New Delhi, December 4
Indian security agencies that have been gathering evidence about the Mumbai attack now claim to have found a definite link to show the involvement of Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) in the attacks, sources said. They added that the US also believed the same.

Notably, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, who was in Pakistan yesterday, has reportedly conveyed to Pakistan that the link between the Mumbai attacks and Pakistan-based terrorists was evident. Mullen was in India today and he meet defence minister A.K. Antony, national security adviser M.K. Narayanan and the top brass of the Indian armed forces.

It may been mentioned here that the US, the UK and India have shared information on the attacks. Teams of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Scotland Yard have been assisting in investigations. They are said to have shared information about Hafeez Mohammad Saeed, who heads Lashkar-e-Toiba in Pakistan.

The Indian security agencies have collated a large part of the information about the Pakistan’s hand and US secretary of state Condoleeza Rice was shown the same. The information included telephonic intercepts, boats, satellite phones and disclosures during interrogation by the arrested terrorist, besides other evidence.

India has stated that the attacks were planned, equipped and organised in Pakistan, where the terrorists were trained and provided logistical support. India now even has the names of trainers and the places in Pakistan where the terrorists were trained.

A overwhelming part of the thinking has also been influenced by veteran US Central Intelligence Agency analysts, who have ridiculed the Pakistani government’s denials that its intelligence agency has no links with the Lashkar-e-Toiba. In the US, Pakistan is seen as the perpetrator of the Mumbai attacks.

New Delhi, December 4
The BJP has offered conditional support to the UPA government in its fight against terrorism if it “immediately suspends miscalled peace process with Pakistan.”

After two-hour deliberations, the Core Group of the BJP formulated a 10-point charter as a precondition for standing with the government against India, said Jaswant Singh, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha.

But for all the conditionalities prescribed by the BJP, the tone lacked the past BJP belligerence and stridency with no mention of hot pursuit or surgical strikes.

Jaswant Singh justified this by saying: “If some change of situation has taken place in five years (after the NDA rule), it is not necessary to stick to the same old position.”

The 10 conditions laid down by the BJP include “immediate suspension of peace process with Pakistan and stern anti-terrorism law that ensures expeditious trial and conviction both of terrorists and those who assist them.”

The party has also sought the government’s commitment to enable other states to expeditiously enact similar laws, implying an undertaking to clear Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s GUJCOCA and similar laws enacted by other BJP-ruled states.

It has also offered conditional support for federal security and investigative agency only if it was accompanied by “a comprehensive federal security law”. “Otherwise,” Arun Shourie said: “You can’t have a federal agency without federal law in India.”

Guwahati, December 4
‘Vulnerable’ Assam today raised a demand for an NSG hub in the state for the entire insurgency-hit northeastern region in view of the Centre’s decision to set up such bases of the elite force outside New Delhi to fight terror.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today informed that his government would request the Centre to set up an NSG hub in the state that stands “more vulnerable” to terror strikes because of its strategic location and presence of several terror groups having their bases in neighbouring countries.

“Assam is more vulnerable due to its strategic location and the presence of several terrorist outfits with bases in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar. These outfits are being patronised by HuJI, the Laskar-e-Toiba and the Pakistan’s ISI. These terrorist groups both within and outside the country do not want India emerge as a world economic power. The insurgent groups active in the state, including ULFA, National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and Dima Halam Daogah (DHD), have become mere pawns in the hands of the ISI, HuJI and other forces inimical to India,” Gogoi said.

Meanwhile, the Assam government has decided not only to strength the state police force but also modernise it by equipping it with the latest weaponry and technology. The state will set up three special battalions of the police in the line of the NSG exclusively to fight terrorists. A state-level security council will be set up with experts, who will advise the government in tackling terror.

The Chief Minister sought help from the Central agencies to trace the mastermind of October 30 serial blasts. “The investigation by the state police has established the involvement of ULFA and the NDFB in the execution of the serial blasts, but we need to trace the mastermind behind the blasts as these outfits have now become a tool in the hands of anti-India forces operating from neighbouring countries.”

Gogoi dismissed the opposition BJP and the Asom Gana Parishad’s demand for his resignation over “failure to protect lives and property of people” saying “why should I quit bowing to their demand. I will quit the moment the party high command asks me to resign. I am not the one to leave the battle against terror midway”.

New Delhi, December 4
Did terrorists send wrong information to hoodwink security agencies? A section among officials involved in India maritime security believes that terrorists involved in Mumbai terror strikes deliberately leaked false inputs about the time and place of arrival to divert the attention of spying agencies, which, in turn, provided wrong information to the maritime units like the Navy and the Coast Guard.

Notably, the warships busy carrying out operations off the Gujarat coast were diverted for surveillance and patrol of Sir Creek area, whereas the terrorists entered India from the south Gujarat side. Around six ships and 20 aircraft were involved in the exercise.

A source recounted how terrorists had leaked wrong inputs to facilitate the 1993 serial blasts.

At that time, customs officials were told that a huge consignment was being smuggled from Pakistan through the south Goa area.

As security agencies got busy in Goa, the terrorists easily unloaded huge amount of RDX at a port in Raigarh district of Maharashtra, they added.

In the past two days, the armed forces have said intelligence inputs were not specific and actionable prior to the Mumbai attacks.

Ahmedabad, December 4
Two jawans were killed and five others injured when ammunition exploded in an Army cantonment in Gandhidham town of Kutch district of Gujarat today, the police said. “There was an arms and ammunition inspection on at the Gandhidham cantonment. Prima Facie, it seems that some accident took place there after which the ammunition caught fire and exploded,” Kutch district superintendent of police Vabang Jamir said.

“Two army men died in the incident while five others were injured and admitted to hospital,” Jamir added. — PTI

New Delhi, December 4
The Centre has decided to allow publication of Indian editions of foreign magazines publishing news and comments on public news by Indian entities, with or without foreign investment.

Publishers of such editions would be eligible for attracting 26 per cent foreign investment. The ceiling of total foreign direct investment is up to 26 per cent as per the provisions of the FDI guidelines issued by the ministry of information and broadcasting from time to time.

The title of the magazine should be verified and subsequently registered by the publishers from the Registrar of Newspapers for India under the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, and as per procedure in vogue.

The guidelines require at least 3/4th of the directors on the board of directors of the applicant Indian company and all key executives and editorial staff to be resident Indians.

The foreign magazines should have been published continuously for a period of at least five years, and the publication must have had a circulation of at least 10,000 paid copies in the last financial year in the country of its origin.

The period of continuous publication and circulation must be certified by the respective governmental authority of the country and if there is no such authority regulating such matters, the certificate should be from respected and recognised agencies engaged in the business of certification.

Any Indian company shall be subject to the laws and guidelines applicable to Indian news magazines and their publishers.

The Indian companies would be allowed to enter into financial arrangements (such as royalty payment arrangements, etc.) with the owners of the foreign magazines subject to the rules and regulations of the Government of India issued on the matter from time to time.

The publication shall make full disclosure, at the time of application, of the licence agreement/ financial arrangement with the foreign entity for publishing. Any subsequent change shall be disclosed to the ministry of information and broadcasting within 15 days of such a change.

The company shall inform the ministry within 15 days of effecting any changes in the composition of resident Indian directors or key executives and editorial staff. Such a change would be subject to post facto approval of the ministry.

Kolkata, December 4
Tension flared up at Nandigram again following violent clashes between the CPM and the Trinamool Congress supporters over control of certain areas on Thursday. According to reports, firearms, bomb, lathis, bows and arrows were freely used by both the parties, resulting in injuries to over 20 persons, who have been admitted to hospitals at Tamluk and Nandigram. Among those hurt, around a dozen are CPM loyalists, while the remaining owe their allegiance to TMC and the local Bhoomi Raksha Committee (BRC).

The police was not present during the clashes, but later a large contingent of the state armed police was rushed to the spot, said sources, adding that around 30 persons have been arrested.

Referring to the fresh violence at Nandigram, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee - who was holding closed talks with the Samajwadi party leader Amar Singh at her residence in Kolkata when the reports of the clash reached her - alleged that the CPM was again targeting the TMC workers at Nandigram and forcing them to vacate.

She further alleged that on the eve of the Assembly by-election at Nandigram, the CPM with the help of the police was trying to seize control of the area. She said she would again visit Nandigram for mobilising party men in large number to protect the area.

While rubbishing Mamata’s charges, CPM state committee leader Benoy Konar claimed that left supporters, who were taking out a peaceful procession in the area, were attacked with firearms and other weapons by TMC men.

There were also reports of clashes between the two groups at several other places. However, the situation is under control. Over two-dozen persons were detained for interrogation and later released.

Bhopal, December 4
Since the day of polling (November 27) for electing the new Madhya Pradesh Assembly, politicians and political parties have simply vanished from the scene in the state. No statements, no functions, no press conferences, nothing. The state party offices of the BJP and the Congress wear a deserted look.

Even the momentous events in Mumbai have failed to elicit any reaction from the political class, which normally grabs any opportunity to air its views. Neither the ruling BJP, nor the main opposition Congress has even cared to issue a statement paying tributes to those slain by terrorists and those who laid down their lives in combating them in Mumbai.

The Bajrang dal and other Sangh affiliates, who used to burn effigies of “Islamic terrorism” and its “patron”, the UPA government after every terrorist attack in the country too are nowhere to be seen.

CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan, who was smiling down from the pages of newspapers almost the every other morning, has disappeared from news. He has not attended a single public function since the polling day.

Neither the CM and nor the ministers are attending office. No decisions are being taken, no files are being cleared. The thick sheaf of press notes that used to land in newspaper offices every evening from the Public Relations Department has been replaced by one or two press releases a day. — TNS

Guwahati, December 4
In a shocking revelation, statistics show that an average of 175 children below five years of age are dying every day in Assam. Statistics indicate that the condition of children in the state is dismal as over 40 per cent children below three years are underweight, whereas 76.7 per cent of the children are anaemic. The 2001 census also revealed that 5.4 per cent children between five and 14 years were child labourers.

According to 2002-04 district-level household survey, around 53.4 per cent of the girls got married before the age of 18 years. The Constitution defines anybody below 18 as a child and entitles them to certain child rights, but the children in the state are unaware of the rights guaranteed to them like the Right to Survive or Right to Live in Hygienic Conditions. — PTI

BRIEFLY

Pune celebrates birthday of Kamte’s son
Pune: Roses greeted Rahul, the school-going son of Ashok Kamte, one of the three top Mumbai police officers killed in the November 26 terror attack, as around 800 students celebrated his birthday last night, refusing to allow the forlorn family to grieve in silence. Kamte, the Additional Commissioner of Police posted in Mumbai, had promised his family that he would come to Pune on December 3 for Rahul's birthday. Volunteers of Pune Vichar Manch, joined by students of Police Public School here, greeted Rahul holding roses in their hands. — PTI