Raipur, July 15
Politicians and many high-ranking police officers are not excited over the model of a separate Unified Command which is going to be set up in four worst Maoist-hit states - Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal - as they feel that they may not have much say in the new operational set-up.To be headed by states’ chief secretaries, these unified commands will have a retired Major General, with an experience in jungle warfare, as an advisor. These unified commands will not have politicians as members.

The decision to set up a Unified Command in four states was taken at a high-level meeting, wherein chief ministers of seven Naxal-affected states were summoned by the Prime Minister to chalk out fresh strategy against the Left-wing extremists, at New Delhi.

The experiment of having a Unified Command has already been carried out by the Centre in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and many other north-eastern states, where the Army, paramilitary forces and the state police operate under a common command structure.

The Centre is hoping to finish the Maoist terrorism in three to seven years. A senior officer of the Union Home Ministry told The Tribune that the Naxalites are no longer confined to a single state and, therefore, the need of the hour is to go for a comprehensive plan for dealing with the problem at the national level.

Interestingly, the BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh is already having its own Unified Command to handle the Naxal menace. Headed by CM Dr Raman Singh, the command has two sub-groups: While operations are headed by DGP Vishwa Ranjan, the development issues are looked after by the Chief Secretary Joy Oommen.

The fresh move by the Centre now means that the Chhattisgarh’s existing command will be dissolved.Some police officials and politicians believe that the Centre’s concept won’t work as ultimately the state machinery will have to decide the strategy to tackle the Naxalites.

“A retired Major General, despite his vast experience, won’t be of much use in giving advice. There is no dearth of talent in the state,” said a senior police officer. “The BJP has taken a strong stand against Naxals. Our CM has always batted for an aggressive approach to crush the rebels. The CMs have been kept out of the new Unified Command. This is not at all a practical move,” remarked a party functionary.

However, the Opposition believes that the ruling BJP will operate “by proxy” to tap huge funds that are coming for development works in the Maoist-hit areas, especially Bastar.

“The Unified Command’s head - the Chief Secretary - can’t go against the wishes of the CM,” said a Congress leader. “The so-called current Unified Command of Chhattisgarh is just a political gimmick. The CM has put political representatives up to the block level in it.The CM just meets them to have a chit-chat, nothing concrete emerges from such routine meetings,” he alleged Many police officers have not liked the ‘command’ going to the IAS lobby. At present, operational tasks are handled by the DGP. Thought the development issues are handled by the Chief Secretary, he will now oversee even operational tasks under the new set-up.

Sources said the Army would suggest a panel of retired Major Generals to the states for induction in the Unified Command. Each state will be free to choose one of them, keeping in mind the individual’s equation with the state’s DGP and heads of the paramilitary forces.It is not yet clear whether these Major Generals as ‘advisors’ will be stationed in the state capital or will keep shuttling between New Delhi and state. It is also not yet known whether they will be reporting to the state government or Union Home Ministry or the Defence Ministry.

Mumbai, July 15
According to the workers at the Mumbai Port Trust, Wednesday’s chlorine gas leak from an abandoned cylinder that left nearly 100 persons sick was a disaster waiting to happen.

The Transport and Dock Workers’ Union members have said unclaimed cargo often containing hazardous goods are dumped at various points on the port premises.

“Our workers are exposed to maximum danger from such hazardous cargo,” says RM Murthy, secretary of the union. According to the union, 13 people employed in the port had to be hospitalized after inhaling chlorine gas. Four of them are still in the ICU.

According to port officials, the cargo of cylinders was imported by a company, Agro Gases, 10 years ago. The company did not claim the consignment after a dispute with the customs authorities, port officials said. Clearing and forwarding agents handling cargo say disputes over classification of cargo are a major reason for consignments to be left unclaimed by importers.

Under the rules, the port trust officials are to levy penalty on importers for cargo left unclaimed apart from auctioning the cargo after six months. However, depending on the nature of the cargo, there are multiple agencies involved. In the case of the chlorine cylinders, the papers were still being shunted between port officials, the customs and the controller of explosives, sources said.Till the disposal of the cargo, the Mumbai Port Trust is tasked with safeguarding the consignment. However, the cylinders were simply left in the open. Meanwhile, the cargo deteriorated and caused the leakage to happen.

What compounded the problem was the lack of adequate safeguards to neutralize the leaking chlorine, police and fire brigade officials say. Gas from one of the cylinders was leaking for the second day, port officials said today. With police and fire brigade officials unable to contain the damage, the National Disaster Response Force was brought from Pune to carry out the job.

New Delhi, July 15
Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh’s younger brother and former MP Lakshman Singh was expelled from the primary membership of the BJP today.

BJP’s Madhya Pradesh president Prabhat Jha announced Lakshman’s expulsion saying: “Lakshman Singh was expelled with immediate effect due to serious charges of indiscipline and anti-party activities.”

Lakshman was upset with BJP president Nitin Gadkari for calling his elder bother “Aurangzeb ki aulad”, implicitly also abusing Lakshman Singh himself.

He had publicly taken offence to this and asked Gadkari to apologise, failing which he had threatened to resign from the party.

Jha sufficed to say Lakshman Singh had made objectionable comment against the party president accusing him of making objectionable remarks about his elder brother.

Sources said Jha rushed to act against Lakshman Singh before could make his next move and bring more adverse publicity to the party.

A couple of days ago Nitin Gadkari had called AICC general secretary names at a public meeting in Lucknow.

Jammu, July 15
Pakistan Rangers fired twice on an Indian post along the Indo-Pak border in RS Pora, about 35 km from here, but there were no reports of any casualties, a senior BSF official said tonight.

The first incident took place at the forward post of Kharkola border outpost at 7:30 PM and the next one at 9:00 PM, he said.

No one was injured in the firing which came from across the border close to Ablashah Post of Pakistan on the outpost being guarded by BSF troops of 122 Battalion, he said.

Indian and Pakistani troops traded intermittent gunfire till late into the night at Krishna Ghati, about 280km from Jammu.

“This is a ceasefire violation by Pakistan and protests will be lodged,” said an Army officer.

Today's incidents was the sixth ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops in the last two weeks.

This was the second time in 10 days that Pakistani troops opened fire on Indian positions at Krishna Ghati sub-sector. Pakistani troops had fired at forward positions along the Line of Control in Krishna Ghati area of Poonch sector on July 5.

On July 9, Pakistani Rangers had violated the ceasefire by resorting to small arms firing along International Border on Khawara order outpost in Mawa belt of Samba district.

Pakistani troops had last violated the ceasefire on July 7 when they opened fire at the Chak Pagwari BOP in Pargwal in Jammu. — PTI

Mumbai, July 15
The Bombay High Court today refused to grant any relief to suspended IPL Chairman Lalit Modi ahead of the BCCI’s disciplinary committee meeting and left the issue of reconstituting the panel on the members.

The division bench of Justices B H Marlapalle and Roshan Dalvi dismissed Modi's plea seeking reconstitution of the three-member disciplinary panel and cleared the decks for the disciplinary proceedings against him to commence.

The committee, comprising interim IPL Chairman Chirayu Amin, Arun Jaitley and Jyotiraditya Scindia, has summoned Modi to appear before it here tomorrow.

However, the court also indicated that the final finding can be challenged by Modi and he can even raise the issue of the constitution of the committee at that point.

Modi's objection to the committee was that it would be biased against him and he had sought that the panel be made up of independent persons, preferably retired Supreme Court judges.

But the division bench said that as per the BCCI rules, “disciplinary committee has limited powers....it is only required to inquire into charges and submit the final report to the board. The board is the final decision-making body.”

Modi had objected to having Amin and Jaitley, two members of the committee, on the panel. — PTI

New Delhi, July 15
Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Amritsar Navjot Singh Sidhu blamed the callous attitude of the Punjab and Haryana governments for the current flood situation in both these states.

BJP president Nitin Gadkari had appointed a two-member team comprising Sidhu and the national secretary of the BJP, Captain Abhimanyu, to visit the flood-affected areas in Punjab and Haryana and give a report. Releasing the report, Sidhu said here today: “Both Punjab and Haryana failed to take preventive measures in time to avoid the current situation.”

The BJP is a junior partner in the Punjab government along with the Shiromani Akali Dal led by Parkash Singh Badal.

He pointed out that there was a regular flood control machinery in every state and the local administration was supposed to desilt the drains and canals before the rainy season commenced to prevent flooding. “Prevention is always better than cure,” Sidhu said, throwing a one-liner.

Though Sidhu largely restricted himself to attacking the Haryana government for the current flood situation there, when asked specifically about Punjab, he said: “Both the Punjab and Haryana governments failed to take any preventive measures.”

He reeled out figures to claim that the Haryana government had not utilised the funds available with it.

Guwahati, July 15
Ten-year-old Takam, a Class V student of Don Bosco School in remote Palin in Kurung Kumey district of Arunachal Pradesh, sacrificed his life trying to help several of his little schoolmates to get of their hostel that caught fire on the night of February 10 this year.

He woke up and helped at least seven kids from KG to Class II to safety, before the private hostel was razed to ground by the inferno that night. However, he did not survive to tell the horrific tale. However, five months after his heroic deed (death), the braveheart’s name has found mention in the Arunachal Pradesh government’s the recommendation list for a gallantry award. A high-level committee, led by the state education minister Bosiram Siram, recommended the boy for a gallantry award in its recently submitted report, according to an official source.

Sixty-two children were staying in Holy Angel private hostel run by a local lady, Biri Kamyar. Ten of them died in the fire that broke out at around 9 pm on that fateful night. Though nine of the dead could be identified, one body was charred beyond recognition.

All the children died while they were asleep. It was a thatch-and-bamboo house and the children-from KG to Class VIII- were students of the Don Bosco school.

Lucknow, July 15
Clearly unnerved at the electoral reverses, Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav today apologised to Muslims for causing them mental anguish and hurting their sentiments by siding with some “wrong elements” during the last Lok Sabha elections.

In a one-paged apology letter issued on his official letterhead, Yadav, without naming Kalyan Singh, stuck to his argument that he had taken that decision to keep the communal forces at bay.

“For this, I apologise to all, specially Muslims and assure them that in future I would give priority to their interest and would work tirelessly towards protecting their honour and self esteem”.

In his letter, Yadav has cited his efforts to protect the Babri Masjid in 1990. He has also noted that on December 6, 1992, the BJP government demolished the Babri mosque for which the Supreme Court had held the then Chief Minister responsible and even punished him for a day.

However, his former colleague Mohammad Azam Khan, who was suspended from the party for his opposition to this ill-fated alliance, described today’s move as “too little, too late”.

“After the Lok Sabha debacle, continuous reverses in every bypoll and now being reduced to number four position, even behind a two-district party, in Domariyaganj, the Samajwadi Party has remembered Muslims, who, for years, had stood behind the party like a rock”, observed Khan.

New Delhi, July 15
The BJP high command seems to have suddenly slowed down attempts to get Uma Bharti back into the party following recent sharp divisions witnessed in its Madhya Pradesh unit on this issue.

The party’s Core Group that met here yesterday, issued a warning to “all the leaders and ministers (of Madhya Pradesh) not to issue any public statements about Uma Bharti’s return.”

Formally, BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar denied discussing the Uma issue but sources said the Core Group took serious note of sudden dissensions visible in its MP unit following reports of Uma’s return to the party. His note of caution came after attempts by MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan and state BJP president Prabhat Jha failed to deter the firebrand leader’s admirers and instead brought to the fore dissidence.

An attempt by MP Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narottam Mishra to rein in Cabinet ministers on the issue backfired in the state Cabinet in Bhopal on Wednesday. Former chief minister Babulal Gaur, who had welcomed attempts to bring back Uma, was asked to shut up and he threatened to resign.

But Babulal Gaur was not alone in welcoming Uma back. Before him, former Union Minister Sumitra Mahajan had met LK Advani and announced that she held no grouse against Uma, adding, “I will welcome her return. Why should anyone object to her return if the party is strengthened, specially when others like Jaswant Singh have already come back?”

Former MP chief minister Kailash Joshi also pleaded Uma’s case in public. “I have no objection if Uma wants to return to the party and the party wants to utilise her services,” he said.

But the strongest argument came from the minister for 20-point programme implementation Jaibhan Singh Pawaiya, also one-time national convener of Bajrang Dal. He went on to point out that the BJP’s raison ‘d etre is not power but ideology and it is necessary to collect all nationalistic forces under one umbrella.

Lucknow, July 15
With the arrest of two persons in Allahabad last night, the police claims to have solved the case of a conspiracy to kill a Cabinet minister in the Mayawati government in a blast that had left one dead. The minister and four others were critically injured.

However, even after three days the Forensic Science Laboratory, Agra, has not submitted its report that was to provide scientific leads on explosive and detonator used in the blast as well as vital details of the vehicle on which the bomb was planted.

Briefing mediapersons ADG Brij Lal said two persons were arrested from Allahabad railway station last night. They have been identified as Rajesh Yadav and Kripa Shankar The alleged mastermind, Rajesh Pilot, is still absconding.

The ADG said interrogation had revealed that the conspiracy to kill the minister Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’ was hatched in Agra jail where Nandi’s political rival Dilip Mishra, block pramukh of Chakha in Naini, is presently lodged.

The police are also going to arrest Mahendra Kumar Mishra, Manoj and Vijay Pandey- close relatives of Mishra - for helping plan the logistics of the conspiracy.

Mishra is the nephew of SP MLA from Bhadohi Vijay Mishra. The downfall of his political and business fortune was synonymous with Nandi’s meteoric rise.

“The imprisoned block pramukh is believed to have told the arrested duo that Nandi was harassing him and was responsible for the false cases against him. He had also held the minister responsible for sealing of his (Dilip’s) properties, including his house,” the ADG said.

Bangalore, July 15
Dismissing the Opposition parties’ demand for a CBI investigation into illegal mining, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa today invited them to instead join a delegation headed by him to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to press for a total ban on iron ore exports. “I have decided to lead a delegation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to plead for a ban on export of iron ore, which is a solution to end illegal mining,” Yeddyurappa told reporters here. He said he had written to the Congress and the JD(S) asking them join him.

“If they do not come I shall go on my own and meet the PM,” Yeddyurappa said. The Chief Minister said the Congress and the JD(S) were pressing for a CBI probe as they were scared that an investigation by the Lokayukta would expose the role of Congress and JD(S) leaders in the unlawful business.

“These parties have been pressing for a CBI probe to ensure their leaders get a clean chit from charges they face on illegal mining,” Yeddyurappa said. He alleged that the opposition's main aim was to stall proceedings in the legislature.

In an apparent attempt to counter the Congress “padayatra” from Bangalore to Bellary on the issue, he said he would start touring every district for three days a month after conclusion of the ongoing session.

“Besides reviewing development works at district headquarters, I will also address public meetings to inform people about the government's achievements and hurdles created by Opposition parties. I will also meet farmers to discuss organic farming methods,” he said. Yeddyurappa had recently released a list of Congress leaders who are into mining after the Opposition turned the heat on his government over the issue.

Kolkata, July 15
At least 27 persons were taken ill after the toxic methane and carbon monoxide gases leaked from a blast furnace at Durgapur Steel Plant (DSP) in West Bengal's Burdwan district this morning, a day after chlorine gas leak in Bombay Port Trust landed over hundred people in hospital.The incident occurred when employees of the DSP were working at blast furnace No 2, the police said.

Twentyfour of the affected workers were immediately rushed to the Durgapur Steel Plant-run hospital. Three others, standing a few metres away from the furnace, recovered within minutes and did not need hospitalisation.

Four of the critically ill workers have been admitted in the intensive care unit (ICU). Ten persons have already been discharged after treatment, a DSP official said.The Chief of Communications of the plant, B.R. Kanungo, confirmed the gas leak.“We are yet to ascertain the reason for the emission of the gases from the blast furnace number 2. All measures have been taken to stop the leak,” Kanungo said over phone.

“An expert committee has been formed to investigate the incident,” he added.Immediately after the incident, the plant was closed and people in the nearby areas shifted to safer places. Forensic experts have been called to help with the investigation.At least 120 people were taken ill yesterday when chlorine gas leaked from one of the imported cylinders lying on Bombay Port Trust's (BPT) Hay Bandar premises.

Guwahati, July 15
Thuingaleng Muivah, general secretary of Naga rebel group NCSN-IM, today left for New Delhi to participate in the next round of talks with the Centre after staying in Nagaland for over two months.

The next round of Naga peace talks is expected very soon though the date is yet to be confirmed. Muivah is accompanied by top functionaries of the NSCN-IM for the negotiations that will take place in the backdrop of the recent controversy over Muivah’s attempt to visit his ancestral village Somdal in Ukhrul district of Manipur.

The NSCN-IM has already submitted a 30-point charter of demands to the government that includes greater control over natural resources, a separate constitution and flag, joint control over army and defence and the controversial demand of “Greater Nagalim” or integration of all Naga-inhabited areas under a single administrative structure. The government has also submitted its counter-proposals to the outfit that have, however, ruled out amalgamation of Naga-inhabited areas in view of opposition from other states.

Failing to make a visit to Somdal, Muivah went on a whirlwind tour (peace mission) of various districts of Nagaland like Phek, Zunehboto, Wokha and Peren for interacting with people and assessing their views on the ongoing peace talks with the government.

The peace process with NSCN-IM begun in 1997 after it signed a ceasefire agreement with the Centre. Sources in Nagaland said Muivah was likely to return to Nagaland after the next round of peace talks.

New Delhi, July 15
The Supreme Court yesterday said it would go ahead with the contempt of court proceedings against noted lawyer Prashant Bhushan for casting aspersions on Justice SH Kapadia prior to his elevation as the Chief Justice of India (CJI).

A Bench headed by Justice Altamas Kabir passed the order after rejecting objections on the maintainability of the complaint. Bhushan, son of former Union Law Minister Shanti Bhushan, had contended that the consent of the Attorney General was necessary for initiating contempt proceedings but this procedure was not followed in the case against him.

The Bench, however, ruled that the court could take suo motu notice of incidents of contempt and asked Bhushan to file his response to the contempt notice in eight weeks.