Srinagar/New Delhi: A special "Kasab class" is part of Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT)'s training module for its new recruits, during which they are told about mistakes committed by Ajmal Kasab during the deadly Mumbai terror attacks.

This emerged during interrogation of LeT terrorist Mohd Naveed Jutt, alias Abu Hanzala, a resident of Multan in Pakistan who was arrested by the police in the third week of last month in south Kashmir, according to official sources.

Giving details of his background, Jutt told interrogators that his father was a retired Army driver and he, along with his brothers, was part of madrassas which were owned by Jamaat-ud-Dawa, a front for LeT, the sources said.

Jutt is the first Lashkar terrorist who has said during interrogation that he had met Kasab, the Pakistan terrorist hanged in November last year after being sentenced to death for his role in the 2008 Mumbai carnage.

Accused of killing many policemen in south Kashmir, Jutt is reported to have said that he was part of Borevalla Sahiwala camp of LeT in Multan district of Punjab, where he had met Kasab, whose father was a butcher at the same madrassa (religious school).

He recalled Kasab as having been reserved during his brief interaction, which came months before the Mumbai attack.

Jutt is reported to have told his interrogators that the LeT bosses gave a video presentation to the new recruits in which there is graphic description of his mistakes during "Daura-e-Sufa" (training cadre for religious indoctrination) at Maksar Aksar Camp in 2009, the sources said.

Among the mistakes which were pointed out by LeT in its presentation was the inability of Kasab and his team to destroy the boat that carried them to Mumbai coast, speaking on satellite phones with real identities, inability to take any hostages and getting arrested, the sources said.

A Class V dropout, Jutt had entered Kashmir through Keran in north Kashmir in October 2012. He shifted to south Kashmir after spending the winter of 2013 in Dachigam forest along with 21 terrorists of LeT.

He claimed he was tasked with carrying out sensational killing of policemen and Central para-military forces, the sources said, adding that he was allegedly involved in the killing of one police officer at Pulwama in May 2013.

He is also alleged to have been involved in an attack on Army camp in June 2013 and in attacks on police patrol parties in Tral, Shopian, Kulgam — all in south Kashmir.

The accused had also planned the assassination of ruling National Conference MLC from Wachi, Showkat Ganaie, in south Kashmir, but the plan had to be aborted because of heavy police presence, the sources said.

This year, before his arrest, Jutt was involved in the sensational firing inside Pulwama court complex and an attack on a polling party on April 24, 2014. — PTI

Union Budget session begins tomorrow 

NEW DELHI: Presentation of the first Budget by the Narendra Modi government will be the highlight of the over month-long session of Parliament starting tomorrow amidst signals that the issue of price rise could generate heat.

Opposition parties have a number of issues to target the government, including the recent controversy over the government rejecting the name of former Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium for appointment as a judge of the apex court, the rape case controversy surrounding Union Minister Nihalchand and rising incidents of atrocities against women in the country.

A highlight of the proceedings on the opening day is expected to be a statement from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in both Houses of Parliament on the situation of Indians in Iraq.

While presentation of the Railway Budget is scheduled for July 8, the Economic Survey will be released the next day and the Union Budget 2014-2015 will be presented on July 10.

The issue of the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha could see a confrontation between the government and the Congress during the session if the post is denied to the main Opposition party, which has secured just 44 seats in the 543-member House.

Leaders of various parties want the issues of price rise, rail hike and federal structure to be discussed during the session, which concludes on August 14.

The session will have 28 sittings and 168 working hours.

Since the standing committees for various ministries are yet to be constituted, the demands for grants for various ministries will be passed by both Houses by July 31 after discussion in Parliament instead of the committees.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has maintained that the government is ready for a discussion on any issue and has appealed to the Opposition to "cooperate" to ensure that the decorum and dignity of Parliament is maintained. 

The government also intends to bring Bills to replace the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014, and a Bill to replace the Ordinance with respect to the Polavaram project under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014.

The TRAI (Amendment) Ordinance cleared on May 28 ensured that the government could appoint Nripendra Misra as Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, the AP Ordinance was promulgated on May 29, ahead of the official bifurcation of the state on June 2.

The Commerce Ministry will be bringing a Bill on the National Institute of Design while the government plans to review the various pending Bills and bring them before Parliament after talks with the Opposition.

The Trinamool Congress and its rival Left parties have already demanded that price rise should be the first issue to be discussed after the presentation of the Rail and General Budgets.

CPI-M leader P Karunakaran has made a strong pitch for discussing the issue of oil price hike and atrocities against women. The Left parties want the Women's Reservation Bill to be brought in this session itself.

The Left also wants a threadbare discussion on issues concerning farmers.

Lok Sabha proceedings this session will also have a new feature wherein a visual of the members speaking will be shown on a screen to enable all members and even those sitting on the front benches to see those speaking from the rear benches. — PTI

CHENNAI: At least 11 construction workers were on Sunday killed after a newly built compound wall adjacent to their huts collapsed near Uttarapalayam in Tiruvallur district in Tamil Nadu.

A 19-year-old youth, Nagaraj, was rescued from debris, the police said.

All the labourers, said to be from Andhra Pradesh, were working in a private godown. Five fire tenders were pressed into service for rescue work.

The incident occurred after heavy rains lashed the area last night, the police said.

Tiruvallur District Collector K Veera Raghava Rao visited the accident spot and said those responsible for the incident would be punished.

“A total of 11 persons died on the spot, including four women and a child. Rescue operations are going on,” Rao said.

Tamil Nadu witnessed a major tragedy when an 11-storey under construction building collapsed at Porur on June 28, claiming 61 lives. — PTI

NEW DELHI: Widening its probe into the money laundering probe in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) will send judicial requests to about six countries seeking information on bank accounts and transactions to detect the trail of alleged kickbacks money.

The agency, which filed a criminal case two days ago under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the deal which was cancelled last year by the government, has detected that over 170 ‘fake firms” were floated to route the alleged illegal funds between Indian and foreign firms.

The agency is expected to send Letters Rogatory (judicial requests) to Italy, Mauritius, the UK, Tunisia, Dubai and few other jurisdictions in Europe to piece together the flow of funds and money in this deal, sources said.

The ED, the sources said, would make these requests under the existing protocols and tax information exchange treaties between India and these jurisdictions as defined for assistance in criminal matters.

The agency had earlier registered a case under foreign exchange laws in this deal after which it decided to lodge a criminal case under PMLA to trace the bribe money involving middlemen and other people named by CBI in its FIR filed in March 2013.

Taking cognisance of the more-than-a-year-old CBI complaint, the agency has booked former IAF chief S.P. Tyagi, his family members, European nationals Carlo Gerosa, Christian Michel and Guido Haschke, four companies — Italy-based Finmeccanica, UK-based AgustaWestland and Chandigarh-based IDS Infotech and Aeromatrix, two companies based in Mauritius and Tunisia, few other firms and unknown persons in its criminal complaint.

A total of 21 entities have been named by ED in the case. — PTI

Brasilia (Brazil): Argentina’s Gonzalo Higuain upstaged talismanic team mate Lionel Messi with a superb goal to clinch a nervy 1-0 win over Belgium that put them in the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in 24 years on Saturday.

Higuain buried a shot into the corner of the net in the eighth minute at the national stadium to set up a last-four clash against 2010 runners-up the Netherlands or surprise package Costa Rica, who meet later on Saturday.

Higuain reacted brilliantly when an Angel Di Maria pass was deflected towards him off Belgium defender Jan Vertonghen, swivelling and striking the ball first time past keeper Thibaut Courtois, as Argentina ended a run of being eliminated in the quarter-finals at the previous two World Cup tournaments.

They last appeared in the semi-finals in 1990, when a team inspired by captain Diego Maradona eliminated hosts Italy on penalties before losing 1-0 to West Germany in the final.

“I knew the goal was going to come and it came at an important time,” man-of-the-match Higuain, who had not scored for his nation in six games, said in a television interview.

“We were able to reach a semi-final which we haven’t achieved for many years,” the 26-year-old added.

“We gave our all, it’s a World Cup, it doesn’t happen every day. Now we need to play well and try and reach the final. There are two matches left to achieve this beautiful dream.”

Belgium had a couple of chances but otherwise offered little in attack despite sustained late pressure that set nerves among the thousands of Argentines thronging the giant arena jangling.

The Europeans’ best World Cup result was in 1986 when they were knocked out by Maradona’s Argentina in the semi-finals.

“We were not impressed by the Argentines, absolutely not, it’s just an ordinary team,” dejected Belgium coach Marc Wilmots said at a news conference.

“There were people in my staff who were crying in the changing, room, we had one or two chances and you have to score at this level,” he added.

“We’ve learned a lot today, we’re incredibly sorry we lost but we are very proud of the boys.

“They shouldn’t regret anything, we were the youngest team among the last eight.”

The light blue and white-clad Argentina fans swamped the 70,000-capacity stadium in the Brazilian capital and were in fine voice while, predictably, there was only a smattering of the red and yellow of Belgium on display.

There was also a sizeable contingent of Brazilians in the crowd who cheered every Belgian touch and roundly jeered their arch rivals.

Argentina looked the more ambitious in the early stages and Higuain’s beautifully executed goal gave them a deserved lead.

They came close to a second in the 28th minute when Messi, who was a constant threat to the Belgium defence having set the tournament alight in the group stages, threaded a superb ball through for the galloping Di Maria.

However, the winger injured himself when his effort was blocked and was replaced by Enzo Perez a few minutes later.

Belgium were starting to enjoy more possession without really looking likely to score before Messi flashed a free kick narrowly wide five minutes before the break.

With Argentina content to sit on their lead, Belgium pushed forward and Kevin De Bruyne let fly from 25 metres midway through the half forcing a save by Sergio Romero before Kevin Mirallas’ diving header went wide from Vertonghen’s centre.

Ten minutes after the break Higuain, who was in fine form, raced through the centre but, with Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois beaten, his shot clipped the top of the crossbar and the ball flew into the crowd.

Marouane Fellaini sent a 61st-minute header just over the bar in another good chance for Belgium and there was some desperate defending from the Argentines in the closing minutes.

But they held on and captain Messi could even afford to squander a late one-on-one with Courtois as his side progressed along with hosts Brazil and Germany, who went through to the semi-finals on the other side of the draw on Friday.

“I’m very happy for the players who played an excellent game,” Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella told a news conference.

“I’m very happy for them and the Argentines who have waited 24 years for us to be among the best four in the world.”

Argentina’s semi-final is in Sao Paulo on Wednesday, a day after Brazil meet Germany in Belo Horizonte. — Reuters

Tim Krul in, Costa Rica out

SALVADOR (Brazil): Tim Krul came on as a substitute in the final minute of extra time and then saved two penalties in a 4-3 shootout victory over Costa Rica on Saturday, giving the Netherlands a spot in the World Cup semifinals.

Krul saved spot kicks from Costa Rica captain Bryan Ruiz and Michael Umana after the match had finished 0-0.

“We had a lot of chances but it didn’t go in,” Krul said on Dutch television. “Then I come in, stop two penalties and here we are.”

In another stroke of tactical genius at this year’s World Cup, Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal pulled Jasper Cillessen moments after the Ajax goalkeeper had saved a shot from Marcos Urena in extra time.

“The trick is good,” said Krul, who plays for Newcastle. “A lot of preparation went into it.”

The Dutch team will next face Argentina in the semifinals on Wednesday in Sao Paulo.

Krul looked super confident during the shootout at the Arena Fonte Nova, saving the second and fifth penalties by diving to his left and sticking out his hand.

When Krul stopped Ruiz’s penalty, Cillessen, watching from the sideline, punched the air in celebration.

When he saved the second to win the match, Cillessen out-sprinted the rest of the bench to get to Krul, who was already being mobbed by jubilant teammates who had watched from the halfway line.

Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas had kept his team in the match with a string of great saves in the first half and again in extra time. When Wesley Sneijder twice beat him late in regulation and again in the second half of extra time, the woodwork made the stop.

Sneijder hit the post with a free kick in the 80th minute and sent a curling shot over Navas and off the crossbar before the penalty shootout.

At the end, however, Navas could not stop any of the four Dutch penalties as veterans Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben, Sneijder and Dirk Kuyt all scored.

The Krul substitution will only boost Van Gaal’s reputation as a coach who leaves nothing to chance and who has a golden touch with replacements. And it kept his tenure with the Netherlands alive for two more matches before he becomes the manager at Manchester United next season. — AP

Belo Horizonte (Brazil): Brazil star Neymar says his World Cup may be over because of a fractured vertebra but his World Cup dream of celebrating the title with his teammates at the Maracana Stadium next Sunday is still alive.

In a video released by the Brazilian football confederation on Saturday, Neymar thanked fans and everyone else for the support in this “very difficult moment.”

“I don’t have words to describe what has been going through my head and my heart,” said Neymar, trying to stay upbeat but still sporting a subdued look on his face. “I just want to say that I will be back as soon as possible. When you least expect I’ll be back.”

Wearing a black T-shirt and a black hat turned backward, he spoke in a low tone of voice, his eyes still heavy.

“My dream is not over yet,” he said. “It was interrupted by one move, but it will continue and I’m certain that my teammates will do whatever possible so I can fulfill my dream of being a champion. I won’t be able to fulfill the dream of playing in a World Cup final, but I’m sure they will win this one, they will become champions, and I will be there with them, and all of Brazil will be celebrating together.”

It was the first time Neymar had spoken publicly since fracturing a vertebra late in Brazil’s 2-1 win over Colombia in the quarterfinals on Friday.

The video was made just before the striker was airlifted from Brazil’s training camp in a medical helicopter to be treated at home for the back injury that ruled him out of the last two games of the World Cup.

Brazil doctor Jose Luiz Runco guaranteed the injury will not have long-term effects on Neymar’s career and said the player could even travel to Belo Horizonte to watch the semifinal against Germany on Tuesday if he is not feeling a lot of pain.

Runco said he believes Neymar can return to action in about 45 days, and that Barcelona doctors were informed of the player’s conditions from the beginning.

“He was extremely moved when I gave him the news that he was out of the World Cup,” Runco said. “He cried a lot, which was a natural reaction at that moment. But I told him that although his dream was being cut short, he was still a 22-year-old with a lot in front of him. It was still a `good’ type of injury.”

Neymar was on a stretcher when he was transferred from an ambulance into the helicopter that took off Saturday afternoon from one of Brazil’s practice pitches in the city of Teresopolis, about an hour from Rio de Janeiro.

Sports channels broadcast live as Neymar – who is a star on the field and a celebrity off of it – waved briefly from his stretcher inside the helicopter before the doors were closed and the aircraft flew away.

Medical staff spent several minutes securing the Brazilian striker inside the helicopter as his father and the president of the Brazilian football confederation, Jose Maria Marin, watched closely.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff published a letter of support to “a great warrior.”

“Your expression of pain on the field yesterday (Friday) hurt my heart and the hearts of every Brazilian,” she said. “I know that as a Brazilian you never give up, and sooner than expected you will be back filling our souls with happiness and our history with success.”

Several players and many Brazilian celebrities also showed their support to the Brazilian star through social media.

Neymar had flown back to Rio de Janeiro with the rest of his Brazil teammates after the match in Fortaleza, then rode in an ambulance the rest of the way to the team’s training camp in Teresopolis.

When the plane arrived in Rio early Saturday, teammates came one by one to embrace him as he sat in a wheelchair waiting to be taken into the ambulance.

The 22-year-old Neymar broke his third vertebra after being kneed in the back by Colombian player Juan Camillo Zuniga in the 86th minute at the Arena Castelao.

Neymar was carried off the field in tears on a stretcher and “screamed in pain in the dressing room” before being taken to a hospital for tests, the Brazilian confederation said in a statement.

Neymar had been one of the standout players of the World Cup, scoring four goals in the team’s first three games.

Fans attending both of Saturday’s quarterfinals chanted Neymar’s name several times. — AP