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Police submits status report in Geelani
case
Bilkis identifies 12 accused in court
Rs 50,000 relief paid to rape victim
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SC summons documents in Laloo, Rabri
cases
SC orders closure of 218 industrial, mining
units
Cong in a fix over Haryana CM issue
India, Pak begin trade talks with ‘open mind’
Karzai to arrive today
Gupta to head Defence Acquisition
Desk
India, UK suspend military aid to Nepal
Kidnapped boy returns after a
year
Fire at Shilpgram: probe ordered Shahira Naim
Gupta to head Defence
Kabir is Chief Justice of Jharkhand HC
CBSE to hold PMT on April 3
Increasing LS seats not feasible: BJP
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Police submits status report in Geelani
case
New Delhi, February 22 The report was filed in a sealed cover before a Bench of Mr Justice P.V. Reddi and Mr Justice P.P. Naolekar, which had earlier issued a direction to the police in this regard. The status report carried details how there was delay in giving information to the police regarding the attack on Geelani allegedly by his counsel Nandita Haksar. The police had come to know about the incident only when Geelani was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), it said. It, however, denied allegations of involvement of the police in the attack. Geelani’s lawyer and relatives had accused the police for the attack on him and also “indulging in false propaganda” against him. Meanwhile, Geelani, who was admitted to AIIMS on February 8, was discharged this afternoon. A large number of his relatives and supporters from the JNU and Delhi University came to receive Geelani, who came out of his ward on a wheelchair at 3.30 pm. After being shot by an assailant on February 8, Geelani had in an affidavit to the court accused the Delhi police of shadowing him ever since his acquittal and expressed fear that he might be killed in a fake encounter. The police, who could record Geelani’s statement only after a week of the attack, has so far failed to achieve any breakthrough in the case. They have not been able to draw up a sketch of the assailant on the basis of the description given by him. |
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Bilkis identifies 12 accused in court
Mumbai, February 22 She identified those who allegedly gang-raped her and killed her baby daughter in the massacre. Of the 20 accused in the case 12 are charged with rape and murder. The rest are accused of aiding and abetting the killings and shielding the guilty. Those in the second category include two doctors who performed post-mortem on the dead as well as policemen accused of trying to hide the evidence. Bilkis Bano also named the 12
accused- Aswantbhai Chaturbhai Nai, Govindbhai Nai, Naresh Kumar Ramanlal Mordhiya, Shailesh Chimanlal Bhatt, Radheshyam Bhagwandas Shah, Bipin Chandra Kanyalal Joshi, alias Lala Doctor, Kesarbhai Khimabhai Vohania, Pradeepbhai Ramanlal Mordhiya, Bakabhai Khimabhai Vohania, Rajubhai Babulal Soni, Mitesh Chimanlal Bhatt and Ramesh Chandra, Mr Shah said. Bilkis Bano will be cross-examined on Wednesday.
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Rs 50,000 relief paid to rape victim
New Delhi, February 22 The Commission took cognizance of a complaint received in June 2003 from a voluntary organisation about the torture and gang rape of a 16-year-old Reang girl by three Special Police Officers on May 26, 2003, near Manorajan Das Para Camp in Dala district in Tripura. The Commission called for a report from the DGP, Tripura. Based on the observations made in the report, the commission issued a show-cause notice to the Chief Secretary, Tripura, on July 21, 2004 asking why interim relief be not granted to the victim for the sexual assault by the police officers. In its reply, the Home Department stated that it had paid a compensation of Rs 15,000 to the victim. On September 15, 2004, the commission recommended the payment of Rs 50,000 as “immediate relief’’ to the victim after adjusting the amount already paid. The commission observed that rape not only amounts to violation of the victim’s body but also tends to violate the mind and scar the psyche of a person permanently.
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SC summons documents in Laloo, Rabri
cases
New Delhi, February 22 A Bench of Mr Justice S.N. Variava, Mr Justice A.R. Lakshmanan and Mr Justice S.H. Kapadia directed the CBI and the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) to submit all the relevant papers in sealed cover within three weeks to enable it to examine the alleged irregularity in replacing the prosecutor and disposal of the Rs 40 lakh IT cases against Laloo Prasad and Rabri Devi in June last year. The court, hearing a public interest litigation (PIL), seeking cancellation of bail of Laloo Prasad and his Chief Minister wife Rabri Devi for alleged interference in the judicial process, directed the CBI to “produce its July 20, 2004, order for change of Public Prosecutor (PP) and entire file pertaining to that matter, including all notings leading to appointment of Oma Shankar Sharma as (new) PP.” The president of ITAT was directed to produce “all papers” pertaining to constitution of a Special Bench at Patna, comprising its two officers — P Mohanrajan and M.K. Sarkar — in June last year to dispose of the IT cases, registered against Laloo Prasad and Rabri Devi in 2000 as a fall out of Rs 950 crore fodder scam. The direction came on the PIL by JD(U) MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh, alias Lalan, and BJP MP Sushil Modi, who were the original complainants in the foddar scam in 1999 that had set the ball rolling for a CBI probe in it. The court issued the order after over an hour-long arguments by Lalan and Modi’s counsel Mukul Rohtagi, who tried to dig holes in the CBI affidavit, which said that the petition was “politically motivated” and the two MPs had no locus standi to file a petition in the case. Challenging such a stand of the CBI, Rohtagi, a former Additional Solicitor-General, said it was strange that the investigating agency was talking in the language of a “politician”. The CBI was not expected to make such a statement on record in its affidavit and so far as the locus standi was concerned, the two MPs being original complainants, have every right to move the court, he said. |
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SC orders closure of 218 industrial, mining
units
New Delhi, February 22 A Bench of Mr Justice Y.K. Sabharwal and Mr Justice P.P. Naolekar directed that these industries and mining units located in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, West Bengal, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh be closed within 10 days. The direction came on a PIL by NGO, Goa Foundation, which brought to the court’s notice that 70 industries and 148 mining units spread over these states, had been functioning without any clearance from Union Environment and Forest Ministry. The 70 industrial units listed were mainly involved in the production of asbestos, bulk drugs, finished leather, pesticides, chemical dyes, electroplating and distilleries. Goa Foundation’s counsel Raj Panjwani told the court that despite bringing the matter to the notice of the Union Government several times, the authorities concerned had not taken any action on its own or asked the states concerned to follow the rules, while permitting such industries and mines to function. Taking note of his submission, the court expressed its unhappiness over the way such matters were being wrapped under carpet both by the Centre and the states. The apex court said the affidavit filed by the Union Government was “more in the nature of completing a formality” rather than taking any concrete action. |
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Cong in a fix over Haryana CM issue
New Delhi, February 22 As it is becoming increasingly clear that the Congress will form the next government in Haryana, the other talking point is whether the choice should be from among the elected legislators or should include the Haryana MPs. Even as the debate rages, at least three MPs - Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Rao Inderjeet Singh and Selja - have positioned themselves as chief ministerial candidates. More importantly, they want to keep their bete noire, Haryana Congress chief Bhajan Lal, out of the race. In fact, several state MPs are also learnt to have drafted a letter to
Congress President Sonia Gandhi urging her not to install Mr Bhajan Lal as the next Chief Minister. The letter, yet to reach Mrs Gandhi, is signed by Mr Hooda, Selja, Naveen Jindal, Avtar Singh Bhadana, Jai Prakash and Atma Singh Gill. It is also not clear if this letter will eventually be handed over to Mrs Gandhi and that the basic purpose of Mr Bhajan Lal’s detractors is to demonstrate their strength. Those who want to see Mr Bhajan Lal out maintain that the AICC should opt for a Jat leader as the party has managed to garner the support of this all-powerful community after a long gap. This one move, it is argued, will help mop Jat support in the
neighboring states like Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. In addition, this will also erode the INLD’s support base and guard against the resurrection of INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala. The sub-text here is that instead of the veteran Bhajan Lal, Jat leaders like Birendra Singh, Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Randeep Singh Surjewala be considered for the post. On the flip side, Mr Bhajan Lal’s supporters argue that the Congress should not alienate the non-Jats as they have been the party’s mainstay. The vote against Mr Chautala, it is pointed out, is a vote against Jat leadership. The Congress will be going against the mandate of the electorate if it decides in favour of a Jat Chief Minister. Party seniors, however, do admit that edging out Mr Bhajan Lal will not prove easy. More importantly, he managed to garner a lion’s share of tickets for his supporters, which will work to his advantage in the post-poll scenario.
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I am a candidate for CM’s post, says
Hooda New Delhi, February 22 Mr Hooda, who has defeated former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal, feels that Congress Chief Minister should be a leader with experience and mass base who can work energetically to strengthen the party. Not keen on a debate over the choice of a Jat or non-Jat as future Chief Minister, he says the discussion is a creation of media. “All communities vote for a candidate on a seat. This divide is artificial,” he says. Having been elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1991, Mr Hooda successfully fought the Assembly polls in 2000 from Kiloi. Recalling his work as PCC chief, Mr Hooda says he had fought a battle with the INLD Government for five years and had spread the message of Ms Gandhi to every nook and corner of the state. His loyalists say that as PCC chief Mr Hooda had rebuilt the party organisation after the severe reverses suffered by the Congress in 1996 elections. They say Mr Hooda had addressed rallies in 48 constituencies of the state during the campaign last month. Mr Hooda had also gone to Bihar to campaign for the party candidates. The MP denies he was interested in contesting the Assembly poll. “I will contest when the party wants me to,” he says. Interestingly, the party has given the ticket from Kiloi on Mr Hooda’s recommendation. To reported statement by a senior state leader about party MPs not being in the race for the Chief Minister’s post, he says it could be the personal opinion of the leader. |
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India, Pak begin trade talks with ‘open mind’
New Delhi, February 22 Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath, who inaugurated the first meeting of the Joint Study Group (JSG), said that the Indo-Pak trade had the potential to grow five-fold within a couple of years. “The first step is for us to exploit the complementary things between our economies. We must identify those goods which are sourced from third countries, but which we can source from each other. Such goods should immediately be removed from negative lists. If in any case we are importing these goods from third countries, then why should we hesitate to import them from each other?”, Mr Nath said. Mr S.N. Menon and Mr Tasneem Noorani, the respective Commerce Secretaries of India and Pakistan are chairing the two-day meeting. Mr Kamal Nath noted that even though there was no bilateral trade agreement between the two countries, trade between India and Pakistan had been showing a satisfactory rate of increase over the past few years, while the growth had been particularly robust during the current financial year. In fact, India’s exports to Pakistan during April-September 2004 had gone up by 256 per cent, having increased to $246.32 million from $ 69.16 million in the corresponding period of 2003-04. The potential for two-way trade was evident from the fact that indirect trade between the two countries was more than double the direct trade, he said, adding that in the current scenario of massive indirect trade, it was the third country which benefited more. Mr Noorani said that the Pakistani delegation was approaching the meeting with “great expectations and open mind” and was hopeful that the meeting would be able to demystify “certain myths floating around” in the two countries. |
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Karzai to arrive today
New Delhi, February 22 President A.P.J Abdul Kalam would host a dinner in honour of Mr Karzai tomorrow while Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would host a lunch for the dignitary which will be preceded by delegation-level talks, foreign office spokesman said today. A host of Indian ministers, including External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh, Information and Broadcasting Minister S. Jaipal Reddy and Civil Aviation Minister Prafful Patel, would call on Mr Karzai. UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi would call on Mr Karzai on February 24 morning. This would be Mr Karzai’s first visit to India since the recent elections in his country. He would also be addressing the “India Today Conclave” here on February 25-26. |
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Gupta to head Defence Acquisition
Desk
New Delhi, February 22 He has taken over from Mr S. Banerjee who has swapped his post with Mr Gupta as Additional Secretary, Defence Production. Also a 1971 batch officer Mr Banerjee was Additional Secretary, Defence Acquisition, before Mr Gupta moved to the desk in the rank of a Special Secretary today. Official sources here said with the posting of Mr Gupta, who had topped the 1971 batch, the government had also started the empanelment of the officers of this batch for the Secretary level jobs at the Centre. Incidentally, Mr Gupta would take over the Defence Acquisition Desk at a time when the MoD is all set to announce the reviewed procurement procedure. The new policy is expected to bring in a new time bound system for the scrutiny of defence purchases. Defence Secretary Ajai Vikram Singh today said the policy was being given final touches. |
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India, UK suspend military aid to Nepal New Delhi, February 22 The spokesman said it was a fact that no military assistance had been delivered to Nepal since February1. Nepal's King Gyanendra had staged a royal coup on February 1 by dismissing the Deuba government and assuming all executive powers of governance. Meanwhile, in London, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said a planned package of military assistance to Nepal had been suspended "in the light of the disturbing situation there". |
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Kidnapped boy returns after a
year
Ferozabad, February 22 It was celebration time at the house of 14-year-old Amit in the Karabala colony as he got reunited with his family minus his father who had died in anguish over the abduction of his only son. The police said Amit, son of Satish Chandra Gupta, was kidnapped last year by the Arvind Gurjar gang while he was going to his uncle’s house. The police made a lot of effort, but failed to rescue the boy. His father, shocked at the matter, died. It was just as the family had lost hopes of seeing him alive that they heard about Arvind’s surrender before the police. Expectations grew since then, and today their dream has come true. Amit, who was staying with the Gwalior police after his rescue, was handed over to his family members who reached there along with the local police. They reached here today. —
UNI |
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Fire at Shilpgram: probe ordered Shahira Naim
Lucknow, February 22 Speaking to TNS the Commissioner, Agra Division, Dr Ashok Kumar, said he had demanded an interim relief of Rs 60 lakh for the artisans. Of this Rs 50,000 would be given to artisans whose stalls had been totally gutted and Rs 10,000 to those who had lost their products in the chaos and loot that occurred during the accident. |
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Gupta to head Defence Acquisition
Desk
New Delhi, February 22 He has taken over from Mr S. Banerjee who has swapped his post with Mr Gupta as Additional Secretary, Defence Production. Also a 1971 batch officer Mr Banerjee was Additional Secretary, Defence Acquisition, before Mr Gupta moved to the desk in the rank of a Special Secretary today. Official sources here said with the posting of Mr Gupta, who had topped the 1971 batch, the government had also started the empanelment of the officers of this batch for the Secretary level jobs at the Centre. Incidentally, Mr Gupta would take over the Defence Acquisition Desk at a time when the MoD is all set to announce the reviewed procurement procedure. The new policy is expected to bring in a new time bound system for the scrutiny of defence purchases. Defence Secretary Ajai Vikram Singh today said the policy was being given final touches. |
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Kabir is Chief Justice of Jharkhand HC
New Delhi, February 22 The appointment comes into effect from the date Mr Justice Kabir assumes charge, a Law Ministry statement added. |
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CBSE to hold PMT on April 3
New Delhi, February 22 Candidates who do not receive their admit cards by March 15, have been advised to contact the CBSE office in Preet Vihar, Delhi, with all particulars of the application forms and the postal receipt of the dispatch of application for obtaining the duplicate admit cards. |
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Increasing LS seats not feasible: BJP
New Delhi, February 22 However, the main opposition party said it was ready for a consensus on the Women’s Reservation Bill in any form. BJP spokesperson Sushma Swaraj told this to newspersons here after a attending a meeting of BJP leaders chaired by party President L. K. Advani here to discuss the issue.
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New Delhi, February 22
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