In India, 3 kids under 5 die every minute
Aditi Tandon/TNS

New Delhi, September 16
Child mortality continues to be a national shame, with the latest child survival data collated by UNICEF revealing a shocking fact - three children under the age of five years died every minute in India last year, the highest anywhere in the world.

India saw 16,55,000 deaths of under-five children in 2011, which translates into 4,534 children every day and a whopping 188 every hour!

India was placed “ahead of” Nigeria in child deaths. Nigeria saw the second highest under five deaths last year, at 7,56,000, followed by Congo with 4.65 lakh, Pakistan with 3.52 lakh and China with 2.49 lakh.

These five countries accounted for around 50 per cent of the global under-five child deaths in 2011. Even war-torn Afghanistan lost lesser children under-five (1.28 lakh) than India in 2011.

Much of the mortality burden in India and the other problem nations can be attributed to high prevalence of infectious diseases.

An annual report by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN-IGME) says the world saw 6.9 million deaths of under five children in 2011 as against 12 million in 1990. The reduction has been attributed to control of infectious diseases. For instance, measles deaths declined from 0.5 million in 2000 to 0.1 million in 2011.

Evidence shows pneumonia killed the most children in 2011, making up 18 per cent of global deaths. That makes for 1.3 million deaths, most of which occurred in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The good news is - global under-five mortality is down from 87 children per 1,000 live births in 1990 (when the Millennium Development Goals were fixed) to 51 last year. Countries have to meet MDG targets by 2015.

India’s performance remains poor, with the under five mortality of 63 per 1,000 live births, much higher than the world average. India also has the highest under five mortality in the WHO’s South East Asia region.

Globally, pneumonia killed the most - 18 per cent - children last year followed by pre-term birth complications which killed 14 per cent; diarrhoea 11 per cent; intra partum complications 9 per cent and malaria 4 per cent.

SC verdict on EVM printouts before Lok Sabha poll 
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, September 16
The Supreme Court has said it would deliver before the next Lok Sabha election its judgment on Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy’s plea for making the electronic voting machines (EVMs) tamper-proof by providing for paper print-outs.

“We will hear the matter on a priority basis so that it is concluded by the next parliamentary elections. That is the reason we are giving it priority,” a Bench comprising Justices P Sathasivam and Ranjan Gogoi assured Swamy.

During hour-long arguments, Swamy pleaded for reverting to the old paper ballot system as the US, Japan and other developed countries had discarded the EVMs and had gone back to balloting.

EVMs are manufactured only by private companies across the world and as such these are vulnerable to hacking. Further, there was no indigenous manufacturing of such machines in India and these were being imported from other countries, he contended.

Citing the controversial election of Finance Minister P Chidambaram from the Sivaganga Lok Sabha constituency in Tamil Nadu, Swamy pleaded that there was no reliable provision in the EVMs for recounting votes.

Posting the next hearing for September 27, the Bench asked the Election Commission to be ready with its pleadings. 

Oppn slams Shinde’s remarks, reminds Cong of Bofors outcome
Ashok Tuteja/TNS

New Delhi, September 16
Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde today once again came under heavy fire from Opposition for his remarks that the coal allocation issue would also be forgotten by the public like the Bofors issue.

The BJP and Left parties said the Congress leader had apparently forgotten that his party suffered a massive defeat in the 1989 Lok Sabha elections because of the Bofors scandal. Janata Dal (U) chief Sharad Yadav advised Shinde to concentrate on issues concerning his own ministry instead of talking on political issues.

BJP leader Balbir Punj said the Congress had won more than 400 seats in the 1984 elections following the assassination of Indira Gandhi. Five years later, the party was thrown out of power because of the Bofors scam.

"It's a different matter whether people have forgotten Bofors or not, but the Congress has forgotten what Bofors had done to it. Since then, the Congress has not got majority on its own," Punj said.

CPM general secretary Prakash Karat said the people would never forgive the UPA regime for various scandals that had been unearthed during its tenure.

D Raja of the CPI said the Congress and Shinde should remember they lost the 1989 elections because of the Bofors issue.

JD-U president Sharad Yadav, who described Shinde as his "old friend" also, did not hide his displeasure over Shinde's remarks. "He has come to Delhi very recently. His importance is due to the Congress. Better he confines himself to speaking about the Home Ministry. He should speak less on political issues," he said.

Addressing a function in Pune yesterday, Shinde said in a lighter vein that "earlier the Bofors was a talking point. People forgot about it. Now it is coal. This too will be forgotten". When reporters quizzed Shinde about his remarks after the function, he said, "Do you remember petrol pumps (scam) during the NDA rule?"

Landslides block roads in Sikkim

Gangtok, September 16
Landslides caused by heavy rainfall has blocked several roads in South district of Sikkim, sources said today. The road from Namchi to Phongla, Namchi to Melli and Namchi to Sumbuk were blocked due to landslides, as were the roads from Phongla to Bermiok and Phongla to Mamring.

The road from Melli to Phongla and Melli to Sadam is also blocked, while last night's downpour also affected road connectivity from Yangang to Ravangla, Yangang to Singtam and Yangang to Lingmoo. Road restoration work is being carried out at all the places, the officials said. Two kutcha houses were damaged at Mellidara and Tinik Chisopani. A permanent house was also partially damaged. — PTI

Anand Sharma defends govt’s reform measures
Ashok Tuteja/TNS

New Delhi, September 16
Notwithstanding the storm raised by the Opposition and even some UPA allies, the government today strongly defended major reformist steps initiated by it during the past few days to revive economic growth.

Addressing a meeting of the Indian Heads of Mission (HoMs) that concluded this evening, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma explained the measures taken by the government to correct the current account and trade deficits and the policy changes that were being pushed to make India a favourable destination for much-needed foreign investments.

Sharma, who has been relentlessly seeking to sell to the states the idea of allowing FDI in the retail sector, also spoke about the ambitious National Manufacturing Policy, which aims at creating nearly 100 million new jobs and establish over a dozen world class manufacturing zones.

This, he said, was an investment being made for the future of the country with the goal of increasing the share of the manufacturing sector in the GDP to levels comparable to that of other emerging economies.

Talking about economic diplomacy, Sharma stressed the need for strengthening India’ commercial engagements with emerging economies of Asia, Africa and Latin America and called for embracing the globe through sound trade and investment linkages which were mutually beneficial. Economic engagement has become an integral to bilateral and regional relations.

Speaking on the challenges in the field of environmental diplomacy and climate change negotiations, Environment and Forests Minister Jayanti Natarajan said that among the three important debates on sustainability, development and environment, India’s priority was and should remain growth and development.

Summing up the three-day meet in which Indian High Commissioners and Ambassadors from nearly 120 participated, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai said the HoMs should always be ready to take on multifarious challenges facing the country in a rapidly changing global environment.

Indian commandos to protect merchant vessels from pirates

New Delhi, September 16
Concerned over rising instances of piracy off the Somali coast in the Gulf of Aden, India is readying an initial 100-man team to protect its merchant vessels in the area. This is the first time armed personnel will be deployed aboard cargo ships.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will take on the responsibility of securing the merchant vessels, under a proposal mooted by the ministry of shipping and, as a pilot project, will train 100 of its personnel for the purpose, a government source told IANS.

"CISF will train 100 of its special commandos who will man Indian merchant ships and protect them against pirate attacks at sea," the source said.

"The modalities are being worked out. The training is likely to be conducted in coordination with the Indian Navy's marine commandos (MARICOS)," the source, who wished not to be identified, told IANS.

The CISF personnel will also be equipped with special weapons as their standard issue, 5.56mm rifles and pistols, will not be adequate for the specialised task. Citing security concerns, the source declined to give details.

The move comes in the wake of heightened pirate attacks on merchant ships off the Somali coast in the Gulf of Aden, resulting in both the vessels and the sailors ending up as hostages of the sea brigands to extract ransom from the ship-owners. — IANS

Harassed in Pakistan, homeless in India

Jodhpur, September 16
"We would much rather die than go back to Pakistan," said a Hindu migrant echoing the sentiments of many migrants who have come here in the last few days from Pakistan.

The exodus of Pakistani Hindus is on the rise. In the last fortnight alone, a fresh batch of 350 migrants, including 150 children and 90 women, have arrived here.

They were initially lodged in a local temple, but as the numbers swelled, it was impossible for them to continue to stay on the premises. They have since vacated and now live in tents.

"We are happy to be here, but we had been staying in just two rooms at the Dali Bai temple here. It is becoming impossible for 200 persons to sleep in such a small space. We were asked to vacate, and then had just the sky for a roof. Some locals have erected tents for us," said Ramadas, one of the migrants.

The Pakistani Hindus said girls were being kidnapped and forced into marriage and conversion to Islam. Besides, torture of Hindu families is also reported.

On September 10, over 200 persons had come to Jodhpur by the Thar Express train. Sources said about 150 others have also arrived here in small groups since then.

According to rough estimates by the Seemant Lok Sangathan (SLS), a group working for refugees in Rajasthan, over 1,10,000 Hindu migrants from Pakistan have been living in Rajasthan since 1971. Over 13,000 of them were granted citizenship by 2005-06 and more than 7,000 others have now applied for long-term visas (LTV), the SLS says.

"The largest number of Hindu migrants comes to Rajasthan. We have asked the state government to frame a rehabilitation policy for them. We have also urged the Central government to introduce a proper policy and law for the refugees," said Hindu Singh Sodha, social activist and head of SLS, which has been arranging food for the migrants in their camps.

"Our girls are not safe in Pakistan. In the recent past, there have been several cases of teenagers being kidnapped, raped and converted to Islam. There is nobody to help us there. Those who refuse to accept Islam are tortured, along with family members," said one of the migrants who, fearing for his safety, requested anonymity.

"We worked as daily wagers, but our landlords would not pay us and beat us up if we refused to work," said Pancharam Bhil, one of the migrants.

"Most of the people who have come here belong to the Sangalsindh, Hyderabad, Matiyari and Khiparo areas of Sindh province in Pakistan. We have no desire to go back," said Pancharam. —IANS

Uttarakhand CM’s son is Cong nominee from Tehri
SMA Kazmi/TNS

Saket Bahuguna

Dehradun, September 16
After dithering over for days, the Congress finally announced the candidature of Saket Bahuguna, son of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, from the Tehri parliamentary constituency where byelection would be held on October 10.

Saket’s nomination marked the entry of the third generation of the Bahuguna family into politics. His grandfather Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna was a former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Union Minister.

The Tehri Lok Sabha seat was vacated by Vijay Bahuguna following his election to the Uttarakhand Assembly from Sitarganj.

Vijay Bahuguna, a Lok Sabha MP from Tehri, was chosen by the Congress high command to become the Chief Minister after the party had won the election by a razor-thin majority in the state in March.

As per constitutional requirement, the Chief Minister had to enter the state legislature in six months, which Vijay Bahuguna did by making Kiran Mandal, a BJP MLA from the Sitarganj Assembly segment in Udham Singh Nagar district, resign from his seat.

The nomination of Vijay Bahuguna as the Chief Minister was opposed by Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Food Processing and Parliamentary Affairs Harish Rawat. The Harish Rawat faction also opposed the nomination of Saket. However, Vijay Bahuguna, who vacated the seat, managed to get the party nomination for his son despite opposition.

According to Congress sources, although Vijay Bahuguna got the nod for the nomination of his son from the party high command, party general secretary in charge Birender Singh had some reservations. Birender arrived in Dehradun and held talks with the Chief Minister and state Congress president Yashpal Arya. Probably, Vijay Bahuguna was able to convince him paving the way for the formal announcement of the name of Saket as Congress candidate from Tehri. 

Armed forces’ pay fixation: Govt may accept 4 demands
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 16
The government is keen to accept at least four of the armed forces’ demands on fixation of their pay and pension. The high-powered committee set up by PM Manmohan Singh has given its ideas wherein it has accepted that some of the demands of the forces need to be met immediately as there are glaring anomalies, sources said.

Sources said the committee has recommended that the armed forces be given non-functional upgradation (NFU) to match their counterparts in the IPS, IAS and paramilitary forces.

The grade pay is another issue, the committee has suggested, can be looked into. Thirdly, it has agreed that a common payscale be evolved for in-service jawans. Lastly, it has agreed on removal of all anomalies towards one rank one pension (OROP).

Meanwhile, a fresh calculation has been ordered following a Supreme Court judgment relating to a 25-year-old pay-related case filed by Major Dhanapalan. The court ruled in his favour to correct the anomaly and will impact all officers who were serving then and now.

This had to be factored in before a final announcement. The PM can still make changes as Defence Minister AK Antony was very keen on resolving matters at the earliest and in favour of the forces.

The committee headed by Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth was formed following an intervention from PM Manmohan Singh on July 8 this year.

The forces protested that they had no representative; the committee specially met the three service chiefs. Its mandate was to deal with six issues of serving officers and jawans and another four issues relating to those who retired.

Sources said the committee was unanimous on payscale for jawans, OROP, grade pay and NFU. The most serious was the NFU issue. The Sixth Central Pay Commission (CPC) recommendations were out in October 2008. The IAS in the post of Joint Secretary (JS) to the Government of India was made eligible for a grade pay of Rs 10,000 a month on completing 22 years of service.

Hyderabad gears up to host global biodiversity meet
Suresh Dharur/TNS

Hyderabad, September 16
The Conference of Parties (COP) to the Convention on Bio-diversity will be held in Hyderabad from October 1 to 19 to deliberate on issues concerning conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and regulated access to genetic resources.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the global meet to be attended by over 8,000 delegates from 193 countries which are parties to convention on bio-diversity. This is the first time that the bio-diversity convention is being organised in India.

The key objectives of the bio-diversity convention are conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources.

The agenda at the COP-11 meet includes consideration of the status of the Nagoya Protocol on access to genetic resources and implementation of the strategic plan 2011-2020. The city of minarets and pearls is being decked up to host the prestigious event which will see participation by the heads of countries, ministers and bio-diversity experts from across the globe. The arrangements are in full swing at the state-of-the-art Hyderabad International Convention Centre, the meeting venue.

The Planning Commission has sanctioned Rs 300 crore for improving the city infrastructure ahead of the COP-11, while the state government is spending Rs 450 crore for the purpose.

A Biodiversity Museum and Park is being established on a 15-acre site. About 400 saplings of rare and endangered species would be procured for getting planted by VVIPs in the proposed park.

As part of measures related to biodiversity conservation, India was one of the first few countries in the world to enact a national legislation called the Biological Diversity Act in 2002 which contains provisions for access and benefit sharing. India has also created a database of traditional knowledge - called the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library - which is a computerised database of documented information available in published texts of the Indian systems of medicine.

Plans are also on to set up a People’s Register of Biodiversity, so that traditional knowledge, which is not in texts but is passed down through the oral traditions, can also be documented and protected..

Mumbai’s ‘moral cop’ Dhoble transferred

Vasant Dhoble

Mumbai, September 16
Mumbai cop Vasant Dhoble, who hit the headlines for his late night crackdown on pubs and restaurants, has been shunted out of the social service branch and moved to the city’s western suburbs.

Dhoble will now be ACP at Vakola division. An order to this effect was issued last night by the Maharashtra government’s Home department.

Armed with a hockey stick and camera, Dhoble, known as the “night raider”, burst into pubs and restaurants which stayed open beyond permissible time limit, giving a rude jolt to patrons and staff.

The drive had evoked mixed reactions ranging from outrage to wholesome support for him.

Local media had berated Dhoble for his high-handed tactics and curtailing the city’s famous night life, but residents in the vicinity of bars and pubs had welcomed his tough stand. — PTI 

Shiv Sena dares Mamata to pull out of UPA
Shiv Kumar/TNS

Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray during a protest against price hike of LPG cylinders in Mumbai. — PTI

Mumbai, September 16
The Shiv Sena today challenged Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee to withdraw support from the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre over the increase in fuel prices.

Addressing a rally of party workers at Dadar in central Mumbai, Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray said Mamata should stop giving out empty threats and show some action. "Withdraw support from the UPA, let the government fall. Do not simply threaten them," Uddhav said.

The Shiv Sena leader, who hit the streets after a long bout of ill-health, also wondered if other leaders like Sharad Pawar of the NCP and Mulayam Singh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party really intended to bring down the government. "We cannot tolerate the fuel price hike. If you are really serious, let the government fall," Uddhav said.

Uddhav also hit out at Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who had remarked earlier that the scandal over allocation of coal blocks too would be forgotten like the Bofors scandal. "Shinde reflects the attitude of the UPA government," Uddhav said.

According to Shiv Sena leaders, the party would extend support to the all-India bandh on September 20 to protest FDI in retail. 

Saudi halts Fasih’s deportation 
Wants to probe Fasih’s role & stay in that country before deciding

Fasih Mohammad

New Delhi, September 16
Saudi Arabia has red-flagged the deportation to India of Fasih Mohammad, allegedly involved in the conspiracy behind the bomb blasts in Bangalore and Delhi, saying it wants to investigate his role before taking a call on New Delhi's request for his custody.

This was conveyed by Riyadh to New Delhi through diplomatic as well as security agency-to-agency meetings within days of the deportation of Syed Zabiuddin alias Abu Jundal from Saudi Arabia, official sources said.

While the Saudi authorities confirmed his detention there, they conveyed that they were closely examining his role and stay in that country. An engineer and alleged member of banned outfit Indian Mujahideen, Bihar-born Fasih is alleged to have been involved in the Chinnaswamy Stadium blast in Bangalore and the shooting near Jama Masjid (Delhi) in 2010 and is wanted by both Delhi and Karnataka police.

An Interpol red corner notice against Fasih was issued earlier this year after reports of his sudden disappearance. His name cropped up during the interrogation of the alleged terrorists of banned outfit Indian Mujahideen arrested during the last nine months.

The Gulf country is not happy over the exposure of its role and cooperation by the Indian security agencies in the Jundal operation.

This was cited by National Security Advisor Shivshanker Menon, during his address to the Directors and Inspectors General of police last week, staying the Saudi authorities were unhappy with the way details of the Jundal operation were made public by the Indian security agencies.

Menon had underscored the need of maintaining a high-level of secrecy in such operations and not expose the countries which were helping India in its fight against terrorism.

The NSA wanted secrecy to be maintained at all levels in handling cases of international terrorism as the acts have "dangerous propensity of international embarrassment".

Jundal, the 26/11 handler who is in jail in Mumbai, was deported to India by the Saudi authorities in June as part of enhanced intelligence and security-related cooperation between the two countries.

Saudi authorities said it would take some time for them for deciding on 28-year-old Fasih's deportation or extradition to India, the sources said. — PTI

India, Maldives to boost defence cooperation
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 16
India will increase the level of defence and security cooperation with Maldives. Defence Minister AK Antony today met his Maldivian counterpart Col Mohamed Nazim (retd) in Male for bilateral talks to take stock of the progress the two sides have made in cooperating with each other. The sides decided to “maintain close cooperation in fighting against challenges of terrorists and non-state actors”, Defence Ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said in an emailed communiqué.

Antony conveyed the government decision to position ALH Dhruv helicopter, handed over by India in 2010, for a further period of two years beyond April 2012. He also said the helicopter had been upgraded with night-flying capabilities. A team of qualified flying instructors would now be deputed to train Maldivian air wing personnel. India would also provide simulator training to Maldivian helicopter pilots at HAL, Bangalore. Antony also promised that a second Dhruv helicopter would be provided to Maldives.

India has decided to station a defence attache at Male. Indian Navy warships and aircraft are already providing surveillance at the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Maldives. New Delhi has also decide to position a Navy afloat support team at Maldives for one year to help in the smooth functioning of the latter’s fleet and help in training their personnel for future maintenance operations.

Antony and Nazim inaugurated a military hospital “Senahiya” in Male in the morning. A team of two medical officers and four paramedical staff from the Indian Armed Forces Medical Services would be stationed at the hospital to work with Maldivian authorities.

“The two sides also agreed to work for stability in the region and ensure maritime security in the Indian Ocean.” India is also setting up a coastal radar chain in Maldives that will be networked with the Indian coastal radar system.

Indian Defence Ministry statement quoted Maldivian Defence Minister Mohd Nazim as having said: “Maldives will stand side-by-side with India to ensure that maritime security of the Indian Ocean is ensured; that the stability in the region is maintained; and above all, the threats that our countries face, particularly from terrorist groups and other non-state actors, are eliminated.” 

CBI raids houses of Reddy’s aide

Bellary, September 16
The CBI today conducted searches on two premises of an associate of jailed mining baron G Janardhan Reddy in connection with the probe into illegal iron ore export. An eight-member CBI team searched two locations in Kunkeri near Koppal and Karatagi near Gangavati in connection with the illegal mining and export of nearly 50 lakh tonnes of iron ore from Belekeri port, CBI sources said.

A 10-member CBI team had yesterday searched the houses of Reddy's aides Karapudi Mahesh, Swastik Nagaraj and Somasekhar, who runs a transport firm.

The CBI had on September 14 filed an FIR on illegal iron ore export from Belikeri port in Uttara Kannada district, the investigation of which was entrusted to it by the Supreme Court.

The probe agency had earlier filed a criminal case on directions of the Supreme Court in October last year against Reddy and others under various IPC sections, Prevention of Corruption Act, Indian Forest Act and Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation (MMDR) Act, 1957. — PTI 

N-protesters ‘bury’ themselves in sand, 250 held in Tuticorin

Kudankulam, September 16
Around 250 persons were arrested in Tuticorin when they attempted to set out on a march to express solidarity with anti-nuclear agitators here, who today buried themselves up to waist in beach sand, in a new form of protest against loading of fuel in the Kudankuklam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP).

A 'solidarity march' by cultural leaders from Kerala to Kudankulam to express support with the anti-nuclear activists here was also stopped on the state's border with Tamil Nadu.

Leader of the Peoples Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE), which is spearheading the protest here, meanwhile, offered unconditional talks with the Centre and state governments and said they were ready to give up the agitation if the government assured that fuel would not be loaded for now.

After 'Jal Satyagraha', the protesters, including women, shifted their stir from sea to beach and buried themselves up to waist at nearby Kootapuli, holding placards against the Centre and state governments.

Earlier, taking a cue from a similar protest demanding land as compensation and reduction in water level of the Omkareshwar Dam recently by villagers of Khandwa district in Madhya Pradesh, the protesters under the PMANE too had launched the 'Jal Satyagraha', forming human chain in sea waters from September 13.

However, the 'Jal Satyagraha' was suspended for two days yesterday. The latest bout of intensified protests have been launched after the authorities gave the go ahead for loading fuel in the plant.

Around 250 members of smaller parties were arrested in Tuticorin, about 50 km from here, when they attempted to set out on a march to Idinthakarai to express solidarity with the anti-KNPP protesters.

Actor-director Seeman, heading the 'Naam Tamizhar Iyakkam', Periyar Dravida Kazhagam leader Kolathur Mani and workers of Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam were among those arrested, the police said. — PTI 

Imported cosmetics to be regulated for safety

New Delhi, September 16
Safety of all your favourite imported cosmetics, ranging from skin lighteners to hair care products, will now be ensured, with the government ready to make their registration compulsory in India.

In a first-time move to legally regulate the multi-crore imported personal care product industry, the Health Ministry has approved draft guidelines which bar the sales of imported cosmetics in India unless their manufacturers get the products registered with the apex drug regulator Central Drug Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO).

For this purpose, the government is setting up a dedicated wing under the CDSCO's Drug Controller General of India, which will act as the registration authority for imported cosmetics. The wing will come up at the CDSCO's Noida complex.

"The wing will be equipped with facilities to monitor the range of imported cosmetics for their safety. At present, there is no system to regulate such imports. The step will ensure the safety of consumers using these products," said a senior Health Ministry official.

The government has notified amendments to the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules making it compulsory for global cosmetic manufacturers or their authorised agents and subsidiaries in India to seek registrations of cosmetic brands before sale in the country.

The Guidelines for Import and Registration of Cosmetics mentions, “Each cosmetic category — such as lipstick, mascara, toothpaste and soap — will carry a registration fee of $250 or equivalent Indian rupees. Any violation will evoke penalties in the form of fines and even jail term." At the time of registration, manufacturers of imported cosmetics will be required to declare the chemical composition of raw materials used and finished products. — PTI 

Pak agents pose as RAW officers for military info
Vijay Mohan/TNS

Chandigarh, September 16
A few days after the fracas at a field artillery regiment at Nyoma, near Ladakh, in March, a mid-level officer from the unit received a phone call, purportedly from an assistant director in the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), seeking details about the incident and other information pertaining to the unit.

The cautious officer declined to give out sensitive information over the telephone. Investigations later traced the call to what in the security establishment is referred to as a Pakistani intelligence operative (PIO).

In yet another recent incident, counter-intelligence operations revealed that a PIO, also posing as an assistant director in RAW, had telephonically sought details of arms and equipment displayed at an Army event.

While PIOs (posing as Indian military officers) telephoning defence establishments and trying to elicit information from troops is an old game, sources reveal their modus operandi is now increasingly shifting towards posing as civilian officials in various government departments and aim at “soft targets” based at military stations. PIOs posing as officials of RAW, India’s premier external intelligence agency, has not been heard of before.

Sources said there had been over two dozen known instances over the past few months where PIOs called up defence and paramilitary establishments in their attempt to garner information. Not all attempts have been unsuccessful. Counter-intelligence operations have pinpointed that details like the location of units, names of formation commanders, contact numbers got leaked. Even the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force’s basic training centre at Bhanu near here has been the target of such attempts.

Instances reported over the past few months include PIOs posing as officials of the Income Tax Department and the Railways. There have been a large number of cases where hostile agents posed as officials of the Pay and Accounts Department. There have also been instances of teachers posted at army schools and other civilians employed at military stations being targeted by such calls.

“Most of the information sought through calls is not of a very sensitive nature, but then these are pieces that fit into the lager picture and there is a possibility of an unsuspecting individual letting slip something that could have serious ramifications. Also, the movement of senior officers can indicate something important,” sources said. He added that PIOs using Indian SIM cards from close proximity of the border, where cellular signals have a limited reach on the other side, does not arouse suspicion that the caller is a foreign agent.

Mossad’s female spies ‘flirt’ to decode enemy secrets 

London, September 16
The hyper-masculine figure of James Bond comes to mind when you think of international spies but Israel's secret service has developed a new breed of super-spies — seductive young women.

The world has not previously heard from the female spies of the Mossad, who have been crucial to some of the agency's greatest triumphs.

However, five of the highly trained agents have spoken out for the first time, telling Israeli magazine 'Lady Globes' about their extraordinary lifestyle which makes them feel as if they are 'living in a movie', the Daily Mail reported.

The most notable deployment of the women's unique talents came in 1986, when one agent seduced a turncoat former nuclear engineer and lured him into a trap so he could be taken back to Israel, the paper said.

Mossad chief Tamir Pardo told the magazine that around half of the agency's spies are women, and said that the 'fairer sex' has some distinct advantages over male agents, the paper reported. — PTI

Need public backing to become CM again: Yeddyurappa

BS Yeddyurappa

Haveri, September 16 
Senior BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa today said he did not need the support of party central leadership but only required public backing to become the Chief Minister once again.

"I don't need the support of party central leadership but require only public backing to become Chief Minister once again," he said at a public rally at Hirekerur, 30 km from here.

Yeddyurappa said if he became the Chief Minister again, he would make Karnataka a model state in the country. "Some leaders within the party conspired against me to bring me down from the Chief Minister's post," he said.Referring to 'Operation Lotus' launched to increase the BJP strength in the Assembly, Yeddyurappa said the party resorted to it for the welfare of the state. "Without Operation Lotus, the BJP would have lost,” he said. —PTI 

Grandparents seek Prez help in child custody row

Kolkata, September 16 
The grandparents of 11-month-old Indrasish Saha, who is in the custody of a child welfare organisation in New Jersey for over a month, today met President Pranab Mukherjee here and sought his intervention for the return of the child to the parents.

Family sources said the President heard them at the Raj Bhawan and assured them that he would talk to the External Affairs Ministry in this regard.— PTI

4 hurt in Vrindavan temple stampede

Vrindavan, September 16 
Four pilgrims were injured when a heavy rush led to a stampede in the famous Bankey Bihari temple in Vrindavan Sunday afternoon. Police said all four were out of danger and the situation was well under control. An old woman, who was trampled upon, is now recovering in a local hospital while the others were discharged after first aid.

Sunday was the last day of 'Purushottam Mas' (an extra month added to the Hindu calender every fourth year) and therefore the unexpected rush. Eyewitnesses blamed the new system of barricading in the Bankey Bihari temple for the incident. — PTI

India’s first child witness courtroom opens in Delhi

New Delhi, September 16
India's first child witness courtroom, designed to present friendly image of courts for child witnesses, was today inaugurated at the Karkardooma court complex here. The courtroom has been opened to help children, who are sometimes witnesses in cases pertaining to sexual offences, to depose freely in the court.

The inauguration was done in the presence of Justice Altamas Kabir of Supreme Court, Delhi High Court Acting Chief Justice AK Sikri, chairperson of the programme Justice Gita Mittal and Justices Reva Khetrapal and GP Mittal.

Besides them, other judicial officers of the trial courts, including district judges Sunita Gupta and PS Teji, were also present on the occasion.

The new courtroom will be functional on the sixth floor of the court building. It has been designed with the objective to provide child witnesses an environment conducive for them as against the usual tense atmosphere of the court. The court room will look no less than a child play area filled with toys and books. It will have coloured walls and a small pantry. The room will also have a one-way mirror window from where the child would not be able to see the accused. — PTI

Jantar Mantar
Amar alone in the multitude
Anita Katyal

Amar Singh

Once the toast of the town and a well-known figure in Delhi’s corridors of power, Amar Singh today finds himself on the margins. Living in relative obscurity after his exit from the Samajwadi Party, Amar Singh has now even started reaching out to estranged friends in a desperate attempt to get back into the circuit. For instance, he made a special effort to get in touch with Law Minister Salman Khurshid, choosing to forget their old public spat that had resulted in a bitter falling out between the two. Amar Singh has been calling up Khushid periodically and even dropped in at his residence to wish him Eid Mubarak. Last week, he was spotted again at a private party hosted by Salman and his wife Louise. Once known as a great party animal, Amar Singh did not mingle with the guests and instead opted to keep a low profile. Like they say, how the mighty have fallen.

Congress revamp in UP

After its dismal performance in this year’s UP Assembly elections, the Congress, read Nehru-Gandhi scion Rahul Gandhi, decided to revamp the state unit to put it back in shape for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. While Faizabad MP Nirmal Khatri was appointed president of the UPCC as part of this exercise, it was also decided to divide the state into eight zones and place each under a head for greater focused attention. But this new experiment to revive the Congress in the electorally crucial state appears to have hit a snag even before it could take off. The party was quick to name the zonal heads, but is still to inform them about the zones/areas under their charge. The delay is being attributed to a battle among the zonal bosses as none of them wants to be assigned an area where there is little hope of Congress’ revival.

Gadkari back, Advani sidelined

Returning recently from a three-week family holiday in Canada, BJP president Nitin Gadkari lost no time in asserting himself, thus sidelining senior party leader LK Advani who had taken charge in his absence. Advani had presided over party meetings while Gadkari was away and it was his decision to disrupt Parliament and demand Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s resignation over Coalgate. Gadkari ensured that plans for the second phase of the party’s protests were not finalised in his absence. It was only after he got back that a meeting of the party’s core committee was convened where the BJP’s agitation programme was chalked out. Again, Advani was apparently not invited to join Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi when he set off on his Swami Vivekananda Yuva Vikas Yatra last week, although senior party leaders Arun Jaitley and Rajnath Singh were present during the first leg of his journey.