The situation in violence-hit parts of Punjab and Haryana was limping back to normalcy on Tuesday with para-military forces personnel conducting flag marches in sensitive areas following Saturday’s violence by supporters of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh protesting against registration of a fresh murder case against him.
The situation in Punjab and Haryana was peaceful and under control, top police officers of the two States said here.
Security personnel conducted flag marches in areas of Baghapurana, Moga and its adjoining places in Punjab, officials said here.
Top police brass in the two States reviewed the security arrangements with officers of para-military forces and asked them to deal sternly with miscreants to ensure peace at all cost.
Tyres of a bus were burnt by miscreants late last night near the residence of Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh in Punjab, police said adding timely intervention of security forces personnel saved the situation.
The paramilitary forces and contingents of policemen in the two states continued to maintain a tight vigil at the troubled spots where the followers of the Dera chief had set afire trains and buses and damaged public property, he said.
Showing posts with label Paramilitary forces. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paramilitary forces. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Court wants proof of Maoists’ presence in varsity
With the Andhra Pradesh government asserting that Maoists had infiltrated the Osmania University campus as students, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the State to produce reported intelligence inputs to support the claim.
Senior counsel Harish Salve submitted before a Bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and A.K. Ganguly that Maoists had infiltrated the campus and read out statements of some Maoist leaders to drive home the point that the agitation was being spearheaded by naxalites.
Justice Singhvi intervened and said: “Rapid Action Force entering the campus in the garb of dealing with anti-social elements is certainly a serious matter. Where is the evidence of infiltration inside the campus? What is the proof available with the government? We would like to have it.”
Mr. Salve replied: “There are intelligence inputs available, but we can’t make it public. But certainly we can make it available to the court.”
Justice Singhvi said: “We can understand the deployment of police force, but for the deployment of RAF or paramilitary forces, we would like to see the secret intelligence inputs you have. Produce them.”
Earlier, Mr. Salve submitted that the government never interfered in meetings convened by students. He said that on certain occasions fiery speeches were made by speakers, declaring that their only aim was to pull down the edifice of the State government.
Justice Ganguly said: “In a democracy that is the view of the speakers.”
Justice Singhvi added: “You can’t change the culture of human beings. This is part of the freedom of speech and expression. We understand that the division is vertical whether it is among professors, students, lawyers or others.”
“Emotive issue”
Counsel Prashant Bhushan and Ramakrishna Reddy, appearing for the respondents, submitted that over 200 persons committed suicide since the agitation began. As it was an emotive issue, they said, it should be tackled politically and not as a mere law and order problem. Justice Singhvi said: “Only ordinary people commit suicide in such agitations.”
Denying Maoist infiltration, Mr. Reddy traced the origin of the Telangana struggle to 1949 and, said some of the students who participated in the 1969 agitation might have become Maoist leaders and made some statements. This would not mean that there was Maoist infiltration and that the RAF could enter the campus under the garb of Maoist infiltration, he added.
The Bench listed the case for further hearing to February 25.
Senior counsel Harish Salve submitted before a Bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and A.K. Ganguly that Maoists had infiltrated the campus and read out statements of some Maoist leaders to drive home the point that the agitation was being spearheaded by naxalites.
Justice Singhvi intervened and said: “Rapid Action Force entering the campus in the garb of dealing with anti-social elements is certainly a serious matter. Where is the evidence of infiltration inside the campus? What is the proof available with the government? We would like to have it.”
Mr. Salve replied: “There are intelligence inputs available, but we can’t make it public. But certainly we can make it available to the court.”
Justice Singhvi said: “We can understand the deployment of police force, but for the deployment of RAF or paramilitary forces, we would like to see the secret intelligence inputs you have. Produce them.”
Earlier, Mr. Salve submitted that the government never interfered in meetings convened by students. He said that on certain occasions fiery speeches were made by speakers, declaring that their only aim was to pull down the edifice of the State government.
Justice Ganguly said: “In a democracy that is the view of the speakers.”
Justice Singhvi added: “You can’t change the culture of human beings. This is part of the freedom of speech and expression. We understand that the division is vertical whether it is among professors, students, lawyers or others.”
“Emotive issue”
Counsel Prashant Bhushan and Ramakrishna Reddy, appearing for the respondents, submitted that over 200 persons committed suicide since the agitation began. As it was an emotive issue, they said, it should be tackled politically and not as a mere law and order problem. Justice Singhvi said: “Only ordinary people commit suicide in such agitations.”
Denying Maoist infiltration, Mr. Reddy traced the origin of the Telangana struggle to 1949 and, said some of the students who participated in the 1969 agitation might have become Maoist leaders and made some statements. This would not mean that there was Maoist infiltration and that the RAF could enter the campus under the garb of Maoist infiltration, he added.
The Bench listed the case for further hearing to February 25.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Supreme Court stays withdrawal of forces from Osmania University campus
The Supreme Court on Friday stayed till February 23 the Andhra Pradesh High Court order directing withdrawal of Central paramilitary forces from Osmania University campus, the hotbed of the Telangana agitation.
A bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and T.S. Thakur, however, directed the state Home Secretary to ensure that the paramilitary forces are not allowed to misbehave in any manner with the students at the campus.
The apex court said the paramilitary forces shall operate strictly under the personal supervision of the Home Secretary.
The apex court passed the order on an appeal filed by the Andhra Pradesh government, challenging the High Court’s direction to withdraw the paramilitary forces from the campus.
The State government has also alleged that they strongly suspect that Maoists have infiltrated the movement and perhaps are inside the campus among the students.
However, this allegation was rebutted by Counsel Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the students.
A bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and T.S. Thakur, however, directed the state Home Secretary to ensure that the paramilitary forces are not allowed to misbehave in any manner with the students at the campus.
The apex court said the paramilitary forces shall operate strictly under the personal supervision of the Home Secretary.
The apex court passed the order on an appeal filed by the Andhra Pradesh government, challenging the High Court’s direction to withdraw the paramilitary forces from the campus.
The State government has also alleged that they strongly suspect that Maoists have infiltrated the movement and perhaps are inside the campus among the students.
However, this allegation was rebutted by Counsel Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the students.
State moves SC to retain forces on OU
The AP government, in a swift action on Thursday, moved the SC to stay the state High Court’s direction for removal of paramilitary forces from the Osmania University campus. Admitting the petition, the top court said it is not a “healthy situation” to keep security forces stationed in the campus permanently.
After making the observation during a brief hearing, a bench headed by the Chief Justice, Mr K.G. Balakrishnan, comprising Justices S.H. Kaparida and Aftab Alam, fixed the hearing on the government’s petition for Friday. The senior advocate, Mr Mukul Rohtagi, appearing for the state, made special mention of the petition for urgent hearing.
While putting several queries to the state government lawyer on the issue, the Chief Justice said, “It is a serious issue. Paramilitary forces camping on the campus permanently is not a healthy situation.” The apex court asked Mr Rohtagi whether the consent of the VC had been taken and whether there is a paramilitary force camp nearby where they could be shifted and deployed on the campus if there is any requirement.
Before deferring the hearing for Friday to deal the petition on merits, the Chief Justice had a word of advice to the government, “Find some alternative way. We’re a little worried about the presence of paramilitary in the campus.”
After making the observation during a brief hearing, a bench headed by the Chief Justice, Mr K.G. Balakrishnan, comprising Justices S.H. Kaparida and Aftab Alam, fixed the hearing on the government’s petition for Friday. The senior advocate, Mr Mukul Rohtagi, appearing for the state, made special mention of the petition for urgent hearing.
While putting several queries to the state government lawyer on the issue, the Chief Justice said, “It is a serious issue. Paramilitary forces camping on the campus permanently is not a healthy situation.” The apex court asked Mr Rohtagi whether the consent of the VC had been taken and whether there is a paramilitary force camp nearby where they could be shifted and deployed on the campus if there is any requirement.
Before deferring the hearing for Friday to deal the petition on merits, the Chief Justice had a word of advice to the government, “Find some alternative way. We’re a little worried about the presence of paramilitary in the campus.”
