The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	UP police ‘ignorant’ of changes in rape law Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service Muzaffarnagar, December 27 Seated in a corner of a rented room in Malakpur village near riot-affected parts of Shamli, a 30-something mother of two spends her days hoping to hear from the local police. Every time there’s a knock on the door, she runs thinking that her plea has finally been heard. But that is not to be. Allegedly gang raped on September 8 in her village home at Lank, hours after riots broke out in western UP, this victim of communal hatred has been struggling to get an FIR registered. She has heard of the sweeping changes in sexual assault laws that happened in the wake of December 16, 2012 rape in Delhi but wonders if those changes apply to her as well. “We heard of that rape and the new law. Does that law apply to us?” she asks innocently, her ignorance stemming from Uttar Pradesh police’s disregard of the new criminal law amendment on sexual brutalisation which directs the police to register cases immediately upon reporting. But for the local police of Fugana area, the law of the land means little. That explains why the Lank gang rape victim’s plea has not yet been converted into an FIR simply on the ground that she did not come to the police station to report the crime. “The way to the police station passes through Jat-dominated villages. I naturally did not have the courage to go all the way to report the crime. So I sent my complaint on October 22 by registered post to Fugana station in charge and all top UP police officials. I am yet to hear from them,” says the victim, allegedly raped by three men whom she names in the FIR. The experience of other rape victims of Muzaffarnagar riots is no different. There are six formal FIRs of sexual assault post riots and the women involved say there has been no progress in the matter. There has been no arrest in any rape case though the six women have repeatedly offered to identify the accused. “We will move the Supreme Court for shifting of cases outside UP,” says Naseem Khan, another riot victim from Fugana, whose wife was also allegedly raped while he was away. 30 riot-hit families booked for illegal stay Muzaffarnagar: At least 30 families have been booked for allegedly living in relief camps in Sanjak village here despite not being riot victims, the police said on Friday. According to SDM Rajnikanth, these families from Kinoni village here, which was not affected by riots, were living in the make-shift camps set up for the riot victims. The families, who claim to be affected by communal riots that took place in September, were asked to leave the camps but they refused, he said. A case of encroaching on government land has been slapped against them. — PTI
	Riot survivors to be shifted to government buildings Tribune News Service Lucknow, December 27 The UP Government today decided to move the 4,800 Muzaffarnagar riot survivors living in the five relief camps to nearby government buildings so that they can have a pucca roof over their heads in the bitter cold. Briefing the media about the review meeting with the members of the enquiry committee appointed to look into the issue of the deaths of children in the relief camps, Chief Secretary Javed Usmani said that the government would try its best to identify government buildings in the vicinity of the camps where families living under plastic sheets could be shifted. Nobody dies of cold: Principal Secy Lucknow: UP Principal Secretary (Home) Anil Gupta rejected charges that deaths of children in relief camps in Muzaffarnagar district had been due to cold. "Children have died of pneumonia, not of cold. Nobody can die of cold. If people died of cold, nobody would have been alive in Siberia," Gupta said. The remarks immediately drew criticism from across the political spectrum. — ANI
	Seven killed in clashes between two tribal groups Tribune News Service Guwahati, December 27 At least seven persons, including three women, were killed in a clash between two armed groups that claim to represent different ethnic groups in Karbi Anglong district of Assam today. A senior Assam home department official said four persons were killed when a group of armed cadre of the outlawed Karbi People's Liberation Tigers (KPLT), a Karbi tribe militant group, raided Khowani village inhabited by Rengma Naga tribe under Borpathar police station, early today morning. The KPLT raiders were challenged by a group of armed men of Rengma Naga Hills Protection Force (RNHPF). In the ensuing gun battle, three KPLT militants were killed. Nearly 500 people from adjoining villages fled the area in the wake of today's attack.
	Vintage cars, trade to bring India, Pak closer Both countries will jointly hold a rally in Lahore in February to highlight the shared heritage New Delhi, December 27 As India and Pakistan seek to resume dialogue and normalisation of relations, on a quieter and non-controversial footing, a cross-border group of automobile enthusiasts will have dozens of their old but elegant beauties roll down the streets and have people's heads turn - courtesy a vintage car rally in Lahore. Around 60-70 vintage Indian cars and motorcycles and an equal number of old beauties from Pakistan would jointly hold a rally in Lahore in the middle of February to highlight the shared heritage of the two nations, said a source. An Indian trade fair would also be held in Lahore, the capital of Pakistan's Punjab province, at the same time - Feb 16-19, 2014. Titled the India Show, it would be held by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and co-hosted by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan. "It will be a big show. There will be around 200 Indian companies participating. The vintage car rally would run parallel to the trade fair," the Pakistani source said. The development comes days after the India visit of Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the younger brother of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who had come as a special envoy. During his talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Shahbaz Sharif had dwelt on the "desire to move forward on bilateral relations". Both countries held a meeting of their Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) on Dec 24 after 14 years to find out ways to ensure peace on the Line of Control. The meeting between their DGMOs had been agreed upon during the meeting of the two prime ministers in New York on Sep 29, as a step towards normalisation of relations. In March, around 60-70 major Pakistani companies, including in textiles, agriculture, food products, would participate in a SAARC trade fair in Delhi in March. For the vintage car rally, to be titled Sharing the Heritage, the Indian cars are proposed to be taken in containers to the Wagah-Attari land border in Amritsar from where they would be driven to Lahore, said the source. In Lahore, the cars from both sides would be on display at the Lahore Expo ground. They would also be driven around the city. "Many of the cars are from the Colonial era.. The rally would thus reflect the shared heritage of India and Pakistan,” another source said. One vintage car would be of particular interest to Pakistan for its association with the country's founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah "One car is said to be closely associated with our country's founder. The organisers said they would be bringing it along for the rally," the source added. After the vintage car rally, a joint desert car rally may also be in the works. India holds a desert car rally in the Rann of Kutch. — IANS Joint rally in Lahore Around 60-70 vintage Indian cars and motorcycles and an equal number of old beauties from Pakistan would take part in the rally An Indian trade fair would also be held in Lahore, the capital of Pakistan's Punjab province, at the same time - February 16-19, 2014 The development comes days after the India visit of Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the younger brother of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who had come as a special envoy
	Man gets life term for raping Spanish woman Mumbai, December 27 A 28-year-old serial house breaker was today sentenced to life imprisonment by a court here for raping a Spanish woman on knife point in a upscale flat at suburban Bandra last year. "The court has to keep in mind the interest of society at large and the case does not have any ground for leniency," observed Principal Judge Shalini Phansalkar Joshi while pronouncing the sentence to accused Mohammed Badshah Ansari, who was convicted on charges of rape, unnatural offence, trespass, criminal intimidation and destruction of evidence. In November 2012, Ansari forcibly entered the 28-year-old musician's flat through a window and at knife point allegedly robbed and raped her. The victim was staying as a tenant on the third floor of a building at Perry Cross Road in Bandra. Before the sentencing, Badshah told the court that he was implicated in the case and sought leniency citing that he has a mother, wife and two children dependent on him. However, Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam argued that the ground of leniency should not be taken into consideration as the accused was mature enough while committing the crime and that age could not be the only determinant in arriving at the sentence. Nikam further said that Badshah was a habitual robber. Also, he had the intention to kill the victim and therefore after sexually abusing the Spanish national, he told her "Ab tum khatam" (you are finished). The Public Prosecutor also told the court that Badshah got pleasure in torturing the victim and any reformatory approach could not bring down his perverse ways. "He put the defenceless, poor, helpless girl in such a situation that she refused to come back to India for even deposing in the case. She left India with a bad impression and it was question of the image of the nation," Nikam argued. The victim had deposed in the court via video link from Germany. — PTI The case In November 2012, Mohammed Badshah Ansari forcibly entered the 28-year-old musician's flat through a window and at knife point, allegedly robbed and raped her.
	No space for Mandela’s condolence meeting Subhrangshu Gupta Tribune News Service Kolkata, December 27 The CPM and other left leadership are facing difficulty in holding the Nelson Mandela’s condolence meeting in the city as they are not able to fix any suitable venue for the purpose. Earlier, the leaders had approached the state government to get the Netaji indoor stadium or any other government auditorium like Rabindra Sadan or Nandan to conduct the meeting, but their request was turned down. The CPM leaders today met Mayor Shovan Chatterjee for obtaining permission for holding Mandela’s condolence meeting at Mohatkunj on January 6. However, their request was rejected today too because according to the policy, the Kolkata MC could not allow the CPM or any political party to hold any meeting in any official space.
	A season of political migration in Andhra Suresh Dharur Tribune News Service Hyderabad, December 27 The New Year is set to herald a season of political migration in Andhra Pradesh. The imminent bifurcation of the state is expected to trigger an exodus of the ruling Congress leaders from Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions, jointly referred to as Seemandhra, in search of greener pastures ahead of the General Election. The elected representatives in Seemandhra, who are strongly opposed to the creation of separate Telangana state, are coming under increasing public pressure to quit their posts and demonstrate their commitment to the cause of united Andhra Pradesh. After their efforts to stall the state’s division have failed, several Seemandhra Congress MPs, union and state ministers and legislators are planning to quit the party to avoid facing the public wrath in the forthcoming elections. YSR Congress Party, headed by Kadapa MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and Telugu Desam Party, headed by former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, emerged as the favoured destinations of the political migratory birds. According to Congress sources, at least 30 legislators, including some ministers, are planning to switch their loyalty as they fear that the Congress would face total rout in Seemandhra region for its decision to divide the state. In the 294-member AP Assembly, Seemandhra region accounts for 175 seats while Telangana has 119 members. Of the total 42 Lok Seats, the Seemandhra and Telangna account for 25 and 17 seats respectively. "I have district-wise information about those 30 MLAs who are making plans to cross over. Only weak-minded and with vested interests and a lust for power are trying to leave the Congress,” state Congress president Botsa Satyanarayana said. A show-cause notice has been issued to senior Congress legislator and former minister JC Diwakar Reddy who made a personal attack on the party president Sonia Gandhi for the decision to divide the state. His exit from the party looks imminent. It is said that his son JC Pavan Reddy has been offered party ticket by YSR Congress to contest Anantapur Lok Sabha seat. Similarly, several other Seemandhra legislators are said to be planning to quit the ruling party and join either TDP or YSRCP. Last week, Congress MLA Rajanna Dora from the PCC Chief’s home district of Vizianagaram joined the YSRC. Former minister and senior MLA Dharmana Prasada Rao is also said to be on his way to YSRC. “If a good worker leaves the party, then I can say it is a loss. But, it is good for the party if turncoats and opportunists leave," the PCC chief said, adding that the voters would teach a fitting lesson to such people in the coming elections. Cong may bear the brunt The imminent bifurcation of the state is expected to trigger an exodus of the ruling Congress leaders from Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions, jointly referred to as Seemandhra, in search of greener pastures ahead of the General Election The elected representatives in Seemandhra, who are strongly opposed to the creation of separate Telangana state, are coming under increasing public pressure to quit their posts and demonstrate their commitment to the cause of united Andhra Pradesh YSR Congress Party, headed by Kadapa MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and Telugu Desam Party, headed by former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, emerged as the favoured destinations of the political migratory birds
	Varsity official held for sexual harassment Kolkata, December 27 After the allegation of sexual harassment of law intern by Justice AK Ganguly, an honorary professor of National University of Juridical Sciences has been arrested on a similar charge. Assistant Registrar Siddhartha Guha has been arrested for allegedly sexually harassing a colleague at the institute, Deputy Commissioner (Bidhannagar) Arnab Ghosh said. The arrest yesterday was on the complaint of a female colleague. — PTI
	A noble cause shall always have my endorsement: Big B on Thackeray Mumbai, December 27 There was a lot of speculation this week over Amitabh Bachchan's supposed patch-up with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, but the Hindi film megastar says that he attended the function for the benefit of the unsung heroes of the filmdom. Big B and Thackeray apparently had a fall-out after the latter accused the megastar of becoming the "brand ambassador" of Uttar Pradesh. In a later incident, when Jaya Bachchan at a music function had expressed her comfort level with the Hindi language instead of Marathi, Thackeray had made scathing comments on her linguistic preference. Now five years later, Big B and Raj Thackeray came together for a function Monday to commemorate seven years of MNS's movie industry wing - Maharashtra Navnirman Chitrapat Karmachari Sena (MNCKS) - at the Shanmukhanand Hall in central Mumbai. After the function, Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi alleged that Amitabh sharing the dais with Thackeray was an "insult" to north Indians. Speaking on the supposed rapprochement, Big B said: "I attended a function that paid respect to the hitherto-neglected faces of the film industry, the workers! Very little is ever known about them. The world never sees them or is aware of their contribution. They work tirelessly behind the scenes and are responsible in equal measure for the final outcome of any of our products." "In a profession as fickle as ours, the security that these workers need for their future is something that requires attention. Many efforts have been made in the past by both institutions and individuals. Any design to take greater care for them is always welcome. The MNCKS has put together an instrument of insurance for these workers. Such a noble cause shall always have my endorsement," said the 71-year-old. — IANS
	Akhilesh govt to fund Agra-Lucknow Expressway Lucknow, December 27 After failing to attract even a single bid for the 301-km Agra-Lucknow Expressway, the Akhilesh Yadav government today decided to implement the Rs 20,000 crore project on its own. Chief secretary Javed Usmani said the expressway to be earlier built under the PPP model did not receive any bid due to “slowdown of the economy”. “The state government has decided to go ahead with the project under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model,” said Usmani. The expressway is expected to reduce the travel time between Agra and Lucknow to five hours. The cost of the project will be recovered through toll tax. — TNS
	Bone relic excavated from Goa likely to be of Georgian queen Suresh Dharur Tribune News Service Hyderabad, December 27 The first ancient DNA study in South Asia has revealed that a 400-year-old bone relic excavated from a Church complex in Goa could be that of Queen Ketevan of Georgia who died in 1624. A team of investigators from Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), the Archaeological Survey of India and the Estonian BioCentre has isolated the DNA from the bone, sequenced it and concluded that the relic might belong to Georgian Queen Ketevan who was born in a royal family in 1565 in the medieval period. Dr K Thangaraj of CCMB led the study which has been published online in Mitochondrion journal. In the medieval period, the Georgia was a vassal kingdom and the bone of contention between two mighty empires in West Asia, Ottoman Turks and Safavids in Persia. During that period, entire Persia and its surrounding region was under control of emperor Shah Abbas I (1587-1629), who led an army to conquer Georgia and took Queen Ketevan as prisoner. For about a decade (1614 to 1624), the Queen remained in Shiraz as the prisoner of Shah Abbasi I. In 1624, the Persian emperor attempted to convert the Queen to Islam. For resisting his wishes, she was tortured and strangled to death on September, 22, 1624. It said as per literary evidences in Portuguese script, it was believed that in 1627 her right arm bone was brought to Goa by an Augustinian Frair and kept in a black box (stone sarcophagus) on the second window along the Epistle side of the chapel within St Augustinian convent at old Goa. For almost 400 years, the remains of Georgian Queen Ketevan laid undisturbed somewhere in the St Augustinian convent, the CCMB release said. Considering the patriotic nature of Queen Ketevan, the Georgian government approached India to search for the relic of the Queen. Since 1989, various delegations from Georgia visited India and have worked together with the ASI and tried to locate the relic within the ruins of St. Augustinian convent in old Goa. After several attempts and a topographical survey within the Augustinian church, the window mentioned in literary sources was located by archaeologists of the ASI, Goa circle, assisted by a Portuguese student in May 2004. "During the excavation, we identified bone relic, but the evidence could not be considered conclusive, therefore, we approached the CCMB for ancient DNA study,” said Dr Nizamuddin Taher of ASI. DNA study findings A 400-year-old bone relic excavated from a Church complex in Goa A team of investigators from Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, the ASI and the Estonian BioCentre has isolated the DNA from the bone, sequenced it and concluded that the relic might belong to Georgian Queen Ketevan Ketevan was born in a royal family in 1565 in the medieval period. Dr K Thangaraj of CCMB led the study which has been published online in Mitochondrion journal
	In 19 yrs, 59 Armymen punished for human rights violation in J&K Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, December 27 The Indian Army’s decision to court-martial six military personnel for carrying out a fake encounter at Machhil in Kashmir is one of the severe punishments handed out by the Army to erring personnel. Since 1994, 59 Army men have been punished for violating human rights in Jammu and Kashmir and another 70 punishments have been handed out to Army men in the north-east. The Army headquarters is clear that it needs to hand out punishment if any officer errs in delivering duty. This is needed for the force to be seen as even handed, lest demands for removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) get leverage. The Pathribal fake encounter, carried out in 2000, is seen like a watershed. It was then that the Army found it had bad elements who were staging killings and claiming them to be encounters with “terrorists”. The Supreme Court ruled that the CBI needed prior sanction under AFSPA to prosecute the Army personnel, the Army has opted to be transparent in its own internal probe. No sanction is needed if the Army does its own Court of Inquiry (CoI). In the Machhil case, Army did not take cover under AFSPA to evade investigation and scrutiny that led to court martial of six, including a Colonel and two Majors. Figures of human right probes indicate that there were 1,004 allegations of excesses against the Indian Army in J&K and 25 of these were found to be true since 1994. Nine cases are still under investigation. The numbers are disputed by the J&K-based organisations and there have been a few instances of the matters getting to head. In 2012, two human rights NGOs - Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (IPDP) and the International People’s Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Kashmir (IPTK) in Srinagar - alleged 235 army personnel were involved in alleged involvement in human rights abuses in J&K. The Army had then dismissed the report as a collation of unsubstantiated allegations and had added: “The culpability of the Army men listed has not been established in any of the cases. The NGOs have stated that they do not have conclusive evidence against any of the army personnel mentioned in their report.” Another 570 allegations are against the Army in the north east. A total of 29 have been found genuine. The Prime Minister-appointed interlocutors on Kashmir — Dileep Padgaonkar, Radha Kumar and MM Ansari — had submitted a report in October 2012. They called from ending bureaucratic stalemates in case of court martial. “A speedy and transparent court martial would be an immense confidence building measure,” the report had said. Fake encounters It was after the Pathribal fake encounter in 2000 that the Army realised it had bad elements staging killings and claiming them to be encounters with "terrorists" In the Machhil case, Army did not take cover under AFSPA to evade investigation and scrutiny that led to court martial of six Figures indicate that there were 1,004 allegations of excesses against the Indian Army in J&K, 25 of which were found to be true
	26/11 attack Draft charges filed against Abu Jundal Mumbai, December 27 The Mumbai Police today filed draft charges against alleged Lashkar-e-Toiba operative Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case in a court here. “The process of framing of charges will start next month,” said Jundal’s lawyer Ejaz Naqvi. The police are pressing charges against him on 22 counts, including criminal conspiracy, waging war against the nation, murder, kidnapping for murder, cheating and forgery, under the Indian Penal Code. Besides, charges have been framed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Explosive Act, Explosive Substance Act, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, Railways Act and Customs Act. Jundal, a native of Beed district of Maharashtra, was arrested by the Delhi Police after his deportation from Saudi Arabia in June 2012. He was allegedly the key conspirator and was present in the “control room” in Pakistan from where terrorists were receiving instructions to carry out multiple attacks in Mumbai in November 2008 that left 166 dead. According to Jundal’s confession, LeT training camps in Pakistan enjoyed full support from local, federal police and paramilitary organisations there. Jundal was originally wanted in 2006 Aurangabad arms haul case in Maharashtra. In May 2006, he escaped to Bangladesh and later to Pakistan. In Maharashtra, he is also accused of being involved in the 2010 German Bakery blasts in Pune and and Nashik Police Academy attack conspiracy. — PTI
	Green ministry eases norms for industry New Delhi, December 27 The Environment Ministry has issued fresh guidelines easing clearance norms for industry and mining of minor minerals. The ministry, which came under attack from industry over clearance hurdles, has agreed to do exempt mandatory environmental impact assessments and public hearings for some projects relating to thermal power plants with less than 5MW capacity, mining of minor minerals and river sand mining. The ministry took the decision after examining a report submitted by the expert committee chaired by Director of the Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI). Earlier this year, the ministry had done away with the mandatory clearance requirement for brick earth and ordinary earth mining in leases of less than 5 hectares. — PTI
	Clean chit to Modi a slap in Nitish’s face: BJP Patna, December 27 Senior BJP leader Sushil Modi today said that a clean chit given by a Gujarat court to Narendra Modi in the 2002 riots was a “strong slap” in the face of “pseudo secular” leaders such as Nitish Kumar. He asked the Bihar Chief Minister to tender an apology for breaking alliance with the BJP. “Kumar, who broke alliance with the BJP and disrespected people's mandate, should seek an apology from the public for this step in the name of Narendra Modi and accusing him of the 2002 riots in Gujarat,” Modi, who was the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar in the NDA regime, said. “After the court verdict, so-called secular leaders such as Nitish Kumar should reconsider their opinion about Narendra Modi,” the BJP leader, flanked by bureaucrat-turned party leader RK Singh, said. He, however, categorically said there was no going back with the Janata Dal (United). “The question of going for an alliance with the JD(U) again does not arise,” he said. When asked that JD(U) leaders were saying that despite the court's verdict, perception about Narendra Modi as a “communal” leader persisted, Sushil Modi said, “Can it be bigger than the court's order?" He said the SIT, which was constituted by the Supreme Court, did not consist of any Gujarat official and did not find Modi's involvement in the 2002 riots, and that the Ahmedabad court has put a seal of approval on it. Zakia Jafri, wife of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri who died in the Gulbarg Society massacre, did not level any charge in front of the Nanavati Commission and came up with allegations four years after the incident, Sushil said, accusing the Congress of “provoking” some NGOs to go after Modi after they failed to fight him politically. Both Sushil Modi and RK Singh criticised the Union Cabinet for approving a commission of inquiry into the snoop controversy against Gujarat CM Narendra Modi when a state probe was already on. — PTI
	Modi needn’t worry about Maharashtra: Shiv Sena Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, December 27 After the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Prime Ministerial candidate criticised the pace of development in Maharashtra at his mega rally in Mumbai on Sunday, the Shiv Sena today asked him to stay off the state. In a sarcastic editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamna, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray told Narendra Modi that his party was capable of handling Maharashtra without the latter's help. “Here, the Shiv Sena carries the saffron flag of Shivaji Maharaj ...... Modi need not worry about Maharashtra,” the editorial said. Modi had said at the rally that Maharashtra had 26 Chief Ministers since Gujarat was carved out of the united Bombay state and was developing at a slower pace. “Under Modi, development has gathered pace in Gujarat, but Maharashtra continues to be much ahead,” Thackeray said. “There is a feeling that Modi should not speak on Maharashtra but concentrate on Gujarat instead,” the Shiv Sena leader wrote. The write-up noted that Modi should look at himself as a national leader. “Modi should remember that he is no longer leader of just Gujarat but of the entire country,” Saamna said.
	Council of Nagaland to act against three members accused of molestation Says such ‘barbaric and sick mentality’ has no place in Naga society Bijay Sankar Bora Tribune News Service Guwahati, December 27 The National Socialist Council of Nagaland Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) has decided to act against its three men accused of molesting and attempting to rape two women at Aghuito town of eastern Nagaland on December 21. In a face-saving gesture, the NSCN-IM informed local residents that its three members - ‘sergeant’ Mapam Keishing, ‘corporal’ Mahori and ‘private’ Ninoto - who had violated serious human rights under the influence of alcohol had been arrested. The council said such an act was neither justifiable nor condonable and such “barbaric and sick mentality” has no place in Naga society”. “The NSCN-IM is deeply ashamed of its three members who instead of playing the role of protectors became molesters. Action will be taken against them accordingly,” the council said. One of the victims, a missionary in Arunachal Pradesh, told Naga civil society leaders that despite showing her identity card, the NSCN-IM cadres abused her. She alleged that the trio also forced her to strip and on refusing she was hit with an iron rod on her thighs. She said another victim, a 16-year-old girl, was hit with the rod three to four times. A day after the incident, residents of Zunheboto town staged protests at Aghuito town. Protesters who held a rally at Zunheboto town, under the aegis of Sumi Hoho and other frontal organisation of Sumi Nagas, even served an ultimatum to the NSCN-IM to handover the accused to the district administration within three days. The Sumi community threatened to withdraw support to the NSCN-IM in case of it failed to handover the guilty to them.
	Top I-T official held taking bribe in Thane Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, December 27 The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday arrested a Joint Commissioner of Income Tax posted at Thane for demanding and accepting a bribe from a local businessman. Sanjeev Ghai, Joint Commissioner of Income Tax, was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 3.5 lakh from the businessman. Ghai, who was responsible for scrutinising the returns of the businessman, reportedly refused to accept that the latter's business had suffered losses and threatened to proceed against him for tax evasion. He subsequently approached the businessman via a chartered accountant and sought to ‘settle’ the matter for Rs 10 lakh. However after negotiations, Ghai allegedly agreed to bring down the bribe amount to Rs 3.5 lakh. Sources said instead of paying the bribe amount, the businessman sought the help of the CBI which laid a trap for the tax official. He was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe paid through marked currency notes. The entrapment Sanjeev Ghai, Joint Commissioner of Income Tax, threatened to proceed against a local businessman for tax evasion Then, he sought to ‘settle’ the matter for Rs 10 lakh The trader sought the help of the CBI which laid a trap for the tax official
	JCO dismissed, Capt reprimanded for clash in Gurdaspur armoured unit Vijay Mohan Tribune News Service Chandigarh, December 27 A General Court Martial (GCM) has dismissed a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) from service for allegedly assaulting a Captain during a clash between officer and troops in an armoured regiment based near Gurdaspur. The Captain has been awarded a “severe reprimand” in a separate trial. The court martial of another non-commissioned officer directly involved in the fracas is underway. Sources said the GCM, presided by the commanding officer of a field artillery regiment, concluded at Tibri military station near Gurdaspur last week. The court’s verdict is subject to confirmation by the convening authority. JCO Sub S Raju had faced four charges under Section 40 of the Army Act for assaulting a superior officer, abetment and instigation. He was held guilty by the court of all four charges. The incident had taken place in 45 Cavalry at Tibri on May 29, 2010. A jawan, Lance Dafadar MR Abhilash, was allegedly thrashed by Capt Aishwarya Saxena and another officer, Capt R Ganguly, and forcibly taken away from the unit premises in a car. The jawan had been faring poorly in morning PT, resulting in a spat between the two, which later blew up. A Court of Inquiry, presided over by Brig AK Thakur, Commander of an artillery brigade, had blamed the regiment’s commanding officer for not taking effective steps to handle the situation and attempting to conceal the incident from higher authorities. He was awarded a severe displeasure after administrative action was initiated against him. In addition, the regiment’s Risaldar Mmajor, the senior most JCO in the unit, was among several JCOs who faced administrative action, and was awarded a severe reprimand. At least four jawans of the unit were dismissed after being tried by a summary court martial for their alleged role in the incident. The JCOs were blamed for failing to exercise due command and control over troops, who “behaved in an unruly and undisciplined manner”, resulting in the use of criminal force by them on two Captains and two Lieutenants. They were also blamed for misdemeanor and making incorrect statements before the CoI.
	National Police Academy to have first woman boss New Delhi, December 27 National Police Academy, the Hyderabad-based alma mater for IPS officers in the country, could soon get a woman chief for the first time in its history. Aruna Bahuguna, a 1979-batch IPS officer, is tipped to be appointed as the new director of the 65-year-old institution, also known as the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA), which is tasked with the training of police leaders. Bahuguna (56), who belongs to the Andhra Pradesh cadre, is at present posted as the Special Director General in the country's largest paramilitary force, CRPF, at its headquarters in the national capital. The orders for Bahuguna's appointment as the new director of the academy would be issued soon, sources said. The officer, who has served in various positions with Andhra Pradesh police, also holds the distinction of being the first woman SDG in CRPF. She is the second-in-command of the 3 lakh strong force, after the DG. The post of the NPA Director fell vacant after incumbent Subhas Goswami was last month appointed as the DG of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). Reputed police officers like Sankar Sen, Trinath Mishra and K Vijay Kumar have earlier headed the NPA. Once appointed, Bahuguna would be the 28th boss of the academy. The high-level board of the NPA comprises senior civil servants, police officers and eminent educationists as its members and is headed by the Union Home Secretary. — PTI Woman power Aruna Bahuguna, a 1979-batch IPS officer, is tipped to be appointed as the new director of the 65-year-old institution, also known as the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, which is tasked with the training of police leaders Bahuguna (56), who belongs to the AP, is currently posted as the Special Director General in the country's largest paramilitary force, CRPF, at its headquarters in the national capital The orders for Bahuguna's appointment as the new director of the academy would be issued soon, sources said. The officer, who has served in various positions with Andhra Pradesh police, also holds the distinction of being the first woman SDG in CRPF. She is the second-in-command of the 3 lakh strong force, after the DG
	Advanced medical care for defence personnel New Delhi, December 27 The government is setting up advanced medical facilities in forward areas, including Siachen and in the Northeast, the Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services, Air Marshal DP Joshi, said today. "We will be having a CT-scan centre at the base camp at Siachen. There is a proposal that we are going more eastwards. Since we are manning places like Dimapur, we are setting up advanced medical centres, so as to whenever there are casualties, it could be treated immediately," Joshi said. Addressing a press conference on the 250th anniversary of the Army Medical Corps, Joshi said it was not only Siachen, but the Defence Ministry was also working on having advanced medical treatment facilities in forward areas in northeast as well. — PTI