Tuesday, March 30, 1999
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N A T I O N |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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7 militants killed in Assam ‘Black
buck killings part of plot’ |
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‘Most intense’
quake in 4 decades Id
celebrated with gaiety Functions
mark Mahavir Jayanti SC
ruling on passports Sonia
to attend Khalsa Jyoti function Board
exams postponed |
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7 militants killed in Assam GUWAHATI, March 29 (PTI) — Ten persons, including seven militants, have been killed and two injured in different parts of Assam since Saturday, official sources said today. Three militants were killed by inmates of a tribal relief camp in Kokrajhar district's Amgurt town on Saturday. The tribesmen attacked the militants when they attempted to snatch relief material provided by the government, the sources said. Two inmates of the camp were killed yesterday when the extremists opened fire in retaliation for Saturday's incident. Two ULFA activists were killed and two others injured in an encounter with the Army at Rupai Siding in upper Assam's Tinsukia district last night. The incident took place when the militants, assembled in a field to observe "Jaymati Divas", exchanged fire with the troops who had surrounded them. The chief organiser of ULFA's Patkai unit was shot dead in an encounter with the security forces at Ledo tea Estate in Tinsukia district yesterday. Another ULFA activist was killed in an encounter with the police in the Lokhra Chariali suburb of the city the same day. One person was killed by
National Democratic Front of Bodoland militants at
Konibari in Kamrup district on Saturday, the sources
said. |
Apartments develop cracks in Delhi NEW DELHI, March 29 — A large number of people spent a sleepless night outside their homes and several buildings in the capital were reported to have developed cracks as a result of the earthquake last night. The initial reaction of several persons who were watching “Dil Se” on television last night was of confusion and later panic, while others slept through the tremors. However, the most frightened and distressed were those living in high-rise apartments in East Delhi. Mr Krishna Nath of Patparganj said Tara Aparments had developed cracks after the earthquake. The residents are concerned whether these cracks would be dangerous if there were more quakes. Even Link Apartments are reported to have developed some cracks. Mr H.S. Bajaj of Manas Apartments said: “We were sleeping at the time and suddenly the bed started rocking. We remained sitting on the bed hoping that the tremors would subside, but it was not so.” A Northern Railway official said the earthquake did not disrupt rail services and trains were running as per schedule. The Deputy Director General (Seismology), Indian Meteorological Department, Dr S.N. Bhatta-charya said precautionary measures of quake resistant building should be constructed by people living in earthquake prone region and preventive measures in already constructed buildings should be undertaken. People living in high-rise buildings should take precautionary measures like getting under the table or under doortops and those living in ground floor should rush outside, he added. MCD Standing Committee
chairman, Shanti Desai said there were building bylaws
under which a building should be constructed in a way
that it withstood such tremors. |
3-nation axis against NATO
action? NEW DELHI, March 29 — The possibility of a triangular India-Russia-China axis emerging in order to mount international pressure against NATO’s aerial offensive on Yugoslavia, hinted upon by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, at a press meet in Lucknow yesterday, while being viewed with some scepticism, has perhaps come as a boon for the mandarins of the Foreign Office. Official sources are emphasising that it is a move capable of creating a flutter within the western alliance, especially the US Administration, which has been trying to armtwist India eversince the nuclear blasts at Pokhran in May, 1998. Observers, however, feel that for a strategic alliance to develop between Russia, China and India, New Delhi at first has to overcome the hiccups over its sweet and sour ties with Beijing. While the Prime Minister was reacting positively to the axis proposal, which had been first mooted by the Russian Prime Minister, Mr Yevgeny Primakov, during his visit to India last winter, India’s Foreign Secretary, Mr K. Raghunath, was quoted by the Hong Kong based "South China Morning Post" today as saying that strong Sino-Pak military ties posed a threat to India. "The transfer of Chinese nuclear and missile-related technology and materials to Pakistan poses a threat to us", Mr Raghunath told the newspaper and added that New Delhi felt endangered because Pakistan’s weapons were "targeted at only one country — India". In the same breath, Mr Raghunath said India wanted "improved ties" with China and talked about need for a "constructive, cooperative relationship" with Beijing. The comments of the Foreign Secretary were published by the Hong Kong newspaper on the eve of the visit to Beijing by the Pakistani Army Chief, General Parvez Musharraf, which begins on April 5. Official sources, however, say that the possibility of a Moscow-Beijing-New Delhi axis emerging over Yugoslavia cannot be shrouded by the ongoing bilateral misgivings between India and China. They feel that the three countries have a commonality in their threat perceptions. Pakistan’s bid to internationalise the Kashmir issue; the existence of flashpoints in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS); and Chinese concern over a possible US-led intervention in Taiwan, Tibet and Xin Jiang create the ground for common thinking. Despite differences over the nuclear issue, Sino-Indian ties have progressed in other areas, it is pointed out. For example, bilateral trade grew last year by 5 per cent over the 1997 figures. Significantly, all three countries have condemned the air strikes. China, which had kept silence over the Russian "axis" proposal, made in January, is now considering forging an alliance as a preventing step against what it calls "US hegemonistic plans". Bilateral ties between India and China took a nosedive even before the Pokhran blasts. China had taken strong exception to the statements made by the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, to the effect that China posed a security threat to India. Nuclearisation of China was given as the rationale for the Pokhran-II tests by Mr Vajpayee in his letters to the US President, Mr Bill Clinton, and other world leaders. Though these letters did not mention China by name, there was enough reason for Beijing to feel suspicious. As a result of this downswing in ties, the meeting of the India-China Joint Working Group (JWG), which under the rotational cycle ought to have been held in the second half of 1998, was put in the cold storage. Now, however, a thaw is discernible. The announcement that the JWG would "resume its work soon" was made by the Chinese Foreign Minister, Mr Tang Jiaxuan, at a press conference in Beijing soon after the recent visit by Mr Raghunath. In the post-Pokhran-II scenario, apart from Mr Jiaxuan’s recent press conference, the signs of thaw have been visible during a meeting between Mr Jaswant Singh (before he was appointed External Affairs Minister) and Mr Jiaxuan on the sidelines of the ASEAN regional forum meeting in Manila in July, 1998, and in the tone and tenor of the protocol messages received on the occasion of India’s Republic Day this year from the Chinese President, Mr Ziang Zemin, and the Prime Minister, Mr Zhu Ronji. Mr Vajpayee’s statement yesterday is in confirmation with the stand taken by the Foreign Office on the very first day of the outbreak of hostilities when an official spokesman, extending support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the border of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, had called for a peaceful solution and pointed out provisions of the UN Charter "which clearly stipulates that no enforcement actions shall be undertaken under regional arrangements without the authorisation of the Security Council". Russia and China have taken a strong stand within the UN Security Council. The NATO strikes over Yugoslavia have been the first occasion since 1945 for aircraft of the German Air Force to take to skies offensively. Situation, therefore, is unprecedented and has the potential of overcoming the bilateral hiccups and throwing up strategic alliances outside the NATO and a concerted bid for a departure from the unipolar world which has emerged since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Significantly, just last
week, the Russian Defence Minister, Marshal Igor D.
Sergeyev, said in New Delhi that the Indo-Russian
strategic cooperation went far beyond South Asia and was
not only relevant to bilateral relations but also to
international security. |
‘Black buck killings part of
plot’ JAIPUR, March 29 — Large scale killing of black bucks in the Bikaner Zoo has triggered a controversy in Rajasthan. Alleging that the killing was the result of an international conspiracy in which zoo officials were also a party, religious leaders of Bishnoi community have threatened to launch an agitation and as a first step start an indefinite fast if the culprits were not brought to book before April 5. It may be recalled that 25 black bucks were found dead in their enclosure in the zoo on March 25. The zoo authorities had said that some street dogs had strayed into the black bucks enclosure and had killed the bucks. The bodies of the animals were ‘reportedly’ buried in the enclosure after a postmortem examination by a board of vets. The Forest Department later constituted a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the matter. The postmortem report is still awaited. Not satisfied with the official version of the incident and formation of the committee of forest officials the Akhil Bhartiya Jeev Raksha Bishnoi Sabha expressed their doubts about the explanation given by officials and demanded an inquiry by independent persons. After knowing about the massacre of the black bucks the government suspended the Zonal Forest Officer and two other employees of the zoo on charge of negligence in discharge of duty. The general secretary of the All-India Bishnoi Mahasabha, Mr Ram Singh Pawar and Mahant Maniram Tilwasni of Bishnoi Sadhu Samaj told mediapersons here on Saturday that the black buck killings were an outcome of an international conspiracy which was not possible without the involvement of zoo authorities. They said that a black buck fetches as much as Rs 2 lakh in international market. They also demanded the resignation of the Forest Minister and dismissal of officers responsible for the incident. The Bishnoi community worships black bucks and is devoted to their well being and safety. The community does not believe government’s claim that the bodies of black bucks were buried in the zoo itself. They contest the claim of killing by dogs too. Mr Pawar and Mahant Maniram asserted that dogs could not kill bucks and that too in such a large number. Bucks being fast runners can leap even up to a height of 5 to 7 feet when in danger. The story of dogs killings bucks is “fabricated one,” they alleged. They said two years back when 200 pigeons were killed in the zoo the officials had at that time also forwarded the explanation, that the pigeons had been killed by dogs. Community leaders argue
that during the postmortem necks of the bucks were found
broken and they maintain that if dogs had killed the
bucks they would have snatched flesh from their bodies
and not broken their necks leaving rest of the body
intact. |
‘Most intense’ quake in 4 decades NEW DELHI, March 29 (UNI) — The earthquake that rocked the seismological prone belt in Northern India last night has been described as one of the most intense in recent times. Following is the chronology of major earthquakes that struck different parts of India: — on September 30, 1993, more than 10, 000 were killed and thousands injured in a quake in the Maratwada region of Maharashtra. Intensity of the quake was 6=0 on the Richter scale. Latur and Osmanabad districts were the worst affected districts of the state. — on October 20, 1991, a quake with 6.1 magnitude, with its epicentre in the western Uttar Pradesh hills near Almora, shook the region for about 45 seconds, killing 1000 and injuring several others. — on May 22, 1997, 38 persons were killed and about 1000 were injured when a quake of 6.0 magnitude struck with its epicentre 20 km south-east of Jabalpur. — on August 20, 1988, 1000 persons were killed in Bihar in a quake with 6.5 magnitude. — a quake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale shook the Mathura-Uttar Pradesh and Kumaon hills region on September 1, 1903, claiming 300 lives. Quakes that affected Delhi so far: — 2.7 magnitude on September 15, 1998. — 3.2 magnitude on May 29, 1998. — 6.5 magnitude on February 21, 1998, shook Delhi and other parts of northern India. The epicentre was in Hindu Kush Mountains (35.9°north and 70.3° east). A few other major quakes in India were in Maharashtra (1967) and Himachal Pradesh (in 1905, 1975 and 1987). Worst-ever quake in the country was reported on August 15, 1950, tremor with 8.5 magnitude rocked Assam, killing 1538 persons. — on October 11, 1737, more than three lakh persons died in a quake in Calcutta. Some quake prone areas: — over 1,150 tremors of less than 3.0 magnitude on the Richter scale were felt in Khandwa-Pandhana region of Madhya Pradesh between September and November last year. — Son-Narmada-Tapti basin in Central India. — seismic activity of 4.45 magnitude noticed in the Maharashtra region recently. — On an average,
every year 200 quakes of smaller magnitudes occur in the
Uttarakhand region alone. |
Id celebrated with gaiety NEW DELHI, March 29 (PTI) — Id-ul-Zuha, the Muslim festival of sacrifice, was celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety throughout the country today. Muslims thronged mosques to offer prayers and exchanged greetings with people belonging to other communities. In Delhi, the main function was held at the historic Jama Masjid and Fatehuri Masjid where thousands of people gathered to offer namaz. Prayers were offered at the Dargah of Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti in Shahjahani Mosque at Ajmer in Rajasthan where a black ‘chadar’ (shawl) brought from Mecca was offered at the tomb of the Sufi saint. Thousands of people gathered at different places in Jammu and Kashmir to offer prayers. Id was also celebrated
with gaiety in Maharashtra, Calcutta, Pondicherry, Uttar
Pradesh and Gujarat. |
Functions mark Mahavir Jayanti NEW DELHI, March 29 (PTI) — Mahavir Jayanti, the 2598th birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira, who preached the message of non-violence, was celebrated by members of the Jain community all over the country today. In the national Capital, Jains in large numbers thronged temples in the morning to offer prayers. Functions were organised in various states to mark the occasion highlighting Lord Mahavira’s message of non-violence. In Tamil Nadu, apart from special prayers, an "Ahimsa" meeting was organised. Followers of Lord Mahavira in Maharashtra converged at nearly 300 places of worship, especially at Pydhonie-Bhuleshwar, and performed the ritual of "abhishek" and made offerings of fruits, rice and milk. Processions were also taken out in different parts of Mumbai as well as West Bengal to mark the day. It was also celebrated in Haryana and Punjab. In Delhi, Jain muni Jambu
Vijay Ji urged the Union Government to revoke the status
of industry granted to fishery and poultry and appealed
to members of other communities to desist from animal
sacrifice. |
SC ruling on passports NEW DELHI, March 29 (PTI) — The Supreme Court has ruled that merely carrying passports issued by two countries did not amount to an offence under the Passports Act and acquitted a person who was convicted of carrying passports issued by India and Pakistan. A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice K.T. Thomas and Mr Justice D.P. Mohapatra said, “Unless there is departure or at least an attempt to depart from India, there is no question of invoking Section three of the Passport Act. The accused was arrested by the Delhi police from the railway station on March 13, 1990, and was found carrying a revolver with six live cartridges. He was carrying two passports — one issued by Pakistan in the name of S.M. Irfan, resident of Karachi, and the other by India showing him as K.M. Akmal Ahmad being the resident of Kolar district in Karnataka. He was convicted under the Passport Act and the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Prevention Act (TADA), and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment on the first count and five years under the second count. The Bench said, “It
is nobody’s case that the appellant was trying to
depart from India. On the contrary, the prosecution case
is that the appellant had just entered the territory of
India with a Pakistani passport and a visa.” |
Sonia to attend Khalsa Jyoti
function NEW DELHI, March 29 — Congress President Sonia Gandhi will be the chief guest at a function to welcome the "Khalsa Jyoti" in the Capital on April 6 as part of the Khalsa tercentenary celebrations. The function will be attended by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, her Cabinet colleagues, MLAs and senior government officials, a state government press note said. The Chief Minister chaired a meeting of the steering committee of the state-level tercentenary celebrations committee, where the detailed programme to welcome the "Khalsa Jyoti" was finalised. The jyoti will be received
at the Badarpur border and will be followed by a function
at the Old Secretariat. |
Board exams postponed JAIPUR, March 29 (PTI) — The Board of Secondary Education in Rajasthan has postponed 14 papers of class XII following the leaking out of two question papers last week, a senior official today said. The senior secondary economics-I and physics-I papers which were leaked out after March 24, were cancelled after scrutiny by the board, the official told PTI. The senior secondary examination, which began on March 24, would be rescheduled following interruption in the examination process and incidents of leak-out of question papers, he added. The state government
yesterday removed the Secondary Education Department
Director B.I. Zaiman from his post and arrested 16
persons including a government school principal, in
connection with the leak-out. |
PM asks Pant to visit Chamoli NEW DELHI, March 29 (PTI) — The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee has asked the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Mr K.C. Pant, and the Minister of State for Agriculture Mr Som Pal, to rush to Chamoli and adjoining quake-affected areas of Uttar Pradesh hills to assess the damage, official sources said here today. The two-member team had
also been asked to ascertain how best the Centre could
help in relief and rescue operations, the sources said. |
Harvard invitation for ghazal singer MUMBAI, March 29 (PTI) — For the first time, a ghazal singer from India has been invited for a recital at the prestigious Harvard University in the USA. Noted singer Seema Anil Sehgal, whose music album ‘sarhad’ was presented by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif during their historic meeting at Lahore recently, will give two performances at the university at the end of next month and one concert will be devoted to the poetry of Jnanpith Award winner and renowned Urdu poet Ali Sardar Jafri. Seema, hailed as the
singing sensation from Jammu and Kashmir, said the
university was eager to know more about
‘sarhad’, the musical rendition of Jafri’s
poetry. |
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| 4 ultras killed in
encounters GUWAHATI: At least four hardcore ULFA militants were killed and two others were injured in encounters with police and Army at different places in Assam during the past 24 hours, official sources said on Monday. Three of the ultras were killed in two separate encounters with Army and police in Tinsukia district of upper Assam. The Army also apprehended one activist after an encounter at Rupai siding. Some ammunition was also recovered from them. Another hardcore activist was killed in an encounter with the police in the Bashistha area here. A foreign-made revolver was recovered from him. Meanwhile, five santhals, including three activists of the Bircha Commando Force (BCF) were killed in a clash at Amguri refugee camp in Kokrajhar district. — UNI Brown
sugar seized World’s
largest incense stick Sex workers seek
right to be happy 6 members of gang
held, drugs seized 12-hour bandh in
Tripura GNLF bandh
disrupts life |
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