L A T E S T      N E W S

State govts providing enough security to NE people: Centre

However, the exodus of north-east people from the Bangalore city to their home states on fears of attacks showed signs of subsiding today since they started fleeing, according to indications from Railway authorities.

In confidence-building measures, six companies of the Rapid Action Force have been deployed, besides increased police patrolling in areas prominently inhabited by people from the north-east states, official sources said.

Even as a few hundreds of north-east people waited outside the city railway station to leave for their home States, fearing reprisals for the Assam violence, railway authorities this morning did not announce any special trains.

They said it is too early to take a call to arrange for special trains unless ticket sales reaches a cut off point of 2,500 a day. “Based on ticket sales, we will arrange for special trains. As of now sales have been slow-paced.”

However, they said they would take steps to arrange for special trains if ticket sales increase through the day as it did yesterday.

They said eight special trains had been arranged in the last three days, apart from three regular trains which had ferried nearly 30,000 people to their home states.

Meanwhile, north-east people continued to flee the city with hundreds thronging the railway station and heading back home.

The Central Railway station here has been seeing a flow of anxious north-easterners desperate to get tickets for their onward journey in spite of assurances of safety and no untoward incident targeting them being reported.

The police said though Tamil Nadu has never seen incidents of violence against people from the north-east, reports of incidents and rumours in other states seem to be disturbing their parents back home, who want them to come back.

The Chennai City Police has set up a round-the-clock control room and helplines exclusively for north-easterners.

However, not many students are leaving the city. “The city’s colleges have many students from the north-east on the rolls, most of whom are living in the hostels or in groups. So not many of them feel the need to leave,” a student from the north-east who did not wish to be named, said.

In a bid to reach out to the fleeing north-easterners, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has assured them that the state was peaceful and that her government would take steps to ensure their safety.

The spectacle of fear-stricken residents from north-east swarming Pune railway station in a desperate bid to head for their home states, has had a benumbing effect on the second capital of Maharashtra which is still coming to terms with what could have been a potentially catastrophic serial bomb explosions a few days back.

Despite stepped-up efforts by authorities, social organisations and help groups to remove the fear stalking hundreds of students and workers from Assam and Manipur, rattled by beastly attacks in the last four days in Kondhwa, Hadapsar and Cantonment areas of the city, they continued to make a beeline towards the railway station.

Their only goal for the time being appeared to catch the Azad Hind Express that leaves the city every evening for Howrah.

“We are returning as our parents are worried. I will come back but as of now, I am leaving with nine of my friends from Imphal,” said a female student at the railway station.

The police believe that doctored MMSs and SMSs were the main provocation behind the attacks since August 12 in which about 15 north-east residents in certain localities were targeted. Two of the 13 persons arrested by the police reportedly confessed that the MMS and SMS that depicted violent incidents in Myanmar and Assam turned them vengeful, sources said.

After approaching Facebook, Youtube and Google to remove some “objectionable links” and five videos in respect of the Assam violence, the city police has now filed a complaint against “unknown persons” under the IT Act, accusing them of exploiting the social networking sites to spread offensive, false and intimidating messages .

According to City Police Commissioner Gulabrao Pol, who has circulated a message in the city guaranteeing safety of north-east people and asking them not to heed rumours, the situation had been totally under control after police swung into action to book the culprits.

He, however, admitted that the police had not been able to stop the people from leaving the city mainly due to the fear factor stemming from unfounded rumours and threats of a backlash.

Over 4000 north-east residents have so far reportedly left the city in the last few days, with railway authorities arranging for extra bogies to accommodate a continuously swelling number of passengers.

Meanwhile, mischievous text messages claiming that people from the north-east will be targeted in Delhi, particularly after Ramdan, have started circulating with the police today urging the community not to believe in them and stating that adequate security measures have been taken.

“Fake SMSs about north-eastern people being targeted in Delhi, particularly after Ramdan, are being circulated. Do not believe them. Situation is normal. There is no violence against people from the north-east,” Robin Hibu, Joint Commissioner of Police, said.

He said the police has reviewed the security for north-east people with senior officials in the district, Special Branch and PCR.

Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar tweeted late last night, “Friends from NE please do not go by rumours being spread. They are rumours and only rumours. Please discard them. We are with you. No need to panic.”

“Situation is peaceful. Highest alert is on. The police had meetings with north-east residents in Janakpuri, Mahipalpur, Munirka, Mukherjee Nagar for proper coordination of security”.

Please report any disturbing incident to us. We are with you for help,” Kumar tweeted

“More visible patrolling in northeast-dominated areas is continuing. Any rumours just dial 100, inform local police,” Hibu said.

If anyone has any doubt, he said, one can contact him at phone numbers 011-25315003 and 9810083486 or on his email robinhibu@gmail.com.  — Agencies

Gopal Kanda surrenders, produced in Delhi court

NEW DELHI: Former Haryana minister Gopal Goyal Kanda, key accused in the Geetika Sharma suicide case, was produced before a Delhi court today. Delhi cops have sought 14-day police custody of Gopal Kanda.

After being on the run for 10 days, controversial former Haryana minister Gopal Kanda surrendered before police in the early hours on Saturday and was arrested in connection with the suicide of his former employee Geetika Sharma.

Kanda, who was absconding for the past 10 days after police served him a notice to appear before them to join investigations, surfaced at Bharat Nagar Police Station at 4am.

Before entering the police station, he told reporters that he was joining investigations as directed by the Delhi Police.

"Kanda has surrendered and we have arrested him," P Karunakaran, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-West) said.

The Delhi Police had conducted over 60 searches and raids in Haryana, Goa and Siliguri in West Bengal, besides questioning around 30 people in connection with the case. His brother Govind Kanda was also arrested on Friday for allegedly helping Kanda evade the police.

Kanda's employee, Aruna Chaddha, a senior functionary with now-defunct MDLR airlines, has already been arrested and is in judicial custody in connection with the suicide of 23-year-old air hostess Geetika Sharma, who allegedly took her life on August 5 at her Ashok Vihar residence.

In her suicide note, Geetika had alleged that Kanda and Chaddha were harassing her to rejoin the former minister's firm after she left the job.

Reacting to Kanda's surrender, Geetika's brother Ankit said, "This is a planned and well thought out entry. Now my only fear is that the investigations will be impartial of not. 12 days is enough to destroy evidence. Whatever power Kanda could have used to tamper with evidence he has. The investigation should be transparent."

"I want his interrogation to be done before camera and a retired judge so that he does not change his statement," he said.

Ankit said Geetika's Facebook account has been deactivated and alleged that Kanda was behind it.

"I have informed the DCP about it. I don't know who or how it was done. Kanda is behind it," he said.

He also alleged that the Haryana government is supporting Kanda.

The anticipatory bail plea of Kanda was dismissed by the Delhi High Court on Friday which said that despite being a "free man" he himself did not file it and it was a "sufficient" ground for its rejection.

The court also came down heavily on the Delhi Police for not pressing its plea before the magisterial court to search his premises in Haryana.

Without going into the legal and factual contentions raised by Kanda's lawyer in the day-long hearing, Justice P K Bhasin had said, "In my view, this anticipatory bail application is liable to be rejected, without going into the merits at all, only on the ground that the same has not been filed by the person apprehending his arrest."

The Rohini Court on Thursday had issued a Non Bailable Warrant (NBW) against Kanda.

Kanda, who was last seen coming out of his Gurgaon residence on August 8, was served with a notice to join investigations on August 7. — PTI

VVS Laxman announces retirement from international cricket

Hyderabad: VVS Laxman, who won many a match for India with his wristy elegance including an epic 281 against Australia in Kolkata, today announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect, bringing down the curtains on a glorious career spanning 16 years. The 37-year-old Laxman, one of the finest batsmen in contemporary cricket, said that he felt it was the right time to bid adieu to the game which he played with "great pride for the country".

"I would like to announce my retirement from international cricket with immediate effect. I think it's right time to move on", an emotional Laxman told a press conference here.

Laxman, who was picked in the Indian squad for the two-match Test series against New Zealand beginning here from August 23, surprisingly chose to hang his boots with immediate effect without taking the opportunity to bow out of international cricket in front of his home crowd. 

"It was a tough decision to take, I have always listened to my inner conscience. The inner voice is a divine voice, I have always done that right through my career. There was a lot of debate in the last four days. I felt this is the right time to move on", he said.

Laxman, who earned the sobriquet 'Very Very Special' for his style and flair, played 134 Tests, amassing 8,781 runs at an average of 45.97. He scored 17 hundreds and 56 half centuries in the longer format of the game.

Laxman, who was not a regular in India's ODI team, played 86 matches for an aggregate of 2338 at an average of 30.76. Unfortunately for him, he could never be a part of India's World Cup campaigns which remains one of his biggest regrets.

"I have always kept my country's success and need ahead of my personal aspirations. And while I would love contributing to the team's success, especially against England and Australia, I think this is the right to give opportunity to the youngsters in home conditions ahead of international assignments", he said. 

Laxman, however, made it clear that he will continue to play for Hyderabad till this year.

"It was a dream for me to play for India since childhood and I am extremely thankful to the Almighty for giving me the opportunity to serve my country."

"I always felt that through cricket I got an opportunity to serve my country. I was fortunate to play in an era when India played some of its best cricket, home as well as away."

"I would like to thank everyone who guided me and encouraged me through my career."

Laxman will always be remembered for the magnificent 281 he scored against Australia at the Eden Gardens in March 2001 -- an innings which didn't just change the face of the match but also turned the entire series on its head.

That knock was ranked sixth in Wisden's list of 100 great Test innings in the history of the game. It was just one of the several match-winning knocks that the unassuming batsman played against the mighty Aussies at their peak.

"When I remember that knock, I feel how lucky I was to be part of history. How we changed the result of that match. It is always emotional when I think of that knock", he said.

Asked whether he had taken a hasty decision for which he will regret later, he said "I never regret the decisions I take, because my conscience is clear. I got the privilege to serve the country. I am satisfied with the decision, definitely I will never regret that I took the decision".

"I always tried to my best to give everything to the team while mantaining my dignity. There were times I am sure I did not perform well, I disappointed them but I can assure that it was not due to lack of effort," he said.

"I conclude in all humility by praying to the Almighty to take and bless Indian cricket to the highest level in the world in all forms of the game."

"It has been an emotional, fabulous and memorable journey which I will definitely cherish for the rest of my life." Laxman said. 

VVS Laxman earned the nickname of 'Very Very Special' after his knock of 281 but his stupendous record against Australia, which clearly was the best team during his playing days makes him a class apart. He scored as many as six centuries against the Australians -- all of which were hallmark of his greatness.

A master of playing under pressure, he perfected the art of shepherding the tail and was the hero in most famous India wins in the last decade. Whether it was negotiating a vicious turning track or the bouncing ball, Laxman adapted his game easily.

Ever since that epic 281 in 2001 at Eden, Laxman was a foe the opposition bowlers feared the most. More match-winning feats followed with a sparkling 148 at Adelaide (2003-04 series vs Australia)), 103 not out at P Sara Oval (2010 series vs Sri Lanka), 73 not out at Mohali (2010 vs Australia) and 58 not out at the Kotla (2011 vs West Indies). The last four knocks came in the 4th innings chase, making him a man for the crisis.

In 2010, Laxman played yet another defining innings ---an unbeaten knock of 73 against Australia at Mohali. He was suffering from acute back spasms and had to bat with a runner and he guided India to an improbable victory by playing alongside No 10 batsman Ishant Sharma.

During the second phase of his career, he turned batting with tail-enders into an art. He missed out on many centuries as he had to bat with the lower order.

His innings of 96 against South Africa in Durban in 2010 was another effort worth remembering as he played against the likes of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. That innings set up an Indian victory.

After disappointing show in England and Australia "drop Laxman" chorus grew from all quarters. — PTI

16-year-old arrested, charged with Sikh man's murder

US sleuth links gurdwara shooting with Sikh murders

WASHINGTON: A detective in California is raising the possibility that the murders of two Sikh men there last year may be connected to the tragic shooting at a Sikh gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. "Given the fact they're Sikh, there's that possibility," Detective Kevin Papineau of the Elk Grove Police Department, who has been investigating the California murders on March 4, 2011, told ABC News Friday.

Surinder Singh and Gurmej Atwal routinely walked around their neighbourhood, but on their stroll that day they were suddenly gunned down. Singh died at the scene. Atwal managed to hang on for six weeks in a hospital before passing away.

After white supremacist gunman Wade Michael Page killed six Sikh worshippers in the Oak Creek temple Aug 5, Papineau decided to alert the FBI about the possibility that the two incidents might be connected, according to ABC News.

"I've been in contact with FBI agents to try to rule in or rule out any possible connection. They're looking into it and we haven't made any progress toward ruling it in or out yet," he was quoted as saying.

Authorities in Oak Creek, however, do not believe that there is any connection between the two incidents.

"From what I know of the situation I find it very unlikely," Oak Creek Police chief John Edwards told ABC. "They may be trying to connect it, but I don't think there's anything there." — PTI