controller of Programme, who was arrested along with M.A. Beig, Assistant Controller of Programme and D.K. Chakarborty (tout). The court extended the CBI remand of the trio till Friday after the agency said investigation into the case was incomplete and custodial interrogation of the accused was necessary to ascertain the actual address of a production company, which gave a blank postdated cheque to the accused. CBI counsel told the court that the address of the production company was found to be fictitious.
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Sanjay Dutt appears in court Mumbai, January 9 The actor urged that he was not well for the past two days. The designated judge Mr P.K. Kode, marked his presence and exempted him from appearance till March 31 as defence lawyers are engaged in advancing arguments on behalf of the accused after the closure of case by the prosecution. Sanjay’s exemption was urged by his lawyer Farhana Shah who said the actor could not come to the court on January 7 when the proceedings resumed after vacation as he was unwell. The judge, exempting the actor till March 31, directed him to appear periodically. He has also been allowed to visit any part of the country for film shootings after filing a detailed programme with the registrar. The actor has been warned not to misuse any bail conditions. Another accused, Hamid Dafedar alias Hamid Chuha, was also exempted till March 31 by the court today. He too was not well on January 7 when the court opened after vacations.
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Encroachments
near Jama Masjid
to be removed New Delhi, January 9 A division Bench, comprising Justices Devinder Gupta and Vikramajit Sen, said the Municipal Corporation of Delhi should remove all encroachments on or before March 31.
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Dubey to head MP
Pollution Control Board Bhopal, January 9 The MPPCB did not have a regular Chairman since February last year when its the then Chairman, Mr V.K. Jain, was arrested by the police on corruption charges. |
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Cong men take out procession Kanpur, January 9 |
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Bangalore, January 9
In video: Israeli
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres stressed the need to find a peaceful
political solution to end its stalemate with Palestine. (
