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Friday,
June 20, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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ISI using Bangladesh ‘to create trouble in NE’ USA will not be able to rein in Pak:
officials Sinha meets Chinese
counterpart NHRC summons
UP Chief Secy
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Hearing in Ayodhya
case deferred TEACHERS’ SELECTION Gujarat Govt to probe charges
against police CBI to probe Rawat case NCB team
raids Biswas’s house Now kidney racket in
Hyderabad Pay 1.12 cr to Asha, music company told Workshop on wildlife
protection
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ISI using Bangladesh ‘to create trouble in NE’ New Delhi, June 19 Talking to reporters here, Lt-Gen Kamal Davar, Director-General of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), pointed out that many insurgent groups of the North-East were operating freely from Bangladesh in collusion with fundamentalist organisations being funded by the ISI in that country. “We are deeply concerned about the activities of the ISI and the Indian insurgent groups in Bangladesh. The growth of Islamic fundamentalism in the region, coupled with the porous nature of our borders, pose fresh concerns for security environment in the region,” General Davar said. The DIA chief said India knew exactly where the ISI had set up training camps for the insurgent groups from the North-East and what kind of help was being provided to them. India, he said, was keeping a close watch on the situation which could prove to be of concern as Pakistan was now also targeting the North-East to fuel further trouble in the country. The insurgent groups in the North-East use the porous borders with Bangladesh to take refuge there after carrying out operations here. The top leaders of these groups, who are also staying in Bangladesh camps, are now said to be in close touch with ISI handlers and have been arranging for all assistance for their cadres to carry out more operations in the region. Giving an overall security status in the country, he however, said the situation in the North-East was well under control of both the security forces and intelligence agencies. However, there was no room for complacency as the region had the potential to flare up at a short notice. He described the recently launched large scale anti-militancy operation Sarp Vinash in Jammu and Kashmir as a “roaring success” and said along with this a number of other operations had been started to keep the heat on militants. He pointed out that there was a yearning for peace in Jammu and Kashmir and the initiative shown by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the healing touch policy of the state government was evoking positive response from the people. |
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USA will not be able to rein in Pak:
officials New Delhi, June 19 Senior government officials privy to confidential intelligence reports admit that despite all efforts by India to convince the USA of the Pakistani motives and its backing of the mercenary groups, hardly any pressure has been applied on our neighbour on the west to desist from its designs. The Pakistani agencies, apt at the decieving game, rather than closing down terrorist camps have clandestinely been shifting these from one area to the other to avoid their detection by the US and UK agencies. India has enough evidence to prove that all claims being made by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf regarding the terrorist camps are false. The present lull on the border was a ploy by Islamabad to further win the confidence of Washington. On first opportunity, all efforts would be made by Pakistan to push in large number of mercenaries, estimated to be around 3000, waiting along the border. Official sources point out that even Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani carried sufficient evidence with him during his just-concluded visit to the USA and the UK. He handed over the evidence to leaders of the two countries on this visit but was not able to get any categorical commitment from them on what concrete steps would be taken to rein in Pakistan. While the USA assured him that it would impress upon Pakistan to end cross-border terrorism, which it has been saying for long now, the UK informed him that it would convey India’s concern to the Pakistani President when he would stop at London on way to Camp David. Officials point out that both the USA and the UK face a predicament where they feel that a known devil (Musharraf) is better than an unknown one. This is more due to the growing level of Islamic fundamentalism and the Islamic groups in Pakistan where the two countries feel that Gen Musharraf would be a better bet for them to carry on “their” fight against terrorism than these hardcore groups. Reports of the USA agreeing to provide more arms and ammunition to Pakistan and also arranging for more aid from various agencies a indication enough for India that nothing much is going to happen on the cross-border infiltration front. At best, as the leaders of the two countries have said they would speak to Gen Musharraf but would not be able to force him to take specific steps towards ending cross-border infiltration. |
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Sinha meets Chinese
counterpart New Delhi, June 19 External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha had a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Li Xaocing in Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh today where the two leaders discussed the broad contours of Mr Vajpayee’s China visit. Mr Vajpayee’s China visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister since a decade, takes place at a time when there have been speculatious about the possibility of a China-Russia-India axis to counter the increasing influence of the USA across the globe. The Chinese leadership is understood to have taken note of India’s much-increased clout in global affairs and the impressive strides made by Indian economy. This was clearly evident in Phnom Penh today when the 10 permanent member countries of ASEAN held a separate meeting with India. The fact that ASEAN-India meeting took place denotes India’s growing clout as this meeting was in addition to a meeting between ASEAN permanent members and 10 sectoral dialogue partners. This development has not gone unnoticed by China. Sources in the Vajpayee government say that the Prime Minister’s China visit has strategic overtones despite the fact that “no major breakthrough” is expected regarding the decades-old Sino-Indian border dispute and China’s continuing tactical and military cooperation with Pakistan. Major irritants in the Sino-Indian relations, from the Indian point of view, are: Chinese official maps still show Arunachal Pradesh as Chinese territory and Sikkim as an “independent” country. From the Chinese point of view, Beijing is apprehensive about India continuing to give asylum to Tibetan leaders, including Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama. However, diplomatic observers here say that despite these factors, Mr Vajpayee’s China visit assumes significance. That is because New Delhi and Beijing now find themselves in the same boat with regard to international security and political equations that have undergone dramatic changes. It is understood that though the projected scenario of a China-Russia-India axis was still a far cry, it could not be totally ruled out in future. That is largely because Beijing has been apprehensive of the increasing US presence in south central Asia. There are classified reports that the USA has been maintaining some 15,000 of its troops in Pakistan in the name of fighting Taliban and Al-Qaida cadres, though Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has denied such reports. This issue has been a major irritant in Sino-Pakistani relations. At the same time, China is unlikely to change its tactical relationship with Pakistan. Sources disclose that as an index of the growing Sino-Indian relationship, a number of agreements are expected to be signed during Mr Vajpayee’s visit to Beijing, Shanghai and Youlang in the fields of trade, culture, information technology and science and technology. |
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NHRC summons UP Chief Secy New Delhi, June 19 The commission, after receiving the complaint of Mr Chandra who was kept in illegal detention on a false charge of several offences, including that of murder, and was later released when it was found that the alleged murdered man was alive and that no such offence had been committed, had asked for a report from the state police, a NHRC press note said here today. The report submitted by the UP police said no thorough investigation was made by the investigating officer, as a result of which the petitioner had to remain in jail, it said, adding that the two Sub-Inspectors responsible for the neglect were placed under suspension. The investigation officer submitted a report for the prosecution of the delinquent police officers but due to lack of sanction for prosecution, the investigation was closed and a final report submitted to the court, which appeared to have been duly accepted. Pointing out that those responsible for the illegal detention and false prosecution of Mr Chandra were liable to be proceeded in accordance with law, the NHRC also held payment of compensation to the victim for human rights violation. However, despite repeated reminders, the commission viewed this “casual attitude of the state government seriously” and summoned the state Chief Secretary to appear before it.
— PTI |
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Hearing in Ayodhya case deferred Rae
Bareli, June 19 After hearing arguments from both sides, the special Judicial Magistrate V.K. Singh ordered that the copies of the cassettes be prepared by the CBI under the supervision of the court and be handed over to the accused on the next hearing on June 24. Earlier, the copying section of the court submitted a report that copies of the four video and three audio cassettes related to the case could not be prepared as no machines were available with the court for the purpose. In view of this report, the counsels of the accused agreed that the copies now be prepared by the CBI under the supervision of the court. Besides Mr Advani, the seven accused in the case include HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, BJP leaders Uma Bharati and Vinay Katiyar, VHP leaders Ashok Singhal, Giriraj Kishore, Vishnu Hari Dalmia and Sadhvi Ritambra. The counsels for the defence again requested the court to exempt all eight accused from personal appearance in the court till further order but the court granted them exemption only for today.
— UNI
New Delhi, June 19 “Their
(VHP’s) apprehensions and statements were uncalled for as there is no government proposal to offer any kind of sops,” Mr Chinmayanand told a group of mediapersons. “But let me make it very clear that there is no clear cut proposal from the Centre, to the best of my knowledge,” he said. On Monday last, top VHP leaders had accused that the Centre with “bartering away Hindu interests” and “offering sops to the Muslims to return to power after the general elections.” |
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UP Govt, Centre ‘failed’ to protect Babri structure
New Delhi, June 19 |
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TEACHERS’ SELECTION New Delhi, June 19 Additional Solicitor-General of the Central Government Raju Ramachandran and Haryana Advocate-General Surya Kant Sharma sought further time from the court to submit the replies by the Chief Minister and the Director-General of the Haryana Vigilance Bureau, stating that the reply on behalf of the state government had already been filed. Accepting the request by the counsel for the Haryana government, a Bench comprising Mr Justice R.C. Lahoti and Mr Justice Brijesh Kumar posted further hearing on the writ petition by IAS officer Sanjiv Kumar after the ongoing summer vacation. Mr Sanjiv Kumar, who was holding the additional charge of Director, Primary Education in 2000, had alleged that the Chief Minister had pressurised him to replace the original list with the “fake” selection list of JBT teachers for 19 districts of the state in the presence of his OSD Vidyadhar, who had got it prepared by pressurising the District Selection Committee (DSC) members. However, the Haryana Government, in its affidavit filed through its Special Secretary R.D. Sheokand, today refuted the allegation and submitted that no direction was ever issued “directly or indirectly” regarding the selection of the teachers by the government or by the Directorate of Education to DSCs, responsible for appointment, to prepare the alleged “second list”. |
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Gujarat Govt to probe charges
against police Gandhinagar, June 19 Taking a serious note of media reports about allegations levelled by an NGO that the Vadodara police persuaded witnesses appearing before the commission to speak favourably of the police, the state government had directed Home Secretary Raj Kumar to probe if any such case had come to light, an official press note said. The state government clarified that it had neither any role to play in the commission’s ongoing hearing nor had any information about such charges. The Commission’s probe was progressing in an unbiased and independent manner, it added. About the presence of some officials during the panel’s hearing, it said the commission’s proceedings were going on independently as in the case of a court.
— UNI |
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CBI to probe Rawat case
Dehra Dun, June 19 In his address to the House, Mr Tiwari said it was an “unfortunate” episode and he was “deeply hurt” by it.
— UNI |
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NCB team raids Biswas’s house
Kolkata, June 19 The former CBI official, who detected the involvement of Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav and Mr Jagannath Mishra, two former Chief Ministers of Bihar in the multi-crore fodder scam, was not present at the time of the raid. The NCB officials, however, interrogated his wife and his son among others and asked them not to leave the station without prior permission of the bureau.
— OC |
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Now kidney racket in Hyderabad Hyderabad, June 19 Among the arrested were six donors, who were allegedly paid Rs 60,000 to Rs 80,000 each, while the middlemen said to have pocketed 10 to 15 per cent commission. — PTI |
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Pay 1.12 cr to Asha, music company told Mumbai, June 19 Hearing a petition filed by the singer, Justice D.G. Karnik recently restrained the company from disposing of its assets and ordered Magnasound to pay forthwith two instalments of Rs 16.82 lakh each, due on March 31 last year and April 28 this year. The company has filed an appeal before a Division Bench which will be heard in due course. The court asked the official liquidator to appoint Chairman and Managing Director of Magnasound Shashi Gopal as its agent in the event of the company paying two instalments of Rs 16.82 lakh each and depositing cheques for the balance instalments of Rs 39.24 lakh each on August 30 and October 31. Magnasound came out with music albums of Asha Bhosle and compact discs of songs rendered by her for which the company received sale proceeds but did not pay her royalty due to her. Being aggrieved, she dragged the music company to the court by filing a suit for recovery of her dues.
— PTI |
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Workshop on wildlife
protection New Delhi, June 19 Conceptualised by the Union Minister for Environment and Forests, Mr T.R. Baalu, the two-day workshop is being organised by Coimbatore-based Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) and Regional Deputy Director, Wildlife Preservation, Southern Region, Chennai. The key issues listed on the agenda include implementation of various provisions of the Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act, 2002, and review of the National Wildlife Action plan (2002-2016) adopted last year by the Indian Board of Wildlife under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister. |
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