Patna, November 28
The Bihar government has announced an ex gratia compensation of Rs 1.50 lakh to the next of kin of all Biharis killed in terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

While the state government will pay only Rs 1 lakh each to the dependents of all those killed in terrorist violence as per rules, additional Rs 50,000 to each of the victim families will be provided from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

According to reports reaching here so far, nine persons from Bihar, including seven members of a family from Nawada, had lost their lives in the ongoing terrorist violence in Mumbai.

A state government spokesman said the casualty figures may go up.

New Delhi, November 28
The Congress on Saturday slammed BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate L.K. Advani for choosing to “ignore Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s offer to travel with him to Mumbai” and instead making the trip to the terror-struck city accompanied with his party colleagues.

Terming Advani’s move completely motivated by politics ahead of the Assembly poll, Congress spokesman Manish Tiwari said Advani lost a good opportunity to show to the world a united front by India’s top leaders, irrespective of their political lineage.

“The Prime Minister called up Advani and asked him to come with him to Mumbai...Advaniji himself admitted this. The Prime Minister held out a hand (to Advani) in this hour of crisis.

We do not know what his political compulsions were but Advani preferred to go with Jaswant Singh, whose conduct in Kandhar is possibly responsible for what we are facing today,” Tiwari added.

New Delhi, November 28
The counter-terrorism operations in Mumbai are almost entirely the work of the Indian Armed Forces or its highly skilled men on deputation with the elite national security guards (NSG).

Roles of the Army, Navy, Coast Guard and the Indian Air Force emerged crucial in countering the attacks of the militants holed up in two hotels in Mumbai.

The NSG used its special operations group (SOG) formed by drawing men from the Indian Army. Even though the Army men are attached with the NSG on deputation, their core department is the Indian Army. The only difference is that the NSG chief reports to the home ministry. In fact, the NSG commando who died in the attack, was Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan.in the Army. The other NSG commando to lose his life was havildar Chander.

The Army was the first to reach the site of the attack as it despatched 800 of its highly skilled men from its fighting Infantry units. Officials refused to tell which Regiment was used citing secrecy, but added they were hand picked for counter terrorism operations. The operations in Mumbai were being co-ordinated by joint headquarters that was being co-ordinated by the GOC Maharashtra area Maj Gen R.K. Hooda and Vice-Admiral J.S. Bedi.

The Army formed the outer cordon, the inner cordon and also its men were alongside the NSG in the close cordon to tackle the terrorists. The close co-ordination operations were led by NSG chief J.K. Dutt. Army commandos were added to augment the NSG and not replace it, sources in the Army headquarters here clarified.

The Navy and the Coast Guard chipped in when the Navy sent its skilled marine commandos (Marcos) last night. The sources say the number could be close to 2,000 personnel. The leader of the Marcos even addressed the media with his face covered and black glasses on. The Navy also sent two warships, choppers and dorniers to locate a suspected ship. The Navy operation was launched to locate a ship — M V Alpha — that was found 112 km away from Mumbai. The IAF flew in transport aircraft from Chandigarh and Agra among other places in the dead of the night and this morning dropped NSG commandos using helicopters.

New Delhi, November 28
In an unusually tough tone, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today told the Pakistani leadership that New Delhi had gathered irrefutable evidence suggesting the involvement of ‘elements’ in Pakistan in the Mumbai terror attacks. He asked Islamabad to send the ISI chief to India immediately to share with the Indian authorities information he possessed on the audacious attacks.

Rattled by the incidents in India’s commercial capital, Manmohan Singh, who received calls from Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Reza Gilani, is understood to have reminded Islamabad of its commitment not to allow the misuse of the Pakistani territory for anti-India activities. He also spoke to Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai on phone.

External affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee this evening spoke to his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who is currently visiting India, to convey the hope that the government of Pakistan would take immediate action with regard to the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

He told Qureshi that while the government of Pakistan had said that it wanted a leap forward in bilateral relations, outrages like the July 7 attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul and the strikes in Mumbai were intended to make this impossible.

“The groups responsible and their supporters are, therefore, also acting against the direct interests of the government of Pakistan. We expect Pakistan to honour its solemn commitments not to permit the use of its territory for terrorism against India,” Mukherjee said.

Official sources said the India leaders again pointed out to Pakistan that the public opinion in this country had once again turned against Pakistan in the wake of recent serial blasts in different cities and the gruesome terror attacks in Mumbai, endangering the composite dialogue process.

The sources noted that Pakistan had repeatedly assured India that it would take action against the ‘jehadi’ groups operating from its soil but it had not done much on the ground in dealing with such elements. The terrorist infrastructure across the border still existed and the ISI continued to function as a ‘state within a state’.

There were reports that Pakistan Army chief Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani could also visit India in this connection. However, the Pakistan foreign minister, who addressed a function here this evening, said he was not in a position to confirm these reports.

Earlier in the day, Mukherjee, who was in Jodhpur, told reporters that preliminary investigations pointed towards the involvement of ‘some elements’ in Pakistan in the Mumbai terror attacks.

The Pakistan foreign minister was quick to deny Mukherjee’s charge of the alleged complicity of Pakistan-based terrorists in the attack and asked New Delhi not to ‘play politics’, saying the two countries need to tackle the menace of terrorism together.

Several world leaders have, meanwhile, spoken to Mukherjee in the last 48 hours, conveying their condolences to the victims of the barbaric terrorist attacks in Mumbai, and offering sympathy, help and support.

Among these leaders were President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa, foreign minister of Oman Yousuf Bin Abdullah, US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, foreign minister of Australia Stephen Smith, foreign minister of Israel Tzipi Livni, foreign minister of Canada Lawrence Cannon, foreign minister of France Bernard Kouchner and Arab League general secretary Amre Moussa.

New Delhi, November 28
Even as the nation’s security forces are fighting a tough battle with terrorists in Mumbai, here in Delhi a different kind of battle is being fought. It is a battle of wits, of who will control the “airwaves”, as the nation sits glued to the news channels in the past two days.

Well-placed sources in the Central government said the UPA government hauled up home ministry officers for not ensuring that its views were aired amply on news channels. The government was virtually caught napping while leader of the opposition L.K. Advani and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi hogged the limelight last night and this morning, respectively.

The ruling party then countered this by sending out Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Union minister of state for home Sri Prakash Jaiswal for “media talking”.

The home ministry also got flak as its always knows about the movement of leading dignitaries and could have tipped the Centre off about the Advani and Modi visits.

Narendra Modi landed in Mumbai this morning and virtually “hogged” the airwaves with TV news channels airing his views on “what should be done”. What Modi did was seen as political para-trooping in political circles. Normally, chief ministers do not venture out to other states when such attacks take place.

Modi not only arrived at the site of the encounter, but also addressed an impromptu press conference. He announced Rs 1 crore for the kin of the martyred jawans. He visited the house of slain Anti-Terror Squad Hemant Karkare.

Standing in front of the Oberoi-Trident hotel, Modi criticised the UPA alliance.

It was at this point that the home ministry was “asked” to ensure that the viewpoint of the ruling party was aired amply.

Deshmukh was the first to the fielded by the party and he lashed out at Modi saying “nobody should try to take political advantage of this situation”. “When the operation is going so smoothly, it is not right to talk about politics here. I have also told him (Modi) not to come here when such an operation is going on,” Deshmukh said.

Later, Sri Prakash Jaiswal was sent to defend the government and counter Modi’s tirade and tell the nation that the government was tackling the situation “on a war footing”. 

Mumbai, November 28
“We didn’t see the terrorists. But we felt their rage.” This is how American couple Bruce and Petty described their 26-hour-long harrowing experience in the confines of their room on the 17th floor of the Taj Mahal Hotel here, which was under siege by terrorists.

The couple, along with a Chinese, a South African and an Australian national, was rescued from the hotel by the elite National Security Guards (NSG) late last night.

“There was blood sprayed all over the floor. It was really messy. I didn’t want to see it,” said Bruce recounting their ordeal.

The couple, who were all praise for the NSG commandos, said that there was no water and the place was covered with debris.

“It’s wonderful to be safe in life but it is sad to see what happened,” Bruce said.

Despite their brush with terror, the couple is eager to “keep coming back” to India which is a “magical country.” — PTI 

Chennai, November 28
At least, 70 persons were killed and thousands rendered homeless in incessant rains in the state as cyclone Nisha that has crossed the Tamil Nadu coast near Karaikal left behind a trail of destruction.The cyclone, which crossed the Tamil Nadu coast near Karaikal yesterday, wreaked havoc there and in Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Tiruvarur district, Met office said.

Many fishing boats anchored near the shore in these areas broke free of its moorings and are reported missing.

Standing paddy crops in these areas were submerged.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi expressed hope that the Centre would sanction adequate funds for flood relief works in the state.

“We have provided details about the damage caused by the cyclone and heavy rains lashing the state to the Centre,” he said after going round the flood-hit areas in Chennai today.

Karunanidhi said he had asked the district collectors to gather details of the damage. The relief works for the affected people would be taken up immediately, he said.

Earlier, he went around Kotturpuram, Saidapet, Gandhi Mandapam, Kilpauk and Perambur which were the worst hit in rains in the city.

The city was under a sheet of water with suburban lakes and tanks like Chembarambakkam, Poondi and Porur overflowing.

Most of the roads in the city were flooded and traffic was disrupted. People living on the banks of Adyar, Cooum rivers and in the low lying areas have been housed in schools and being provided food. — PTI

Guwahati, November 28
Rapid action teams from the Assam Veterinary Department today culled about 9,000 fowls in 10 villages under Hajo revenue circle in Kamrup district of Assam following the outbreak of the dreaded bird flu at Thakuria Chuba at Rajabazar village in the area.

Kamrup district deputy commissioner R.C. Jain formed that 20 teams were put into the culling operation in as many as 10 villages today. He said the culling operation would be confined to all villages located within three kilometre radius of the village where the outbreak of the bird flu was confirmed yesterday following test reports received from the Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL), where samples were sent for test.

The official said at least 20 villages would be covered for the culling operation that was likely to last for two more days. Though no target has been set for the culling, all fowls found in the specified area would be covered under the operation to prevent the spread of the deadly disease.

Over 300 poultries belonging to 24 families in Rajabazar village under Hajo subdivision perished during the past five days or so raising the alarm bell. The state Veterinary Department lost no time to send samples to the HSADL for test.

Meanwhile, transshipment and the sale of poultry have been banned in Hajo subdivision of Kamrup district as a preventive measure though the state government is yet to impose a blanket ban. The Central government has sent a team to the state to assist the culling team here.

Bareilly, November 28
At least 50 passengers were injured when the Amritsar-bound Janseva Express dashed against a goods train near Chanheti station under the Moradabad division of the Northern railways today.

The accident occurred after the Janseva Express driver ignored the signal, sources said. They maintained that a major accident was averted as the Shahjahanpur-bound train, carrying petrol and diesel, did not catch fire after the collision.

Due to the incident, diesel splitted in the nearby areas, affecting rail services on the Lucknow-Delhi route. The engine and six bogies of the Janseva Express along with seven bogies of the goods train were also derailed.

All injured have been admitted to hospital.

Train services on the route have been paralysed and long distance trains were being diverted through alternate routes, sources added. The driver has been suspended by the authorities. — UNI

Jamshedpur, November 28
A local court today fixed December 6 as the next date of hearing for recall of a warrant of arrest against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray.

The date was fixed after defense lawyer R.K. Singh sought time in the court of 1st class judicial magistrate (ii) Anil Kumar.

The case was filed by an advocate Sudhir Kumar Pappu for his alleged derogatory remarks against the Bihari community at a public meeting in Mumbai on March, 2007.

The arrest warrant was issued by the court.

Earlier, Pappu argued that the accused person was deliberately delaying the proceeding of the case and pleaded the court to pass an order against him.

While granting time to Thackeray, the judge directed the accused if he violated the next date the court would pass an appropriate order. — PTI

Panaji, November 28
The Goa government today decided to cancel all peripheral activities related to the ongoing International Film Festival of India in wake of the terror attacks in neighbouring Mumbai.

“All peripheral activities are cancelled as there has been a terror attack in Mumbai and also due to security reasons,” Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat said at the IFFI venue.

The state government’s Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), co-organisers of the event, had made arrangements for various cultural programmes at 11 venues across the state.

Kamat presided over the governing body meeting of the ESG and reviewed the entire situation, which was attended by the top level state police officials. — PTI