The Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Stephen Harper, will convey a heartfelt message on Wednesday to families of the victims of the Kanishka bombings on the 25th anniversary of the worst terror attack in the country's history.
“Some wounds are too deep to be healed even by the remedy of time,” Mr Harper wrote in his speech which he prepared for the occasion.
“We are sorry,” the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) said quoting the Prime Minister.
“Harper will say the destruction of Air India Flight 182 was, and remains, the single worst act of terrorism in Canadian history,” the national broadcaster reported.
“He will describe terrorism as an enemy with a thousand faces, and a hatred that festers in the darkest spots of the human mind,” it added.“This was evil, perpetrated by cowards. Despicable, senseless and vicious,” Mr Harper would say.
Mr Harper had promised to respond positively to the damning report into the 1985 Kanishka bombings, especially on the call for compensation, as the families torn apart by the tragedy said the word “closure” still haunts them.
The final report into the Air India tragedy that killed 329 people recommended ex-gratia payment to families of victims, mostly of Indian-origin, and blamed the Canadian government for its failure to prevent the country's worst terror attack.
Soon after the report's release, Mr Harper met the families and termed the document a “damning indictment of many things that occurred before and after the tragedy”.
“Our government launched this inquiry to bring closure to those who still grieve and to ensure that measures are taken to prevent such a tragedy in the future,” he had said.
Inderjit Singh Reyat, the only person ever convicted in the case, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2003.
Suspected ring-leader Talwinder Singh Parmar died in India in 1991, and the two main surviving suspects — Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri — were both acquitted in March 2005 after a 19-month trial.
Showing posts with label hyderabad news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hyderabad news. Show all posts
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Dam spillway lies unrepaired
The urgent repairs suggested for the spillway of the Nagarjuna Sagar dam nine months ago are yet to be undertaken though another monsoon season has started.
Experts are worried that the safety of the dam may be in jeopardy if floods occur before the spillway is repaired.
Part of the spillway and adjoining vents were damaged in the record-level discharge of water from Nagarjuna Sagar during the 2009 floods. The dam safety committee recommended immediate repairs and the irrigation department prepared proposals and also selected some companies to take up the work.
However, the government intervened and cancelled the proposal to hand over the work on nomination and directed the officials to go for short tenders.
But it took the department three months to call short tenders. When the bids were opened, only one company was found to be qualified. But the irrigation officials are now trying to relax the tender conditions again and this has generated another controversy.
All the files related to the issue have now been placed before the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, who will take a final decision on the matter.
"The safety panel recommended immediate action but we have little time left,” said Mr Adityanath Das, secretary of irrigation. “We have asked the panel whether we can take up the work post monsoon.”
With repairs at Srisailam almost completed, the inflows from Almatti, Narayanpur and Jurala will start reaching in July. This has added to the worries about the dam’s safety.
Experts are worried that the safety of the dam may be in jeopardy if floods occur before the spillway is repaired.
Part of the spillway and adjoining vents were damaged in the record-level discharge of water from Nagarjuna Sagar during the 2009 floods. The dam safety committee recommended immediate repairs and the irrigation department prepared proposals and also selected some companies to take up the work.
However, the government intervened and cancelled the proposal to hand over the work on nomination and directed the officials to go for short tenders.
But it took the department three months to call short tenders. When the bids were opened, only one company was found to be qualified. But the irrigation officials are now trying to relax the tender conditions again and this has generated another controversy.
All the files related to the issue have now been placed before the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, who will take a final decision on the matter.
"The safety panel recommended immediate action but we have little time left,” said Mr Adityanath Das, secretary of irrigation. “We have asked the panel whether we can take up the work post monsoon.”
With repairs at Srisailam almost completed, the inflows from Almatti, Narayanpur and Jurala will start reaching in July. This has added to the worries about the dam’s safety.
Slipper ad puts Didi in trouble
The railway minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, appears to have landed in major trouble over an advertisement in which she is shown modelling for a particular brand of rubber slippers (hawai chappals).
A full-page advertisement in a Bengali daily on Monday showed Ms Banerjee walking in her now-famous rubber slippers. The name of the brand — Ajanta Hawai — is mentioned clearly along with the one-line caption in Bengali: “drirpta padakshwep (firm and bright footsteps).”
The Left parties have sought a clarification from the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on the matter and are also looking into moving the Election Commission to examine if a breach of the law has taken place.
Sensing trouble, Ms Banerjee has directed her ministry to investigate how the advertisement appeared, and her close associates claimed that “Didi had no knowledge” of it. The railway ministry has ordered an inquiry, which will be conducted by the Railway Board member-secretary, Mr Shivaji Rakshit.
An FIR has also been lodged at the Parliament Street police station here against the footwear company for having used the minister’s picture without her prior consent. The PMO has sought further information from the ministry.
A full-page advertisement in a Bengali daily on Monday showed Ms Banerjee walking in her now-famous rubber slippers. The name of the brand — Ajanta Hawai — is mentioned clearly along with the one-line caption in Bengali: “drirpta padakshwep (firm and bright footsteps).”
The Left parties have sought a clarification from the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on the matter and are also looking into moving the Election Commission to examine if a breach of the law has taken place.
Sensing trouble, Ms Banerjee has directed her ministry to investigate how the advertisement appeared, and her close associates claimed that “Didi had no knowledge” of it. The railway ministry has ordered an inquiry, which will be conducted by the Railway Board member-secretary, Mr Shivaji Rakshit.
An FIR has also been lodged at the Parliament Street police station here against the footwear company for having used the minister’s picture without her prior consent. The PMO has sought further information from the ministry.
Stamp duty cut, land rates hiked
The state has decided to increase the market value of land to offset the imminent loss to the exchequer due to reduction in the stamp duty.
Land values in urban areas will increase between 10 to 20 per cent. Rationalisation of land values in agriculture and rural areas is also proposed. The registration department is hoping to net about Rs 550 crore.
The Centre forced a steep cut in the stamp duty under municipal reforms by threatening to stop release of funds under JNNURM, if the state fails to comply with its direction to reduce stamp duty to 5 per cent.
Area Type Old New
Banjara & Residential Rs 35,000 Rs 40,000
Jubilee Hills Commercial Rs 60,000 Rs 65,000
OU Colony Residential Rs 22,000 Rs 35,000
Kukatpally Residential Rs 25,000 Rs 28,000
Secunderabad Residential Rs 50,000 Rs 60,000
Maredpally Residential Rs 45,000 Rs 48,000
(All rates for high-end ****, in rupees per square yard)
* Flats will face composite rate for land, building.
Old: Rs 600 per sq. ft. for RCC structures plus prevailing land cost for undivided share of land.
New: Composite rate will be Rs 1,500 per sq. ft.
Land values in urban areas will increase between 10 to 20 per cent. Rationalisation of land values in agriculture and rural areas is also proposed. The registration department is hoping to net about Rs 550 crore.
The Centre forced a steep cut in the stamp duty under municipal reforms by threatening to stop release of funds under JNNURM, if the state fails to comply with its direction to reduce stamp duty to 5 per cent.
Area Type Old New
Banjara & Residential Rs 35,000 Rs 40,000
Jubilee Hills Commercial Rs 60,000 Rs 65,000
OU Colony Residential Rs 22,000 Rs 35,000
Kukatpally Residential Rs 25,000 Rs 28,000
Secunderabad Residential Rs 50,000 Rs 60,000
Maredpally Residential Rs 45,000 Rs 48,000
(All rates for high-end ****, in rupees per square yard)
* Flats will face composite rate for land, building.
Old: Rs 600 per sq. ft. for RCC structures plus prevailing land cost for undivided share of land.
New: Composite rate will be Rs 1,500 per sq. ft.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
GDP up 7.4% as India’s growth picks up speed
India was the second fastest growing major economy globally during 2009-10, even as US grappled with unemployment and the Eurozone slid into a crisis.
The Indian economy grew 7.4 per cent for 2009-10, with a better than expected growth of 8.6 per cent in the Jan-March quarter. This growth came on back of a drought last year, which hit agriculture.
Better still for the economy, growth for the coming year 2010-11 is being pegged at an even higher 8.5 per cent. Over the medium term, stronger economic growth would mean higher corporate profits, salary hikes and a buoyant stock market. On Monday, the Union finance minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, said that the growth momentum of the fourth quarter would continue with 8.5 per cent growth in FY11. “The growth numbers are pleasant but not really surprising, because we were expecting them to be robust which they have turned out to be. This clearly indicates the momentum which is there in the economy and the expectations that the 8.5-percentage points estimation for 2010-11 is going to be a clear possibility,” said the finance secretary, Mr Ashok Chawla. Other estimates on FY11 are more cautious, but still peg growth at over 8 per cent. The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, had said last week that the government is targeting an overall growth of 10 per cent for the country. The recovery is evident in other areas as well. Corporate profits are already recovering with many of the major players beating expectations. Large companies, including IT majors, have also announced pay hikes in the past few months.
The strong growth could see a roll-back of the stimulus measures brought out to combat the slowdown. The government had already cut back some of these sops during the budget. Another possibility going ahead is an interest rate hike by the RBI, to rein in inflation.
The Indian economy grew 7.4 per cent for 2009-10, with a better than expected growth of 8.6 per cent in the Jan-March quarter. This growth came on back of a drought last year, which hit agriculture.
Better still for the economy, growth for the coming year 2010-11 is being pegged at an even higher 8.5 per cent. Over the medium term, stronger economic growth would mean higher corporate profits, salary hikes and a buoyant stock market. On Monday, the Union finance minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, said that the growth momentum of the fourth quarter would continue with 8.5 per cent growth in FY11. “The growth numbers are pleasant but not really surprising, because we were expecting them to be robust which they have turned out to be. This clearly indicates the momentum which is there in the economy and the expectations that the 8.5-percentage points estimation for 2010-11 is going to be a clear possibility,” said the finance secretary, Mr Ashok Chawla. Other estimates on FY11 are more cautious, but still peg growth at over 8 per cent. The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, had said last week that the government is targeting an overall growth of 10 per cent for the country. The recovery is evident in other areas as well. Corporate profits are already recovering with many of the major players beating expectations. Large companies, including IT majors, have also announced pay hikes in the past few months.
The strong growth could see a roll-back of the stimulus measures brought out to combat the slowdown. The government had already cut back some of these sops during the budget. Another possibility going ahead is an interest rate hike by the RBI, to rein in inflation.
Israel attacks Palestine aid ship, triggers unrest
Israeli marines stormed a Turkish aid ship bound for Gaza on Monday and 10 pro-Palestinian activists were killed, triggering a diplomatic crisis and plans for an emergency UN Security Council sessions.
European nations, as well as the UN and Turkey, voiced outrage at the bloody end to the international campaigners’ bid to break Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip. Its navy stopped six ships ferrying 700 people and 10,000 tonnes of supplies toward the Palestinian enclave.
Once-close Muslim ally Turkey accused Israel of “terrorism” in international waters. But Washington, Israel’s powerful friend, said only that it regretted the loss of life and was looking into the “tragedy”.
Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, who was in Canada and expressed full support for the naval operation, cut short a visit to North America that was to have ended Tuesday with a White House meeting with US President Barack Obama. As the captured foreign vessels were escorted into Israel’s port of Ashdod, accounts were sketchy of the pre-dawn operation. Marines stormed aboard from dinghies and rappelled down from helicopters. — Reuters
European nations, as well as the UN and Turkey, voiced outrage at the bloody end to the international campaigners’ bid to break Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip. Its navy stopped six ships ferrying 700 people and 10,000 tonnes of supplies toward the Palestinian enclave.
Once-close Muslim ally Turkey accused Israel of “terrorism” in international waters. But Washington, Israel’s powerful friend, said only that it regretted the loss of life and was looking into the “tragedy”.
Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, who was in Canada and expressed full support for the naval operation, cut short a visit to North America that was to have ended Tuesday with a White House meeting with US President Barack Obama. As the captured foreign vessels were escorted into Israel’s port of Ashdod, accounts were sketchy of the pre-dawn operation. Marines stormed aboard from dinghies and rappelled down from helicopters. — Reuters
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Facebook overhauls privacy settings
Social networking site Facebook introduced a new set of privacy controls on Wednesday in an attempt to quell criticism that it was lax about protecting users’ personal information.
The new controls are featured in a streamlined privacy panel that allows users much easier management of who can access their information.
“We believe in privacy. We believe in giving people control,” Facebook founder Marc Zuckerberg said at a press conference to announce the overhaul.
“But more and more, people want to share information. As long as they have good control over that, I think that’s where the world is going”.
The new settings feature a single control that limits who can see the content posted by a Facebook user, and allow users to control who sees their list of friends and their personal pages — information that was previously available to all Facebook users.
“We’ve heard that people want a simple way to take control of their information,” Zuckerberg said. “We looked at a video someone posted about how many steps it took to stop sharing their information, and we thought, ‘Yeah, that’s too much.’“
Facebook is making it easier for users to opt out of instant participation on Facebook’s partner sites. Zuckerberg said users can quickly and easily choose a setting that won’t allow their information to be shared with third-party websites. The sharing of content will also apply to Facebook products launched in the future, he said.
Criticism of Facebook has been building since December, when the company introduced new settings that automatically shared more user information unless users took convoluted steps to opt out. In addition to the company’s official policies, several security snafus allowed friends to snoop on users’ Facebook chats and see which partner websites they had been surfing.
The new controls are featured in a streamlined privacy panel that allows users much easier management of who can access their information.
“We believe in privacy. We believe in giving people control,” Facebook founder Marc Zuckerberg said at a press conference to announce the overhaul.
“But more and more, people want to share information. As long as they have good control over that, I think that’s where the world is going”.
The new settings feature a single control that limits who can see the content posted by a Facebook user, and allow users to control who sees their list of friends and their personal pages — information that was previously available to all Facebook users.
“We’ve heard that people want a simple way to take control of their information,” Zuckerberg said. “We looked at a video someone posted about how many steps it took to stop sharing their information, and we thought, ‘Yeah, that’s too much.’“
Facebook is making it easier for users to opt out of instant participation on Facebook’s partner sites. Zuckerberg said users can quickly and easily choose a setting that won’t allow their information to be shared with third-party websites. The sharing of content will also apply to Facebook products launched in the future, he said.
Criticism of Facebook has been building since December, when the company introduced new settings that automatically shared more user information unless users took convoluted steps to opt out. In addition to the company’s official policies, several security snafus allowed friends to snoop on users’ Facebook chats and see which partner websites they had been surfing.
China, U.S. sign eight green technology deals
China and the U.S. have signed eight green energy deals to enhance cooperation in the sector, which experts believe will open doors for imports of high-end technology so far blocked by Washington.
The eight deals include aviation bio fuel, distributed energy systems using natural gas as fuel, smart meters and cellulosic ethanol.
Neither side disclosed the financial details of the deals.
The agreements followed conclusion of high-level strategic and economic dialogue between the two countries attended by among others U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke.
As the world’s two largest energy consumers, China and the US will also join hands for renewable energy development, said Zhang Guobao, head of National Energy Administration (NEA), adding that China will keep an open mind to develop the renewable energy sector.
The two countries have big potential for collaboration in the area, said Zhang.
“The US has advanced technology, and China has a huge market.”
The US and China will “take every angle” to ensure their cooperation in energy and environment, said US Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman.
The deals could set examples for global collaboration in increasing energy efficiency and protecting environment, state run China Daily quoted analysts as saying.
Development of renewable energy is a must for China one world’s emitter of green house gases to increase the use of non-fossil energy to 15 per cent of primary energy consumption by 2020, and to reduce carbon intensity by 40 to 45 per cent in 2020 from the 2005 levels.
In the renewable energy sector, China will continue to focus on the development of hydro, wind, solar, and biomass energy, Zhang said.
A series of Chinese and U.S. companies are involved in the eight deals.
“With China’s growing energy needs, our relationship with the CECEP represents a great opportunity to promote sustainable energy development through the optimal use of renewable energy generation with solar power,” said Mark Pinto, executive vice-president and corporate technology officer at Applied Materials.
The deals could also open up doors for high technology to emerging economies like India as U.S. was keen to step up exports in the sector to increase its earnings from exports which in turn could also help create more jobs for Americans.
Analysts said Sino-US cooperation on green energy would set a good example for other countries.
The eight deals include aviation bio fuel, distributed energy systems using natural gas as fuel, smart meters and cellulosic ethanol.
Neither side disclosed the financial details of the deals.
The agreements followed conclusion of high-level strategic and economic dialogue between the two countries attended by among others U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke.
As the world’s two largest energy consumers, China and the US will also join hands for renewable energy development, said Zhang Guobao, head of National Energy Administration (NEA), adding that China will keep an open mind to develop the renewable energy sector.
The two countries have big potential for collaboration in the area, said Zhang.
“The US has advanced technology, and China has a huge market.”
The US and China will “take every angle” to ensure their cooperation in energy and environment, said US Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman.
The deals could set examples for global collaboration in increasing energy efficiency and protecting environment, state run China Daily quoted analysts as saying.
Development of renewable energy is a must for China one world’s emitter of green house gases to increase the use of non-fossil energy to 15 per cent of primary energy consumption by 2020, and to reduce carbon intensity by 40 to 45 per cent in 2020 from the 2005 levels.
In the renewable energy sector, China will continue to focus on the development of hydro, wind, solar, and biomass energy, Zhang said.
A series of Chinese and U.S. companies are involved in the eight deals.
“With China’s growing energy needs, our relationship with the CECEP represents a great opportunity to promote sustainable energy development through the optimal use of renewable energy generation with solar power,” said Mark Pinto, executive vice-president and corporate technology officer at Applied Materials.
The deals could also open up doors for high technology to emerging economies like India as U.S. was keen to step up exports in the sector to increase its earnings from exports which in turn could also help create more jobs for Americans.
Analysts said Sino-US cooperation on green energy would set a good example for other countries.
Air India says three days needed to clear backlog after strike
Up to three days would be required to clear a backlog of passengers caused by a strike of ground and maintenance staff, the state-run carrier Air India said on Thursday.
The two-day strike by at least 15,000 employees was called off Wednesday evening after the Delhi High Court gave an order saying the action was illegal.
“It may take up to two and half to three days for Air India to clear the backlog of passengers and return to normal service,” the IANS news agency quoted Air India chairman and managing director Arvind Jadhav as saying.
“Nearly 13,000 passengers were affected due to the strike while 4,000 to 5,000 passengers were stranded, including 600 in Singapore,” Mr. Jhadav said.
More than 140 flights, both domestic and international, were either cancelled or diverted.
Unions called the strike to protest a gag order by management forbidding their leaders from talking to the media over delays in salary payments.
The strike came three days after an Air India flight crashed in the south-western city of Mangalore, killing 158 people.
Soon after the court order Wednesday, the unions called off the strike and asked workers to return to work immediately.
Management, meanwhile, launched a massive crackdown on the unions and several of their leaders were sent letters of termination while others were suspended, a newspaper reported.
Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said the unions had gone a bit too far and management had been given a free hand to deal with them.
The cash-strapped national carrier has been given 168 million dollars by the government as part of a bail-out package so far and is working on a reorganisation plan.
The airline has a workforce of more than 30,000 people, which, analysts said, needs to be cut in half to make Air India competitive.
Although private airlines were expecting to return to profit in the financial year that began April 1, Air India was expected to report large losses in spite of its restructuring plan.
The two-day strike by at least 15,000 employees was called off Wednesday evening after the Delhi High Court gave an order saying the action was illegal.
“It may take up to two and half to three days for Air India to clear the backlog of passengers and return to normal service,” the IANS news agency quoted Air India chairman and managing director Arvind Jadhav as saying.
“Nearly 13,000 passengers were affected due to the strike while 4,000 to 5,000 passengers were stranded, including 600 in Singapore,” Mr. Jhadav said.
More than 140 flights, both domestic and international, were either cancelled or diverted.
Unions called the strike to protest a gag order by management forbidding their leaders from talking to the media over delays in salary payments.
The strike came three days after an Air India flight crashed in the south-western city of Mangalore, killing 158 people.
Soon after the court order Wednesday, the unions called off the strike and asked workers to return to work immediately.
Management, meanwhile, launched a massive crackdown on the unions and several of their leaders were sent letters of termination while others were suspended, a newspaper reported.
Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said the unions had gone a bit too far and management had been given a free hand to deal with them.
The cash-strapped national carrier has been given 168 million dollars by the government as part of a bail-out package so far and is working on a reorganisation plan.
The airline has a workforce of more than 30,000 people, which, analysts said, needs to be cut in half to make Air India competitive.
Although private airlines were expecting to return to profit in the financial year that began April 1, Air India was expected to report large losses in spite of its restructuring plan.
Threat posed by home-grown terror to be included into strategy
With Al-Qaeda and its affiliates recruiting American citizens to carry out attacks in the country, the U.S. will for the first time include the threat posed by radicalised, home-grown terrorism into its national security strategy.
John Brennan, deputy national security adviser for counter-terrorism and homeland security, said the Obama administration would add combating home-grown terrorism to its new strategy, which will be unveiled tomorrow.
“We’ve seen an increasing number of individuals here in the United States become captivated by extremist activities or causes,” Mr. Brennan said at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
“The president’s national security strategy explicitly recognises the threat to the United States posed by individuals radicalised here at home,” he said.
His comments assume significance in the wake of the arrest of Faisal Shahzad, the Pakistani-American, for plotting the failed Times Square bombing. He has admitted to attending a terrorist training camp in Pakistan’s Waziristan tribal region.
Mr. Brennan said the U.S. has seen a number of people who were inspired by the extremist ideologies or causes.
“(The examples are) Somali Americans from Minnesota travelling to fight in Somalia, the five Virginia men who went to Pakistan seeking terrorist training, David Headley, the Chicago man charged with helping to plan the Mumbai attacks, the Pennsylvania woman, JihadJane, charged with conspiring to murder a Danish cartoonist,” he said.
He also noted that more than 20 individuals in the U.S. have been arrested and charged with terrorism crimes, their plans and plots disrupted since the Obama Administration assumed office in January 2009.
This includes Najibullah Zazi, who planned to attack the New York subway system in what could have been the worst terrorist attack on our soil since 9/11.
Mr. Brennan said the U.S. is at war with Al-Qaeda and its terrorist’s allies, who continue to plot against America and its allies along the border regions and inside of Pakistan.
“The United States of America is at war. We are at war against Al-Qaeda and its terrorist affiliates...That is why he has refocused our efforts on Afghanistan, where Al-Qaeda continues to plot from the tribal regions along the border with Pakistan and inside of Pakistan,” he said.
“We will deny Al-Qaeda and its affiliate’s safe haven. We will secure the world’s most dangerous weapons, especially the nuclear materials that Al-Qaeda seeks and would surely use against us.”
Mr. Brennan said the U.S. was not only delivering severe blows against the leadership of Al-Qaeda and its affiliates, but is helping the countries where these organisations have safe havens to build their capacity to provide for their own security and to help them root out the “Al-Qaeda cancer” that has manifested itself within their borders.
He said since the U.S. has made it harder for the terror outfits to recruit they are increasingly relying on recruits with little training.
“We have strengthened our defences against massive, sophisticated attacks on our homeland, so they are attempting attacks with little sophistication, but with very lethal intent,” he argued.
“Knowing that it is harder to penetrate America’s defences, they use the Internet and extremist websites to exhort people already living in the United States to take up arms and launch terrorist attacks from within,” Mr. Brennan said.
“We have seen individuals, including U.S. citizens, armed with their U.S. passports, travel easily to extremist safe havens and return to America, their deadly plans disrupted by coordinated intelligence and law enforcement,” he said.
“Unfortunately, we were unable to thwart Faisal Shahzad, accused of attempting to set off the car bomb in Times Square,” Mr. Brennan said.
He said the U.S. has also seen individuals, including American citizens, apparently inspired by Al-Qaeda’s ideology and take matters into their own hands.
“Again, we have disrupted a number of these plots, including individuals in Texas and Illinois charged with planning to blow up buildings,” he said.
John Brennan, deputy national security adviser for counter-terrorism and homeland security, said the Obama administration would add combating home-grown terrorism to its new strategy, which will be unveiled tomorrow.
“We’ve seen an increasing number of individuals here in the United States become captivated by extremist activities or causes,” Mr. Brennan said at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
“The president’s national security strategy explicitly recognises the threat to the United States posed by individuals radicalised here at home,” he said.
His comments assume significance in the wake of the arrest of Faisal Shahzad, the Pakistani-American, for plotting the failed Times Square bombing. He has admitted to attending a terrorist training camp in Pakistan’s Waziristan tribal region.
Mr. Brennan said the U.S. has seen a number of people who were inspired by the extremist ideologies or causes.
“(The examples are) Somali Americans from Minnesota travelling to fight in Somalia, the five Virginia men who went to Pakistan seeking terrorist training, David Headley, the Chicago man charged with helping to plan the Mumbai attacks, the Pennsylvania woman, JihadJane, charged with conspiring to murder a Danish cartoonist,” he said.
He also noted that more than 20 individuals in the U.S. have been arrested and charged with terrorism crimes, their plans and plots disrupted since the Obama Administration assumed office in January 2009.
This includes Najibullah Zazi, who planned to attack the New York subway system in what could have been the worst terrorist attack on our soil since 9/11.
Mr. Brennan said the U.S. is at war with Al-Qaeda and its terrorist’s allies, who continue to plot against America and its allies along the border regions and inside of Pakistan.
“The United States of America is at war. We are at war against Al-Qaeda and its terrorist affiliates...That is why he has refocused our efforts on Afghanistan, where Al-Qaeda continues to plot from the tribal regions along the border with Pakistan and inside of Pakistan,” he said.
“We will deny Al-Qaeda and its affiliate’s safe haven. We will secure the world’s most dangerous weapons, especially the nuclear materials that Al-Qaeda seeks and would surely use against us.”
Mr. Brennan said the U.S. was not only delivering severe blows against the leadership of Al-Qaeda and its affiliates, but is helping the countries where these organisations have safe havens to build their capacity to provide for their own security and to help them root out the “Al-Qaeda cancer” that has manifested itself within their borders.
He said since the U.S. has made it harder for the terror outfits to recruit they are increasingly relying on recruits with little training.
“We have strengthened our defences against massive, sophisticated attacks on our homeland, so they are attempting attacks with little sophistication, but with very lethal intent,” he argued.
“Knowing that it is harder to penetrate America’s defences, they use the Internet and extremist websites to exhort people already living in the United States to take up arms and launch terrorist attacks from within,” Mr. Brennan said.
“We have seen individuals, including U.S. citizens, armed with their U.S. passports, travel easily to extremist safe havens and return to America, their deadly plans disrupted by coordinated intelligence and law enforcement,” he said.
“Unfortunately, we were unable to thwart Faisal Shahzad, accused of attempting to set off the car bomb in Times Square,” Mr. Brennan said.
He said the U.S. has also seen individuals, including American citizens, apparently inspired by Al-Qaeda’s ideology and take matters into their own hands.
“Again, we have disrupted a number of these plots, including individuals in Texas and Illinois charged with planning to blow up buildings,” he said.
Jaya gets Samajwadi seat after dumping Amar Singh
In a tactical move, the Samajwadi Party on Wednesday renominated Ms Jaya Bachchan to the Rajya Sabha.
This was a big surprise as there was widespread speculation that Ms Bachchan would be dropped due to her connection with the expelled leader, Mr Amar Singh.
Her renomination also stunned Mr Singh, who appears to be getting isolated from “old and trusted friends”, particularly the Bachchans.
While Ms Bachchan was said to be abroad, Mr Singh accused the SP chief, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, of “driving a wedge between him and the Bachchans”.
Mr Singh also “congratulated” Jaya Bhabi (Ms Bachchan) “for opting for the party in place of her devar (brother-in-law, or Mr Singh himself).”
The announcement on Ms Bachchan’s renomination was made in Lucknow by the SP’s UP unit chief, Mr Akhilesh Yadav, who is the SP chief’s son.
Ms Bachchan’s term was scheduled to end on July 4. This will, technically, be Ms Bachchan’s third term in the Upper House. She had cut off her links with Mr Amar Singh by staying away from his ‘Kshatriya rally’, which was attended by a few loyalists including Ms Jayaprada who were subsequently expelled.
This was a big surprise as there was widespread speculation that Ms Bachchan would be dropped due to her connection with the expelled leader, Mr Amar Singh.
Her renomination also stunned Mr Singh, who appears to be getting isolated from “old and trusted friends”, particularly the Bachchans.
While Ms Bachchan was said to be abroad, Mr Singh accused the SP chief, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, of “driving a wedge between him and the Bachchans”.
Mr Singh also “congratulated” Jaya Bhabi (Ms Bachchan) “for opting for the party in place of her devar (brother-in-law, or Mr Singh himself).”
The announcement on Ms Bachchan’s renomination was made in Lucknow by the SP’s UP unit chief, Mr Akhilesh Yadav, who is the SP chief’s son.
Ms Bachchan’s term was scheduled to end on July 4. This will, technically, be Ms Bachchan’s third term in the Upper House. She had cut off her links with Mr Amar Singh by staying away from his ‘Kshatriya rally’, which was attended by a few loyalists including Ms Jayaprada who were subsequently expelled.
Inter-caste lovers stoned to death
A couple was stoned to death for their inter-caste love affair in what is perhaps the first ‘honour killing’ in the state.
The bodies of Sunkari Srinivas, 25, who belongs to the Scheduled Castes, and Swapna Reddy, 22, were found on the outskirts of Krishnajiwadi village of Tadwai mandal in Nizamabad district.
The bodies bore injuries caused by stone pelting, the police said. It is likely that the couple died on the spot.
Fearing objections from their community elders, the couple had eloped four months ago. Srinivas and Swapna returned on Wednesday to try and convince the their elders. Their bodies were discovered by locals late in the night who immediately informed the Tadwai police.
The Tadwai police sub-inspector, Mr V. Vijay Kumar, went to the place along with a team as tension began mounting.
Eyewitness alleged that the relatives of Swapna had killed the couple.
Speaking to this newspaper, the superintendent of police, Mr K. Venkatesh-wara Rao, confirmed that the couple had been stoned to death. He said police was investigating the circumstances of the couple’s murder.
The bodies of Sunkari Srinivas, 25, who belongs to the Scheduled Castes, and Swapna Reddy, 22, were found on the outskirts of Krishnajiwadi village of Tadwai mandal in Nizamabad district.
The bodies bore injuries caused by stone pelting, the police said. It is likely that the couple died on the spot.
Fearing objections from their community elders, the couple had eloped four months ago. Srinivas and Swapna returned on Wednesday to try and convince the their elders. Their bodies were discovered by locals late in the night who immediately informed the Tadwai police.
The Tadwai police sub-inspector, Mr V. Vijay Kumar, went to the place along with a team as tension began mounting.
Eyewitness alleged that the relatives of Swapna had killed the couple.
Speaking to this newspaper, the superintendent of police, Mr K. Venkatesh-wara Rao, confirmed that the couple had been stoned to death. He said police was investigating the circumstances of the couple’s murder.
Jagan followers firm on Warangal yatra
The Congress high command has not yet decided whether to allow the Kadapa MP, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, to undertake his ‘Vodarpu’ tour in Warangal to console families of those who died after the demise of his father, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy.
The tour is scheduled to start from May 28 and there is deep division among Telangana Congress leaders on whether it should be allowed or not.
Mr Jagan was closeted with his loyalists on Wednesday and also contacted his political mentor, Dr K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, who had met AICC leaders, Mr Veerappa Moily and Mr Ahmed Patel, to get their green signal for the tour.
Sources said both the leaders are expected to brief the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, after which the high command will reveal its stance.
An AICC functionary told this correspondent that the high command was displeased that the state leadership allowed the issue to become a major controversy. “We are in a Catch 22 situation,” said the leader.
Meanwhile, an MLA from Guntur and a supporter of Mr Jagan, said that if the tour was prevented, the Kadapa MP would lose face. “If the high command yields to this kind of threats, no leader from Coastal and Raayalaseema areas will be able to tour Telangana region in the future,” he said.
At the same time, some Congress MPs and a few MLAs from Telangana region have even threatened to resign if the tour is allowed to take place “against the wishes of Telangana people.”
Meanwhile, Yadagiri, a labourer of Butchannapet mandal of Warangal district, committed suicide on Wednesday, allegedly saddened by the objection of some leaders to Mr Jagan’s tour.
The tour is scheduled to start from May 28 and there is deep division among Telangana Congress leaders on whether it should be allowed or not.
Mr Jagan was closeted with his loyalists on Wednesday and also contacted his political mentor, Dr K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, who had met AICC leaders, Mr Veerappa Moily and Mr Ahmed Patel, to get their green signal for the tour.
Sources said both the leaders are expected to brief the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, after which the high command will reveal its stance.
An AICC functionary told this correspondent that the high command was displeased that the state leadership allowed the issue to become a major controversy. “We are in a Catch 22 situation,” said the leader.
Meanwhile, an MLA from Guntur and a supporter of Mr Jagan, said that if the tour was prevented, the Kadapa MP would lose face. “If the high command yields to this kind of threats, no leader from Coastal and Raayalaseema areas will be able to tour Telangana region in the future,” he said.
At the same time, some Congress MPs and a few MLAs from Telangana region have even threatened to resign if the tour is allowed to take place “against the wishes of Telangana people.”
Meanwhile, Yadagiri, a labourer of Butchannapet mandal of Warangal district, committed suicide on Wednesday, allegedly saddened by the objection of some leaders to Mr Jagan’s tour.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Court to decide fate of Kasab, two Indians
Elaborate security arrangements have been made in and around the Arthur Road Central jail where a special court would on Monday decide the fate of Pakistani gunman Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab and two Indians for their alleged role in the 26/11 terror attacks.
“The prosecution has prepared a watertight case against all the three accused and we hope the verdict would be in our favour,” special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told PTI.
Kasab is facing the charge of killing 166 persons by indiscriminately firing and hurling hand grenades at various places on November 26, 2008.
Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed, both Indians, are charged with drawing maps of targets and passing them on to Lashkar-e-Taiba to execute the diabolic terror attacks.
Among the places targeted by the terrorists were Chhatrapati Shivaji Railway Terminus, Nariman House, Cama Hospital, Hotel Taj Mahal, Hotel Oberoi-Trident and Metro junction. At some of these places, terrorists held siege for close to 60 hours before being killed by security forces in a pitched battle.
While Kasab was caught alive at Girgaum Chowpatty when he was trying to escape in a car, nine other gunmen were shot dead by police and security forces.
The three accused have been tried under the provisions of various acts including IPC, Bombay Police Act, Passport Act, Customs Act, Foreigners Act, Damage to Public Property Act, Railways Act, and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
Defence lawyer K.P. Pawar said, “We have done our best to convince the court that Kasab is innocent and falsely implicated in the 26/11 terror attack case. Now it is for the court to decide.”
The Arthur Road jail has become a fortress with large number of police personnel posted at various vantage points on Sane Guruji Marg which has been made one way for the traffic movements.
Inside the jail, 200 Indo-Tibetan Border Security guards are providing security cover to Ajmal Kasab who held the city under siege with his associates at the behest of LeT for more than two days from November 26, 2008.
Kasab is lodged in a bullet and bomb proof cell which is covered by iron sheets from all sides. The court is also built with equally strong iron reinforcements to make it bullet and bomb proof.
The other two accused are lodged in separate cells elsewhere in the jail.
Special passes have been issued to media personnel, lawyers, court staff and family members of the accused for their entry into the court. There are at least three entry points where everyone is frisked thoroughly. Pens and cell phones have been prohibited inside the court.
The prosecution had filed a 11,000 page chargesheet against Kasab and two other accused and examined 658 witnesses during the one year-long trial described in legal circles as the fastest ever among the terror cases in India.
“The prosecution has prepared a watertight case against all the three accused and we hope the verdict would be in our favour,” special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told PTI.
Kasab is facing the charge of killing 166 persons by indiscriminately firing and hurling hand grenades at various places on November 26, 2008.
Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed, both Indians, are charged with drawing maps of targets and passing them on to Lashkar-e-Taiba to execute the diabolic terror attacks.
Among the places targeted by the terrorists were Chhatrapati Shivaji Railway Terminus, Nariman House, Cama Hospital, Hotel Taj Mahal, Hotel Oberoi-Trident and Metro junction. At some of these places, terrorists held siege for close to 60 hours before being killed by security forces in a pitched battle.
While Kasab was caught alive at Girgaum Chowpatty when he was trying to escape in a car, nine other gunmen were shot dead by police and security forces.
The three accused have been tried under the provisions of various acts including IPC, Bombay Police Act, Passport Act, Customs Act, Foreigners Act, Damage to Public Property Act, Railways Act, and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
Defence lawyer K.P. Pawar said, “We have done our best to convince the court that Kasab is innocent and falsely implicated in the 26/11 terror attack case. Now it is for the court to decide.”
The Arthur Road jail has become a fortress with large number of police personnel posted at various vantage points on Sane Guruji Marg which has been made one way for the traffic movements.
Inside the jail, 200 Indo-Tibetan Border Security guards are providing security cover to Ajmal Kasab who held the city under siege with his associates at the behest of LeT for more than two days from November 26, 2008.
Kasab is lodged in a bullet and bomb proof cell which is covered by iron sheets from all sides. The court is also built with equally strong iron reinforcements to make it bullet and bomb proof.
The other two accused are lodged in separate cells elsewhere in the jail.
Special passes have been issued to media personnel, lawyers, court staff and family members of the accused for their entry into the court. There are at least three entry points where everyone is frisked thoroughly. Pens and cell phones have been prohibited inside the court.
The prosecution had filed a 11,000 page chargesheet against Kasab and two other accused and examined 658 witnesses during the one year-long trial described in legal circles as the fastest ever among the terror cases in India.
Ruling on Kasab at 11.30 am
Seventeen months after Mumbai was brutally attacked by terrorists, a court here will pronounce verdict on Monday on the fate of lone surviving terrorist Ajmal Kasab and two Indian conspirators — Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed.
The special public prosecutor, Mr Ujjwal Nikam, said on Sunday that enough evidence had been brought before the court to seal Kasab’s fate.
Special judge M.L. Tahiliyani will pronounce judgment at 11.30 am Monday, he had announced on March 31. The entire process, however, will take at least a week to complete.
Kasab, meanwhile, is said to be suffering from a stomach disorder, and a senior police officer has said he might have to undergo a surgical procedure after the court delivers its verdict on Monday.
The special public prosecutor, Mr Ujjwal Nikam, said on Sunday that enough evidence had been brought before the court to seal Kasab’s fate.
Special judge M.L. Tahiliyani will pronounce judgment at 11.30 am Monday, he had announced on March 31. The entire process, however, will take at least a week to complete.
Kasab, meanwhile, is said to be suffering from a stomach disorder, and a senior police officer has said he might have to undergo a surgical procedure after the court delivers its verdict on Monday.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
HC: Return Shoaib’s passport
The AP High Court on Monday directed the thirteenth additional chief metropolitan magistrate in Nampally, Hyderabad, to immediately release and return the passport of Shoaib Malik, the Pakistani cricketer who is awaiting closure of the case registered by the city police.
Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy passed the orders after the Advocate-General, Mr D.V. Seetharama Murthy, and the senior counsel, Mr T. Bal Reddy, who had appeared on behalf of Ms Ayesha Siddique — the divorced wife of Shoaib Malik — did not oppose the return of the passport.
Mr Murthy told the court that the Hyderabad Central Crime Station authorities had filed a final report before the magistrate after Ms Siddique submitted an application to withdraw her case against Shoaib
Malik. Mr C. Padmanabha Reddy, senior counsel appearing for the cricketer, submitted that the closure of the case in pursuance of the final report by the magistrate would take time and that the petitioner was required to leave for Pakistan in connection with post-marriage ceremonies.
He urged the court to direct the magistrate to release the passport and hand it over to Mr Javed Razak, the counsel appearing for Shoaib at a lower court. The judge directed that the lower court hand over Shoaib’s passport to Mr Razak and disposed of the petition.
Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy passed the orders after the Advocate-General, Mr D.V. Seetharama Murthy, and the senior counsel, Mr T. Bal Reddy, who had appeared on behalf of Ms Ayesha Siddique — the divorced wife of Shoaib Malik — did not oppose the return of the passport.
Mr Murthy told the court that the Hyderabad Central Crime Station authorities had filed a final report before the magistrate after Ms Siddique submitted an application to withdraw her case against Shoaib
Malik. Mr C. Padmanabha Reddy, senior counsel appearing for the cricketer, submitted that the closure of the case in pursuance of the final report by the magistrate would take time and that the petitioner was required to leave for Pakistan in connection with post-marriage ceremonies.
He urged the court to direct the magistrate to release the passport and hand it over to Mr Javed Razak, the counsel appearing for Shoaib at a lower court. The judge directed that the lower court hand over Shoaib’s passport to Mr Razak and disposed of the petition.
TD MLA’s husband held
The Medak police on Monday busted an arms smuggling racket involving the Telugu Desam legislator, Ms Seethakka’s husband, N. Devender. Both are former naxalites.
Devender and two others were arrested for smuggling Rs 12 lakh worth of firearms, including an AK-56 rifle, and ammunition from Bihar to the Praja Pratighatana, a splinter naxal group led by one Mohanna.
Two arms smugglers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh who were arrested along with Devender confessed to police that they had supplied arms and ammunition to Maoists earlier.
The Medak superintendent of police, Mr V.C. Sajjanar, said a special team is being sent to Bihar to trace the origin of the weapons.
Around 3 am, a police team led by the sub-inspector, Mr Indrakaran, was checking vehicles at Zulkal crossroads in Sangareddy town of Medak district, about 50 km from here.
Around 4.30 am, the police stopped a white vehicle with Delhi registration traveling towards Hyderabad. Upon searching it, the police found arms in the vehicle and registered a case under the Arms Act.
Police seized Rs 27,000 cash, an AK-56 rifle, and a Springfield rifle, country pistols, 676 rounds of ammunition for AK-47 rifles and 9mm pistols,
Asked about the gun-running, Ms Seethakka said. “I won’t encourage this. With trust in democracy I participated in the elections and won. I am working with the people. I don’t know what he is doing.”
“If the law-enforcing agencies feel that I am involved I am ready for questioning. I have nothing to do with this,” she said.
Devender, 49, of Hanamakonda in Warangal district, was an underground naxal activist. He joined the CPI-ML (Chandra Pulla Reddy group) in 1979 and later worked for the Janashakti, another splinter naxal organisation. The Janashakti is largely defunct now.
He was arrested by Siricilla police in 1981 but was released later. He went underground and surfaced after 17 years in early 2009.
“Recently Mohanna of Praja Pratigatana contacted Devender for weapons. He made a deal for Rs 12 lakh and went to Khanpur in Uttar Pradesh to meet his old friend Sunil Kumar. They procured arms from Munger in Bihar and were caught while returning to Hyderabad,” said Mr Sajjanar.
Of the two persons arrested along with Devender, Sunil Kumar, 48, is a native of Khanpur and Ajay Kumar, 45, is from Moinbagh in Bihar. Sunil Kumar was working with an arms dealer, Guru Prasad, and was involved in the trade of illegal arms and ammunitions.
Police said Devender got in touch with Sunil Kumar through one Suryam. He purchased the weapons on April 15 at Unnao of Uttar Pradesh, which were packed and concealed in the vehicle that was subsequently stopped at the checkpost at Sangareddy.
Ajay Kumar confessed that he was working as a driver with Sunil Kumar and that they had supplied illegal arms to various persons including Maoists. In 2009 they were arrested by Nalanda police of Bihar and sent to jail.
Devender and two others were arrested for smuggling Rs 12 lakh worth of firearms, including an AK-56 rifle, and ammunition from Bihar to the Praja Pratighatana, a splinter naxal group led by one Mohanna.
Two arms smugglers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh who were arrested along with Devender confessed to police that they had supplied arms and ammunition to Maoists earlier.
The Medak superintendent of police, Mr V.C. Sajjanar, said a special team is being sent to Bihar to trace the origin of the weapons.
Around 3 am, a police team led by the sub-inspector, Mr Indrakaran, was checking vehicles at Zulkal crossroads in Sangareddy town of Medak district, about 50 km from here.
Around 4.30 am, the police stopped a white vehicle with Delhi registration traveling towards Hyderabad. Upon searching it, the police found arms in the vehicle and registered a case under the Arms Act.
Police seized Rs 27,000 cash, an AK-56 rifle, and a Springfield rifle, country pistols, 676 rounds of ammunition for AK-47 rifles and 9mm pistols,
Asked about the gun-running, Ms Seethakka said. “I won’t encourage this. With trust in democracy I participated in the elections and won. I am working with the people. I don’t know what he is doing.”
“If the law-enforcing agencies feel that I am involved I am ready for questioning. I have nothing to do with this,” she said.
Devender, 49, of Hanamakonda in Warangal district, was an underground naxal activist. He joined the CPI-ML (Chandra Pulla Reddy group) in 1979 and later worked for the Janashakti, another splinter naxal organisation. The Janashakti is largely defunct now.
He was arrested by Siricilla police in 1981 but was released later. He went underground and surfaced after 17 years in early 2009.
“Recently Mohanna of Praja Pratigatana contacted Devender for weapons. He made a deal for Rs 12 lakh and went to Khanpur in Uttar Pradesh to meet his old friend Sunil Kumar. They procured arms from Munger in Bihar and were caught while returning to Hyderabad,” said Mr Sajjanar.
Of the two persons arrested along with Devender, Sunil Kumar, 48, is a native of Khanpur and Ajay Kumar, 45, is from Moinbagh in Bihar. Sunil Kumar was working with an arms dealer, Guru Prasad, and was involved in the trade of illegal arms and ammunitions.
Police said Devender got in touch with Sunil Kumar through one Suryam. He purchased the weapons on April 15 at Unnao of Uttar Pradesh, which were packed and concealed in the vehicle that was subsequently stopped at the checkpost at Sangareddy.
Ajay Kumar confessed that he was working as a driver with Sunil Kumar and that they had supplied illegal arms to various persons including Maoists. In 2009 they were arrested by Nalanda police of Bihar and sent to jail.
Modi may be sacked
With several Central agencies vying to haul the IPL commissioner, Mr Lalit Modi, over the coals in the controversy regarding the Indian Premier League, it could possibly be the end of his innings in cricket: his wings are likely to be clipped by the BCCI panel. Sources said the BCCI president, Mr Shashank Manohar, could be the man to replace Mr Modi as the head of the IPL.
Mr Modi may be asked to step down at a meeting of the IPL governing council likely on April 26. It has been learnt that if he refuses to step down, the BCCI will convene an emergency AGM and pass a resolution to oust the IPL commissioner. Mr Modi has reportedly not been invited for that meeting.
Meanwhile, apart from the income-tax department, officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) will question Mr Modi, sources said. The move comes in the wake of reported allegations that a few IPL officials might be engaged in betting on international websites.
Mr Modi, who had been to Dubai to meet the Kochi franchise consortium chairman, Mr Harshad Mehta, on Sunday, was to meet I-T officials at his Worli office in Mumbai on Monday.
Mr Modi may be asked to step down at a meeting of the IPL governing council likely on April 26. It has been learnt that if he refuses to step down, the BCCI will convene an emergency AGM and pass a resolution to oust the IPL commissioner. Mr Modi has reportedly not been invited for that meeting.
Meanwhile, apart from the income-tax department, officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) will question Mr Modi, sources said. The move comes in the wake of reported allegations that a few IPL officials might be engaged in betting on international websites.
Mr Modi, who had been to Dubai to meet the Kochi franchise consortium chairman, Mr Harshad Mehta, on Sunday, was to meet I-T officials at his Worli office in Mumbai on Monday.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Toll in Hyderabad riots rises to three
The tension was back in the old city of Hyderabad today with a person, stabbed during communal clashes last fortnight, succumbing to his injuries in a hospital. With his death, the toll in the communal riots has risen to three.
Narasimha, 54, a resident of Lal Darwaza area, who was stabbed by unidentified people in Hussaini Alam police station area on the night of March 28, died at the Osmania Hospital on Wednesday night.
As news of his death spread, police went on high alert in Shahali Banda and adjacent areas near the historic Charminar to prevent any untoward incident. Even curfew-pass holders were stopped from entering into the old city.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made as some groups are reportedly preparing to take out a funeral procession.
After initial confusion, police relaxed the curfew in these areas along with other-riot hit parts of the city.
The 12-hour curfew relaxation began at 6 a.m. in all 25 police station areas but the movement of people in Shahali Banda and surrounding areas was restricted. Shops and schools remained closed.
Though the day curfew was lifted last Monday, the police are continuing with the night curfew as a precautionary measure.
The riots, which broke out March 27 in the old city following a dispute over religious flags, also left over 150 people injured.
Police said they have registered 152 cases and arrested 200 people in connection with various incidents of violence. (IANS)
Narasimha, 54, a resident of Lal Darwaza area, who was stabbed by unidentified people in Hussaini Alam police station area on the night of March 28, died at the Osmania Hospital on Wednesday night.
As news of his death spread, police went on high alert in Shahali Banda and adjacent areas near the historic Charminar to prevent any untoward incident. Even curfew-pass holders were stopped from entering into the old city.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made as some groups are reportedly preparing to take out a funeral procession.
After initial confusion, police relaxed the curfew in these areas along with other-riot hit parts of the city.
The 12-hour curfew relaxation began at 6 a.m. in all 25 police station areas but the movement of people in Shahali Banda and surrounding areas was restricted. Shops and schools remained closed.
Though the day curfew was lifted last Monday, the police are continuing with the night curfew as a precautionary measure.
The riots, which broke out March 27 in the old city following a dispute over religious flags, also left over 150 people injured.
Police said they have registered 152 cases and arrested 200 people in connection with various incidents of violence. (IANS)
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Go for it if you love goofy Greek gods
Clash of the titans
Cast: Sam Worthington (Perseus), Gemma Arterton (Io), Mads Mikkelsen (Draco), Alexa Davalos (Andromeda), Jason Flemyng (Calibos/King Acrisius), Ralph Fiennes (Hades), Liam Neeson (Zeus)
Director: Louis Leterrier
Rating: ***
There are too many Greek gods for me to keep straight, since as a child I didn’t have action figures as a learning tool. I was prepared to take notes during Clash of the Titans, but only wrote down a single one: Release the Kraken! — Conan O’Brien. I know I was intended to be terrified by the release of the Kraken, but all I could think of was O’Brien shouting “Release the bear!” and then some guy in a bear suit runs out and sits on the lap of a guest. In this case, the Kraken is the nuclear option for Zeus, who has been persuaded by Hades to put down a revolt by the upstart mortals of Argos.
The mortals are fed up with the whims of the gods. It would be one thing if they stayed on Olympus and killed time leaning on pillars and addressing one another in thundering ultimatums. Now they meddle in the affairs of men. King Acrisius of Argos declares war and enlists the aid of a demigod who has been found at sea. This is Perseus (Sam Worthington), son of Zeus (Liam Neeson) and a human mother. He didn’t ask to be a saviour, but would be happier as a simple fisherman. You know the type.
Zeus, it should be explained, disguised himself as the husband of Perseus’ mother and stole into her bedchamber to father the boy. So he is a rapist. Just sayin’. Perseus so loved his mother and adoptive father that he will never forgive Poseidon for drowning them, and wants nothing to do with gods. Yet such is his destiny.
The outcome is told in Clash of the Titans with impressive technical mastery and somewhat lesser dramatic command. For its intended audience I suspect this will play as a great entertainment. I enjoyed myself, particularly after they released the Kraken. There’s no particular dramatic conflict in the movie: Perseus has to wrestle with his demigod ambiguity; Hades (Ralph Fiennes) nurses a resentment against Zeus; he demands the sacrifice of King Acrisius’ daughter Andromeda (Alexa Davalos) to spare the city, and the citizens seem prepared to get along very nicely without her. That’s about it.
It’s strange how the sacrifice of one person makes us uneasy. Earlier in the film, the entire fleet of Argos is lost at sea, with the exception of the vessel holding Perseus. The king is philosophical: They were patriots. But the sacrifice of his own daughter — now you’re talkin’ real death.
Most of the film involves terrifying battles between mortals and special effects. After Calibos has a hand chopped off, his fingers grow into claws. Later, his blood drops start growing, creating a crowd of huge lobster-monsters that come crawling over rocks and snapping at everyone. Later in the film, inexplicably, these lobsters appear to be tame and walk obediently across the desert, bearing little houses on their backs for the mortals. What, did they forget they were the blood of Calibos?
There’s worse to come. Perseus and his comrades must invade the lair of Medusa, one of the three Gorgon girls, whose hair is a writhing mass of snakes and body is a long, lethal snake’s tail. Look at her, and you’ll turn to stone! Maybe this explains the high quality of Greek sculpture. The struggles with Medusa take place on ledges over a flaming lake of lava far below. She must be beheaded, which Perseus does, thoughtfully keeping the head, which he carries around like the head of Alfredo Garcia. Is that a spoiler? The story has been out since 490 BC.
The climax is classic, with the fair Andromeda hung by her wrists and suspended in a clinging white gown over a flaming pit at the edge of the sea. Meanwhile, Perseus flies to the rescue on the wings of the great flying horse Pegasus. The townspeople clamor for her death, but lose their enthusiasm after the Kraken rears up from the sea.
I like this kind of stuff. I don’t say it’s good cinema, although I recognise the craftsmanship that went into it. I don’t say it’s good acting, when the men have so much facial hair they all look like Liam Neeson. I like the energy, the imagination, the silliness. I even like the one guy who doesn’t have a beard. That’s Perseus. From the first moment we see him as an adult until his last scene in the movie, he has the Standard Regulation Macho-Length Stubble on his chin. And in a city where all the men go to Jerry Garcia’s barber, he has a burr cut on the short clipper setting.
So do I recommend the movie? Yes, if you intuit that this review is affectionate and have the same tolerance for goofy Greek gods as I do. One word of consumer advice, however. Explain to kids that the movie was not filmed in 3-D and is only being shown in 3-D in order to charge you extra. I saw it in 2-D, and let me tell you, it looked terrific.
Cast: Sam Worthington (Perseus), Gemma Arterton (Io), Mads Mikkelsen (Draco), Alexa Davalos (Andromeda), Jason Flemyng (Calibos/King Acrisius), Ralph Fiennes (Hades), Liam Neeson (Zeus)
Director: Louis Leterrier
Rating: ***
There are too many Greek gods for me to keep straight, since as a child I didn’t have action figures as a learning tool. I was prepared to take notes during Clash of the Titans, but only wrote down a single one: Release the Kraken! — Conan O’Brien. I know I was intended to be terrified by the release of the Kraken, but all I could think of was O’Brien shouting “Release the bear!” and then some guy in a bear suit runs out and sits on the lap of a guest. In this case, the Kraken is the nuclear option for Zeus, who has been persuaded by Hades to put down a revolt by the upstart mortals of Argos.
The mortals are fed up with the whims of the gods. It would be one thing if they stayed on Olympus and killed time leaning on pillars and addressing one another in thundering ultimatums. Now they meddle in the affairs of men. King Acrisius of Argos declares war and enlists the aid of a demigod who has been found at sea. This is Perseus (Sam Worthington), son of Zeus (Liam Neeson) and a human mother. He didn’t ask to be a saviour, but would be happier as a simple fisherman. You know the type.
Zeus, it should be explained, disguised himself as the husband of Perseus’ mother and stole into her bedchamber to father the boy. So he is a rapist. Just sayin’. Perseus so loved his mother and adoptive father that he will never forgive Poseidon for drowning them, and wants nothing to do with gods. Yet such is his destiny.
The outcome is told in Clash of the Titans with impressive technical mastery and somewhat lesser dramatic command. For its intended audience I suspect this will play as a great entertainment. I enjoyed myself, particularly after they released the Kraken. There’s no particular dramatic conflict in the movie: Perseus has to wrestle with his demigod ambiguity; Hades (Ralph Fiennes) nurses a resentment against Zeus; he demands the sacrifice of King Acrisius’ daughter Andromeda (Alexa Davalos) to spare the city, and the citizens seem prepared to get along very nicely without her. That’s about it.
It’s strange how the sacrifice of one person makes us uneasy. Earlier in the film, the entire fleet of Argos is lost at sea, with the exception of the vessel holding Perseus. The king is philosophical: They were patriots. But the sacrifice of his own daughter — now you’re talkin’ real death.
Most of the film involves terrifying battles between mortals and special effects. After Calibos has a hand chopped off, his fingers grow into claws. Later, his blood drops start growing, creating a crowd of huge lobster-monsters that come crawling over rocks and snapping at everyone. Later in the film, inexplicably, these lobsters appear to be tame and walk obediently across the desert, bearing little houses on their backs for the mortals. What, did they forget they were the blood of Calibos?
There’s worse to come. Perseus and his comrades must invade the lair of Medusa, one of the three Gorgon girls, whose hair is a writhing mass of snakes and body is a long, lethal snake’s tail. Look at her, and you’ll turn to stone! Maybe this explains the high quality of Greek sculpture. The struggles with Medusa take place on ledges over a flaming lake of lava far below. She must be beheaded, which Perseus does, thoughtfully keeping the head, which he carries around like the head of Alfredo Garcia. Is that a spoiler? The story has been out since 490 BC.
The climax is classic, with the fair Andromeda hung by her wrists and suspended in a clinging white gown over a flaming pit at the edge of the sea. Meanwhile, Perseus flies to the rescue on the wings of the great flying horse Pegasus. The townspeople clamor for her death, but lose their enthusiasm after the Kraken rears up from the sea.
I like this kind of stuff. I don’t say it’s good cinema, although I recognise the craftsmanship that went into it. I don’t say it’s good acting, when the men have so much facial hair they all look like Liam Neeson. I like the energy, the imagination, the silliness. I even like the one guy who doesn’t have a beard. That’s Perseus. From the first moment we see him as an adult until his last scene in the movie, he has the Standard Regulation Macho-Length Stubble on his chin. And in a city where all the men go to Jerry Garcia’s barber, he has a burr cut on the short clipper setting.
So do I recommend the movie? Yes, if you intuit that this review is affectionate and have the same tolerance for goofy Greek gods as I do. One word of consumer advice, however. Explain to kids that the movie was not filmed in 3-D and is only being shown in 3-D in order to charge you extra. I saw it in 2-D, and let me tell you, it looked terrific.
