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Security personnel and their sense of duty

The train started from Bangalore and the bomb which was planted in it blast at Chennai Central railway station. The train was bound for Guwahati, Assam and when next day the train reached Assam, communal violence started in that state. I’m trying to connect the dots but still fail to understand why so much violence is happening in our motherland? The root cause of terrorism is discrimination and communalism. However, they say that they are seeking justice and revenge. Generally, all communities want to live in harmony. Investigating agencies are also handed and show no bias towards a particular community. India is one of those countries where the lives of people are treated as badly as those of animals. Take the case of pedestrians on our roads. They are treated as cattles crossing the road. Be it bus stands or railway stations, security in this country are equal to none. In fact, after the recent bomb blast at Chennai central station, there were quite a few entries in the Social Media, stating that at least the air passengers are eligible for heavy insurance coverage in the event of casualties and fatalities. It is so frustrating that there is no security for common man. Security should be provided right from the President of India to beggars on the streets. Security personnel wake up after unfortunate events occurs in our country. For a few days after the tragedy, they will be on alert and later display their laziness on duty as usual. This type of mentality among the security staff on duty should be changed and they should always be alert while performing their duties. It is not only security personnel’s duties but even the citizens should be alert and if they come across any suspicious activity then that should be brought to the notice of the concerned authorities. The police department has to take some initiative to educate people in that direction. First thing the new government should do is to set up a fast track judicial process after the culprits are nabbed. New government should be strict towards terrorism irrespective of their religion. Investigations should be done very fast and justice should be brought to victims within a year without political intervention.

Look at Assam, the brutality is beyond imagination. Killings by the Bodo insurgent group, situation in Kokrajhar and adjoining areas continues to be tense but under control. Security forces were keeping strict vigil and remained alert to foil any design by anti-social elements to disturb peace.11 people were killed by the NDFB-Songbijit militants in separate incidents in Kokrajhar district.

A woman was killed and 14 others were injured, two of them critical, when two low-intensity bombs exploded in a span of five minutes on two coaches of the Bangalore-Guwahati train at the busy Central Railway station. The Tamil Nadu government ordered a probe by its special CB-CID wing as police detained a suspect in connection with the blasts.

The biggest security risk in the Railways is the passenger seated in a reserved coach, when the train is in transit. There is no detail available in the reservation list of such passengers. The ticket examiners can carry some reservation forms with them to be filled by the passenger wanting berth in the coach. They should be asked to fill their telephone numbers and the examiner should verify the telephone number by making the call. He can see his telephone number in the passenger’s telephone to make sure the person is genuine, without any cost. The police can also verify the telephone numbers while examining their tickets. Railway authorities should enforce this measure rigorously and they will see even frauds can be caught with this. If this thing comes to an effect then neither thief nor terrorist will dare to enter in reserve compartments. We always see unreserved compartments are too crowded. However, even these compartments should be checked thoroughly.

From airways to railways, roadways to cricket stadium, one should follow a European model and bring the changes to make the life of citizens safer and better. Sense of duty is lacking in all the persons while on duty. An administrative, executive or security job sense of duty should be there. Covert and overt processes should be initiated by Centre to lend across the border support to local sleeper terror modules with or without involving state governments who are not cooperating with the probes. Otherwise, the stories of Mecca Masjid, Dilsukhnagar, Bangalore, Mumbai and recent train blasts will go on forever. Though the principal reason behind all the security lapses is poor training of personnel but public attitude is also one of the reasons.

People start complaining if security personnel stop someone for security checks. For example, when the security guards ask to keep mobile phone in hand while undergoing frisking at metro stations, people don’t like it. They deliberately violate the instructions and then on some unfortunate day, they have to pay the price. I think steps should be taken from both sides. The security checks must be more tightened as well as the public should understand the importance of security measures. This issue cannot be solved by blaming government agencies. To some extent, even we are responsible for it. Our country has the second largest population in the world, it is hard to manage and protect each and every individual. Corruption and greediness is everywhere. I really feel bad about people affected by this.

Media should not invade people’s privacy

Is having relationship with someone a crime? If a common man has affair then nobody questions him but a renowned celebrity’s relationship grabs headlines. I don’t understand why media interferes in a celebrity’s personal life? I think that any relationship between consenting adults is permissible. Media is the fourth pillar of democracy and it is responsible for covering important news instead of sensationalising it. Senior Congress Minister Digvijaya Singh’s affair with the Journalist Amrita Rai is his personal matter. Why media is blowing this issue out of proportion? Media doesn’t have any right to interfere in anybody’s life. Media should act responsibly.
Media has been reporting about Digvijaya’s relationship with Amrita Rai as if they have committed a serious crime. If a common man can have relationship then why can’t Digvijaya and Amrita have affair? Media was very curious to cover this news that it conducted an indepth investigation and circulated the couple’s pictures thereby causing them huge embarrassment. They indulged in this act for garnering TRPs. This issue seriously raises question about the credibility of media. Media circulate the intimate photographs of the couple without seeking their permission. Why can’t media carry out investigation and cover important news pertaining to national interest?

This incident reminded me of the alleged relationship of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor with Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar affair. It had covered this news continuously as Sunanda started feeling insecure about her relationship and committed suicide. Thus it was responsible for Sunanda’s suicide to a certain extent. Media must stop sensationalising news and should not intrude in someone’s personal’s life.

The intimate photos of Digvijaya Singh and Amrita Rai went viral on social media as netizens too commented on it thereby creating embarrassment for the couple. It also forced the estranged husband of Amrita to delete his facebook and twitter account. Netizens too must act responsibly and not post unwarranted comments about someone’s personal life. Media should not invade somebody’s personal life and should not sensationalize the news. It should instead cover more important issues which are affecting the common man.

Angry locals refuse to perform last rites of family members, call for CM’s visit

Days after militants killed 32 civilians in Assam’s Bodo-majority districts, angry locals protested on Sunday calling for Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s visit to the violence-hit district.

The locals protesting in the Nankekhadrabari area have reportedly refused to perform the last rites of their killed family members until Gogoi visits the violence-hit area.

They alleged that the administrations is threatening to take action against them if they do not busy the dead.

“Does our life have no value? We are only demanding that we are protected and we are not attacked and killed in future” they said.

Indefinite curfew has been imposed in Kokrajhar, Chirang and Baksa districts even as scared villagers have fled the area fearing for their safety. However, curfew was relaxed in Chirang district for six hours from 10 am.

The protest comes a day after the probe into the incident was handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and 22 people were arrested in connection with the violence.

The attack took place on Thursday night when the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) anti-faction militants opened fire in two villages of Bodoland Territorial Areas Districts (BTAD) killing five people on the spot.

The next attack took place in Kokrajhar district where eight people were killed.

As per reports, militants targeted the villagers for not voting for their candidate in the elections. However, police suspects that the attacks are in retaliation for the ongoing anti-insurgency operation by the security forces in the BTAD region, where some NDFB militants have been killed recently.

Army troops have been deployed in the area even as more paramilitary troops are expected to be positioned.

Chennai blasts: Suspect’s sketch drawn after examining CCTV footage

In what could be a major breakthrough into the Bangalore-Guwahati Express twin blasts probe here, the investigators on Sunday have drawn a sketch of the suspect who was caught on a CCTV camera wearing a handkerchief trying to hide his face on a Bangalore station.

The suspect is also believe to be the same man who was seen running at the Chennai Central Railway Station platform minutes before the explosions took place on Wednesday, in which one person was killed.

The sketch was prepared after the experts carefully examined the CCTV footage collected from the Chennai and Bangalore railway stations.

As the investigation continues in the case, the police had yesterday said that the suspect did not board the train but disembarked from coach S3 next to S4 and S5 coaches which bore the brunt of the blasts.

Police officials, as part of their investigation, are also enquiring the co-passengers to establish the identity of the suspect.

ISI plan to attack US and Israeli consulates in India thwarted

Central security agencies have claimed that Pakistan’s ISI had plans to carry out terror attacks on two foreign consulates in India with evidence for this reportedly given by a Sri Lankan national, arrested from Chennai, during his interrogation.

Official sources claimed that Sakir Hussain, a Sri Lankan national, told his interrogators that he had been hired allegedly by an official in Pakistani High Commission in Colombo as per the alleged ISI plans to conduct reconnaissance of US Consulate in Chennai and Israeli Consulate in Bengaluru.

Hussain was arrested on April 29 in a coordinated operation involving various countries including a South East Asian nation.

He is reported to have told the interrogators that the Pakistan’s spy agency was planning to send two men from Maldives to Chennai and that he had to arrange for their travel documents and hideouts.

Hussain’s name cropped up during an investigation in a South East Asian country which tipped a central security agency in India about possible attack on US and Israeli consulates, the sources said.

An immediate surveillance led the investigators to Husain who had been constantly shifting his base in neighbouring Sri Lanka prompting the sleuths to seek cooperation of the island nation, the sources said.

After Hussain’s arrival in Chennai, he was picked up and subjected to sustained interrogation during which, the sources claimed, he spoke about a possible terror strike on the two consulates.

During interrogation, Hussain reportedly took the name of Amir Zubair Siddiq, who is Counsellor (Visa) at Pakistan High Commission in Colombo, as his alleged handler and also said he had been chosen as he was engaged in human trafficking, making of forged passports and smuggling of fake Indian currency.

The sleuths recovered pictures of US and Israeli consulates showing various gates and roads leading to the two premises, the sources said, and claimed that these pictures had been mailed to his alleged handlers in Pakistan and its High Commission in Colombo.

Cyber signatures showed that the pictures were downloaded at a computer within the premises of Pakistan High Commission at Colombo and the same had been shared with Sri Lankan authorities, the sources claimed.

Muhammad Daud Ehtisham, Press Attache, High Commission of Pakistan in Sri Lanka, has dismissed as speculative in nature the charge of ISI’s alleged involvement in any attack plans.

Observing that this seemed to be a “malicious media campaign”, Ehtisham has been quoted as having said that Pakistan and its state institutions are responsible entities and do not indulge in such activities.

Cong to face consequences of passing T-Bill in haste: Rajagopal

Former MP from Vijayawada Lagadapati Rajagopal, who had created a storm by using pepper spray in Parliament, attacked the Congress saying it would face the consequences of trying to “bulldoze and kill democracy” by hastily passing the Telangana Bill in Lok Sabha.

“You will see in the elections (Congress will do badly), when you try to bulldoze and kill democracy (what happens),” he told.

Rajagopal, an expelled member of Congress, resigned from Parliament and announced to quit politics in February this year, saying he was hurt as Telugu people have been divided following the passage of Telangana Bill in Lok Sabha.

When asked if he regretted the decision to quit politics, he said, “Not at all. It was a conscious decision.”

Rajagopal said while he does not justify his pepper spray episode, it certainly highlighted the manner in which the Telangana Bill was pushed through by the Government.

“I was not looking for appreciation for me,” he said, adding, he is happy that most people understood why he did so.

The former MP said he had “succeeded” in projecting the government’s “haste” in rushing though the Bill and how it was passed by bulldozing.

On supporting former Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who quit the Congress and formed Jai Samaikyandhra Party (JSP), Rajagopal said it was “moral and personal commitment” as he (Reddy) had given up power for a cause, adding, he is neither a member nor holds any position in JSP. His support is until the elections.

The industrialist-turned-politician, who is known for his inimitable style of poll campaigning, is out of electioneering process having declared political “sanyas” (renunciation), but is in the thick of action wearing the hat of a psephologist.

Rajagopal last evening released the findings of a political survey he conducted in the past one month, predicts a majority for TRS and TDP-BJP combine, in Telangana and Seemandhra, respectively.

He said in the past he used to convey findings of his survey, conducted before elections, to the Congress’ leadership but added that he does not want to share his projections in public this time as “they would feel bad”.

On being asked if he would return to politics, Rajagopal said, “Congress is responsible for my political birth and death. I don’t believe in reincarnation.” He, however, said that he would take a call on his next move after election results are announced on May 16.

“Let the election results sink in; I will decide,” he added.

Congress, BJP working hand in glove: Mulayam

Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav on Sunday alleged that Congress and BJP were working hand in glove and they did not want a Third Front government at the Centre.

“BJP and Congress are hand in gloves. They do not want a Third front government at the Centre,” Yadav said at an election rally in Pratapgarh district.

The SP chief addressed a series of rallies in Pratapgarh and neighbouring Sultapur district.

Attacking BJP leader Narendra Modi, Yadav said that the Gujarat Chief Minister was a “liar” and was misleading the people by presenting ‘Gujarat Model’.

“Unemployment is at its peak in Gujarat. Lakhs of youths are unemployed. Since 2002, over 40 thousand farmers have committed suicide there and eight thousand villages of the state do not have drinking water supply,” he said.

He said that as compared to UP petrol and diesel prices in Gujarat were 26 per cent and 20 per cent higher due to four per cent VAT on them.

“After we started exposing these data in public, Modi has started saying that some persons in his group have started spying for Mulayam Singh,” he said.

Kedarnath shrine re-opens almost a year after Uttarakhand floods

A year after the famous Kedarnath temple, which was marred by massive flash floods that had left hundreds of people dead and many others stranded, re-opened on Sunday.

According to news reports, the region is facing moderate rainfall today. As per the Met department this kind of weather may persist for next two-three days.

Last year, the famous Kedarnath shrine was virtually submerged in mud and slush where thousands of people had died in the flash floods.

The shrine of Shiva, visited by Hindu pilgrims from across the world, however, was only partly damaged amid the death and destruction by flash floods, cloudbursts and landslides caused in various parts of Uttarakhand for the many consecutive days.

The temple is an important part of the ‘Char Dham’ yatra. The annual pilgrimage had begun on Friday with the re-opening of the sacred portals of the Himalayan shrines of Gangotri and Yamunotri for devotees.

Kedarnath temple, the other important part of the yatra is scheduled to re-open tomorrow.

Amid extensive arrangements to ensure safety of pilgrims, the portals of Gangotri dham dedicated to ‘Mother Ganges’, located in Uttarakashi district, were opened two day before on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya after the traditional six-month winter break.

The ‘Char Dham Yatra’ was struck by the unprecedented natural calamity last year causing largescale loss of lives and property in areas close to the four famous shrines in Garhwal Himalayas. Over 5,000 people were dead or missing, including pilgrims from various parts of the country.

17 Killed in Explosion at Ujjain Cracker Factory; Probe Ordered

The quiet city of Badhnagar in Ujjan district of Madhya Pradesh was rocked by an explosion in a cracker factory on Saturday evening.

15 people were killed on the spot while two workers succumbed to their injuries on Sunday in a hospital in Indore.

Two injured victims are recuperating in the hospital.

Three children were among those killed.

Sameer, 14, an eyewitness, said, “I had gone to the factory to give the lunch box to my grandmother who worked there. As soon as I handed her the lunch box and stepped out of the factory, there was a powerful explosion. It was so strong that it blew the roof of the factory away; there was smoke all around. In the explosion, I lost my grandmother.”

Nafisa Bi, who suffered 35 percent burns in the incident, is currently recuperating in a hospital in Indore.

“I was working in the factory when I heard the explosion. I ran towards the forest; my clothes were on fire. People came to my help,” she recalls.

The state government has announced a compensation of Rs. 50,000 for the injured and Rs. 1.5 lakh for the families of the deceased.

The administration has ordered a magisterial probe into the matter.

The cause of the explosion is yet to be ascertained.

Anurag, Superintendent of Police of Ujjain District, told media personnel, “We have arrested the factory owner Yusuf. We have registered an FIR against him and have also named his brother Shabbir in it. It seems that in the factory, the amount of explosive stored was much more than permitted on the license. We are waiting for the report by the investigating teams.”

Modi government paid off woman’s family involved in snoopgate: Congress

The controversy over the snoopgate scandal is refusing to die down. The Congress has now alleged that the Gujarat government led by Chief Minister Narendra Modi paid off the woman architect’s family involved in the snoopgate scandal.
It has raised questions over why contracts were given to a company owned by the woman architect’s family without any tenders, alleging that out of turn favours were given by the Gujarat government to stop the family from complaining against Modi.
In a press conference, the Congress raised ten questions to Modi highlighting how snooping was a violation of the privacy of the Indian Telegraph Act and how the state machinery was misused.
The statement from Congress comes even as its key allies the Nationalist Congress Party and the National Conference opposed the government’s move to name a judge in the snooping case before May 16 when the election results are scheduled to be announced.
“The NCP is not for probe panel at this juncture as results are only 10 days away,” NCP leader Praful Patel said.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, too, said that probing the scandal just days ahead of poll results is wrong. “I was talking to my dad last night and he felt the same way – setting up a commission of inquiry in the dying hours of UPA 2 is just wrong,” Omar tweeted.
Omar also termed the appointment of a judge five months after the constitution of the commission as wrong. “If the decision to appoint a commission was taken in December, it should have been implemented. To appoint a judge five months later is wrong,” Omar tweeted.