Jalandhar, May 3
To thwart the looming threat of cyber insecurity, India needs services of more than 77,000 ethical hackers per year to protect cyber network of all private and public establishments, however, the country is producing just half of the required number.

This was stated by well-known ethical hacker of India Ankit Fadia, who served as consultant to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), Mumbai, to crack terror secrets during the aftermath of 9/11 and 26/11 attacks.

He was in city as a part of promotion campaign of an apparel brand.

Fadia, who decoded the al-Qaeda’s encrypted e-mails after 9/11 attacks, said as per recently published NASSCOM report, number of required ethical hackers in India would increase to 1.2 to 1.3 lakh in the next five years, however, the government is doing bit to produce such experts.

“Most of the ethical hackers were trained either through courses organised by their respective companies or of their own. Though threat of cyber terrorism is grave, the government is still not offering courses in this stream in its prestigious engineering colleges,” said Fadia.

Responding to whether Indian insurgents group have the capability to encroach cyber security, he said possibility of big cyber strikes couldn’t be ruled out.

“Cyber attacking capacity of al-Qaeda was unearthed only after 9/11. Similarly, we cannot rule out the underlying threat posed by the insurgent groups active in India. All they need is just to recruit handful of intelligent hackers into rank and files,” said Fadia, who is consultant to state police of eight states, Central Bureau of Investigation, Central Forensics Laboratory, Ministries of Defence and Home Affairs (Singapore), Thai Airways and Bank of Thailand.

On recent cyber attacks committed through the IP addresses, which were allegedly traced in China, he said this simply showed that cyber capacity of China is far ahead of us. “By adopting different modus operandi, they keep on doing security tracking of our websites and IP addresses and attack wherever they find crack in security. In one way, they are establishing themselves as an authority both in cyber defense and offense,” he said.

Just at the age of 24, he has authored 14 books of international repute on different topics of cyber security and three millions copies of his first book “The Unofficial Guide to Ethical Hacking”, which he wrote at age of 14, were sold and translated into 11 languages across the world.

He has been felicitated with 45 awards including Microsoft Valuable Professional Award by Microsoft and Person of the Year 2002 by Limca Book of Records.

Amritsar, May 3
With regional cooperation, liberalisation of visa policies and trade from both sides of the border as priority items on their agenda, the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) has mooted a proposal to organise a conference to be attended by top dignitaries of India and Pakistan.

While speaking here, after attending the fifth SAARC Journalists' Summit under the theme of “Environment and South Asia” held at Bhutan, Imtiaz Alam, Secertary General, SAFMA, said the proposed conference would be commenced in India only to be concluded at Lahore.

“Either Amritsar or Chandigarh would be the venue for the inaugural session of the conference proposed for October-November next. We would invite President of India and Prime Minister of Pakistan besides assuring the chief ministers of both sides of Punjab to be part of this peace initiative from our side,” he said, adding “We do not have any directorial powers but to deal with the forces of disrupt, media can tilt the situation to generate an environment in right direction,” opined Alam.

The SAFMA delegates, including representatives of Hind-Pak Dosti Manch and Folklore Research Academy, Amritsar, hailed the two-day summit held at Thimpu, Bhutan, which was attended by Prime Ministers of both India and Pakistan. “It was an appropriate gesture to organise such a summit when the South Asia region has been passing through tumultuous changes, penetration of conflicts, potential use of nuclear weapons and climate changes,” said Alam.

While criticising the infiltration of miscreant elements and the recent encounter between the Punjab Police and the infiltrators at Gurdaspur border belt which claimed lives of two policemen and left two others injured, the SAFMA and Hind-Pak Dosti Manch representatives urged to form a joint forum on the South Asian platform to answer the terrorism menace.

“Terrorism has become a major hindrance in the path of peace and development. The need of the hour is to have a joint dialogue on the issue of terrorism where all South Asian Nations should initiate to be on one platform to sustain the development and societal values”, said Satnam Singh Manak, General Secretary, Hind-Pak Dosti Manch.

Deeply perturbed by the adverse impact of climate change on human, the eco system and the natural resources in the South Asian region, the SAFMA delegates viewed that it was the lack of adequate action to preserve the climate and the planet to be fit for survival of human being.

They urged to raise awareness about the consequences of climate changes and promote eco-friendly, low-carbon lifestyle and popularize measures while exposing hazards of climate change and destruction of eco-system. They emphasized on judicious use of water and adoption of eco-friendly system of agriculture.

Phagwara, May 3
The SGPC would soon file a case under section 295A of the IPC against DGPC President Paramjit Singh Sarna on the charges of hurting religious sentiments of the Sikhs, said SGPC President Jathedar Avtar Singh Makkar.

Speaking to the media after addressing a Doaba-level meeting of SGPC members in Gurdwara Sukhchain Sahib on Sunday, he said Sikh sangats would not spare Sarna for his alleged disrespect shown towards Fateh march led by Panj Piaras and Guru Granth Sahib recently in Delhi.

Makkar was there to check the ongoing preparations of Baba Banda Bahadur Shatawadi Samaroh scheduled to be held in Fathegarh Sahib from May 12 to 14.

Replying to a question, Makkar said he would visit Canada and USA as some NRIs have agreed to donate lands to the SGPC to set up its offices in those countries. Makkar disclosed that two NRI brothers have offered to donate prime property near the area of White House in Washington and SGPC will open its office there after completing formalities.

Nawanshahr, May 3
Taking a serious note of dereliction in providing information under Right to Information Act, State Information Commissioner Darbara Singh Kahlon has imposed a fine of Rs 8,000 on Sat Pal Sharma, Assistant Municipal Engineer (AME) of local Municipal Council, under section 20(1) of the Act.

Kahlon has also directed Executive Officer Gurbakshish Singh to deduct the amount of fine from the salary to be paid to the errant official for the months of May and June.

The Executive Officer has also been directed to deposit the deducted amount of fine in the treasury and to table the copies of the treasury challans before the State Information Commissioner by July 6 to authenticate that the amount of the fine has been deducted.

The State Information Commissioner has passed this order while deciding the complaint lodged by local resident Krishan Kumar.

In his complaint, Krishan Kumar has stated that he had applied for information under RTI Act on October 5, 2009 but the AME not only delayed the information but also provided incomplete information.

Krishan Kumar lodged a complaint to the State Information Officer on February 16, 2010, and the Commissioner called both the parties for hearing on April 27. Verifying the record produced by Jagroop Singh, Superintendent of the Municipal Council, the State Information Commissioner, held Sat Pal Sharma, AME, responsible for delay in providing the information. — OC

Jalandhar/Nakodar, May 3
The rift between various political leaders to take over the management of Guru Nanak National College for Men and Guru Nanak National College for Women, Nakodar has taken a major twist with a recent judgement passed by the Supreme Court in this regard.

The SC, while setting aside a previous judgement passed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Registrar of Firms and Societies, Punjab to identify and authenticate the constitution of the college council, Nakodar.

In a judgement passed on April 12, the copy of which was handed over to the media by senior Akali leader Kuldeep Singh Wadala, it has been mentioned that the Registrar will hold council elections within six months.

The court has further stated, “Till such elections are held, the committee constitution by the trial court consisting of ADC, Jalandhar, Principal of Guru Nanak National College for Men, Nakodar and SDM Nakodar, SDM Shahkot as ex-officio members shall be incharge of the day-to-day management and affairs of the society and the colleges”.

Wadala addressing a press conference here today said the process of council elections should begin at the earliest in the interest of the students and the staff. Wadala, who has been a member of the council, apprehended that the records of the college could be tampered with if elections are delayed. Revenue minister Ajeet Singh Kohar is reportedly supporting Wadala’s rival group. The controversy surrounding the college had reached a lower court in 2005 when Ajeet Singh Malri, a supporter of Wadala group, had demanded dissolving of a committee headed by Pritam Singh Sarinh at that time. ADC, Jalandhar, Gurpreet Singh Khaira when contacted on this matter said that his committee had taken the charge of the colleges on Friday last and he had asked for furnishing of all records in a week’s time.

Batala, May 3
Three persons died in different road accidents on Sunday. Six-year-old Harsimranjeet Kaur was killed when a rashly driven tractor hit the motorcycle on which the girl was the pillion rider. She fell down after which the tractor ran over her killing her on the spot.

Tractor driver Raghubir Singh was arrested. The accident occurred in Ghuman Area. A case under section 304 IPC has been registered.

In another accident on the Batala-Gurdaspur road, an unidentified vehicle struck a scooter near Adda Udhowal due to which scooterist Surinder Kumar died on the spot while pillion rider Paramjeet sustained serious injuries. In third accident between a bus and a tractor-trolley, tractor driver Didar Singh was killed. The accident occurred on the Dara-Baba Nanak Ramdas Road.