The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Security up at Mukesh Ambani’s house, office Tribune News Service Mumbai, February 28 The Mumbai police has tightened security at the office and residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani. The security has been tightened after a letter allegedly from the Indian Mujahideen threatened to harm him. “We have received a complaint from Ambani’s office about a threat and we are taking all precautions,” a police official said. The police said a letter written on a blank sheet of paper threatened the chairman of Reliance Industries Ltd for, what it said, “…backing Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi”. The industrialist was also accused of grabbing land belonging to the Waqf board to construct his 27-storeyed building, Antilla where he lives with his family. The sender of the letter has also demanded release of Danish said to be an activist of the IM.
	Delhi’s shame Juvenile to be tried for rape, murder New Delhi, February 28 Gang rape and murder charges were today ordered to be framed by a juvenile justice board against the minor accused of brutally raping, along with five adults, a 23-year-old girl in a moving bus in Delhi on December 16. The assaulted victim was shifted to a Singapore hospital for treatment where she succumbed to her injuries on December 29. Finding prima facie evidence against the 17-year-old juvenile, Principal Magistrate Geetanjali Goel ordered framing of charges under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code dealing with gang rape, murder, kidnapping, unnatural offences, attempt to murder, dacoity, destruction of evidence and conspiracy. The board has now fixed the case on March 6 for recording of evidence. The charges of robbery, wrongful confinement and destruction of evidence have also been framed against the juvenile in another case of robbing a vegetable seller who had boarded the bus on that night before the gang-rape victim and her friend fell prey to them. The panel will commence recording of evidence in the robbery case from March 12 against the juvenile. In both cases, the minor claimed innocence and opted to contest the charges framed by the juvenile justice board. Earlier, the police had in its PIR (police investigation report, which is equivalent to a chargesheet) filed before the JJB slapped charges of gang rape, murder, unnatural sex, dacoity, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence among other offences under the IPC against the minor. Similar charges have been framed against other five adult accused in the case, proceedings in which are being conducted in-camera at a special fast track court here. The gang-rape victim had died on December 29, 2012, in a Singapore hospital. — PTI
	Modest showing for Congress in bypolls Tribune News Service & PTI Kolkata/Lucknow, Feb 28 It was a modest showing for the Congress in the Assembly byelections in seven states the results of which were declared today. The party won three of the nine seats at stake, including a victory over a Trinamool Minister in West Bengal. Of the nine seats, the Congress won one each in West Bengal, Assam and Mizoram, while its ally NCP bagged the lone seat in Maharashtra. The Trinamool Congress and the Left Front (LF) notched one seat each in West Bengal, while the SP, the SAD and the JD(U) bagged one in UP, Punjab and Bihar, respectively. The Congress contested eight seats. In West Bengal, the Congress could defend just one of the three seats where bypoll were held. It lost Malda (English Bazar) to the Trinamool Congress and the Birbhum (Nalhati) Assembly seats to the LF. Rabiul Alam Choudhury of the Congress won the Rejinagar seat by defeating Humayan Kabir, who is now a TMC minister. In West Bengal, the Samajwadi Party managed to retain the Bhatpar Rani Assembly seat in Deoria district during the first bypoll faced by the Akhilesh Yadav government. SP candidate Ashutosh Upadhyaya defeated his nearest rival, Independent candidate Sabha Kunwar, with a margin of 34,102 votes. BSP candidate Binda Singh Kushwaha secured the third position (24,700 votes). The Congress and BJP candidates stood fourth and fifth, respectively. In Punjab, a Congress turncoat tasted success when Joginerpal Jain of the ruling SAD trounced the party candidate. In Maharashtra, NCP candidate Sandhyadevi Babasaheb Kupekar won the Chandgad seat in Kolhapur district defeating an Independent candidate. Ruling Congress nominee Ngurdingliana won the Chalfilh seat in Mizoram defeating his nearest rival, a Mizo National Front (MNF) candidate. In Assam, Congress' Mandira Roy wrested the Algapur seat defeating her nearest AIUDF rival Mehbubul Hassan in a close contest. Mandira is wife of Public Health and Engineering Minister Gautam Roy. Ruling JD(U) retained Kalyanpur (SC) seat in Bihar's Samastipur district when Manju Devi defeated her nearest LJP rival with Congress coming third.
	Retail FDI will benefit farmers, Centre tells SC Legal Correspondent New Delhi, February 28 The Centre has defended in the Supreme Court its decision of allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in the multi-brand retail sector, contending it would be a win-win proposition for both farmers and consumers and business as usual for small traders. The FDI policy’s primary focus was on benefiting the consumer by enlarging the choice of purchase at more affordable prices and eradicating the traditional middleman who was against the interests of the producer as well as the ultimate retailer, the government maintained in an affidavit filed in the SC. After going through the affidavit, a three-member Bench headed by Justice RM Lodha today wanted to dismiss a PIL challenging the FDI policy, but the petitioner-advocate ML Sharma sought an opportunity to repudiate the government’s contentions. Allowing this, the Bench, which included Justices J Chelameswar and MB Lokur, listed the petition for further hearing on March 19. Citing a World Bank study, the government averred that the farmer would get 60 per cent higher returns by selling his horticulture produce to the retail chains instead of at the ‘mandi’. At present, the farmer was getting just 12-15 per cent of the price the consumer paid at the retail outlet. The experience of developing economies like that of China, Brazil, Argentina, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand that allowed 100 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail long ago showed that “local retailers co-exist along with organised retail,” the Centre said. Further, multi-brand retails with FDI would be allowed only in 53 cities that have more than 10 lakh population and this constituted only 0.67 per cent of the total number of cities in the country, it said. Also, the FDI policy would facilitate creation of a quality labour class with vocation training in skilled and unskilled jobs at graduate and school levels and enhance the employment potential of the economy, the Centre contended. Anyway, multi-brand retail chains run by Indian corporate houses have been in existence for over a decade and despite this “small retailers have flourished,” it said.
	Iran calls for strategic partnership with India Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 28 Iran today called for strategic and long-term partnership with India, underlining that the two countries came from the same roots and their destinies were also inter-linked. During his meetings with Indian leaders, Iranian Majlis (Parliament) Speaker Ali Larijani and his delegation were also appreciative of the role being played by India in Afghanistan. Larijani, who concluded his crucial visit to India this evening, held wide-ranging talks with President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and other top Indian leaders. During these meetings, he is understood to have briefed Indian leaders on the latest round of talks between Iran and P 5+1 countries in Kazakhstan on Iran's controversial nuclear programme. New Delhi is also learnt to have counselled Iran to address questions raised by the IAEA with regard to its nuclear programme. At a press conference here this evening, Larijani said there was nothing secretive about Iran's nuclear programme, which was meant for peaceful purposes. "The issue can only be resolved through a peaceful dialogue...the era of bullying is over," he said. On whether the Western sanctions have affected the economy of his country, he said Iran had been a victim of sanctions in the past too, but such measures had only strengthened its resolve to stand on its feet. "We are not worried about sanctions...we will survive such measures," he added. Asked if Iran was worried that India had cut down its oil imports apparently under the American pressure, Larijani said, "There are certain countries who would like to contain emerging powers. One of the ways to do so is to control the sources of energy." Referring to Afghanistan, the Iranian Speaker accused the intelligence agencies of the US and the UK of promoting terrorism in the war-ravaged country.
	Teachers’ recruitment SCAM Chautala seeks SC stay on TV serial’s telecast R Sedhuraman Legal Correspondent New Delhi, February 28 Former Haryana Chief Minister OP Chautala today pleaded in the Supreme Court for an immediate stay on the telecast of a TV serial on the 1999-2000 teachers’ recruitment scam for which he has been sentenced to 10 years in jail. Chautala’s senior counsel KV Viswanathan and advocate Giriraj contended before a bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir that the serial (Crime Patrol Dastak on Sony TV), a dramatised version of the scam, would prejudice the appeal of their client in the Delhi High Court against his conviction and sentencing by the CBI trial court. The SC Bench will hear the plea tomorrow. Chautala has come to the Apex court challenging today’s judgment by a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court allowing telecast of the serial. Telecast of the serial “would irrevocably damage” his fundamental right to have “a free and fair hearing” of his appeal in the Delhi HC, Chautala contended in his petition. In newspaper advertisements, the TV channel claimed that the serial would get to the “real truth” behind the scam, but the summary given therein clearly showed that it was based on “clear misrepresentation of facts,” the petition stated. He said in 50 years of his public life, he had been CM of Haryana five times and elected to the state assembly seven times and to the Rajya Sabha once and was presently the Leader of Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha. On January 16, a single-judge Bench of the Punjab and Haryana HC had stayed telecast of the serial, but this was set aside today by a Division Bench, prompting Chautala to approach the SC within a couple of hours. On February 15, the Delhi HC had refused to grant interim bail to Chautala, who has been lodged in Tihar Jail here following the trial court verdict on January 22, on medical grounds. Justice Mukta Gupta said she could consider the bail plea only after going through his medical records summoned from the jail on April 4. The CBI court sentenced him and his son, Ajay, to 10-year imprisonment for irregularities such as cheating and forgery in the appointment of 3,032 junior basic trained (JBT) teachers in 1999-2000 when Chautala was CM. The CBI court had sentenced 55 accused in the case. Among the main accused sentenced to 10 years in jail are Vidya Dhar, the then Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Chautala, and Sher Singh Badshami, the then political advisor to the CM and a sitting MLA at present.
	Andhra Police to use copter for anti-Maoist operations Suresh Dharur Tribune News Service Hyderabad, February 28 For the first time, the Andhra Pradesh Police will use a helicopter for anti-Maoist operations within the state and also in the neighbouring Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. Having set a role model in stamping out ultra left extremism with a combination of improved intelligence and ground operations, the state police has been asked to head the Unified Command for anti-Maoist operations. The Union Home Ministry has provided a chopper to the state police for exclusive use of monitoring the activities of extremists in the region. The new helicopter will be used for keeping a close eye on the movement of Naxalites within the state and also in the neighbouring Gachirouli district of Maharashtra, Bijapur of Chattisgarh and Godavari and Pranahitha regions. State Director General of Police V Dinesh Reddy launched the unified command operations at Mahadevpur in Karimnagar district and conducted an aerial survey of the forest area along with a team of senior officers. After conducting the survey, the DGP said the special operation would help the police keep track of extremists’ movements. The state police would help provide training to the Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh Police in conducting combing operations and in preventing extremist activities in the Naxalite-affected areas. Stating that Karimnagar, Adilabad, Khammam, Warangal, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and East Godavari districts in Andhra Pradesh still have “remnants of Maoist elements”, the DGP said they would launch anti-Naxalite aerial operation near the Andhra-Odisha border shortly. The Maoist intrusions into the state from Chhattisgarh would be checked effectively by using the helicopter, he said and thanked Union Home Secretary RK Singh for allotting the helicopter for anti-Naxalite operations. He attributed the decline in Maoist movement in Andhra Pradesh to the welfare and developmental programmes undertaken by the successive governments and people-friendly policing. When asked whether “Greyhounds”, an elite anti-Maoist police unit in the state, would be used to fight Maoists in Chhattisgarh, he said, “If the neighbouring state asks for our help and shares information, we will think about it.” The chopper, allotted by the Centre, would be used by the Greyhound commandos. Initially, the helicopter would be stationed at the coastal city of Visakhapatnam. Andhra Pradesh was once a stronghold of Naxalites, so much so that the ultra left extremist units were in a position to run parallel administration in their bastions, particularly in the Telangana region. However, over the years, the Maoist movement witnessed significant erosion in its support base, apart from the sustained police pressure. Several of their top leaders were eliminated in police operations and many more surrendered to the police. The success in anti-insurgency operations was largely due to the “greyhounds”, raised in 1989 to specialise in executing intelligence-led precision strikes. “The success has been achieved because of the two-pronged strategy adopted by us. It involved modernisation of the force to execute intelligence-led precision strikes and massive development in the remote areas, particularly focusing on roads, infrastructure, communication, schools and hospitals,” a top official involved in the anti-Maoist operations said. As a result, the residual Maoist leadership has shifted its base to Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
	Captors free Assam engineer Tribune Ness Service Guwahati, February 28 Senthela P Raju, an engineer with the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) was set free by his abductors in Kumarikata area of Baksa district of Assam bordering Bhutan early Wednesday morning. Superintendent of Police (SP), Baksa, Bir Bikram Gogoi, said one of Raju’s abductors brought him from the hideout where he was kept in the foothills of Bhutan to Kumarikata before setting him free. Raju, who hails from Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, was abducted by armed men on the night of February 15 from Dhekipota camp of PGCIL. The area falls under Goreswar police station. The police official claimed that an anti-talks faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland had hired the service of an armed gang of criminals to abduct the engineer for ransom. Police denied claims that ransom was paid for the release of the engineer. He was held captive in a hideout in the foothills of Bhutan and was initially guarded by four armed guards. Three of the armed guards left as the police managed to cut supply lines to the hideout. The fourth guard was thus forced to set the engineer free. After the militant left Raju at Kumarikata, who then reached Goghrachowk in Tamulpur area on bus and informed the police about his release. Raju told the police that he was taken to the Bhutan hills and was not subjected to any torture. He said he was provided with food but was not allowed to change his dress or take a bath. Raju was admitted to a hospital for a health check up and then sent to PGCIL headquarter at Howly in Barpeta district of Western Assam.
	Five killed on way to Shirdi temple Shirdi/Nashik, February 28 Five persons, including an infant, were killed and 23 others were injured, some of them seriously, in a head-on collision between two vehicles near Wavi on the busy Sinnar-Shirdi road today morning, the police said. A car from Bhayandar (Thane) was proceeding to Shirdi temple, when it ran into a bus coming from the opposite direction. — PTI