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PM elected to RS from Assam for fifth term
Assam CM Tarun Gogoi casts his vote in Guwahati on Thursday. — PTI
Police combs Andhra forests to counter Maoist threat
Nine Assam districts infested: Gogoi
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Monsoon likely to hit Kerala by June 2
Chennai hotelier skips questioning
Sreesanth an attention seeker, Chandila a tough nut: Sleuths
‘84 riots: Tytler moves HC against re-probe
Shinde: Overstayed in US for treatment
Three Cong leaders quit over Telangana issue
Women ITBP officer charged with impropriety
2G: CBI wants Anil Ambani, wife as witnesses
Chinese help to Lanka in space technology worries India
SC acquits man of minor’s rape, murder
Kipling ‘admitted’ to plagiarism in The Jungle Book
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PM elected to RS from Assam for fifth term
Guwahati, May 30
‘I’m honoured’
For the dissidence-ridden Congress, the Rajya Sabha election went off smoothly as all 79 party MLAs obeyed the three-whip issued by the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) on the eve of the election to ensure victory of both the party candidates. There was a third candidate in the election, Aminul Islam, who was put up by the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF). As expected, he was defeated despite the confidence exuded by AIUDF chief Badaruddin Ajmal about his victory against all odds. The AIUDF has 18 MLAs in the 126-member Assam Assembly. The Opposition AGP with nine MLAs and BJP with five MLAs did not take part in the election. Dr Singh was first elected to the Rajya Sabha from Assam in 1991. He was then re-elected in 1995, 2001 and 2007. He is officially a resident of Assam and has a rented house in the city.
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Police combs Andhra forests to counter Maoist threat
Intelligence reports suggest Maoists are making desperate attempts to regroup in the area and planning to attack high-profile targets in urban areas. The Greyhounds, an elite anti-Maoist police force, has been pressed into service to scour villages in Prakasam, Guntur and Kurnool districts abutting the Nallamala forests. Additional security is being provided to public representatives from the region and other VIPs. The police suspects the Maoists may make a tactical retreat into safe zones after carrying out the attack on Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh on May 25. There are fears that the extremists may wreak havoc in the local bodies’ elections to be held in the last week of June. The state police has specific inputs of top Maoist leaders from Andhra Pradesh, including central committee members of the CPI (Maoist) Katakam Sudershan, alias Anand, from Adilabad district; Mallojula Venugopal, alias Bhupati, (brother of slain Maoist leader Kishenji); Paka Hanumanthu, alias U Ganesh, from Nalgonda; and Ravula Srinivas, alias Ramana, from Warangal, both heading the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, behind the Chhattisgarh attack. The intelligence inputs suggest some Maoist leaders along with their followers may have moved towards Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts via Jagdalpur to reach safer zones. They may even sneak into the Nallamala forests with the help of sympathisers, the police sources say. Till 2005, the Nallamala forest was an impregnable fortress of Maoists, then called the People’s War Group (PWG). But the situation has changed dramatically now. A majority of the Maoist leaders have either died in encounters, surrendered or migrated to the neighbouring states. “Our police force is on high alert in the Andhra-Odisha border area. We will foil their misadventures,” says state Director General of Police V Dinesh Reddy said.
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Nine Assam districts infested: Gogoi
Guwahati, May 30 Maoists elements are active in various areas under 35 police stations spread over nine districts — Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Cachar and Karimganj — of the state. “We are concerned over Maoists activities in the state and have been keeping tabs on them since 2006. Our sustained vigil has prevented Maoist elements from setting up a statewide base so far though they have become active in certain areas of the state,” Gogoi said. The state police had so far arrested 58 Maoists elements, including a few central committee leaders, while four leaders had been killed. Maoists are also trying to spread their activities to Arunachal Pradesh
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Monsoon likely to hit Kerala by June 2
New Delhi, May 30 After arriving over Kerala, monsoon moves gradually to cover the entire country by mid-July. While the normal date for onset of monsoon in Kerala is June 1, last year the season rainfall hit the state on June 5. Earlier, the Indian Meteorological Department said the monsoon is likely to touch Kerala on June 3. In April, the weather office had forecast normal monsoon this year with overall rainfall expected to be 98 per cent of the long period average. Monsoon, the four-month rainfall season, is crucial for the kharif crops such as rice, soyabean, cotton and maize as almost 60 per cent of the farm land in the country is rainfed. The south-west monsoon had touched Andaman Sea and parts of Bay of Bengal on May 17, three day’s before the normal onset date. Last year, the monsoon had touched the whole country by July 11, four days in advance. — PTI
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game Shame Madras High Court rejects bail plea
Chennai, May 30 CB-CID DSP Rajasrinivasan, making a brief statement, said that police would now initiate all legal action to ensure Aggarwal’s presence for interrogation. "All kind of legal action will be taken to ensure his presence for interrogation in connection with investigation of this case," he said. Replying to a question, he indicated that the arrest was part of the legal action but did not elaborate. Srinivasan said Aggarwal had not responded to the summons issued by the CB-CID asking him to appear before them for interrogation today and noted that the high court has dismissed his anticipatory bail plea. Meanwhile, Aggarwal's counsel claimed that the city-based hotelier had been "falsely implicated" in the case, adding they would explore all legal options. There was no material against Aggarwal and he had "nothing to do with Vindoo (Randhawa) and Gurunath Meiyappan," he told a news channel. Aggarwal has been summoned by the Mumbai police to appear before it on May 31. Vindoo and CSK boss Meiyappan, son-in-law of BCCI president N Srinivasan, have been arrested by the Mumbai police in connection with the IPL betting scandal. Earlier in the day, Justice CT Selvam dismissed Aggarwal's application seeking anticipatory bail. In his application, he contended that though he was sent a communication under Section 160 of the CrPC by Tamil Nadu CB-CID on May 23 that he needed to appear before them today as a witness in a case, he was taken for interrogation on May 27 and was sent home only on Tuesday night. — PTI
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Sreesanth an attention seeker, Chandila a tough nut: Sleuths
New Delhi, May 30 A senior police official, who interrogated the cricketers, said Sreesanth had a "very little" attention span and he used to "jump from one point to another". "We had to come back to the point where he started for clarification time and again. He is mercurial and highly emotional. He won't concentrate. He would constantly do something to gain attention. "We used to make him comfortable. We made him sit and talk to us. Sometimes, we even offered tea and biscuits to him during interrogation," he said while claiming that the cricketer was not willing to go to Tihar Jail. Chavan is "child-like". He is a "quiet person", the official said. However, the investigator described Chandila a "tough nut". "But we have our own ways to crack such people. All of them cooperated with us during interrogation," the official said. — PTI
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‘84 riots: Tytler moves HC against re-probe
New Delhi, May 30 Tytler has challenged the trial court order setting aside the CBI's closure report giving him clean chit in the case. The appeal is likely to be listed tomorrow for hearing. "The trial court order is contrary to the scheme of code of the CrPC. The method and mode of investigation by a probe agency is the absolute prerogative of the agency and it is not for the court to direct the agency that which witness should be examined by it," he said in the petition. "The settled position of law is that a direction for investigation can be given only if an offence is prima facie found to have been committed or a person's involvement is prime facie established but direction to investigate whether any person has committed an offence or not cannot be legally given," he said and pleaded the HC to quash the trial court order. Tytler has challenged the trial court's order in which the CBI was also directed to examine eye-witnesses and people claiming to have information about the riots. The trial court order had come on a plea by the riot victims against the CBI giving a clean chit to Tytler and filing a closure report. Senior advocate HS Phoolka, appearing for petitioner Lakhwinder Kaur, had submitted that there was material which the agency has ignored and evidence was also there before the trial court against Tytler. The CBI, however, had sought dismissal of the plea filed by the victim saying the probe has made it clear that Tytler was not present on November 1, 1984 at Gurudwara Pulbangash in North Delhi where three people were killed during riots in the aftermath of assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Tytler's alleged role in the case related to killing of three persons --- Badal Singh, Thakur Singh and Gurcharan Singh --- near the Gurudwara Pulbangash was re-investigated by the CBI after the magistrate court had in December 2007 refused to accept its closure report. The CBI again gave a clean chit to Tytler on April 2, 2009 claiming lack of evidence against him in the case. On April 27, 2010, the magistrate accepted CBI's closure report in the case against Tytler, saying there was no evidence to put him on trial. The CBI had claimed that at the time of the incident, Tytler was at Teen Murti Bhawan, the residence of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and that it has already re-investigated the case on the order of trial court but there was no sufficient evidence against him. — PTI
Hearing likely today
* Jagdish Tytler (pic) has challenged the trial court order setting aside the CBI's closure report giving him clean chit in the case. The appeal is likely to be listed for hearing on Friday *
The trial court order had come on a plea by the riot victims against the CBI giving a clean chit to Tytler and filing a closure report
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Shinde: Overstayed in US for treatment
New Delhi, May 30 Hours after arriving from the US where he went to attend the Indo-US Homeland Security Dialogue from May 20 to 22, Shinde said he took permission from the highest authorities for his extended stay from May 23 to 29 for a check-up of his eyes with a specialist. The Home Minister said the ophthalmologist gave him appointment for May 28 as he (the doctor) was away in Malaysia and after medical consultation, he left for India on May 29. In between, there were two days weekend and the US memorial day on May 27, which was a public holiday, he said. When asked why he did not condemn the Jagdalpur incident from the US in these days of Internet-based communication, Shinde said he was in regular touch with Home Ministry officials and did not feel the need for issuing any statement from the US. “Those people, who are interested only in statement, they can consider it (issuing statement),” he said. Shinde said he condemns the brutal, barbaric and inhuman killings of 27 persons, including Congress leaders by the Naxals in an attack on May 25. Shinde today met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and apprised her of the actions by the government in connection with May 25 Maoist attack on party leaders in Bastar. In a clear signal of the party toughening its stand against Naxals, Congress spokesperson Bhakta Charan Das also endorsed Union minister Jairam Ramesh's stand that the Maoists are terrorists. “I cannot ignore this view of Jairam Ramesh. This view has got some substance. We cannot ignore it,” Das, who is also the AICC secretary for Chhattisgarh, told reporters. — PTI
Authorities Knew
* Shinde went to attend the Indo-US Homeland Security Dialogue from May 20 to 22 * He said he took permission from the highest authorities for visiting the USA * He extended the stay from May 23 to 29 as he wanted to undergo an eye check-up, he said
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Three Cong leaders quit over Telangana issue
Hyderabad, May 30
The announcement came after the expiry of the deadline the leaders had set for the party leadership to take a decision on the raging demand for separate Telangana state. The MPs G Vivek and M Jagannatham representing Peddapalli and Nagarkurnool constituencies, respectively, and former Congress Working Committee (CWC) member K Keshava Rao made the announcement after a meeting with TRS founder-president and MP K Chandrasekhara Rao who welcomed them into his party. “We have run out of patience. We waited for the Congress to take a favourable decision in deference to the wishes of the people of Telangana. But there has been no response,” said Jagannatham. The trio would formally join the TRS at a public meeting to be organised by the sub-regional party here on June 2. According to TRS sources, all the three leaders have been promised Lok Sabha tickets for the 2014 general elections. “We cannot go against the sentiments of the people of Telangana. We will not be a party to the betrayal of the statehood cause. The Congress has failed to keep its promise to the people of Telangana,” said Vivek. Both the MPs are Dalit leaders with significant following in their respective constituencies. Vivek’s brother and former state minister G Vinod also decided to join the TRS. Vinod is also the president of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA). Their father G Venkataswamy is a senior Congress leader and former Union Minister. “We are not hankering after any positions of power. We want to strengthen the Telangana movement,” said Kesava Rao, a former CWC member. Another MP S Rajaiah from Warangal was also expected to quit the Congress but backed out at the last minute. Sources close to him said the TRS did not give him an assurance that he would be fielded again for the Lok Sabha from Warangal. It is said the TRS advised him to contest the Assembly elections as the party has already promised the Warangal Lok Sabha seat to K Srihari, who recently quit the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to join the RS. Out of 17 Lok Sabha members from Telangana region, the Congress has 12 MPs. Three of them are Union ministers.
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Women ITBP officer charged with impropriety
Chandigarh, May 30 The officer, of the rank of inspector, is facing six charges pertaining to misappropriation of rations, violation of good order and breach of trust under various provisions of the ITPB Act, ITBP sources said The GFC, the ITBP’s equivalent of a military general court martial, began at the force’s Ramgarh camp near here, a few days ago and is being presided over by Commandant Parwinder Singh. The alleged acts of assault and misappropriation took place in August 2011 in Congo. The ITBP has been deploying a company strong contingent in Congo since 2005, where the force personnel are engaged in different security related operations as well as humanitarian aid. The sixth batch of ITBP personnel had embarked to Congo in 2012. Sources said in her plea to jurisdiction raised before the court, the officer has questioned the legality of the trial, contending that her case was earlier disposed off summarily and that proceedings cannot be initiated against her afresh. She has also contended that she is being victimised and the entire episode is an attempt to cover up the incident at Congo. She has pointed out that contrary to Supreme Court directives, no woman officer was present during the inquiry on her complaint of her being harassed. Sources said that the UN authorities in Congo had also conducted its own inquiry into the said incident of the officer being assaulted, but the findings of the inquiry are not known.
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2G: CBI wants Anil Ambani, wife as witnesses
New Delhi, May 30
RADAG's Group company Reliance Telecom Ltd (RTL) and Vinod Goenka, Managing Director of the DB Realty Ltd, are accused in the case. The CBI's plea to call Anil Ambani as a witness assumes importance as three top Reliance ADAG executives — Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara and Hari Nair — are facing trial in the case along with Swan Telecom promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka. The agency had alleged that RTL used Swan Telecom, an ineligible firm, as its front company to get 2G licences and the costly radio waves. Special Public Prosecutor U U Lalit told the court that these witnesses are required to be summoned for recording of their statements to ascertain the truth. After hearing Lalit's arguments, Special CBI Judge O P Saini issued notices to all the 17 accused, including three firms RTL, Swan Telecom and Unitech Wireless (Tamil Nadu) Ltd, seeking their responses on July 3 on the agency's plea. "Issue notices to the accused persons for July 3," the judge said, adding he would decide on July 3 as to whether it would seek a reply from the accused on a separate CBI's plea for recalling Department of Telecommunications (DoT) official Nitin Jain, who has been examined earlier, as a witness. — PTI
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Chinese help to Lanka in space technology worries India
New Delhi, May 30 The agreement, which reflects an increasing Chinese involvement in Sri Lanka’s strategic sectors, was reached during the just-concluded visit of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to China. Beijing’s move, seen in strategic circles as part of its “String of Pearls” strategy to surround India, has obviously set alarm bells ringing in New Delhi. Officials said they were closely following the increasing cooperation between China and Sri Lanka. Though the two countries have kept the details of the space technology agreement between them under wraps, it is understood that a Sri Lankan firm is likely to launch its first communication satellite with Chinese help in 2015. China, which has already funded a port and an airport in Sri Lanka’s strategic Hambantota district, is also said to be considering starting an industrial zone in the area. Rajapaksa is also believed to have invited the Chinese to develop the port of Sri Lankan capital Colombo. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister GL Peiris dismissed any concerns in New Delhi arising from the deepening ties between his country and Beijing. The relationship between China and Sri Lanka was not at the expanse of any other country, he said.
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SC acquits man of minor’s rape, murder
New Delhi, May 30 A Bench comprising Justices BS Chauhan and Dipak Misra ruled that the accused could not be convicted merely because of the fact that the blood groups of the child and of the blood stain on the undergarment of the alleged rapist were the same. The SC also did not agree with the finding of the trial court and the HC that the accused was guilty of committing the crime as he had been spotted near the child just before the crime. The Bench set aside judgments of the trial court and the HC on an appeal filed by the accused. The apex court held that the evidence pertaining to the matching blood groups “cannot be taken into consideration” as the accused was not confronted with the fact during his examination by the trial court under Section 313 of the
CrPC.
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Kipling ‘admitted’ to plagiarism in The Jungle Book
London, May 30 The signed letter, written in 1895, admits that the writer may have helped himself "promiscuously" to the works of others in his account of the Law of the Jungle, which features in the Jungle Book. The letter is now up for sale, The Telegraph reported. "I have been absent from home for some days. Hence the delay in answering yours of no date, in regard to my account of the Law of the Jungle," the letter, addressed to an unknown woman, reads. "I am afraid that all that code in its outlines has been manufactured to meet 'the necessities of the case': though a little of it is bodily taken from (Southern) Esquimaux rules for the division of spoils", it says. "In fact, it is extremely possible that I have helped myself promiscuously but at present cannot remember from whose stories I have stolen. Very sincerely, Rudyard Kipling," it adds. The letter has been listed for auction by Andrusier Autographs, with a 2,500 pounds tag. Autograph expert Adam Andrusier said: "Letters by Kipling that mention his most enduring work are extremely rare." Andrusier bought the letter from another dealer, Jarndyce Antiquarian Booksellers, in May. The store said the letter was found amongst a collection of uncategorised books and letters they had, and was discovered and listed in April for the New York Book fair, before being bought by Andrusier. — PTI
Tell-all letter
* The signed letter, written in 1895, admits that the writer may have helped himself "promiscuously" to the works of others in his account of the Law of the Jungle, which features in the Jungle Book *
The letter is listed for auction by Andrusier Autographs, with a 2,500 pounds tag *
The Jungle Book, one of Kipling's most famous short stories, was written in 1894. Kipling died in 1936, aged 70
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Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has been elected to the Rajya Sabha from Assam for the fifth consecutive term in the election held today.
Besides Dr Singh, the other ruling Congress candidate, Santiuse Kujur, also got elected to the Upper House of the Parliament for the first time. Election was held to two Rajya Sabha seats from Assam which will fall vacant in June.
It is a great honour for me that the people of Assam, through their elected representatives in the State’s Legislative Assembly, have given me an opportunity to serve them again. I have been representing Assam in the Rajya Sabha ever since 1991 and in this period it has been my constant endeavour to work for the state’s development and prosperity to the best of my ability. I solemnly pledge that I will continue these efforts in the future too.
Hyderabad, May 30
The CBI moved an application in the court saying Anil Ambani, his wife Tina and 15 other persons are required to be examined as witnesses in the case as "some new facts", including some bank documents pertaining to money transaction of Rs 997 crore in October 2007 between DB Group Company and Reliance ADA Group companies, have surfaced.
A letter by the author has surfaced in which he has admitted that "it is extremely possible that I have helped myself promiscuously" from other stories when writing 'The Jungle Book'.