The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	2002 Gujarat Riots Zakia’s protest petition: Probe Modi Manas Dasgupta Ahmedabad, April 15 Zakia Jafri, the widow of slain former Congress MP from Ahmedabad Ahesan Jafri, today filed a protest petition in the special court requesting reinvestigation by an independent authority into the charges of complicity against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and 58 others in the 2002 communal riots in the state. Expressing her disappointment at the “closure report” against Modi and others filed by the Special Investigation Team appointed by the Supreme Court that absolved the Chief Minister of all charges of involvement in the communal riots, the 514-page protest petition claimed that the SIT had adequate documents and statements to nail Modi and others. On the contrary, the SIT decided to “cover up the crimes and went out of the way to misguide the court and give a clean chit to the accused”. The petition requested the court to “reject in toto” the SIT’s final report filed before the special court on February 8 last year and chargesheet all 59 accused named in her original petition filed before the Supreme Court in 2006. Claiming that the post-Godhra massacre was a “pre-planned conspiracy”, the petition, which names Modi the prime accused, also listed several other top bureaucrats and police officers as co-accused. The same co-accused were named in Jafri’s original petition before the Supreme Court. They included the then health minister Ashok Bhatt (now dead), the then urban development minister IK Jadeja (now state BJP spokesman), the then state DGP K Chakravarthi, the then Ahmedabad police commissioner PC Pande, the then home secretary Ashok Narayan, all of them retired now, and the then state Vishwa Hindu Parishad general secretary Jaydeep Patel, among others. Relying on the official documents available in connection with the circumstances leading to the communal riots, it claimed that the VHP leader was the first to be contacted by Modi immediately after the reports about the Godhra carnage became public and remained in constant touch with him till the build-up to the riots the next day. It led to a hasty operation for post-mortem of the victims of the train carnage and the decision to send the bodies to Ahmedabad from Godhra escorted by the VHP leader knowing well that the exercise could fuel disturbance in different parts of the state. It also documented how the administrative and police departments were “deliberately paralysed and neutralised” by “conspiracy” hatched by Modi and the co-accused to leave the innocent Muslims at the mercy of the marauding mobs. Even though the documents and field reports were provided to the SIT at least three months before it first filed its report in the Supreme Court in May, 2010, it chose to ignore those reports and derailed the investigation. petitioner’s demand Reject SIT’s final report filed before the special court on February 8 last year Reinvestigate charges of complicity against Narendra Modi, 58 others through an independent authority Chargesheet all 59 accused named in original petition filed before the Supreme Court in 2006
	Kunda DSP murder: Key accused sent to juvenile home Tribune News Service Lucknow, April 15 The main accused in the Kunda DSP murder case, slain village chief Nanhe Yadav’s son Babloo, has been sent to the juvenile home after his lawyer claimed he was a minor. Yesterday, he along with his two uncles — Phoolchand and Pawan Yadav — and his father’s private bodyguard Manjit Yadav were presented before the CBI court, which sent Babloo to the JJ Home while remanded the other three in judicial custody till April 28. While the family members claimed Babloo was a minor, the CBI counsel challenged the claim and said he was 19 years old. The CBI court has asked both sides to furnish documentary evidence. The CBI is yet to recover the weapon used in killing DSP Ziaul Haq on March 2. CBI sources said eyewitnesses had claimed that when Haq and his team reached Balipur village on March 2 to take Nanhe Yadav’s body for a post-mortem examination, his brother Suresh attacked the DSP. He hit him with the butt of a loaded double-barrel gun, which went off killing Suresh on the spot. After this, the other three accused — Phoolchand and Pawan and private security guard Manjit — assaulted Haq. At this, Babloo reportedly opened fire killing the DSP. The four fled the scene after allegedly killing the police officer. With these arrests, the CBI claims to have cracked the Kunda triple murder case of March 2. The two sons of Kamta Pal, slain village chief’s rival, are already in jail for Nanhe Yadav’s murder . The CBI has launched a manhunt to trace the hired killer who had shot the village chief.
	Jagan seeks joint trial Hyderabad, April 15 Jailed YSR Congress leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy today moved a special CBI court here requesting the taking up of framing of charges and trial of all chargesheets filed in connection with the disproportionate assets case against him together. In a petition filed through his counsel before the Principal Special Court for CBI cases, Jagan sought that framing of charges and conducting of trial be done jointly in connection with the four chargesheets in the case. The court is yet to take cognisance of the chargesheet (fifth one that also names Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy as an accused) filed on April 8. — PTI
	Govt will complete full term, says PM New Delhi, April 15 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today kept open the option of accepting a third term, but ruled out early elections. The government would complete its five-year term ending in May next year, he said. “I have still some time to complete my present term,” he replied when asked whether he would accept a third term, if asked. To another poser, he said he considers prime ministership of this vast country as “a great honour” and his effort had been to be rise up to the high expectations of the people. Manmohan Singh, who is serving the second term, has been the Prime Minister for nine years now. Questioned whether he was in the election mode, he said, “I am not going to answer any question (on the issue).” When asked whether his remaining term was for “six months or one year”, he said, “We will complete five years of our government.” The Prime Minister cautioned the media against sensationalism and trivialisation of serious issues that could result in misinformation. He said he expected the media not only to just report accurately on what had happened, but also to highlight social and economic injustices and thus pave the way for their redressal. “We expect the media to educate public opinion on what is advisable and what is not by informing the people of the benefits and adverse consequences of following a particular course of action,” he said. He said he expected the media to point out shortcomings of the government and thus help improve effectiveness of the administrative set-up in the country. “This is indeed a formidable list of expectations,” he said adding the media in the country has, on balance, acquitted itself well. However, he said there had been “aberrations” too. — PTI
	India, Maldives to boost defence ties Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 15 India today assured Maldives of enhanced defence and security cooperation between the two countries. The island country is critical in maintaining security of sea-going cargo in the Indian Ocean. Indian Defence Minister AK Antony and his counterpart, Minister of Defence and National Security of Maldives Mohamed Nazim, held discussions at the South Block for one hour here today. This was second meeting between the two in the past seven months, the last one being in September 2012. “Both sides noted that defence cooperation between India and Maldives has been growing over the years to the mutual benefit of both sides,” Defence Ministry spokesperson said. “There is scope to further develop the relationship in mutually agreed areas,’ Antony told his counterpart. New Delhi will also ramp up ongoing exchanges between the Armed Forces of both sides in areas of training, exercises and strengthening of infrastructure and capabilities. China is slowly trying to find a toe-hold in the Maldives. “Both sides also agreed that there is a need for India and Maldives to continue to work together to tackle security concerns, in the interests of peace and stability in the region,” the Indian statement said. Maldives, due its location is vital from the angle of sea-borne threats posed by pirates and terrorists. The 1,190-island nation functions as a natural barrier between maritime traffic transiting through strategic gateways into the Indian Ocean. That is Malacca Straits to the east of India, the Straits of Hormuz leading to the Persian gulf and Bab-el Mandeb leading to Suez canal. All sea traffic transiting west or east of India passes near Maldives. India is very watchful as terrorists could look to have a base on any of the 900 or so un-inhabitated islands and atolls that form the Maldives archipilego. The Maldivian Minister is on a 4 day official visit to India during which he would be visiting military establishments in various parts of the country.
	SC urged to set up SIT in coal scam Legal Correspondent New Delhi, April 15 Citing reports of government’s interference in the CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the coal block allocations, the PIL petitioners in the case today pleaded with the Supreme Court to constitute a special investigation team (SIT). In an application, the petitioners said the government had transferred CBI’s Deputy Inspector General Ravi Kant, who had filed a status report in the SC, to the Intelligence Bureau (IB). This confirmed that the CBI “remains under the complete control of the government,” the petitioners said. Among the petitioners are former Cabinet Secretary TSR Subramanian, NGO Common Cause, former Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami, ex-Union Secretaries Ramaswamy Iyer and Sushil Tripathi and Admirals (retd) RH Tahiliani and L Ramdas, who has been the Navy chief. Citing news reports, they also contended that Law Minister Ashwani Kumar and Attorney General GE Vahanvati had interfered with the CBI investigations despite the fact that the SC had directed the probe agency not to take any instructions from the government in the case. The next hearing in the case has been slated for April 30. BJP wants Law Minister to quit The Opposition BJP on Monday demanded Law Minister Ashwani Kumar’s resignation over allegations of government's interference in CBI's probe into coal blocks and suggested that the Supreme Court should appoint a Special Investigation Team to bring out the truth
	Tunnel mishap victim begs for help, no one responds Jaipur, April 15 In a shocking case of public apathy, a man clutching on to his son lay on the road crying for help inside a tunnel next to the bodies of his wife and infant daughter with nobody stopping by for around 40 minutes after a speeding truck hit his motorcycle. The 26-year-old woman and the eight-month-old infant who were run over by the truck died in the first accident inside the newly opened Ghat Ki Guni tunnel here yesterday while the man and his son escaped with minor injuries. The police said the injured man kept crying for help for around 40 minutes but the motorists ignored their cries and every vehicle passed by without stopping delaying prompt medical treatment. The accident victims were attended to only when a staffer of a toll booth noticed the crying husband and his son inside the tunnel on a CCTV monitor. "Kanhaiya Lal along with his 26-year old wife Guddi, four-year-old son Tanish and eight-month-old Arushi was on his way to in-laws’ house in Luniawas village from their house in Thikariya village yesterday when a speeding truck hit their motorcycle 300 metres inside the tunnel," the police said today. Guddi and Arushi were run over by the truck while Kanhaiya and Tanish received minor injuries. After the accident, Kanhaiya called his relatives and police but there was no network coverage so he tried to stop vehicles for help only to be ignored. No one stepped out for help as the man holding his son sat in the middle of the road while his wife and daughter lay in an unconscious state and without knowing their fate. The 2.8-km tunnel bored through Jhalana hills was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President in January this year. Two-wheelers are banned inside the tunnel. "A worker of toll tax booth noticed it on a CCTV monitor and informed police. The police help reached them within a few minutes and they were rushed to hospital. Soon after policemen, staffers of the toll tax also reached the spot," officiating police commissioner Biju George Joseph said. The woman and her daughter were declared dead and the man and his son were given treatment and discharged. Dr DS Meena, in charge of SMS hospital's emergency unit, said that the two died before before being brought to the hospital. "The situation might have been better if they were provided medical help in time," Meena said. DCP Traffic Lata Manoj Kumar said that entry of two-wheelers to the tunnel is banned but despite that, the toll booth staffers do not prevent two-wheelers from passing through it. Prabhudayal, uncle of the deceased woman, said that but for people's apathy the livese of the two people could have been saved. — PTI Apathy to fore A man clutching on to his son lay on the road crying for help inside a tunnel in Jaipur next to the bodies of his wife and infant daughter after a speeding truck hit his motorcycle. The motorists, however, ignored their cries and every vehicle passed by without stopping delaying prompt medical treatment. The accident victims were attended to only when a staffer of a toll booth noticed the crying husband and his son inside the tunnel on a CCTV monitor
	IAF to have ‘swing fleet’ for two-front offensive Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 15 An Indian Air Force 'swing fleet' comprising fighter aircraft and special operations aircraft is ready to tackle a simultaneous two-front offensive from Pakistan and China. The fleet will be of earmarked fighters that can swiftly fly non-stop from the western border to the eastern front to tackle a threat. The special operations planes such as the C-130-J will be part of the fleet. The IAF has for the first time upgraded its capabilities to meet a two-front attack. These capabilities were validated successfully during the recent three-week war games 'Livewire' in which over 400 fighter jets participated, IAF officials said here today. The two-phase exercise commenced on March 18 and ended on April 4. As part of the swing fleet, the IAF tested its capabilities to mobilise its frontline fighter and transport aircraft from the western border to the eastern front, particularly the recently-developed Advanced Landing Grounds (ALG's) in the northeast. Refusing to give out number of the planes which will be part of the swing fleet, an IAF official said all planes that can be re-fuelled mid-air are part of it. The Sukhoi-30MKI, Mirage 2000 and Jaguars can be refueled mid-air and the C-130-J can also be refueled. This fleet will be needed till the IAF increases its strength from the existing 34 squadrons to the mandated 42 squadrons. This process may take a decade, till then the swing fleet will be prime asset. Older version of planes like the, MiG 29, MiG 27s and the MiG 21s are not part of the fleet as these can't fly non-stop from one end of the country to the other. As part of the 'Livewire', all the air-fields in the northeast, including the eight Advanced Landing Grounds at Along, Walong, Tuting, Ziro, Pasighat, Vijay Nagar and Tawang, were activated and were manned for operations. The 'Livewire' was the biggest aerial mobilisation of assets in the IAF history. To practice jointness, the Army and the Navy were also involved in parts. The Army commandoes, highly skilled in jungle and mountain warfare, operated with the IAF's newly formed force of 'Garuds'. The airborne early warning radars, UAVs and high resolution imagery provided real time coverage backed by the newly commissioned optic fibre backbone aiding network centric operations. In these three-weeks, the IAF planes flew around 8,000 hours in validate its war-fighting concepts. The IAF, which has a traditional edge over Pakistan, has been increasing its presence and strength in the northeastern areas by deploying squadrons of its frontline aircraft Su-30MKI at Tezpur, Chabua and other bases there. countering china, pakistan The fleet will be of earmarked fighters that can swiftly fly non-stop from the western border to the eastern front to tackle a threat These capabilities were validated successfully during the recent war games 'Livewire' in which over 400 fighters participated All planes that can be re-fuelled mid-air, such as Sukhoi-30MKI, Mirage 2000 and Jaguars, will be part of this fleet ‘Livewire’ was the biggest aerial mobilisation of assets in IAF history. To sharpen coordination, the Army and Navy were also involved
	Navy officer dismissed for sending lewd SMSes Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 15 Two days after a Navy officer was dismissed for having an illicit affair with his senior’s wife, the Navy has come down heavily with stringent punishment for another Navy officer and dismissed him for allegedly sending vulgar and lewd SMSes to women. The officer, Commander RV Desai, was court-martialed by the Navy in January this year and was found guilty in February. The Navy initiated the process for his dismissal and has removed him to send a message down the line that such acts won’t be tolerated. It is learnt that Desai used to be send lewd SMSes to women within the Navy fraternity and also to women outside the Navy. He was found guilty in court martial proceeding of actions “unbecoming of an officer”. Navy spokesperson Commander PVS Satish, while confirming the dismissal of the officer said: “Indian Navy reserves harshest punishment for someone found guilty of misbehaving with women, any such misconduct is taken seriously.”
	Sanjay pleads for more time to surrender Legal Correspondent New Delhi, April 15 Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, sentenced to five years in jail for illegal possession of firearms, today approached the Supreme Court seeking time to surrender to serve his remaining 3.5 years. In his petition, Dutt has pleaded for more time, contending that he had to complete his film projects in which producers had made huge investments. On March 21, a Bench comprising Justices P Sathasivam and BS Chauhan upheld the conviction of Dutt for possession of illegal arms and ammunition at the time of the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai but reduced his sentence from six years to five years, the minimum punishment under the Arms Act. In its verdict, the Bench had rejected Dutt’s plea for his release on parole or probation by suspending his sentence for three years, observing that the circumstances and the nature of the offence “are so serious.” The SC had directed him to surrender within four weeks which ends this week. He had served 1.5 years in jail when the case was pending in the trial court. A TADA court had sentenced him for possessing three AK-56 rifles and the ammunition for the weapons, one 9 mm pistol and its cartridges and hand grenades. The trial court had, however, ruled that these arms and ammunition were not part of the consignments smuggled into the country by dreaded underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his associates for carrying out the 1993 serial blasts at 13 locations in Mumbai in which over 250 persons were killed and more than 700 injured. Various personalities, including Press Council Chairman and former SC Judge Markandey Katju, have pleaded for granting clemency to the actor.
	Govt eases way for foreign filmmakers to shoot in India Ashok Tuteja/TNS New Delhi, April 15 Foreign filmmakers wanting to shoot in India need no longer fear that they would encounter insurmountable problems in undertaking the venture. The government has constituted a high-powered inter-ministerial committee which will act as a ‘single window’ for filmmakers seeking permission from different government agencies for filming of feature films, short films and TV programmes. The objective was to promote India’s emergence as a major international filming destination, officials said. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has for sometime been contemplating to put in place a mechanism which facilitates international as well as domestic film producers. In the past, as many as 30 agencies were involved in granting permission to film producers to shoot in India. The committee for promotion and facilitation of film production in India has been constituted with the objective of facilitating and fast tracking the process which would harness the potential of the country as a ‘filming locale’, the officials said. The I&B Ministry Secretary is the chairman of the committee while a Joint Secretary in the ministry is its member secretary. Its members include the Joint Secretaries of the ministries of Home, Tourism, External Affairs, Culture, Railways, Civil Aviation and Defence. The mandate of the committee is to facilitate granting permission for both foreign as well as domestic producers from relevant authorities of central and state governments and meet regularly to monitor the progress of facilitation process and from time to time issue directions to the authorities concerned to fast track clearances. This initiative is being considered an important step in view of the country celebrating the commemoration of 100 years of Indian cinema. The I&B Ministry has been asked to provide a secretariat to the committee. The secretariat will also be responsible for all the documentation and paperwork on behalf of the panel. Single-window clearance The government has constituted a high-power inter-ministerial committee to act as a 'single window' for filmmakers seeking permission from different government agencies for filming of feature films, short films and TV programmes The objective is to promote India's emergence as a major international filming destination, officials said
	Beni predicts collapse of UP Govt after LS poll Shahira Naim/TNS Lucknow, April 15 Union Minister for Steel Beni Prasad Varma today predicted that the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh would collapse after the Lok Sabha elections. Refusing to give reasons for the forecast, Varma said, “Just wait and see. The Lok Sabha elections are just a year away. Despite having a majority, this government will fall under its own weight.” Terming the Modi versus Advani debate as unfortunate, he said both leaders had equally damaged the secular structure of the country. While one got Muslims killed after the Babri demolition, the other did the same after the Godhra incident, he said. Reiterating his statement that Mulayam Singh Yadav and LK Advani were close friends, he said both were in constant touch during the Ayodhya movement. “The fact is that both Advani and Mulayam wanted the masjid to be pulled down so that communal polarisation could help their respective parties,” Varma alleged. Undermining Yadav’s secular credentials, his erstwhile associate said when two youths managed to climb atop the Babri masjid on October 29, 1990, Mulayam Singh called him to announce that the masjid had been pulled down. However, the SP leader again called after an hour to say that the police had opened fire and the youths had come down from the dome of the mosque. Questioning the SP government’s commitment to save the mosque, Varma asked how 100 odd men armed with spades and sickles had managed to reach the heavily guarded disputed site. He said Chief Minister Mulayam Singh had set up a police station named “Ram Janambhoomi” in Ayodhya when there was no reference of such a place in the revenue records. The people of the country were not dim-wits and were watching the unfolding drama of the Mulayam-Advani friendship with rapt attention, he said.
	Andhra TV artistes fret over dubbed serials Suresh Dharur/TNS Hyderabad, April 15 It is a linguistic war with a difference! Television artistes in Andhra Pradesh are on a warpath, demanding a ban on the telecast of dubbed serials on regional entertainment channels. Telugu TV actors, producers and technicians have hit the streets, holding demonstrations and relay hunger strike to highlight their livelihood struggle. A joint action committee of TV artistes has been formed to intensify the agitation till all regional channels stopped telecast of the serials dubbed from Hindi and Tamil. They argue that the dubbed serials were dominating the prime time of the leading channels and thereby depriving the local talent of their livelihood. Besides, the continued dominance of the dubbed soaps was also affecting the Telugu language and culture. “Hundreds of Telugu artistes, producers and directors have been rendered jobless because the dubbed serials are dominating the airwaves. There are 62 dubbed serials that are on the air now on various Telugu entertainment channels. We have been fighting for the rights of the local talent for years but in vain,” said D Suresh Kumar, JAC convener. The JAC claimed that the TV soaps dubbed from other languages were depriving the local talent of their livelihood. The leading entertainment channels, including MAA TV, ZEE Telugu, Gemini and Etv, have been telecasting dubbed serials. The dubbed versions of Hindi TV serials such as ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’, ‘Balika Vadhu’ and ‘Phulwa’ have a wide viewership across AP. For the last few days, the artistes, under the banner of Telugu TV Parirakshana Samithi (TTPS), have been staging sit-ins in front of the TV channel offices. Some channels responded positively and agreed to stop the telecast of the dubbed serials in order to encourage soaps produced in local language. “With many Hindi-to-Telugu and Tamil-to-Telugu dubbing serials taking over the screen space on regional channels, as many as 3,000 technicians are jobless. I am one among them. We want to intensify the movement to promote Telugu as a language and provide more scope for original Telugu content on various channels,” said producer Ramesh Babu, co-convener of the TTPPS. Noted producer-director and former Union Minister Dasari Narayana Rao has thrown his weight behind the agitation and written to the heads of various channels to stop airing the dubbed serials. The agitation took a violent turn yesterday when a group of TV artistes ransacked the MAA TV office here in protest against its opposition to air original Telugu serials. The miscreants damaged the furniture and windowpanes of three vehicles parked outside the channel’s Jubilee Hills office. “This is not happening in any other state. Why only in Hyderabad? We have a lot of respect for people in the north and also think they are doing good work, but most of the content of the dubbed serials is not relevant to our culture,” lamented an office-bearer of the JAC. On warpath Telugu TV actors, producers and technicians have hit the streets, holding demonstrations and relay hunger strike to highlight their livelihood struggle A joint action committee of TV artistes has been formed to intensify the agitation till all regional channels stopped telecast of serials dubbed from Hindi and Tamil They argue that the dubbed serials were dominating the prime time of the leading channels and theer are no takers for local programmes. This is hitting the local talent, say agitators