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Advani takes charge
DSGMC chief rules out early poll
Check atrocities on
SCs, NHRC chief tells Centre
Veerappan had 3 bullet injuries: medical report
Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu, October 19 The post-mortem examination conducted on Veerappan’s body today revealed that he had suffered three bullet injuries.
Villagers angry over killing of ‘their Robinhood’
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STF chief tonsures head to fulfil vow
Karnataka to probe brigand’s political links
Assam alerted about ISI-backed strikes Guwahati, October 19 The Centre has alerted the Assam Government about a possible strike by the ISI with the help of some militant outfits in different parts of Assam and the North-East to destabilise the ongoing peace process with insurgent Naga groups and the NDFB.
Nepal offers sops to Indian tourists
EC orders revision of rolls in TN
Chinese leader meets Natwar
House panel concerned at vacancies in KVs
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Advani takes charge
New Delhi, October 19 The 77-year-old Hindutva ideologue, who arrived at the BJP headquarters here along with predecessor M Venkaiah Naidu to take over the responsibility of reviving the fortunes of the party, was given a hero’s welcome by hundreds of workers. Amidst drum beats, slogan
earing and busting of crackers, Mr Advani was ushered into the party President’s office by Mr Naidu and second generation leaders. Mr Advani was accompanied by his wife Kamala Advani and his daughter Pratibha. Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi were conspicuous by their absence. Interestingly, former Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha Najma Heptullah, who switched over to the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha poll was among the first one along with former Union Minister Som Pal to greet Mr Advani soon after he took over the party post. “Party workers should think about the future of the party and see how it can be made bright,” Mr Advani, flanked by Mr Naidu and wife Kamala, told mediapersons. Mr Advani, who did not take any questions from the press, sought to put a lid on the controversy over the leadership issue, saying “that episode is over”. “As far as change of leadership in the party is concerned, that is over now and I will urge the partymen to start thinking about strengthening the\ party. It will be good for the country also,” Mr Advani said. “The partymen should start looking at the coming elections in some states next year,” he added. Elections are due in Bihar, Haryana and Jharkhand in February-March and in May in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal. He heaped praise on Mr Naidu, who had quit yesterday citing personal reasons and challenges before the party in the wake of its debacle in the Lok Sabha poll and recent Maharashtra Assembly elections. Mr Advani’s appointment would be ratified at a meeting of the party’s national council here on October 27, party spokesman Arun Jaitley said after a meeting of senior leaders presided over by the new party chief. The party’s new working committee would be announced after the national council meeting. |
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DSGMC chief rules out early poll
New Delhi, October 19 Talking to Tribune, Mr Chandhok said the elections to the Executive Board would be held only in January and that was a commitment. “However, there is no way elections would be held now. In any case, I am consulting legal experts whether the demand of these 34 members has any legal bearing or not,” he said. Hardening of stance between the Congress-controlled DSGMC and the Akali parties might result in litigations, which could prolong the term of Mr Chandhok under the grab of the matter being subjudice. The DSGMC President’s remarks came a day after the 34 members of the committee demanded holding of elections by November 2 and warned that if Mr Chandhok failed to comply with the demand, they would themselves hold the elections on November 17. Mr Chandhok dismissed the demand of the two rival Akali parties. “They do not want election for the benefit of the community, but for utilising gurdwara funds for their personal benefit,” he alleged. When pointed out that the legal provision of the Delhi Gurdwara Act, 1971, made it mandatory for the holding of annual elections to the executive, he said “The rules have not been strictly complied in the past. When Akali parties were controlling the DSGMC.” The signatories quoted Section 19(1) of the Delhi Gurdwara Act, 1971, which states that an annual general meeting is required to be held for the election of the President, office-bearers and members of the Executive Board. The term of the executive ended on September 24. However, the incumbent President, who is a member of the Congress, deferred the election till January 27, 2005, on the ground that sufficient number of persons had not sought the holding of poll. The signatories included Shiromani Akali Dal chief Avtar Singh Hit and Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi President Paramjit Singh Sarna. The coming together of these two groups is being viewed as significant as infighting between the two groups had led to the installation of Congress candidate to head the DSGMC in the Capital. Incidentally, the Sarna group, which had won a landside victory in the DSGMC poll, had supported the candidature of Mr Chandhok as the SAD Delhi President had completed one term and the Act prohibits any person to be the President for more than two
consecutive terms. However, Mr Chandhok failed to honour the unwritten understanding he had reached with Mr Sarna and opposed all moves to hold poll for the Executive Board when he completed his term. |
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Check atrocities on
SCs, NHRC chief tells Centre
New Delhi, October 19 The report, prepared by former IAS officer K.B. Saxena, includes identifying untouchability prone-areas and preparing an action plan. The NHRC Chairman has urged the Prime Minister to institute an appropriate mechanism at the Centre to monitor steps being taken to prevent atrocities against Scheduled Castes. Addressing a press conference after releasing the report here today, Mr Justice Anand said institutional injustice, which harmed weaker sections, persisted even after 57 years of Independence. “Results of the Prevention of SC/ST Atrocities Act seeking to punish the offenders, have been poor because of the lopsided implementation of the Act, and lack of political will in removing historical injustices faced by this section of the society,” he said. The main reason, he said, for the continuation of atrocities against vulnerable sections was indifference of society and its refusal to change its mindset to solve the problem. He said while some states had acknowledged the letter and given assurance to take appropriate action on recommendations, some had instructed ministries and secretaries concerned to implement these. However, some had even failed to acknowledge the letter. “ So much so for their sensitivities,” he quipped. He pointed out that a majority of cases of atrocities against vulnerable sections had failed because they had not been dealt with sensitivity. While some states had implemented the award of interim relief announced by the NHRC in certain cases, in others not even a departmental inquiry had been ordered. He urged all states to implement the mandate of the Constitution, especially Article 15, which barred discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, sex, race and colour. Among other recommendations of the Report are setting up exclusive special courts where volume of cases of atrocity is large and appointing competent and committed special public prosecutors, launching a three-tier training programme for police and civil functionaries, assigning women officers to all atrocity-prone areas, giving self-help groups of Scheduled Caste women elementary legal training, identifying in each district an NGO which can be approached in case of custodial violence or any other atrocity and sensitising panchayats about issues concerning Scheduled Castes and various denotified tribes. The NHRC Dalit Cell called for vigorous implementation of the full range of existing legal provisions to eliminate injustice and exploitation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Dalit Cell in charge R.S. Kalha said whenever Dalits asserted their rights, be it in terms of access to land or other public facilities, there was tension between persons belonging to the upper castes and Dalits, often leading to attacks against the latter. “There is a need to combat age-old biases and entrenched attitudes through education and public information campaign,” he said urging NGOs and the media to mobilise support for enforcement of law and drawing attention to the insensitivity of public functionaries. The NHRC plans to bring out the report in Hindi and other regional languages. |
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Veerappan had 3 bullet injuries: medical report
Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu,
October 19 A confidential medical report said Veerappan had sustained bullet injuries on his forehead, chest and hip. One bullet was taken out during the post-mortem examination. Sethukulli Govindan, Veerappan’s associate who was also eliminated in the encounter, had suffered 15 bullet injuries. Seven bullets were extracted from his body during the post-mortem examination. Sethumani, who was also killed, had six bullet injuries, four bullets were removed from his body. The post-mortem report of Chandra Gowda revealed six bullet injuries. Two bullets were removed during the post-mortem examination, the report added.
— UNI |
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Villagers angry over killing of ‘their Robinhood’
Dharmapuri (Tamil Nadu),
October 19 Anger was evident from their expression and reaction to the encounter in which the brigand was shot to death. “He is our great Vanniya warrior and we lost him in a fake encounter,” said Manoharan, a resident of Melcheri village. For 62-year-old Venkatammal from Velapatti village it was like losing her own son. “I feel as if I had lost my son. He has not done anything for my family. But I have heard that he had done a lot for the people in this area,” she said. Young Vijayan, belonging to Lakimpatti village, said, “Veerappan has never been against any individual or local people. He was only against the government and the police.” Mystery shrouds his death. “The whole thing appears to have been well arranged, (it was a) fake encounter,” Vijayan said. Maran from Maravadi village said he regretted that such an end should come to a “great warrior.” Another youth stood in front of Veerappan’s body and saluted it as a mark of paying homage to him. Joy in native village
A mood of rejoice prevailed in the native village Gopinatham in Karnataka of Veerappan as news about his death in an encounter in Tamil Nadu spread. His death has brought great relief to the 5000 persons of this tiny village who had been living in constant fear for the past several years. They had always been the target of the police and forest officials whenever an incident or raid involving Veerappan was reported. The police used to round up a few villagers and constantly question them. As news about the death of the brigand and three of his associates in an encounter last night came in, the villagers burst crackers and rejoiced. The brigand owned 19 acres in the village. Today there was
none to tender it or cultivate on it. The entire land lay waste covered with thorny bushes. Wife claims body
Muthulakshmi, wife of Veerappan, arrived today to claim the body of her husband who was killed in an encounter with the STF late last night. Muthulakshmi, who came from her native village Singapuram near here, went to the Government Hospital, where the body of Veerappan was taken for post-mortem. Meanwhile, the relatives of two other criminals — Sethukkuli Govindan and Chandra Gowda — had also come to the town to receive the bodies. For Gowda, his father had come to receive the mortal remains. The STF sources said the relatives of the fourth deceased, Sethumani, who was also killed in the encounter, were expected to arrive here later in the day. The body of Veerappan would be kept at the hospital premises for the public to have a glimpse of the “most wanted” criminal in the post-Independence era.
— PTI |
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Cash prize, housing plot for each STF member
Chennai, October 19 Addressing a press conference here, a visibly elated Chief Minister congratulated every member of the STF right from Additional Director General of Police K. Vijaykumar, who led the STF, to the last cook, orderly and bearer. “It is a great day for the government and the state police. When I first received the phone call from Mr Vijayakumar last night, I felt it was the most wonderful news in my political career,’’ she said. Pointing out that the recruitment to the STF was purely on a voluntary basis, Ms Jayalalithaa said the STF personnel should be specially rewarded for having endured hardships and made sacrifices for years together. They had spent years away from their families and the comforts of home and lived in the wretched conditions of the forest, she said. Ms Jayalalithaa said the encounter death of Veerappan and the implementation of New Veeranam project were “big achievements” of her government. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said Veerappan’s wife did not require any sympathy or support as she was already well settled financially. “In fact, Veerappan has seen to it that she is well provided. I don’t think she requires your sympathy at all,” Ms Jayalalithaa told reporters here. Muthulaksmi, along with her two children,
has settled at her native village of Singapuram in Dharmapuri district while her husband reigned the forests of both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for nearly two decades. Ms Jayalalithaa said the government had so far spent about Rs 50 crore on the decade-long operation against Veerappan since the inception of the STF in 1993. She refuted reports in a section of the media that Rs 1,500 crore had been spent on the operation against Veerappan. The Chief Minister said she gave full operational freedom to the STF and had only ordered them to catch the brigand dead or alive.
— UNI |
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STF chief tonsures head to fulfil vow
Dharmapuri (Tamil Nadu),
October 19 This was the explanation given to newspersons, who were a bit surprised when Mr K. Vijayakumar, who had led “Operation Cocoon” intended to nab the brigand, came to address them wearing the STF cap on a clean-shaven head. The lanky and handsome-looking cop revealed that soon after completing the operation, he tonsured his head at the famous ‘Bannariamman’ temple at Satyamangalam. “I had taken a vow to this effect and I tonsured my head and offered worship there,” Mr Vijayakumar said. And to those who were wondering why Bannariamman temple in particular, pat came Mr Vijayakumar’s reply: “Veerappan also was in the habit of offering worship at this temple.”
— UNI |
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Karnataka to probe brigand’s political links
Bangalore, October 19 “I will discuss the issue with the persons concerned to decide on the nature of inquiry to be instituted”, he told reporters soon after his return from
New Delhi. Though Veerappan and his associates had been killed in an encounter, there was a need to pursue certain vital issues regarding those who provided the bandit political and financial support that helped him to survive for more than two decades, he said. He was animal: Rajkumar
Kannada thespian Rajkumar felt “relieved” and was not “excited” by the death of forest brigand
Veerappan, who held him captive in the forests for 109 days. Rajkumar, who was in a happy mood addressing a press conference in the company of his family members at his house here, said he was waiting to take a trip “fearlessly” to his native Dodda
Gajanur, located on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border from where he was kidnapped by the bandit on July 30, 2002. “A nuisance who held the nation to ransom finally has ended,” Rajkumar said describing Veerappan as a “cruel animal” and a “bad worm”. Pointing that the killing of Veerappan was not enough, Rajkumar cautioned, it is a ‘upa
samhara’ (part elimination). There are other worms in the forest who have followed Veerappan’s footprints, they also should be eliminated”.
— PTI |
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Assam alerted about ISI-backed strikes
Guwahati, October 19 According to a senior state intelligence officer the ISI has instructed Dubai-based Dawood Ibrahim to organise simultaneous attacks in the North-East and Mumbai. The secret central report reveals the ISI has threatened Dawood Ibrahim that all support extended to him will be withdrawn if he fails to organise violence in India. The ISI has reportedly made it clear that if Dawood fails to create disturbances in India it will back his rival, Chhota
Shakil, for the purpose. Anwar, brother of Chhota Shakil, was recently in Pakistan. The state intelligence department has had its first round of meeting with the Army intelligence to chalk out a strategy. The Central intelligence has also decided to survey illegal Madarasas on the Assam-Bangladesh and Meghalaya-Bangladesh borders, that are reportedly being used to train ISI agents. The Bangladesh-based
Harkat-ul-Mujahiddin was also colluding with the ISI to disturb the peace process in the North-East Mumbai is on the target list being the business capital of the country. |
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Nepal offers sops to Indian tourists
New Delhi, October 19 Indians visiting to Nepal by the Royal Nepal Airlines (RNA) between October 15 and December 31 this year will get them air tickets for round trips to Bangkok, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. All that the
travellers from India have to do is to drop their boarding passes into the collection box kept at the Tourist Information Counter of the Nepal Tourism Board at the Tribhuvan International Airport at Kathmandu. The RNA is offering 20 of these round trip air tickets every week from Delhi,
Bangalore and Mumbai with a three-night complementary stay at Kathmandu thrown
in. The prizes won, however, have to be used by July 15, 2005. Incidentally, travellers
from India constitute almost 33 per cent of overall arrivals in Nepal and with the increase in number of flights frequency to Kathmandu the Nepal Tourism Board is looking at taking further advantage from it. |
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EC orders revision of rolls in TN
New Delhi, October 19 In its six-page order, the commission asserted that the exercise of preparation of electoral rolls was a constitutional mandate vested in it and it was committed to act on the Thomas Enquiry Committee report that had revealed acts of omissions and commissions at various levels on the part of officials entrusted with preparation of the electoral rolls. The commission also rejected the suggestion of political parties that services of youths and NGOs should be used for preparation of the electoral rolls. The political parties said that some officials were biased towards certain parties. |
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Chinese leader meets Natwar
New Delhi, October 19 The Ministry of External Affairs sees Mr Tang's visit as part of the continued high-level exchanges between India and China. The meeting comes at a time when bilateral trade between India and China has crossed $10 billion. Diplomatic sources said today's delegation-level talks between India and China covered a vast range of bilateral, regional and international issues. The two leaders reviewed recent developments in India-China relations and exchanged views on the further improvement of bilateral relations. However, the boundary question, it is understood, was left out of today's discussions as the two countries' special representatives — National Security Adviser J.N. Dixit from the Indian side and Vice Minister in Chinese Foreign Office, Dai Bingguo from the Chinese side — are already seized of the matter. The next round of special representatives-level talks are scheduled to take place this year end. The delegation-level talks that lasted more than an hour in Hyderabad House were followed by a dinner that Mr Natwar Singh hosted in honour of Mr Tang. The official designation of Mr Tang is State Councillor of the People's Republic of China, which is a rank above Foreign Minister. Mr Tang is scheduled to call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tomorrow evening. He is also scheduled to have talks with National Security Adviser J.N. Dixit and meet Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani tomorrow. The Chinese delegation includes Vice-Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council Chen Jinyu, Vice-Minister for Culture Mme Meng Xiaosi, and President of the Exim Bank of China Yang
Zilin.
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House panel concerned at vacancies in KVs
New Delhi, October 19 The Department of Secondary and Higher Education has been saying that the vacancies could not be filled due to the absence of a regular Commissioner for the past six months. The committee, shooting down the argument in its 150th report, said these vacancies might have been accumulating for a long period of time and asked the government to fill these on a priority basis. Countering that if admissions could go on, why not recruitment, the committee said that apparently there was no institutionalised mechanism for recruiting teachers in KVs and recommended a permanent system for recruiting them. Regarding transfers in KVs, the committee hoped that the new policy put in place would be implemented with a human face. The committee said of the 902 KVs, 371 did not have permanent buildings and termed the situation as "highly undesirable". |
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New Delhi, October 19
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NHPC Director
New Delhi, October 19 |
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Usha Mehra may head POTA panel
New Delhi, October 19 Law Minister H.R. Bharadwaj told mediapersons here today. |
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New Delhi, October 19
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