CHANDIGARH/BARWALA: The Haryana Police on Wednesday confirmed that five women and a child have died during the stand-off between controversial sect leader Rampal and security forces.

Haryana's Director General of Police S.N. Vashisht told media here that bodies of four women were handed over by Satlok Ashram authorities to the police, while one woman and an 18-month-old child died in hospital.

The DGP said none of the victims bore any bodily injuries.

He said one woman and the child died because proper medical attention was not being given to them in time.

NEW DELHI: A day after the first Ebola case was reported in India, Health Minister JP Nadda today said arrangements similar to the one at Delhi airport, which helped detect the virus in a man returning from Liberia, have been put in place at 24 airports and stressed the situation was under "complete control".

The detection of the virus in the 26-year-old man, who reached here on November 10, was a result of "extra caution" shown by the government, he told reporters.

"Due to its extra caution, the Health Ministry tested body fluids of the man even after his blood tested negative for Ebola. I want to say the situation is under complete control. We have similar arrangements at 24 airports across the country," he told reporters.

The tour and medical history of passengers are being checked at airports, he said.

The man will remain quarantined at a special facility at Delhi airport so long as medical reports confirm that he is completely rid of the virus.

The man was treated for Ebola in Liberia and carried certificate from authorities there that he was cured of it.

The ministry had said the man was already treated for the deadly disease in the African country and carried no symptoms but tests of his semen samples were positive, prompting authorities to put him under isolation. — PTI

NAIR SUVA: Reaching out to 14 Pacific Island nations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced setting up of a $one million fund and visa-on-arrival facility for them, besides several measures to strengthen the relationship.

Speaking at a meeting with the regional leaders, he said India wishes to be a close partner of the Pacific Islands and announced setting up of a Special Adaptation Fund of $1 million.

"By setting up this fund, India would be happy to provide technical assistance and training for capacity building to our Pacific Island Partners," the Prime Minister said.

He proposed to develop Pan Pacific Islands Project for telemedicine and tele-education, saying "Given the distance between the islands and poor connectivity, e-networks are an effective means for coordination." Noting the inconvenience in travel due to Visa issues, Modi announced visa on arrival facility for all the 14 Pacific Island countries and hoped that it will facilitate exchanges and promote better understanding between the peoples.

"I would wish to provide Visa on Arrival for nationals of all Pacific Island countries, Cook Islands, Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu, Republic of Nauru, Republic of Kiribati, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Niue, Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea," he said.

He also announced an increase in Grant-in-Aid to Pacific Island countries from USD 125,000 annually to USD 200,000 to each Pacific Island country for community projects.

The Prime Minister said India was ready to support the setting up of a Trade Office in New Delhi to promote trade between India and Pacific Island countries.

"We shall also provide complimentary space to Pacific Island countries during exhibitions organised by ITPO to showcase your products," he said.

"We can do joint research in traditional medicine.

Explore options of developing healthcare facilities for the benefit of people in the region," he added. 

Modi proposed to depute technical experts to Pacific Island countries including in the fields of agriculture, healthcare and IT. He also offered cooperation in use of space technology applications for improving the quality of life of people and communications.

"We can look at possibilities of sharing data that could be used for monitoring climate change, disaster risk reduction and management, resource management," he said, noting that climate change is a major issue of concern for them.

"We are also working on a solar energy project with the Pacific Islands at the community level. The regional hubs will be developed in the Pacific Islands," he added.

Modi also offered training programmes to the diplomats of Pacific Island countries and proposed a distinguished visitors programme under which the two sides can organise seminars explore new ideas for strengthening mutually beneficially economic cooperation.

He proposed a Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) be held on a regular basis.

Modi also invited the leaders for next meeting in New Delhi in 2015.— PTI

COLOMBO: Five Indian fishermen sentenced to death in Sri Lanka for alleged drug trafficking were released today after President Mahinda Rajapaksa commuted their death penalty.

Prison officials said the five have been handed over to the immigration authorities for further action.

Emerson, P Augustus, R Wilson, K Prasath and J Langlet, all hailing from Tamil Nadu, were apprehended in 2011 and were sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court on October 30 for alleged drug trafficking.

The court ruling had triggered fiery protests in parts of Tamil Nadu and sporadic violence broke out in and around Rameswaram island as a large number of people staged protests.

India on November 11 had filed an appeal in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka against a verdict of the high court awarding death sentence to them.

Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation last week on the issue.

The issue of fishermen is a very emotive matter for both Sri Lanka and India, where Tamil Nadu-based parties, including AIADMK and DMK, have been regularly pressing the government to take up the matter with the Lankan authorities seriously and have often resented high-profile visits from the island nation. — PTI

NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice-President Hamid Ansari and top leaders of the Congress today paid rich tributes to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 97th birth anniversary but no one from the NDA government was present at the event.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi, party Vice President Rahul Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were among the Congress leaders who paid floral tributes to the departed leader at her memorial Shakti Sthal on the banks of river Yamuna.

A recorded speech by Indira Gandhi was played on the occasion following which tri-colour balloons were released by the leaders.

Devotional music was played during the programme and an all-religion prayer was also organised.

In Tamil Nadu, leaders and cadres of the state Congress Committee also paid floral tributes to the late leader.

Former TNCC president M Krishnaswamy, former MLAs D Yasoda, U Balaraman, Youth Congress president Vijay Ilanchezhian, AICC member K Chiranjeevi were among those who paid floral tributes at the party headquarters "Satyamurthi Bhavan" here.

TNCC president EVKS Elangovan and several others paid tributes to Indira at the temple town of Madurai.

Gandhi, was born on November 19, 1917 in the politically influential Nehru family. She was the first woman Prime Minister of India. — PTI

MUMBAI: In what would come as a shot in the arm for N Srinivasan, Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Jagmohan Dalmiya has extended East Zone's support to the embattled BCCI President, who is seeking a third term as the Board chief, by signing the nomination papers for the December 17 elections.

"All six units of East Zone have signed the nomination papers extending support to Mr Srinivasan in different combinations," said a top BCCI official, who attended the Board's Working Committee meeting in Chennai yesterday.

Another BCCI official said that there is little chance of Sharad Pawar becoming the president.

"This, I think, it is the end of the road for Mr (Sharad) Pawar (in his attempt to return as president). I don't see anyone else becoming BCCI president at the AGM," the official, who did not wish to be identified, told PTI.

Pawar had decided to attend the BCCI AGM after four years when it was originally announced to be held on November 20 before it was put off to December, retaining Chennai as the venue.

A former president of the BCCI, Dalmiya had himself faced allegations of financial impropriety in the PILCOM accounts of the 1996 World Cup jointly hosted by India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, before the matter was resolved.

Dalmiya was earlier reported to be hesitant in offering support to ICC chairman Srinivasan. But now he seems to have agreed to support the Tamil Nadu strongman in his bid to become BCCI president for the next term.

With Srinivasan now having got the required unanimous support in writing from the East Zone, whose turn it is to decide the man at the helm, it appears to be a dead-end as far as any other presidential candidate is concerned.

Yesterday the BCCI Working Committee members noted that "the conclusions in the final report of the (Justice) Mudgal committee (appointed by the Supreme Court to probe into IPL-6 spot fix and betting charges) and felt that there is no taint on the conduct of Mr N Srinivasan and the allegations levelled against him by unscrupulous elements were baseless and were aimed at destabilising the working of the BCCI".

The heat, it appears, is off Srinivasan, at least for now. — PTI

SRINAGAR: The Election Commission today issued notification for the fourth phase of the five-phased Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir for 18 constituencies going to polls on December 14.

The fourth phase will be the last one for Kashmir Valley where sixteen Assembly segments spread over three districts of Srinagar, Anantnag and Shopian will go to polls. The electorate in two seats in Samba district of Jammu region will also vote in the fourth phase.

The constituencies for which the notification was issued today include all the eight in Srinagar – Hazratbal, Zadibal, Idgah, Khanyar, Habbakadal, Amirakadal, Sonawar and Batamaloo, six in Anantnag – Anantnag, Doru, Kokernag, Shangus, Bijbehara and Pahalgam and two in Shopian – Wachi and Shopian in Kashmir Valley and Samba and Vijaypur in Jammu division.

The last date for filing nominations is November 26, while the scrutiny of nomination papers would be held on November 27.

The last date for withdrawal of nomination is on November 29. — PTI

MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena today hit out at NCP Sharad Pawar after he asked his party to be ready for snap poll, saying he "is known for playing politics of distrust" and was trying to take advantage of the current instability.

Though NCP declared unconditional outside support to the minority BJP government the day Assembly poll threw up a hung verdict, party chief Sharad Pawar yesterday said that the state government's stability was not NCP's responsibility and asked party workers to be ready to face a snap poll.

"Sharad Pawar is taking advantage of this unstable government, but the Shiv Sena will stand firmly here. Let Pawar do whatever he wishes to. The Sena is fulfilling its role as an Opposition party honestly and with utmost sincerity," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said.

The Sena alleged that Pawar "is known for playing politics of distrust", which is why he first gave support to the BJP and is now apparently threatening to withdraw it.

"Pawar thinks he can play politics as he wishes to and turn the political situation upside down. He wants to keep the future of the new government in his hands with 41 MLAs he has.

Unstable government is the foundation of his politics. But the picture he has presented of the current political situation is laughable," the Sena said.

Pawar's words should not be taken seriously as he has a habit of saying something and doing something else, it said.

"He has the habit of creating an air of confusion and then gaining politically from it. This is his politics of survival," the editorial said.

BJP has 121 MLAs in the Assembly having an effective strength of 287. With the backing of 41-member NCP, it had a comfortable majority. However, if NCP decides to withdraw support, it will be well short of the magic figure of 144 despite the backing of seven independents and some from smaller parties. — PTI

HYDERABAD: An AK-47 rifle-wielding man allegedly tried to abduct Aurobindo Pharma's Director K. Nityananda Reddy from his car near a park and opened fire when Reddy and his brother resisted in the posh Banjara Hills this morning.

No one was injured in the incident that spread panic in the upscale area. The police said the attacker fled leaving behind his weapon.

"One person tried to kidnap him (Reddy). However, he resisted his attempt. Following this, the person fired in air and also at his car. Three rounds were fired in the process before he fled the scene," Assistant Commissioner of Police, Banjara Hills, Uday Kumar Reddy said.

According to an eyewitness, the unidentified attacker sat in Reddy's car and then threatened him with an AK-47 rifle.

However, Reddy's brother, who was sitting in the car's rear seat, tried to resist the attacker's attempt. In the scuffle, the attacker fired some rounds at the car's windshield.

Later, the weapon was seized from the car, police said.

Reddy, who is Vice Chairman of Aurobindo Pharma, said after finishing his morning walk at KBR Park here, he sat in his car and was about to start it when the attack took place.

"Suddenly this man came and threatened me with the gun. I tried to catch hold of the weapon and also shouted for help and my brother tried to catch him. The person fired some rounds at my car before fleeing," Reddy told reporters after the incident.

Police recovered a few empty shells from the site.

Sniffer and tracking dogs were pressed into action to nab the attacker. — PTI

GENEVA: The latest twist in FIFA's World Cup bid corruption case has landed on the desk of Switzerland's Attorney General.

FIFA filed a "criminal complaint" against unnamed individuals, calling on Swiss federal prosecutors to investigate money transfers connected to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup-bidding contests that were won by Russia and Qatar.

The unexpected move comes five days after FIFA had welcomed a "degree of closure" on the case.

"In particular there seem to be grounds for suspicion that, in isolated cases, international transfers of assets with connections to Switzerland took place, which merit examination by the criminal prosecution authorities," FIFA said in a statement.

The significance of the dramatic-sounding request by FIFA President Sepp Blatter for a criminal investigation was far from clear. But FIFA said Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber will get all 430 confidential pages of American prosecutor Michael Garcia's report.

"The (office) will analyze the documents, presented on a large scale, to violations of criminal law and liability," the Bern-based federal agency said in a statement, adding it would "inform the public in due time about further steps." Lauber, if he takes jurisdiction, could also have powers denied to Garcia, who was unable to force the handover of financial documents and phone records or to compel key witnesses to cooperate.

"The Swiss criminal prosecution authorities have the ability to conduct investigations under application of criminal procedural coercive measures," the FIFA statement noted.

The Swiss prosecutors were brought in nearly four years after an often-discredited FIFA executive committee voted for the World Cup hosts after campaigns riddled with allegations of bribery, favor-seeking and voting pacts.

Tuesday's announcement came five days after FIFA ethics judge Joachim Eckert's summary of Garcia's investigation was widely denounced as a whitewash of the Russian and Qatari bids, and FIFA voters.

But Blatter's move certainly is a changed narrative from FIFA's statement on Thursday following Eckert's decision to close the case against the winning bidders.

That move was quickly challenged when Garcia appealed Eckert's decision to FIFA, pointing to "numerous materially incomplete and erroneous representations of the facts and conclusions." 

Garcia and Eckert are expected to meet Thursday at an undisclosed location to try to mend their professional rift.

The perpetual skeptics of FIFA's motives are likely to see Tuesday's announcement as an apparent move to avert criticism.

Blatter said in an interview released by FIFA that he acted on a request by Eckert.

In a simultaneous release, Eckert said in a separate FIFA interview that he submitted his advice of a criminal complaint "more or less at the same time" as his 42-page summary report was published last Thursday.

Within minutes of that report's release, a "whitewash" verdict was winning in the court of public opinion.

The Russian and Qatari bid committees have always denied wrongdoing and pledged to continue their World Cup hosting plans, costing each state tens of billions of dollars in construction projects.

Eckert conceded there had been "problematic" acts of rule-breaking among most of the 11 nations in the bidding process. However, he concluded that any corruption was "only of very limited scope" and did not justify reviewing the December 2010 votes.

Eckert said the latest complaint concerns "suspected unlawful activity in connection with Switzerland." No details were given as to which financial or business laws Eckert or FIFA believe might have been broken.

Eckert continued to maintain that "there is insufficient incriminating evidence" to question the FIFA board's choice of Russia and Qatar.

Still, "there are indications of potential illegal or irregular conduct in certain areas," he acknowledged, in stronger language than he used last week.

Those indications are still denied to a wider audience, including reform-minded newcomers on FIFA's ruling board and others who want to know what evidence was unearthed.

Even Blatter insisted he has not read Garcia's reports.

"I also was not the addressee of the investigatory report, which I have never seen," the FIFA president said.

Whatever the Swiss attorney general decides, Garcia will continue to build cases against individual FIFA voters and bid staffers he has implicated in his case dossier.

"Much of this clarification work can be carried out by the FIFA Ethics Committee itself," Eckert said on Tuesday about Garcia, his committee co-chairman, "while the remainder is the responsibility of the relevant national investigatory authorities." — AP