| From Deccan Herald | |
| Guwahati, Dec 4 (IANS) | |
It was a dramatic end to 30 years of life underground for one of India's most wanted fugitives, Arabinda Rajkhowa, chairman of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). | |
 On Friday, Rajkhowa and the deputy commander-in-chief of the outfit Raju Baruah, along with eight more militants, including their families, surrendered before Indian authorities at Dawki in the northeastern state of Meghalaya.Among those who surrendered include Rajkhowa, his wife Kaveri and two children, Raju Baruah, his wife and a child, Rajkhowa's personal security guard Raja Bora, and the wife of ULFA foreign secretary Sasha Choudhury and their son. The surrendered ULFA leaders and their family members were brought to Guwahati by a helicopter and lodged at the 4th Assam Police Battalion headquarters in the city. Rajkhowa, Baruah, and Rajkhowa's personal security guard Raja Bora were formally arrested by Assam police Friday. The wives and children who surrendered were not arrested and no charges were framed against them, a police official said. "Family members of Arabinda Rajkhowa and Raju Baruah (deputy commander-in-chief) have approached us for legal help, and we are providing them legal assistance when they arrive in court," Bijon Mahajan, a senior lawyer in Guwahati, said. The arrested trio could be produced in court on late Friday or Saturday. The surrender took place at the Dawki border outpost of the Border Security Force (BSF) around 6 a.m. "The group was loitering in the border area and then they contacted BSF commanders at the outpost, saying they were from the ULFA and wanted to surrender," a senior BSF official said. "We are happy with the developments and hope they would engage in peace talks now," said, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi . The dramatic surrender, according to highly placed intelligence sources, was necessitated after preliminary talks between the ULFA leader and home ministry officials in New Delhi in the last two days failed with Rajkhowa adamant on their demand for sovereignty. There were earlier reports that Rajkhowa was handed over by Bangladesh Police Special Branch sleuths to BSF officials and then the ULFA chairman was flown to New Delhi and lodged at an army base. | |
Monday, December 6, 2010
Dramatic surrender by India's most wanted - ULFA chief
Joint Survey of disputed Indo-Bangla Border from Dec 7
From Outlook.India
SHILLONG | DEC 05, 2010
A joint survey of the disputed border along Bangladesh-Meghalaya will begin on December 7, an exercise after completion of which the neighbouring country is expected to give its nod to the fencing project in the patches to which it had been objecting.
Land records officials of Bangladesh and India set the programme at a joint preparatory meeting last week at Tamabil check post near Dawki in Meghalaya, official sources said.
The verification, beginning at the Sylhet-Meghalaya border, will be conducted by the Land Records departments of Bangladesh and Meghalaya in at least 31 patches.
The decision for the joint verification was taken last September during a meeting between top Indian and Bangladesh officials at Dhaka to resolve the nagging disputes over the border areas like Dibir haor, Sripur, Tamabil, Sonarhat, Bichnakandi, Protappur and Lalakhal in Sylhet with the Indian state of Meghalaya.
Border guards of both the countries have been locked in gun battles time and again on those frontiers over possession of the stretches, leading to fleeing of locals.
While the initial phase of the verification would be carried out by Meghalaya government officials, the second leg would comprise central government representatives.
“Bangladesh government has been objecting to the fencing in these patches as the proposed alignment of the fencing is within 150 yards from zero line. The fencing cannot be erected at 150 yards due to terrain constraints,” a BSF official said.
He said the Indian side impressed upon their Bangladeshi counterparts that a ‘single channel’ fence would be erected instead of the double barbed fence and that too not close to the zero line.
Officials said of the 571 km of the sanctioned fencing work on the Bangladesh border of Assam and Meghalaya, only 248 km has been completed.
“Work is in progress in 123 km, while there have been objections either from Meghalaya or from Bangladesh in the remaining stretches,” they said.
Land records officials of Bangladesh and India set the programme at a joint preparatory meeting last week at Tamabil check post near Dawki in Meghalaya, official sources said.
The verification, beginning at the Sylhet-Meghalaya border, will be conducted by the Land Records departments of Bangladesh and Meghalaya in at least 31 patches.
The decision for the joint verification was taken last September during a meeting between top Indian and Bangladesh officials at Dhaka to resolve the nagging disputes over the border areas like Dibir haor, Sripur, Tamabil, Sonarhat, Bichnakandi, Protappur and Lalakhal in Sylhet with the Indian state of Meghalaya.
Border guards of both the countries have been locked in gun battles time and again on those frontiers over possession of the stretches, leading to fleeing of locals.
While the initial phase of the verification would be carried out by Meghalaya government officials, the second leg would comprise central government representatives.
“Bangladesh government has been objecting to the fencing in these patches as the proposed alignment of the fencing is within 150 yards from zero line. The fencing cannot be erected at 150 yards due to terrain constraints,” a BSF official said.
He said the Indian side impressed upon their Bangladeshi counterparts that a ‘single channel’ fence would be erected instead of the double barbed fence and that too not close to the zero line.
Officials said of the 571 km of the sanctioned fencing work on the Bangladesh border of Assam and Meghalaya, only 248 km has been completed.
“Work is in progress in 123 km, while there have been objections either from Meghalaya or from Bangladesh in the remaining stretches,” they said.
BSF trooper sets himself on fire, dies in UP
From The Times Of India
IANS, Dec 6, 2010
LUCKNOW: A Border Security Force (BSF) trooper posted in Haryana burnt himself to death in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur district, police said on Monday.
Rakesh Kumar, who was around 40 years old, set himself on fire late Sunday inside his house in Chandrapalkhedi village," police inspector BR Verma told reporters in Saharanpur, some 450 km from Lucknow.
"Rakesh set himself on fire while he was alone at home. After noticing the smoke emanating from the house, locals rushed to the spot and found the charred body of Rakesh lying in one corner," Verma said.
"We are yet to ascertain what made Rakesh take the extreme step. Preliminary investigations reveal Rakesh was not well for the last few days. He was in depression and preferred remaining aloof from his family members," the official added.
Kumar came to his native Chandrapalkhedi village around two weeks back from Hisar, where he was posted.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/BSF-trooper-sets-himself-on-fire-dies-in-UP/articleshow/7051828.cms
IANS, Dec 6, 2010
LUCKNOW: A Border Security Force (BSF) trooper posted in Haryana burnt himself to death in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur district, police said on Monday.
Rakesh Kumar, who was around 40 years old, set himself on fire late Sunday inside his house in Chandrapalkhedi village," police inspector BR Verma told reporters in Saharanpur, some 450 km from Lucknow.
"Rakesh set himself on fire while he was alone at home. After noticing the smoke emanating from the house, locals rushed to the spot and found the charred body of Rakesh lying in one corner," Verma said.
"We are yet to ascertain what made Rakesh take the extreme step. Preliminary investigations reveal Rakesh was not well for the last few days. He was in depression and preferred remaining aloof from his family members," the official added.
Kumar came to his native Chandrapalkhedi village around two weeks back from Hisar, where he was posted.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/BSF-trooper-sets-himself-on-fire-dies-in-UP/articleshow/7051828.cms
Sunday, December 5, 2010
K'chhari BDR trial deferred till Monday
The BDR Special Court-15 on Sunday adjourn the charge framing hearing against 47 accused members of 29 Rifles Battalion, Khadachhara under Matiranga upazila in Khagrachhari till Monday for their involvement in the BDR mutiny last year.
The three-member special court headed by Chittagong BDR sector commander Lt Col Zahedur Rahamn started at the ground of Khagrachhari BDR Sector headquarter at about 10:15am and continued till 3:00 pm.
Prosecutor of the case Lt Col Mafta-ul Karim pressed the charges against them and all the accused were produced at the court before beginning of the trial.
Three suspected jawans -- Sepoy Md Mahde Hasan, Sepoy Md Abul Kashem and Sepoy Md Rashadul Alam -- out of 47of the battalion accepted the guilty, reports our Khagrachhari correspondent, : .
Others 44 members ignored the allegation and jawans plead not guilty.
According to the charges, the accused were guilty of ignoring the order of the then commanding officer and possessing looted ammunition during the mutiny of February 26.
After hearing, the court ordered the authorities concerned to produce all the 47 accused before the court at 9:00am on Monday.
Earlier on October 25, the court fixed December 5 for hearing on charge framing against the accused.
BSF advocates "limited legalization" of cattle trade
From The Times Of India
By Manosh Das, Shillong
Dec 5, 2010
The strenuous engagement in checking cattle smuggling from the Asom-Meghalaya stretch of the Indo-Bangladesh border has prompted the BSF to advocate for a "limited legalization" of the cattle trade. "Each day, cattle are being seized in Dhubri area of Assam and the Khasi- Jaintia hills districts of Meghalaya," a BSF official said. The BSF frontier chief also felt that cattle smuggling can be thoroughly dealt with if the government thinks of legalizing cattle trade through the proposed border haats (markets).
Man working with BSF commits suicide
From MSN News
Srinagar, Dec 5 (PTI) A man working as a cook with the BSF allegedly committed suicide at a camp in Bandipora district of north Kashmir today, official sources said.
Mukesh Kumar Sharma, who was a cook in the 85th battalion, was found hanging from a ceiling fan this morning inside the BSF camp at Mader on the outskirts of Bandipora town, 55 kms from here, the sources said.
Post mortem has been conducted on the body and a case registered under section 174 CrPC in this regard, they said, adding, preliminary investigations suggested that he committed suicide due to some domestic problem.
Post mortem has been conducted on the body and a case registered under section 174 CrPC in this regard, they said, adding, preliminary investigations suggested that he committed suicide due to some domestic problem.
Infiltrator nabbed by BSF
From The Times Of India
Dec 5, 2010
BSF on Sunday nabbed a Bangladeshi national, who was trying to infiltrate into Meghalaya. "Troops of Ex-50 battalion BSF deployed at West Garo Hills district apprehended one Bangladeshi national near border post 1162/6-S while he was trying to infiltrate into India illegally," a spokesperson at the Assam and Meghalaya Frontier Headquarters of the BSF here said. The apprehended person was identified as Nivash Hajong (22) Dahamumki village, Netrokona District in the neighbouring country.
Thar Express survives ‘terror attack’
Two bogies had derailed on Saturday after the train hit an explosive device planted on tracks
From The Hindu
MOHAMMED IQBAL
MOHAMMED IQBAL
JAIPUR, December 5, 2010 The Thar Express from Pakistan, two bogies of which were detached after their derailment in a suspected terror attack near a small railway station 67 km from Karachi, arrived at the Munabao railway station near the international border in Rajasthan, several hours behind schedule on Saturday evening. There was no loss of life or injury in the mishap.
According to sources at the northwest railway divisional office in Jodhpur, the train was carrying 219 passengers, including 109 Indians and 110 Pakistanis, who alighted at Munabao to catch the Jodhpur-bound Indian train that will take them to the Bhagat Ki Kothi railway station.
The Border Security Force and railway officials reached Munabao on receiving information about the derailment. The train hit an explosive device planted on the tracks near Dhabeji station at Thatta in Sindh province of Pakistan.
Reports received by the Jodhpur railway officials stated that one of the two low-intensity bombs planted at the site, exploded when the train hit it, damaging a portion of the track. Rescue teams were dispatched from Karachi to the spot and the provincial police later defused the second bomb.
The train continued its journey to Rajasthan after the Pakistan railway authorities detached the partially damaged and derailed bogies. All passengers who got off at Munabao were stated to be “safe and sound.”
Under the agreement between Indian and Pakistan railways, the Thar Express comes from Karachi once every week during a six-month block to cross the international border, and the passengers are picked up by an Indian train at Munabao for their onward journey to Jodhpur. The train had departed shortly before midnight —according to Pakistan Standard Time — from the Karachi Cantonment railway station.
Reports appearing on the Pakistani news websites stated that the provincial police and bomb disposal squad had seized parts of the damaged railway track and explosives found at the scene. Traffic on the track would resume after it is repaired.
The blast was suspected to have been executed by groups based in Pakistan. About 70 persons, mostly from Pakistan, were killed when the Samjhauta Express, running between the two countries via Attari, was bombed near Panipat in Haryana in 2007.
The rail link between India and Pakistan via the Munabao-Khokhrapar route was restored in February 2006, after a gap of 41 years, to reduce the distance and journey time for people from central and southern Indian States travelling to Pakistan to meet relatives. Forming part of the “confidence building measures,” the train has gained popularity among the travellers from both the countries.
The link is equally important for Mohajirs (refugees) — migrants from India — living mostly in urban areas of Sindh, who earlier used to travel in the Samjhauta Express via the circuitous Attari route. Restarting of the train was a major demand of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).
BSF job no longer bar to Canada visa
From South Asian Focus
Wednesday December 1 2010
By SUNIL RAO
Ex-BSF personnel seeking Canadian visas can now breathe easy - a hitherto automatic refusal of their application by the mandarins in bureaucracy may now be overruled by a powerful advocate on Parliament Hill.
Wednesday December 1 2010
By SUNIL RAO
Ex-BSF personnel seeking Canadian visas can now breathe easy - a hitherto automatic refusal of their application by the mandarins in bureaucracy may now be overruled by a powerful advocate on Parliament Hill.
The status of UAE nationals seeking to visit Canada - who now have to get into a queue to submit their applications, unlike earlier when each country's nationals were granted automatic entry on a reciprocity basis - is however not as clear.
But here too, hope may be on the horizon.
Further visa policy changes have been promised in the next short little while.
The events follow an announcement from Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney last week that he had approved a new policy under Canada's immigration law that will further facilitate the "temporary entry" of "certain persons" into Canada.
In May, Kenney announced Citizenship and Immigration Canada was reviewing its admissibility policy, which is grounded in immigration law. The law, which is deliberately broad, may at times create irritants with our valued international partners, Kenney admitted.
"I saw the need for greater flexibility within the law and asked my department to review the policy," said Kenney. "I am happy to report I have approved a change that will allow exactly that required flexibility."
The minister said a number of governments had raised with him their desire for greater flexibility in the admission of their officials.
Allocation of Fertilizers
| Press Information Bureau Release Dec 2, 2010 The season-wise demand of major fertilizers like Urea, DAP, MOP & NPK is assessed by Department of Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC) in consultation with the officers of State Agriculture Department, fertilizer suppliers and Fertiliser Association of India (FAI). The Chief Secretaries in the States and Border Guarding Authorities like Border Security Force (BSF), Coast Guards and Custom authorities etc. have been alerted by Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Finance to keep strict vigil on such activities which may lead to illegal exports/smuggling of fertilizers and initiate stringent action against the persons involved in such malpractices under the provision of FCO, 1985. The provision contained in Para 3 of Fertilizer (Movement Control) Order, 1973 – Prohibits the illegal export/smuggling of fertilizers. Instances of illegal export of Muriate of Potash (MOP) and Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) packed in the brand common Salt and Soda Ash from Gujarat has come to notice. The consignment has been seized by Custom Authorities at Kandla Port. Similarly, Government of Maharashtra has also intimated that the fertilizer is being exported illegally in the name of Soda Ash, Salt etc. This complaint was on the basis of seizure of about 4000 bags of 50 kg. (each having imprinted as Soda Ash but containing DAP as per testing report) by the District Quality Control Inspector while inspecting the Godown of M/s Transworld Furtichem Pvt. Ltd., Roha, District, Raigad on 27th January, 2010. In this regard necessary legal proceedings are being initiated by the concerned authorities. Similarly in Karnataka, Bangalore customs have seized 1156 MT of MOP from six traders and have initiated legal proceedings. The respective State Government’s will be taking appropriate action against offenders as per provisions of law. Recently also, Department of Fertilizers has written to Chief Secretaries of the States having international boundaries for initiating action against person/persons involved in smuggling of fertilizers with the help of Central/State enforcement agencies. This information was given by the Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Shri Srikant Kumar Jena in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today. PKM/SB http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=67989 |
New CBI chief promises transparency
From Sify.News | |||
| 2010-12-01 16:10:00 | |||
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Folk cultural odyssey for border forces
From The Times Of IndiaAjay Parmar, TNN, Dec 5, 2010
JODHPUR: The jawans of Border Security Force (BSF), army and air force along with the villagers of the border region in western Rajasthan will get the taste of folk performances from different states across the country. A special folk cultural odyssey Seemanchal Yatra' has been designed for the first time by the North Central Regional Cultural Centre, Allahabad along the Indo-Pak border -- from Barmer district to Sriganganagar district.
It was inaugrated on Saturday at the BSF headquarters of Rajasthan Frontier in Jodhpur. Governor of Uttar Pradesh, B L Joshi was the chief guest while Ashok Gehlot was the chairman of the programme. Cultural minister of UP, Subhash Pande, DG (BSF) Raman Srivastava and DG (Rajasthan police) H C Meena were also present on the occasion.
Starting from Bakhasar border oupost (BOP) of BSF in Barmer sector from December 5, this odyssey will have cultural programmes of different states by artistes and will conclude at Hindumal Kot BOP in Sriganganagar sector on December 20. This will be followed by cultural performances for army and air force at Suratgarh and at BSF headquarters in Sriganganagar on December 22.
Director of the cultural centre, Anand Verdhan Shukla said, "This is great opportunity to acquaint the villagers with the folk culture of the other states. It also provides an opportunity to entertain the jawans posted at far-flung and deserted areas bereft of any entertainment."
Verdhan added that this will be an annual event from now on in western Rajasthan. "We are also looking forward to taking the Rajasthani folk artistes on similar odysseys in North-East. The main objective of this initiative is to make people aware that despite cultural diversity we live in harmony, as one," he said.
Read more: Folk cultural odyssey for border forces - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Folk-cultural-odyssey-for-border-forces/articleshow/7045095.cms#ixzz17CuCrAuX
It was inaugrated on Saturday at the BSF headquarters of Rajasthan Frontier in Jodhpur. Governor of Uttar Pradesh, B L Joshi was the chief guest while Ashok Gehlot was the chairman of the programme. Cultural minister of UP, Subhash Pande, DG (BSF) Raman Srivastava and DG (Rajasthan police) H C Meena were also present on the occasion.
Starting from Bakhasar border oupost (BOP) of BSF in Barmer sector from December 5, this odyssey will have cultural programmes of different states by artistes and will conclude at Hindumal Kot BOP in Sriganganagar sector on December 20. This will be followed by cultural performances for army and air force at Suratgarh and at BSF headquarters in Sriganganagar on December 22.
Director of the cultural centre, Anand Verdhan Shukla said, "This is great opportunity to acquaint the villagers with the folk culture of the other states. It also provides an opportunity to entertain the jawans posted at far-flung and deserted areas bereft of any entertainment."
Verdhan added that this will be an annual event from now on in western Rajasthan. "We are also looking forward to taking the Rajasthani folk artistes on similar odysseys in North-East. The main objective of this initiative is to make people aware that despite cultural diversity we live in harmony, as one," he said.
Read more: Folk cultural odyssey for border forces - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Folk-cultural-odyssey-for-border-forces/articleshow/7045095.cms#ixzz17CuCrAuX
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