Ishrat Jahan was part of terror plot: Ex-IB official Rajinder Kumar

By

-

February 11, 2014

Named by the CBI in the Ishrat Jahan “fake” encounter case, former special director of the Intelligence Bureau, Rajinder Kumar, has rubbished the allegations and reiterated his charge that Ishrat and her accomplices were part of a terror module.

Kumar claimed that he is innocent and that the case won’t stand in court. Speaking to a news channel, Kumar stressed that no criminality was involved in the 2004 operation in Gujarat that ended with the death of Ishrat, her friend Javed Sheikh alias Parnesh Pillai in Gujarat and two others believed to be Pakistani nationals. The entire incident was projected as an encounter by the Gujarat police.

The CBI had filed a chargesheet in the special court in Ahmedabad, last week, against Kumar, a 1979-batch IPS officer, and P Mittal, MK Sinha and Rajiv Wankhede. Kumar has been charged with criminal conspiracy and murder while the other three were slapped with charges of criminal conspiracy, wrongful confinement, kidnapping and wrongful concealment of facts.

Kumar was also slapped with additional charges under the Arms Act for allegedly providing arms and ammunition used in the case on June 15, 2004.

Defending the operation, Kumar said, “We are not vultures; we don’t target innocent people,” adding that the CBI had little clue about how counter-terrorism works.

“I performed my duty,” he said.

The CBI is set to approach the government seeking sanction for prosecution against Kumar and the other three Intelligence Bureau officials after Attorney General GE Vahanvati suggested that CBI needed a prior nod before prosecuting Intelligence Bureau officers in the case.

Nido Taniam’s parents meet Rahul Gandhi; one more arrested

By

Afternoon Voice

-

February 11, 2014

Parents of Nido Taniam on Tuesday met Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi here, a day after the city police informed the Delhi High Court that the 19-year-old Arunachal Pradesh student died because of “serious” internal injuries in the head.

Meanwhile, one more person has been arrested in Taniam’s killing case. Police have told the Delhi court that murder charges have been slapped against four accused.

Taniam’s parents met Gandhi at his Tughlak Road residence here this morning and alleged police negligence in the case and demanded stringent action against the policemen.

They also demanded steps be taken to curb discrimination against the people from northeastern states.

“We have apprised Rahulji about our feelings. First of all we have requested him to punish the people who are involved in killing my son. Number one is Delhi Police and secondly those culprits,” said Tania’a father Nido Pavitra.

“We met Rahul Gandhi and have made it clear that if initiatives are not taken by the government to curb discrimination against the North East people, then things are not going to change,” Tania’s mother told the media.

“I appeal to all businessmen that they should come forward to help the government in putting up hoardings and posters in public places against discrimination,” she added.

Rahul had earlier promised strict action over the death of Taniam.

Gandhi had promised to write to Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on the issue.

3 men kidnap 16-year-old married girl, gangrape her for 3 days

By

Afternoon Voice

-

February 11, 2014

A 16-year-old married girl was allegedly kept hostage and gangraped by three men for three days in Alwar district, police said.
An FIR was lodged by the victim and her maternal uncle on Sunday against the accused–Surendra Meena, Ashok Meena and Mausam Meena– under IPC Section 363 for abduction, 376-D for gangrape and under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, officials of Baswa police station in Dausa district said on telephone.
All the accused are in the age group of 20-21, they said.
On February 4, the girl, a victim of child marriage, was standing alone at a bus station in Baswa to go to her parents’ place when the accused, known to her, offered her lift in their car.
However, they instead took her to a house in Alwar district, where she was kept hostage for three days and gangraped by them, they said.
On February 7, the victim was dropped at Malakhera village in Alwar district by the accused, who warned her against disclosing the incident to anyone, they said.
The girl somehow contacted her maternal uncle and the two reached her in-laws’ house. They then lodged the FIR. The location of the accused has been traced and they will be arrested till morning, they said. The victim has been sent to hospital for medical examination, they added.

Fake KBC caller on the prowl, another man duped of Rs 15,000

By

Afternoon Voice

-

February 11, 2014

Manjeet Singh of Sisaiya village, Sitarganj is the latest victim to what seems to be operating as a full-fledged ‘fake KBC lottery’ racket in the country. He was duped of Rs. 15,150 by a caller who claimed he was calling from popular show Kaun Banega Crorepati and that Manjeet had won Rs 25 lakh lottery.
However, the caller who was calling from an international number, laid down certain conditions fulfilling which Manjeet would get the amount.
Shockingly, he asked Manjeet to deposit Rs 15, 150 in a bank account if he wanted to get the lottery money. The caller told him he would get a call 10 minutes after he had deposited the money. Then, he would have to switch off his phone for 24 hours.
According to the Jagran report, when Manjeet tried to find out the details of account, he discovered it belonged to Keri Mahinder, not KBC. In spite of enough evidence that these fake calls could actually be a huge racket to rob people of money, police has not sprung into action yet.
The Sitarganj incident has come to light almost a week after another woman of Mandaur in MP was duped of a whopping Rs. 5 lakh though similar fake KBC calls.
Two similar incidents in almost a week’s time suggests there could be a bigger racket operating behind to rob people of money through such fake calls.

Penguin agrees to pulp all copies of Wendy Doniger’s book ‘The Hindus’

By

Afternoon Voice

-

February 11, 2014

Penguin Books India has reportedly agreed to withdraw all published copies of Wendy Doniger’s book ‘The Hindus: An Alternative History’ from India and pulp their remaining copies, in a move that is seen as a curb on the freedom of expression and has angered many on social media websites.
The agreement signed by Penguin with the Shiksha Bachao Andolan Committee, represented by Dinanath Batra, was leaked online. The document was put up on Scribd and Twitter. While Penguin has not yet responded to the controversy, Doniger said in an email that the book is being taken out of publication in India.
The copy of the agreement said Penguin India shall, ‘with immediate effect recall and withdraw all copies of the book The Hindus: An Alternative History, written by Wendy Doniger from Bharat (Indian Territory)’.
It also said that Penguin will no longer sell, publish or distribute the book and that all recalled, withdrawn and unpublished copies shall be pulped by Penguin at its own cost. Penguin will have to ensure that the book is completely withdrawn from Bharat (Indian Territory) at the earliest and within a period not exceeding six months starting from the date on which the agreement is signed by the parties.
Amazon described the book as “an engrossing and definitive narrative account of history and myth that offers a new way of understanding one of the world’s oldest major religions, The Hindus elucidates the relationship between recorded history and imaginary worlds.”

Why is the UPA government in a hurry?

By

Suraj Chandran

-

February 11, 2014

With the Lok Sabha election just round the corner the UPA government is leaving no stone unturned to woo voters. The government which has been criticised for its slow paced decision making has been in a hurry to pass several bills. Within a short span of time, the government has passed the Food Security Bill, Land Acquisition Bill, Companies Bill, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill, National Highways Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2012, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Amendment) Bill, 2013 and The Wakf (Amendment) Bill, 2011.

The government which was initially reluctant to pass the Lok Pal bill has finally passed it. Ever since the Aam Aadmi Party entered in to politics the government has been feeling the heat to act against corruption which has become a major issue. In an attempt to show that it was keen to fight corruption the government passed the Lokpal bill.

Later, Rahul Gandhi mentioned about the need to pass many other bills like the public procurement bill, the prevention of corruption act (amendment) bill, the prevention of bribery of foreign public officials and officials of public international organisations bill, the judicial standards and accountability bill, the right of citizens to time-bound delivery of goods and services and redressal of their grievances bill and the whistleblowers protection bill to strengthen Lokpal bill. He had criticised the opposition party BJP for failing to cooperate with the ruling party to pass important legislations. The Congress party then took the credit of passing the bill. But according to political analysts it’s a question of too little too late. They said that the party was only trying to get into a damage control mode after the drubbing received by it in the assembly elections held in Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh.

The government has received flak for its inability to curb inflation. Food inflation was becoming a major cause of concern. Later Rahul Gandhi had spoken about the need to provide vegetables to the common man at cheap rates. He emphasised on the need to eliminate the middlemen and allow farmers to directly sell the produce to customers. However, the state government was unable to implement this policy as it was opposed by the traders. This time women voters too distanced themselves from the Congress party as it had cut the subsidy on cylinders. Later, Rahul Gandhi in a public meeting appealed to the PM Manmohan Singh that he wants the cap of subsidised cylinders be raised from 9 to 12 per year. Later, petroleum minister Veerappa Moily made an announcement about the raise in subsidised cylinders.

The government also announced that Aadhar card won’t be mandatory for availing the subsidy and the scheme needs to be reviewed. This decision was taken by the government to woo the women voters who have distanced themselves from the party after a cap was imposed on subsidised cylinders in September 2012.
The inaction on the part of the government has resulted into a slump in the growth rate of the Indian economy. Even the rating agencies had downgraded the India’s growth prospects. A negative sentiment is prevailing in the market about how India will attain a respectable GDP growth rate for boosting the economy.

The Congress party has started airing advertisements in television and print media about the various schemes to be launched by it. Why the govt is wasting huge money of the tax payers by airing these advertisements? Why is the government in a hurry to announce several schemes when the Lok Sabha election is just round the corner? What was it doing all these years when the growth rate was declining due to policy paralysis?

Abolish to save the perk

By

Afternoon Voice

-

February 11, 2014

Even though the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill-2012 is meant for protecting the rights of hawkers but vendors are unhappy with it as there is no representation of representatives of vendors in the ‘Town Vending Committee’. Civic bodies and police officials have been included in the committee who would look into the issues pertaining to the hawkers’ rehabilitation and resettlement. The hawkers union has alleged that the committee members are not working for the interests of vendors and are biased. The Town Vending Committee will only issue limited hawking licence to hawkers. They don’t want to legalise the business of hawkers as they won’t be able to demand bribes and harass hawkers.

General Secretary of Mumbai Hawker Union, Shashank Rao accused that police official and BMC employees who are included in the Town Vending Committee are harassing the hawkers and demanding bribes from them. As a result of this, hawkers are unable to run their business efficiently. They are always worried about their safety as many times BMC officials seize the commodities sold by them. The hawkers union are demanding the dissolution of the ward committee.
Talking to AV, Shashank Rao, General Secretary of Mumbai Hawkers Union said, “The committee needs to conduct the survey of hawkers eligible for receiving hawking licence in an amicable manner and follow the necessary guidelines. They should work for protecting the interests of hawkers.”

Suresh Thackeray, Assistant Secretary of Mumbai Hawkers Union said, “The committee is asking hawkers to visit their office for registration. However, they should visit the place from where we run our business in order to ascertain the whether the licence applicants are genuine. The town vending committee needs to be dissolved.”

Hawkers protested against the committee under the leadership of Mumbai Hawkers union outside the Kandivali BMC Office.

Asthaka Khan, who owns a snacks stall from past 25 years at Gokuldham Market, Goregoan said, “I run my business and many times cops and BMC official arrives and start demanding bribe from me.”

Jaya Chaudhary, a tea stall owner running his business near Oberoi Mall said, “I am a widow. Most of the time, cops and BMC officials demand bribe from me. How can I afford to pay money to them? The BMC should issue me a hawking licence so that I will get some relief.”

Sheela Jawraj, a vegetable vendor from Goregaon said, “If the committee is unable to resolve the issue faced by the hawkers then it should be dissolved. We are already fed up of paying bribes to officials.”

J. D Gupta, a vendor from Evershine Nagar, Malad (W) said, “It’s my right to obtain a hawking license and I am not begging for it. The Town Vending Committee must work for the welfare of hawkers.”

Growth in juvenile crimes raises concern in city

By

Afternoon Voice

-

February 10, 2014

Juvenile crimes in Mumbai registered a 15 per cent increase in 2013 compared to 2012, with an average of two cases lodged daily, an activist said on Monday.

Right to Information (RTI) activist Anil Galgali said that in the first 10 months of 2013, 802 juveniles were booked for various serious and minor offences ranging from rape, sexual harassment, molestation, burglary, thefts and grievous hurt.

The details were provided by Mumbai Police Assistant Commissioner (Crime Branch) Bhagwan Chate in an RTI query filed by Galgali concerning juvenile (aged under 18) crimes.

While juvenile crimes numbered 700 in 2012 and 766 in 2011, the figure shot up sharply by 15 percent between January and October in 2013, he said.

Police said that in 2013, there were cases of 28 rapes, 45 molestations, 15 kidnappings and abductions, 10 sexual harassment, 239 grievous hurt, 179 thefts and 81 burglaries involving juveniles.

Galgali said police had no records on the number of juvenile criminals convicted by courts.

“It is a matter of concern and could be one of the reasons why juvenile crimes are on the rise daily with the law-enforcers unable to control it,” Galgali said.

Galgali feels that if the data on juvenile convictions was also available, it would be easy for police to keep a watch on such criminals and gradually control crimes involving juveniles.

SC Panel raps Mumbai Police for not probing Dawood angle in IPL Scam

By

Afternoon Voice

-

February 10, 2014

A Supreme Court panel, inquiring into the IPL spot fixing scam, has come down heavily on Mumbai police for “not willing” to investigate involvement of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in it and for protecting “lots of persons” involved in the betting syndicate. Probe by Mumbai Police in the scandal was sharply cricised by a three-member apex court panel headed by former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and raised questions on why police allowed a Pakistani umpire to leave the country when it knew about his involvement in the scam.

“Mumbai police admitted that protection by the underworld is essential to run the organised betting syndicate in Mumbai. The police failed to inform the panel as to which gang give this protection to the betting operation. “There is therefore cause for a distinct impression that for reasons not satisfactorily explained, the Mumbai police was not willing to investigate the involvement of Dawood Ibrahim in the betting racket,” the report of Nilay Dutta, one of the member of the panel, said.

He said that Mumbai police was aware of proposed fixing between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians three days before the match was played on May 15 last year through intercepted calls of Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf but it did not take any action against him.

“Rauf was never detained by Mumbai Police and was allowed to leave the country on May 19 after completing his assignments. Even a discreet look out notice was not issued in the name of Rauf. “The extreme reluctance to address the issue of involvement of Dawood Ibrahim and the curious failure of Mumbai Police to detain Rauf, a Pakistani umpire, indicates possibilities which require further investigation, keeping in mind the recent disclosure by the Union Home Minister that Dawood is presently based in Pakistan,” the report, submitted to the Supreme Court today, said.

The report said that police named only one person who laid bets has been charged as an accused.

“Evidently Mumbai police is protecting lots of persons who are participants of betting activities through this syndicate,” the report said, adding that Mumbai police has either been extremely naive in pursuing its investigation or has “deliberately not investigated” the entire betting operation.

“Curiously, the Mumbai Police has not charged anyone else except Meiyappan for laying bets in IPL matches through Ramesh Vyas, Vindu Dara Singh and others. It is absolutely unbelievable that Mumbai Police has failed to locate all such other players who were involved in this betting racket. It is unconceivable such a large betting syndicate would function for the benefit of only one person, Meiyappan,” the report said.

It also noted lack of coordination between Mumbai and Delhi Police in handling the case.

“The fact that Mumbai police did not accept the role of Dawood Ibrahim in the betting racket in Mumbai evinces that the Delhi and Mumbai Police are working at cross purposes insofar as link to Dawood Ibrahim is concerned,” it said.
“In such a grave matter of national security pertaining to involvement of a terrorist gang in running illegal hawala operations in the lucrative betting market in cricket, the two top police organisations cannot be permitted to work at cross purposes,” the report said.

Operations hit as Public sector bank staff goes on two-day strike

By

Afternoon Voice

-

February 10, 2014

Cheque clearances, cash withdrawals, and deposits in public sector bank branches across the country were hit as employees started a two-day strike on Monday to press for a revision in wages.

However, private sector banks such as ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank were functioning normally.

Employees were compelled to take this route as the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) did not come up with an improved wage offer, United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) convener M.V. Murali said. The IBA represents bank managements.

Banks, including the State Bank of India, the country’s largest, had informed customers in advance about the likely inconvenience they would face during the strike.

The unions had rejected the IBA’s offer of a 10 per cent wage hike during a conciliation meeting held on February 6 with the Chief Labour Commissioner.

The offer made by bank managements was not in line with rising inflation, General Secretary of National Organisation of Bank Workers Ashwini Rana said.

The staff of public sector banks had gone on a nationwide strike for a day on December 18 after discussions with the IBA on wages on December 14 failed. The wage revision of public sector bank employees has been due since November 2012.

UFBU is an umbrella organisation of nine bank employee and officer unions.

There are 27 public sector banks in the country with a combined employee strength of about 8 lakh. There are about 50,000 branches of these banks across the country.