Re-entry fuels demand for Jaswant's book in Pak
Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Jun 30, 2010, 02.06am IST
ISLAMABAD: Jaswant Singh's return to BJP has renewed interest here in his book on Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Though the book -- `Jinnah: India-Partition, Independence' -- had always been a best-seller in different stores, the author's `return' is viewed as BJP's endorsement of his views on the Quaid-e-Azam.
"You guys must have read Singh's book which described our Quaid-e-Azam as an ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity. My friends told me about the book. I would also like to read it as it will give me an insight as to what one of your respected leaders thinks about Jinnah," said Tahir Naseer Malik.
Holding Singh's book in his hand, Malik, who visited one of the biggest bookstores -- Saeed Book Bank -- here, said: "I did not read it earlier as I was waiting for its Urdu edition. I heard that Singh who was expelled from his party is now back in the BJP. It seems the `Hindu party' does not mind what Singh wrote."
Unaware of the recent development in India over Singh, Ahmad Saeed of the Saeed Book Bank -- located at Jinnah Super Market -- said: "This book is quite popular here. We have already sold over 4,000 English editions and nearly 200 Urdu editions of the book ever since it was launched last year."
Aman Ali Imran, who read Singh's book last year, said he lent his book to one of his friends the day news of the BJP leader's return to the BJP broke here. "It seems the BJP, which is known here as a party which pushes the agenda for Hindu cause, has started accepting its own leaders' views on Jinnah."
Prior to Jaswant Singh's attempts at "revisiting" Jinnah, BJP veteran L K Advani had found himself in hot water over his Jinnah-is-secular remarks. Interestingly, Advani was the prime mover in bringing Jaswant back, a move seen by some to be rooted in a desire to get the Jinnah stand endorsed.
Saeed admitted that the book sold like hot cakes when it was launched. He said the controversy over the book in India saw many readers here request the publishers to come out with an Urdu edition as well.
In his book, which hit the stands last August, Singh recalled the events leading to partition as well as the "epic journey of Jinnah from being the ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity, the liberal constitutionalist and Indian nationalist to the Quaid-e-Azam of Pakistan".
Singh, MP from Darjeeling, was re-admitted to the party in the presence of senior leaders including L K Advani in India last week.
Interest in Singh's book is, however, not limited to the Pakistani capital. A bookstore at Karachi airport saw a similar demand last year. A storekeeper, who was aware of last week's development in India, said: "Though we have not sold any copy in the last three-four days, other stores in the port city checked with distributors for additional copies anticipating demand in the wake of the fresh development in India."
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Dateline Islamabad: The promise
Pakistan promises a united fight against terror
Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Jun 27, 2010, 04.17am IST
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan may give India voice samples of the seven accused in the Mumbai terror attacks, currently standing trial. This would be one of the positive "outcomes" that India is looking for. After a day of talks with Pakistan's interior minister Rehman Malik, Chidambaram declared, "We are looking for the outcome. Only outcomes will decide that we are on right track."
"Every day is a new day and every meeting is a new meeting. The meeting with Rehman Malik was a good meeting...I am confident that something good will emerge from the meeting".
Wrapping up a maiden visit as home minister to Pakistan, Chidambaram stressed that India wanted to see others prosecuted for the Mumbai attacks : "We know that seven people are being prosecuted in the case. How far the prosecution is gone is for Pakistan to say. I understand that it has been adjourned by a week. We believe that more people have been involved in 26/11 and that this has been put forward to the Pakistani government. We want them to be prosecuted also".
A PTI report quoted Malik as saying, "We will provide every possible assistance in addition to what you are talking about — voice samples." Malik added that the last dossier by India had been sent to Pakistani investigators.
Keeping the warmth going between the two sides, Malik praised Chidambaram for his leadership and wisdom and announced that the Pakistan FIA and the Indian CBI would interact and coordinate together on terrorist cases including the Mumbai attacks. "We will work together and give a united fight to terrorists", he said.
Malik insisted, "We are not there to create any hurdle in the investigation. Rather we will assist and cooperate with India. India has extended hand of friendship. We accept it."
Chidambaram said: "Now we are trying to pick the threads again. Foreign ministers are talking to each other, the prime ministers have met."
Although Chidambaram and Malik tried their best not to mix-up the Saarc agenda with their bilateral negotiations, questions relating to the 26\11 attack came back during the meet. But Pakistan seems sure that people like Hafiz Saeed remain untouchable. Malik said, "We cannot pressurize the courts. Our judiciary is very independent and therefore I have been requesting my Indian friends that whatever the decision comes from India, we welcome with full heart. We expect whatever decision comes from Pakistani courts should be accepted now"..... http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDEwLzA2LzI3I0FyMDAxMDg=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Jun 27, 2010, 04.17am IST
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan may give India voice samples of the seven accused in the Mumbai terror attacks, currently standing trial. This would be one of the positive "outcomes" that India is looking for. After a day of talks with Pakistan's interior minister Rehman Malik, Chidambaram declared, "We are looking for the outcome. Only outcomes will decide that we are on right track."
"Every day is a new day and every meeting is a new meeting. The meeting with Rehman Malik was a good meeting...I am confident that something good will emerge from the meeting".
Wrapping up a maiden visit as home minister to Pakistan, Chidambaram stressed that India wanted to see others prosecuted for the Mumbai attacks : "We know that seven people are being prosecuted in the case. How far the prosecution is gone is for Pakistan to say. I understand that it has been adjourned by a week. We believe that more people have been involved in 26/11 and that this has been put forward to the Pakistani government. We want them to be prosecuted also".
A PTI report quoted Malik as saying, "We will provide every possible assistance in addition to what you are talking about — voice samples." Malik added that the last dossier by India had been sent to Pakistani investigators.
Keeping the warmth going between the two sides, Malik praised Chidambaram for his leadership and wisdom and announced that the Pakistan FIA and the Indian CBI would interact and coordinate together on terrorist cases including the Mumbai attacks. "We will work together and give a united fight to terrorists", he said.
Malik insisted, "We are not there to create any hurdle in the investigation. Rather we will assist and cooperate with India. India has extended hand of friendship. We accept it."
Chidambaram said: "Now we are trying to pick the threads again. Foreign ministers are talking to each other, the prime ministers have met."
Although Chidambaram and Malik tried their best not to mix-up the Saarc agenda with their bilateral negotiations, questions relating to the 26\11 attack came back during the meet. But Pakistan seems sure that people like Hafiz Saeed remain untouchable. Malik said, "We cannot pressurize the courts. Our judiciary is very independent and therefore I have been requesting my Indian friends that whatever the decision comes from India, we welcome with full heart. We expect whatever decision comes from Pakistani courts should be accepted now"..... http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDEwLzA2LzI3I0FyMDAxMDg=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Dateline Islamabad: The Headley saga hits the headline
Lashkar and ISI united in pan-Islamic terror, Headley tells NIA
Vishwa Mohan & Dhananjay Mahapatra, TNN, Jun 27, 2010, 01.31am IST
ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI: In a chilling disclosure with serious ramifications for India, Pakistan and the international community, 26/11 accused David Coleman Headley told the National Investigation Agency (NIA) earlier this month that Lashkar-e-Taiba and ISI are virtually inseparable as far as the pan-Islamic terror agenda is concerned.
Home minister P Chidambaram used the NIA dossier detailing Headley's disclosures to drive home the point that stringent measures are needed against terrorist groups operating with impunity from Pakistani soil.
The NIA dossier, which establishes the virtual closing of ranks between LeT and ISI, clearly indicates that both are acting independently of the government and pose a threat to Pakistan's governance.
It took two days of persuasion for Headley to waive his right to silence under US law and detail every meeting he had with his LeT handlers, including Hafiz Saeed and Sajid Mir, and ISI officials in Muzzaffarabad and Lahore before the 26/11 attacks.
Sources said that Headley told the NIA team comprising Loknath Behera, Swayamprakash Pani, Sajid Shapoo and special prosecutor Dayan Krishnan that his reconnaissance missions and its results were closely and jointly monitored by LeT and ISI before he received fresh instructions. The 11th dossier, which India handed over to Pakistan on June 18, contained every statement by Headley, who spoke for seven to eight hours every day, continuously for eight days.
Questioning only stopped for lunch, tea and loo breaks. Sources said Headley agreed to answer every question posed by the NIA once he was assured no magistrate was on the team because that would have made his remarks akin to a confession admissible in Indian courts.
Headley's remarks would have been tantamout to a commission recorded under section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code making it admissible evidence before Indian courts, but the NIA had assured him no magistrate was on the team.
Headley broke into Hindi several times while answering questions, taking by surprise the three US federal attorneys, two lawyers of Headley and the five sleuths from FBI who were present everyday. These were translated for their benefit but it was a difficult task to get a proper translation of the crude jokes Headley cracked.
Points raised by Headley also surfaced in the bilateral talks Chidambaram had with Rehman Malik on Friday. Though Pakistan promised to act on details and verify what even FBI shared with it, India does not seem to have any option right now except wait. Malik, however. said Pakistan wouldn't stand in the way of a full probe.....http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDEwLzA2LzI3I0FyMDAxMDE=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Vishwa Mohan & Dhananjay Mahapatra, TNN, Jun 27, 2010, 01.31am IST
ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI: In a chilling disclosure with serious ramifications for India, Pakistan and the international community, 26/11 accused David Coleman Headley told the National Investigation Agency (NIA) earlier this month that Lashkar-e-Taiba and ISI are virtually inseparable as far as the pan-Islamic terror agenda is concerned.
Home minister P Chidambaram used the NIA dossier detailing Headley's disclosures to drive home the point that stringent measures are needed against terrorist groups operating with impunity from Pakistani soil.
The NIA dossier, which establishes the virtual closing of ranks between LeT and ISI, clearly indicates that both are acting independently of the government and pose a threat to Pakistan's governance.
It took two days of persuasion for Headley to waive his right to silence under US law and detail every meeting he had with his LeT handlers, including Hafiz Saeed and Sajid Mir, and ISI officials in Muzzaffarabad and Lahore before the 26/11 attacks.
Sources said that Headley told the NIA team comprising Loknath Behera, Swayamprakash Pani, Sajid Shapoo and special prosecutor Dayan Krishnan that his reconnaissance missions and its results were closely and jointly monitored by LeT and ISI before he received fresh instructions. The 11th dossier, which India handed over to Pakistan on June 18, contained every statement by Headley, who spoke for seven to eight hours every day, continuously for eight days.
Questioning only stopped for lunch, tea and loo breaks. Sources said Headley agreed to answer every question posed by the NIA once he was assured no magistrate was on the team because that would have made his remarks akin to a confession admissible in Indian courts.
Headley's remarks would have been tantamout to a commission recorded under section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code making it admissible evidence before Indian courts, but the NIA had assured him no magistrate was on the team.
Headley broke into Hindi several times while answering questions, taking by surprise the three US federal attorneys, two lawyers of Headley and the five sleuths from FBI who were present everyday. These were translated for their benefit but it was a difficult task to get a proper translation of the crude jokes Headley cracked.
Points raised by Headley also surfaced in the bilateral talks Chidambaram had with Rehman Malik on Friday. Though Pakistan promised to act on details and verify what even FBI shared with it, India does not seem to have any option right now except wait. Malik, however. said Pakistan wouldn't stand in the way of a full probe.....http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDEwLzA2LzI3I0FyMDAxMDE=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Dateline Islamabad: Was it a mistake?...The big day for TV News Channels
Chidambaram plays down tricolour faux pas
Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Jun 27, 2010, 04.04am IST
ISLAMABAD: It might have been inadvertent, but Pakistan has done it again. The Indian flag was displayed upside down on the table as home minister P Chidambaram sat with his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik for bilateral talks in the interior ministry building.
Though the flag was immediately put right at Friday's meeting, it caught media attention with even officials here wondering how somebody made such a mistake, albeit even a minor one.
Earlier, when a special PIA plane flew in with then president Pervez Musharraf to Jaipur from Islamabad in 2005, the Indian flag was upside down. The aircraft had the tricolour on one side of its nose and Pakistan flag on the other. The mistake was detected soon after Musharraf and his wife left for Ajmer and was corrected.
Reacting to Friday's mistake, Chidambaram said: "Visual in one of the channels that showed that the Indian flag had been upside down when there was one on one meeting between me and Rehman Malik. That was the first visual but immediately after we sat down I noticed the error.....it was put right."
Seeking to play down the incident, he said: "I think it is a minor mistake and I don't think we should make much of it. The flag was put right and I therefore request the channel to show the second visuals taken when the delegations were meeting.".......http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDEwLzA2LzI3I0FyMDA5MDQ=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Jun 27, 2010, 04.04am IST
ISLAMABAD: It might have been inadvertent, but Pakistan has done it again. The Indian flag was displayed upside down on the table as home minister P Chidambaram sat with his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik for bilateral talks in the interior ministry building.
Though the flag was immediately put right at Friday's meeting, it caught media attention with even officials here wondering how somebody made such a mistake, albeit even a minor one.
Earlier, when a special PIA plane flew in with then president Pervez Musharraf to Jaipur from Islamabad in 2005, the Indian flag was upside down. The aircraft had the tricolour on one side of its nose and Pakistan flag on the other. The mistake was detected soon after Musharraf and his wife left for Ajmer and was corrected.
Reacting to Friday's mistake, Chidambaram said: "Visual in one of the channels that showed that the Indian flag had been upside down when there was one on one meeting between me and Rehman Malik. That was the first visual but immediately after we sat down I noticed the error.....it was put right."
Seeking to play down the incident, he said: "I think it is a minor mistake and I don't think we should make much of it. The flag was put right and I therefore request the channel to show the second visuals taken when the delegations were meeting.".......http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDEwLzA2LzI3I0FyMDA5MDQ=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Dateline Islamabad: The much awaited talks
Get tough with 26/11 plotters, Chidambaram tells Pak
Vishwa Mohan \ TNN, Jun 26, 2010, 04.23am IST
ON BOARD SPECIAL AIRCRAFT/ISLAMABAD: While trying hard not to strike a shrill note lest it had repercussions for the SAARC home ministers' conference a day later, India on Friday is understood to have "politely but firmly" asked Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice all the 26/11 plotters, including Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed.
India is also believed to have asked Pakistan to verify details of Pakistani Army personnel and others identified by India's own investigation as among the 26/11 plotters and whose involvement in the carnage has been attested to independently by Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley.
Indian official sources were tightlipped and refused to confirm any details.
India is said to have asked Pakistan to hand it over voice samples of all the seven LeT terrorists who have been in Pakistani jails for their involvement in 26/11 as "a first step" towards restoring confidence in the neighbour's intention and putting the trust quotient firmly on the ground.
Pakistan, on its part, is understood to have told India that three of the seven arrested ones -- including Zakiur-ur-Rehman Lakvi, Zarar Shah and Abu-al-Qama -- refused to provide voice samples invoking self-incrimination clause (not giving evidence against themselves). Significantly, India had rejected the contention as legally untenable when it was made earlier.
India is said to have put forward its position again when home minister P Chidambaram met his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik. Chidambaram is believed to have argued that providing voice samples should not be difficult if Pakistan willed so. India is asking for the voice samples to match with the ones of those who were giving instructions to the 26/11 attackers.
Chidambaram is learnt to have told Malik that the time has come to address issues concerning the deadly Mumbai terror attacks with the seriousness that they warrant as 18 months have passed without no real progress in the probe on the Pakistani side. He is said to have told the Pakistani minister that it was time Pakistan followed "certain leads" to collect `concrete' evidence against Saeed. Chidambaram is also learnt to have asked Malik to step up efforts to locate and arrest 13 absconders found guilty by Indian courts.
Malik departed from protocol to receive Chidambaram at the Chakala base of the Pakistan Air Force on the outskirts of Islamabad. The two ministers travelled together in the helicopter for security reasons.
Besides Lakhvi, Zarar Shah and Abu-al-Qama, the four others who are in Pakistani jails for their role in the Mumbai carnage are Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jamil Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younas Anjum. They were all formally charged with planning and helping execute terror attack on Mumbai in November 2008.
Besides these seven, there are 13 absconders -- details of which had already been given by India to Pakistan in its first dossier on the Mumbai terror attack. The absconders are: Shahid Ghafoor, Andul Rehman, Ateeq-ur-Rehman, Shakil Ahmed, Muhammed Sabir Salfi and others who were the crew members of the ships Al Hussaini and Al Fouz used in ferrying the 10 Lashkar terrorists from Karachi.
Referring to Pakistani court's recent order that evidence against the mastermind of 26/11 Hafiz Saeed was not adequate, India is said to have asked Pakistan that the evidences against the Lashkar founder were there on Pakistani soil. So, it was their duty to collect it and present it before court.
Talking to Indian media on his special aircraft, Chidambaram had said that he planned to raise India's demand for action against Hafiz Saeed and others. "Hafiz Saeed is one among them. There are controllers, there are handlers, so we need to know what action they (Pakistan government) will take against them. These matters cannot be ignored forever. Somebody has to address these issues sometime or the other."
He said he will also take up other issues like infiltration along the border of Jammu and Kashmir and identification of Pakistanis who have infiltrated to indulge in militant activities.
Asked whether India will accept Pakistan giving voice samples to any third country, he said, "I suggested one time that don't give it to us. Give it to a third country so that it is subjected to forensic analysis in a third country."
On whether Pakistani army personnel were among the handlers of the 26/11 attackers, he said, "If you are quoting from the dossier (that India gave to Pakistan), you are quoting correctly. But I do not know whether they are real names or assumed names."....http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQkcvMjAxMC8wNi8yNiNBcjAwOTAx&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Vishwa Mohan \ TNN, Jun 26, 2010, 04.23am IST
ON BOARD SPECIAL AIRCRAFT/ISLAMABAD: While trying hard not to strike a shrill note lest it had repercussions for the SAARC home ministers' conference a day later, India on Friday is understood to have "politely but firmly" asked Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice all the 26/11 plotters, including Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed.
India is also believed to have asked Pakistan to verify details of Pakistani Army personnel and others identified by India's own investigation as among the 26/11 plotters and whose involvement in the carnage has been attested to independently by Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley.
Indian official sources were tightlipped and refused to confirm any details.
India is said to have asked Pakistan to hand it over voice samples of all the seven LeT terrorists who have been in Pakistani jails for their involvement in 26/11 as "a first step" towards restoring confidence in the neighbour's intention and putting the trust quotient firmly on the ground.
Pakistan, on its part, is understood to have told India that three of the seven arrested ones -- including Zakiur-ur-Rehman Lakvi, Zarar Shah and Abu-al-Qama -- refused to provide voice samples invoking self-incrimination clause (not giving evidence against themselves). Significantly, India had rejected the contention as legally untenable when it was made earlier.
India is said to have put forward its position again when home minister P Chidambaram met his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik. Chidambaram is believed to have argued that providing voice samples should not be difficult if Pakistan willed so. India is asking for the voice samples to match with the ones of those who were giving instructions to the 26/11 attackers.
Chidambaram is learnt to have told Malik that the time has come to address issues concerning the deadly Mumbai terror attacks with the seriousness that they warrant as 18 months have passed without no real progress in the probe on the Pakistani side. He is said to have told the Pakistani minister that it was time Pakistan followed "certain leads" to collect `concrete' evidence against Saeed. Chidambaram is also learnt to have asked Malik to step up efforts to locate and arrest 13 absconders found guilty by Indian courts.
Malik departed from protocol to receive Chidambaram at the Chakala base of the Pakistan Air Force on the outskirts of Islamabad. The two ministers travelled together in the helicopter for security reasons.
Besides Lakhvi, Zarar Shah and Abu-al-Qama, the four others who are in Pakistani jails for their role in the Mumbai carnage are Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jamil Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younas Anjum. They were all formally charged with planning and helping execute terror attack on Mumbai in November 2008.
Besides these seven, there are 13 absconders -- details of which had already been given by India to Pakistan in its first dossier on the Mumbai terror attack. The absconders are: Shahid Ghafoor, Andul Rehman, Ateeq-ur-Rehman, Shakil Ahmed, Muhammed Sabir Salfi and others who were the crew members of the ships Al Hussaini and Al Fouz used in ferrying the 10 Lashkar terrorists from Karachi.
Referring to Pakistani court's recent order that evidence against the mastermind of 26/11 Hafiz Saeed was not adequate, India is said to have asked Pakistan that the evidences against the Lashkar founder were there on Pakistani soil. So, it was their duty to collect it and present it before court.
Talking to Indian media on his special aircraft, Chidambaram had said that he planned to raise India's demand for action against Hafiz Saeed and others. "Hafiz Saeed is one among them. There are controllers, there are handlers, so we need to know what action they (Pakistan government) will take against them. These matters cannot be ignored forever. Somebody has to address these issues sometime or the other."
He said he will also take up other issues like infiltration along the border of Jammu and Kashmir and identification of Pakistanis who have infiltrated to indulge in militant activities.
Asked whether India will accept Pakistan giving voice samples to any third country, he said, "I suggested one time that don't give it to us. Give it to a third country so that it is subjected to forensic analysis in a third country."
On whether Pakistani army personnel were among the handlers of the 26/11 attackers, he said, "If you are quoting from the dossier (that India gave to Pakistan), you are quoting correctly. But I do not know whether they are real names or assumed names."....http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQkcvMjAxMC8wNi8yNiNBcjAwOTAx&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Friday, June 18, 2010
Thunder before rains in Red zone
Forces to step up anti-Naxal operations to beat rains
Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Jun 18, 2010, 06.03am IST
NEW DELHI: Encouraged by some successes, the states — mainly Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh — being assisted by Central paramilitary forces will further intensify their operations against Maoists to “gain as much ground as possible” in the Red zone before the Monsoon fully sweeps the region.
Citing decisions taken in recent review meeting — chaired by Union home minister P Chidambaram — of the entire issue in Jharkhand, sources in the home ministry said more central paramilitary forces would join the states in the next few days.
“The aim is also to prevent the ultras from regaining the lost territory. For this, the states will need more central forces which can be stationed there for sometime. Since the operation will be difficult once the area is full of rain-water during July-September, it is now planned to at least keep the heat on till the Monsoon completely sweeps the region”, said a senior official.
Last week, the state police along with CRPF personnel had busted one of the biggest Maoists’ camps in the areas of Tegir, Gerei and Mamel in the bordering districts of West Singhbhum and Khunti in Jharkhand. It was found that the ultras had not only set up an armed training camp on a hill top of thick forest area but also established lathe machines for manufacturing weapons and spare parts.
“It was a big success. The camp was well settled with solar panels and fortified with bunkers. Though the ultras fled away, they left behind the well-equipped camp which had been the mainstay of their operations against security personnel in Jharkhand and West Bengal”, said the official.
Jharkhand, where the anti-Maoist operation saw a dip during the JMM leader Shibu Soren’s chief minister-ship due his sympathetic attitude towards the naxals, will now be the flag-bearer of all anti-Maoist operations in coming months as the Center has, by virtue of Governor’s rule, been calling the shots in the state.
Apprehending that the ultras would try to flee to neighbouring West Bengal and Orissa, the Center meanwhile roped in both these states for joint operations in bordering areas. “The special operation which witnessed killing of eight Maoists including three women Naxalites in Duli forest area in West Midnapur district in West Bengal on Tuesday night was the extension of what is being done in Jharkhand”, said the official.
The intelligence, which security forces got in Jharkhand, provided security forces vital input of ultras’ movements in West Bengal and Orissa....http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTAvMDYvMTgjQXIwMTIwMg==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Jun 18, 2010, 06.03am IST
NEW DELHI: Encouraged by some successes, the states — mainly Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh — being assisted by Central paramilitary forces will further intensify their operations against Maoists to “gain as much ground as possible” in the Red zone before the Monsoon fully sweeps the region.
Citing decisions taken in recent review meeting — chaired by Union home minister P Chidambaram — of the entire issue in Jharkhand, sources in the home ministry said more central paramilitary forces would join the states in the next few days.
“The aim is also to prevent the ultras from regaining the lost territory. For this, the states will need more central forces which can be stationed there for sometime. Since the operation will be difficult once the area is full of rain-water during July-September, it is now planned to at least keep the heat on till the Monsoon completely sweeps the region”, said a senior official.
Last week, the state police along with CRPF personnel had busted one of the biggest Maoists’ camps in the areas of Tegir, Gerei and Mamel in the bordering districts of West Singhbhum and Khunti in Jharkhand. It was found that the ultras had not only set up an armed training camp on a hill top of thick forest area but also established lathe machines for manufacturing weapons and spare parts.
“It was a big success. The camp was well settled with solar panels and fortified with bunkers. Though the ultras fled away, they left behind the well-equipped camp which had been the mainstay of their operations against security personnel in Jharkhand and West Bengal”, said the official.
Jharkhand, where the anti-Maoist operation saw a dip during the JMM leader Shibu Soren’s chief minister-ship due his sympathetic attitude towards the naxals, will now be the flag-bearer of all anti-Maoist operations in coming months as the Center has, by virtue of Governor’s rule, been calling the shots in the state.
Apprehending that the ultras would try to flee to neighbouring West Bengal and Orissa, the Center meanwhile roped in both these states for joint operations in bordering areas. “The special operation which witnessed killing of eight Maoists including three women Naxalites in Duli forest area in West Midnapur district in West Bengal on Tuesday night was the extension of what is being done in Jharkhand”, said the official.
The intelligence, which security forces got in Jharkhand, provided security forces vital input of ultras’ movements in West Bengal and Orissa....http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTAvMDYvMTgjQXIwMTIwMg==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Saturday, June 12, 2010
The decision --- let police and paramilitary forces deal with the Red Ultras
Army will not fight Naxals, says Cabinet Committee on Security
Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Jun 12, 2010, 01.13am IST
NEW DELHI: The Army will not be used in a "combat role" in the ongoing anti-Naxal battle. The Centre and states will, instead, recruit ex-servicemen — including retired sappers for de-mining exercises — on contractual basis to fill the gap and will focus on strengthening paramilitary and police personnel through intensive training and recruitment programmes. Role of armed forces will only be limited to "training".
The Cabinet Committee on Security, which met under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday, took these decisions. It expected states to lead the charge against Maoists with the Centre mainly helping them with additional "security assistance" in terms of paramilitary personnel and "more funds" for modernisation of police forces and pursuing "development programmes". The committee, which analysed the proposals and counter-proposals of both the home and defence ministries before arriving at the decisions, also decided to meet again soon to give final shape to the strategy.
"CCS will also invite chief ministers of Naxal-affected states. Their views will help the Centre in finetuning the strategy," a top government official said.
Although the CCS meeting remained inconclusive in terms of giving final shape to the strategy and earmarking additional funds, it addressed major concerns of both defence and home ministries on major issues. "Since it was decided not to expand the role of armed forces at all beyond training, the focus was mainly on looking at alternatives to address the need of home ministry as well as states," the official said.
As the armed forces do not want to be dragged into yet another internal security duty beyond their existing roles in J&K and N-E states, the CCS allowed home ministry to fill the gap by recruiting ex-servicemen in a big way.
"While a couple of states are already doing this, remaining ones will also be asked to recruit retired armed force personnel for de-mining exercises and other security duties on minimum three years contract," the official said. The committee decided that the Centre would provide adequate funds to states for this purpose as well as for recruiting regular police personnel and increasing number of police stations in Naxal-hit districts.
Since the defence ministry argued that IAF could not spare a more helicopters to ferry troops, the CCS explored the option of hiring choppers from Pawan Hans for emergency duties including evacuation of injured personnel.....http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTAvMDYvMTIjQXIwMDcwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
THE PROPOSAL------
Govt looks at direct role for Army against Naxals
Rajat Pandit & Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Jun 2, 2010, 01.04am IST
NEW DELHI: The government is veering around to expanding the role of the armed forces in the ongoing anti-Naxal operations, with a hard look even being taken at whether they should be "directly deployed'' in the fight against the Maoists.
While an enhancement of their present surveillance, logistical and training mandate is a certainty, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting likely on Thursday will take the final call on whether to enlist the armed forces in a more direct combat role.
The decision will be influenced as much by political considerations as security imperatives. Yet, the possibility of armed forces being asked to take on the Left-wing extremists is no longer being summarily dismissed like before.
Defence minister A K Antony on Tuesday sounded out the three Service chiefs on the sensitive issue, with the 90-minute meeting with Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, Admiral Nirmal Verma and General V K Singh discussing "all dimensions'' of the security situation.
Independent of whether the government decides to push ahead with the idea, the very fact that direct engagement of armed forces is being looked as a serious option is significant.
It marks a critical shift on the part of the government, which had so far shied away from deploying soldiers in the Naxal battle. But a big cause for concern is the increasingly savage and audacious Maoist attacks, which have inflicted heavy casualties on paramilitary forces as well as non-combatants.
In May alone, as many as 172 civilians and 29 security personnel were killed by Naxals, if the derailing of the passenger train in West Midnapore on May 28 is also taken into account.
Though the meeting chaired by Antony examined the "pros and cons of different options'', it's for the CCS to decide on the exact mandate. "But one thing is certain even if the armed forces are deployed in a more direct role, it will be a limited mandate for a limited period,'' said a source.
One possible option could be to divert a few of the 63 battalions of Rashtriya Rifles, the Army's specialised counter-insurgency force operating in Jammu and Kashmir, "for selective missions'' in states worst-affected by Maoist depredations, said sources.
Successive governments have been averse to enlisting the Army in the fight because of the concern that it might lead to a perception about the Indian State not being in control of vast swathes in its own heartland.
There is also the issue of suitability of armed forces, which are trained to kill with heavy force, operating against an adversary who blends into the civilian population and is, in fact, adept at using them as shields.
The top military brass have their own reservations, extending from the lack of familiarity with the terrain and concrete ground-level intelligence to the armed forces being already overstretched in counter-insurgency in J&K and the North-East as well along the long unresolved borders with Pakistan and China.
But underlining the government's resolve to take the battle to Maoists, PM Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said, "In dealing with the challenge of Naxalism, we will pursue a policy that genuinely seeks to address developmental concerns at the grassroots, while firmly enforcing the writ of the state.''
But the dice could still fall either way in the CCS, with the home ministry keen to bolster the fight against the Maoists with "some more help'' from the armed forces but the defence establishment remaining largely reluctant about getting sucked into "yet another internal security duty''.
There has, however, been a significant shift in Antony's position in the last few days, from earlier being a strong opponent of deploying armed forces against Maoists in a direct role to now holding they will "accept'' the government's decision and "implement it with vigour and commitment''.
IAF, on its part, feels it can enhance its "air-support'' beyond the current four Mi-17 helicopters deployed in the region but continues to maintain the use of "offensive airpower'' is not a practical option since it can lead to collateral damage on the ground.
The armed forces, of course, are preparing for the worst-case scenario by finalising action plans to meet any contingency, as reported by TOI last week.
Having already trained around 47,000 paramilitary personnel since 2006 in its counter-insurgency and jungle warfare school in Vairengte and other institutions, the Army is also keen that a separate and dedicated counter-Naxalism training facility be established to train "homogeneous companies'' of police personnel.....http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTAvMDYvMDIjQXIwMDEwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Jun 12, 2010, 01.13am IST
NEW DELHI: The Army will not be used in a "combat role" in the ongoing anti-Naxal battle. The Centre and states will, instead, recruit ex-servicemen — including retired sappers for de-mining exercises — on contractual basis to fill the gap and will focus on strengthening paramilitary and police personnel through intensive training and recruitment programmes. Role of armed forces will only be limited to "training".
The Cabinet Committee on Security, which met under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday, took these decisions. It expected states to lead the charge against Maoists with the Centre mainly helping them with additional "security assistance" in terms of paramilitary personnel and "more funds" for modernisation of police forces and pursuing "development programmes". The committee, which analysed the proposals and counter-proposals of both the home and defence ministries before arriving at the decisions, also decided to meet again soon to give final shape to the strategy.
"CCS will also invite chief ministers of Naxal-affected states. Their views will help the Centre in finetuning the strategy," a top government official said.
Although the CCS meeting remained inconclusive in terms of giving final shape to the strategy and earmarking additional funds, it addressed major concerns of both defence and home ministries on major issues. "Since it was decided not to expand the role of armed forces at all beyond training, the focus was mainly on looking at alternatives to address the need of home ministry as well as states," the official said.
As the armed forces do not want to be dragged into yet another internal security duty beyond their existing roles in J&K and N-E states, the CCS allowed home ministry to fill the gap by recruiting ex-servicemen in a big way.
"While a couple of states are already doing this, remaining ones will also be asked to recruit retired armed force personnel for de-mining exercises and other security duties on minimum three years contract," the official said. The committee decided that the Centre would provide adequate funds to states for this purpose as well as for recruiting regular police personnel and increasing number of police stations in Naxal-hit districts.
Since the defence ministry argued that IAF could not spare a more helicopters to ferry troops, the CCS explored the option of hiring choppers from Pawan Hans for emergency duties including evacuation of injured personnel.....http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTAvMDYvMTIjQXIwMDcwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
THE PROPOSAL------
Govt looks at direct role for Army against Naxals
Rajat Pandit & Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Jun 2, 2010, 01.04am IST
NEW DELHI: The government is veering around to expanding the role of the armed forces in the ongoing anti-Naxal operations, with a hard look even being taken at whether they should be "directly deployed'' in the fight against the Maoists.
While an enhancement of their present surveillance, logistical and training mandate is a certainty, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting likely on Thursday will take the final call on whether to enlist the armed forces in a more direct combat role.
The decision will be influenced as much by political considerations as security imperatives. Yet, the possibility of armed forces being asked to take on the Left-wing extremists is no longer being summarily dismissed like before.
Defence minister A K Antony on Tuesday sounded out the three Service chiefs on the sensitive issue, with the 90-minute meeting with Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, Admiral Nirmal Verma and General V K Singh discussing "all dimensions'' of the security situation.
Independent of whether the government decides to push ahead with the idea, the very fact that direct engagement of armed forces is being looked as a serious option is significant.
It marks a critical shift on the part of the government, which had so far shied away from deploying soldiers in the Naxal battle. But a big cause for concern is the increasingly savage and audacious Maoist attacks, which have inflicted heavy casualties on paramilitary forces as well as non-combatants.
In May alone, as many as 172 civilians and 29 security personnel were killed by Naxals, if the derailing of the passenger train in West Midnapore on May 28 is also taken into account.
Though the meeting chaired by Antony examined the "pros and cons of different options'', it's for the CCS to decide on the exact mandate. "But one thing is certain even if the armed forces are deployed in a more direct role, it will be a limited mandate for a limited period,'' said a source.
One possible option could be to divert a few of the 63 battalions of Rashtriya Rifles, the Army's specialised counter-insurgency force operating in Jammu and Kashmir, "for selective missions'' in states worst-affected by Maoist depredations, said sources.
Successive governments have been averse to enlisting the Army in the fight because of the concern that it might lead to a perception about the Indian State not being in control of vast swathes in its own heartland.
There is also the issue of suitability of armed forces, which are trained to kill with heavy force, operating against an adversary who blends into the civilian population and is, in fact, adept at using them as shields.
The top military brass have their own reservations, extending from the lack of familiarity with the terrain and concrete ground-level intelligence to the armed forces being already overstretched in counter-insurgency in J&K and the North-East as well along the long unresolved borders with Pakistan and China.
But underlining the government's resolve to take the battle to Maoists, PM Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said, "In dealing with the challenge of Naxalism, we will pursue a policy that genuinely seeks to address developmental concerns at the grassroots, while firmly enforcing the writ of the state.''
But the dice could still fall either way in the CCS, with the home ministry keen to bolster the fight against the Maoists with "some more help'' from the armed forces but the defence establishment remaining largely reluctant about getting sucked into "yet another internal security duty''.
There has, however, been a significant shift in Antony's position in the last few days, from earlier being a strong opponent of deploying armed forces against Maoists in a direct role to now holding they will "accept'' the government's decision and "implement it with vigour and commitment''.
IAF, on its part, feels it can enhance its "air-support'' beyond the current four Mi-17 helicopters deployed in the region but continues to maintain the use of "offensive airpower'' is not a practical option since it can lead to collateral damage on the ground.
The armed forces, of course, are preparing for the worst-case scenario by finalising action plans to meet any contingency, as reported by TOI last week.
Having already trained around 47,000 paramilitary personnel since 2006 in its counter-insurgency and jungle warfare school in Vairengte and other institutions, the Army is also keen that a separate and dedicated counter-Naxalism training facility be established to train "homogeneous companies'' of police personnel.....http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTAvMDYvMDIjQXIwMDEwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Thursday, June 10, 2010
David Coleman Headley: LeT vs. al-Qaida...the claim game for share in terror bazar
'ISI guided LeT at every step for 26/11'
Diwakar & Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Jun 10, 2010, 02.40am IST
NEW DELHI: Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley has confirmed that Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists carried out the Mumbai attack under the "guidance" of Pakistan's ISI.
Headley, who is being interrogated in the US by a team of NIA officials, has said that the notorious ISI was engaged with the Lashkar commanders responsible for the 26/11 carnage at "each and every stage of the plot".
The account of the terrorist, who receed targets for Lashkar terrorists across the country, corroborates India's stand about the involvement of Pakistani state actors in terrorism, trains the spotlight on LeT-ISI tandem, and explains Pakistan's unwillingness to clamp down on the Lashkar leadership.
Headley has mentioned serving officers of Pakistan army — Major Sameer Ali, Major Iqbal and Major Haroon — as those who collaborated with the Lashkar terrorists. Major Sameer and Major Iqbal figured in the dossier India gave to Pakistani foreign secretary Salman Bashir.
NIA's sessions with Headley tally with what he is learnt to have told the FBI, including the crucial bit about Hafiz Saeed being in the loop through the plot.
Whether the disclosures that undercut its denial will lead Pakistan to step up its cooperation with the 26/11 probe remains unclear.
Home minister P Chidambaram is to demand voice samples of seven Lashkar commanders including Zakiur
Rahman Lakhvi, Zarar Shah, Abu Al Qama and others when he meets his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik during his visit to Islamabad for the conference of home ministers from SAARC region. Pakistan has so far refused to give voice samples which could help investigators ascertain the identity of those who instructed the 26/11 attackers as they went about their deadly assignment.
Headley has also spoken of how post-26/11, ISI wanted Lashkar to disown the Mumbai attack to turn the global attention away from the terror outfit that Pakistan considers to be an important strategic asset to be used against India. With Ajmal Kasab snared, and investigations by India and FBI homing in its nexus with Lashkar, ISI planned to blame the carnage on al-Qaida. It even prepared a list of 4-5 al-Qaida figures who were to be projected as the conspirators.
Significantly, the ploy did not work because of resitance from Lashkar leaders, particularly Zakiur Rahman Lakhvi, one of the 26/11 masterminds. Lashkar leaders who have proclaimed themselves to be innocent and have accused India of levelling baseless charges, felt that the increased notoriety after 26/11 had raised the terror profile of the group and was going to help them with recruitment and funds.
Headley also admitted that while he had started off as a Lashkar recruit, he started drifting towards Al Qaida under the influence of Major Abdul Rahman Saeed. Saeed, who served with 6 Baloch Regiment of Pakistan army, took voluntary retirement in 2002 to devote himself full time to Al Qaida's cause. Headley, who respected Saeed for his "sacrifice", went high in the retired major'e esteem because of precise inputs he provided for the 26/11 attack.
Saeed, with the help of Ilyas Kashmiri, drafted him for the plan to attack Danish newspaper Jylland Posten which published controversial cartoons of Prophet Mohammad. This, when Headley's original handler Sajid Mir wanted him to focus on Lashkar's anti-India mission.
During his Pakistan visit, Chidambaram will also ask Islamabad to locate and arrest 13 absconders found guilty by Indian courts......http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTAvMDYvMTAjQXIwMTIwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Diwakar & Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Jun 10, 2010, 02.40am IST
NEW DELHI: Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley has confirmed that Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists carried out the Mumbai attack under the "guidance" of Pakistan's ISI.
Headley, who is being interrogated in the US by a team of NIA officials, has said that the notorious ISI was engaged with the Lashkar commanders responsible for the 26/11 carnage at "each and every stage of the plot".
The account of the terrorist, who receed targets for Lashkar terrorists across the country, corroborates India's stand about the involvement of Pakistani state actors in terrorism, trains the spotlight on LeT-ISI tandem, and explains Pakistan's unwillingness to clamp down on the Lashkar leadership.
Headley has mentioned serving officers of Pakistan army — Major Sameer Ali, Major Iqbal and Major Haroon — as those who collaborated with the Lashkar terrorists. Major Sameer and Major Iqbal figured in the dossier India gave to Pakistani foreign secretary Salman Bashir.
NIA's sessions with Headley tally with what he is learnt to have told the FBI, including the crucial bit about Hafiz Saeed being in the loop through the plot.
Whether the disclosures that undercut its denial will lead Pakistan to step up its cooperation with the 26/11 probe remains unclear.
Home minister P Chidambaram is to demand voice samples of seven Lashkar commanders including Zakiur
Rahman Lakhvi, Zarar Shah, Abu Al Qama and others when he meets his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik during his visit to Islamabad for the conference of home ministers from SAARC region. Pakistan has so far refused to give voice samples which could help investigators ascertain the identity of those who instructed the 26/11 attackers as they went about their deadly assignment.
Headley has also spoken of how post-26/11, ISI wanted Lashkar to disown the Mumbai attack to turn the global attention away from the terror outfit that Pakistan considers to be an important strategic asset to be used against India. With Ajmal Kasab snared, and investigations by India and FBI homing in its nexus with Lashkar, ISI planned to blame the carnage on al-Qaida. It even prepared a list of 4-5 al-Qaida figures who were to be projected as the conspirators.
Significantly, the ploy did not work because of resitance from Lashkar leaders, particularly Zakiur Rahman Lakhvi, one of the 26/11 masterminds. Lashkar leaders who have proclaimed themselves to be innocent and have accused India of levelling baseless charges, felt that the increased notoriety after 26/11 had raised the terror profile of the group and was going to help them with recruitment and funds.
Headley also admitted that while he had started off as a Lashkar recruit, he started drifting towards Al Qaida under the influence of Major Abdul Rahman Saeed. Saeed, who served with 6 Baloch Regiment of Pakistan army, took voluntary retirement in 2002 to devote himself full time to Al Qaida's cause. Headley, who respected Saeed for his "sacrifice", went high in the retired major'e esteem because of precise inputs he provided for the 26/11 attack.
Saeed, with the help of Ilyas Kashmiri, drafted him for the plan to attack Danish newspaper Jylland Posten which published controversial cartoons of Prophet Mohammad. This, when Headley's original handler Sajid Mir wanted him to focus on Lashkar's anti-India mission.
During his Pakistan visit, Chidambaram will also ask Islamabad to locate and arrest 13 absconders found guilty by Indian courts......http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTAvMDYvMTAjQXIwMTIwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Monday, June 7, 2010
David Coleman Headley: The "double agent" saga keeps everyone guessing about the outcome
Headley won’t be able to hide behind US law
Vishwa Mohan , TNN, Jun 7, 2010, 01.10am IST
NEW DELHI: The questioning of American jihadi David Coleman Headley by Indian sleuths in Chicago is unlikely to throw up fresh leads but officials here rejected reports that the terrorist could invoke ‘Fifth Amendment’ to refuse answering questions.
‘Fifth Amendment’ provides rights to a person under US law which guarantees that no one can be forced to be witness against himself/herself in a criminal case. Officials said the Lashkar jihadi cannot invoke this right in the 12 cases, including 26/11 terror attack, for which he has pleaded guilty.
Citing Waiver of Rights clause of the plea agreement between Headley and the US government, an official said, “He has surrendered certain rights, including the one under Fifth Amendment. The waivers are clearly mentioned in the agreement.”
Besides ‘trial rights’ including the privilege against self-incrimination, Headley — originally known as Daood Gilani — has also surrendered his rights of appeal and collateral.
The ‘Waiver of Rights’ section of the plea agreement gives details of these rights, saying, “Defendant (Headley) understands that by pleading guilty he is waiving all the rights set forth in the prior paragraphs. Defendant’s attorneys have explained those rights to him, and the consequences of his waiver of those rights.”
Officials said they had thoroughly examined the ‘plea agreement’ document before sending the NIA team to Chicago. However, they accepted that Headley could invoke ‘Fifth Amendment’ in cases which were not related to those 12 counts — meaning it would be impossible for Indian sleuths to extract anything from him beyond 26/11.
Asked what purpose such questioning would serve, an official said, “Since the NIA sleuths carried with them certain evidence directly linking him with other Lashkar operatives who were involved in cases other than 26/11 as well, the answers, if any, will give India vital information linking Pakistan army personnel.”
But did not FBI share these details with India? He said, “It did, but it will still be important for us to get some first-hand information. Besides, the exercise will also pave the way for filing a supplementary chargesheet, if needed, in the 26/11 case.”
The official said one should not forget that the case was much more than the conviction of Ajmal Kasab, the lone 26/11 Pakistani attacker caught by Mumbai Police.
Intelligence expert and retired RAW additional secretary B Raman, however, disagreed. He told TOI that the entire exercise was a mere eyewash as Headley would give only “proforma replies” to Indian questions and these replies would have been rehearsed with his lawyer in advance. “The answers will only corroborate what FBI told NIA,” he added. Some Indian intelligence officials believe that the US would not like Headley to say anything beyond a point as he is also suspected to have worked for American agencies. It is suspected that Headley had acted as a ‘double agent’ who later turned rogue and switched over to the Lashkar side before the 26/11 attacks.....http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTAvMDYvMDcjQXIwMDcwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Vishwa Mohan , TNN, Jun 7, 2010, 01.10am IST
NEW DELHI: The questioning of American jihadi David Coleman Headley by Indian sleuths in Chicago is unlikely to throw up fresh leads but officials here rejected reports that the terrorist could invoke ‘Fifth Amendment’ to refuse answering questions.
‘Fifth Amendment’ provides rights to a person under US law which guarantees that no one can be forced to be witness against himself/herself in a criminal case. Officials said the Lashkar jihadi cannot invoke this right in the 12 cases, including 26/11 terror attack, for which he has pleaded guilty.
Citing Waiver of Rights clause of the plea agreement between Headley and the US government, an official said, “He has surrendered certain rights, including the one under Fifth Amendment. The waivers are clearly mentioned in the agreement.”
Besides ‘trial rights’ including the privilege against self-incrimination, Headley — originally known as Daood Gilani — has also surrendered his rights of appeal and collateral.
The ‘Waiver of Rights’ section of the plea agreement gives details of these rights, saying, “Defendant (Headley) understands that by pleading guilty he is waiving all the rights set forth in the prior paragraphs. Defendant’s attorneys have explained those rights to him, and the consequences of his waiver of those rights.”
Officials said they had thoroughly examined the ‘plea agreement’ document before sending the NIA team to Chicago. However, they accepted that Headley could invoke ‘Fifth Amendment’ in cases which were not related to those 12 counts — meaning it would be impossible for Indian sleuths to extract anything from him beyond 26/11.
Asked what purpose such questioning would serve, an official said, “Since the NIA sleuths carried with them certain evidence directly linking him with other Lashkar operatives who were involved in cases other than 26/11 as well, the answers, if any, will give India vital information linking Pakistan army personnel.”
But did not FBI share these details with India? He said, “It did, but it will still be important for us to get some first-hand information. Besides, the exercise will also pave the way for filing a supplementary chargesheet, if needed, in the 26/11 case.”
The official said one should not forget that the case was much more than the conviction of Ajmal Kasab, the lone 26/11 Pakistani attacker caught by Mumbai Police.
Intelligence expert and retired RAW additional secretary B Raman, however, disagreed. He told TOI that the entire exercise was a mere eyewash as Headley would give only “proforma replies” to Indian questions and these replies would have been rehearsed with his lawyer in advance. “The answers will only corroborate what FBI told NIA,” he added. Some Indian intelligence officials believe that the US would not like Headley to say anything beyond a point as he is also suspected to have worked for American agencies. It is suspected that Headley had acted as a ‘double agent’ who later turned rogue and switched over to the Lashkar side before the 26/11 attacks.....http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTAvMDYvMDcjQXIwMDcwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Indian Mujahideen: No longer a mere digital presence
IM declared a terrorist organization
Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Jun 5, 2010, 02.14am IST
NEW DELHI: Indian Mujahideen (IM) — a shadow outfit of the banned SIMI and Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) — was on Friday formally declared a “terrorist organization”.
The group, which is also part of Pakistan ISI’s grand plan to attack India under its ‘Karachi Project’, has been involved in a number of strikes in different cities during 2007-10 with the German Bakery at Pune being its latest target in February. Although the police across the country had been taking action against its cadres (mainly Indians) ever since it first claimed responsibility for the serial blasts in Uttar Pradesh through its signature style of sending emails to media in November 2007, the move of declaring it a terrorist organization will remove any legal ambiguity while booking its cadres for terror acts in the country.
“An order has been issued adding Indian Mujahideen, all its formations and front organizations to the existing list of terrorist organizations under a schedule to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967,” said a home ministry official. The list currently carries the names of all the big terror outfits, including ULFA, LTTE, LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen, al-Qaeda, Al Badr, CPI (Maoist) and Khalistani and northeastern insurgent groups. Besides, the government had recently also added 100 odd outfits — banned under United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions — from across the globe by putting them together at entry No 33 in the list.
The move of formally declaring IM as a terrorist organization will help the prosecuting agency in getting orders from the court to seize any land, house or any movable and immovable properties belonging to the members of the outfit and its fronts. Besides, anyone associated with the banned terror outfit will be liable for imprisonment ranging from two years to seven years under the UAPA.
An official said: “It will only smoothen the entire process. Earlier, we had been taking action against the IM cadres as ones belonging to a front of the SIMI, which has been in the list of banned outfit for long.”
The IM was founded after a rift in the ranks of SIMI, with one group led by Safdar Nagori sticking to radical militant ideology while the other, led by Mohammed Islam, former chief coordinator of SIMI, preferred a moderate approach.
Indian agencies have enough evidence which suggest that the outfit has full support of ISI through LeT.....http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTAvMDYvMDUjQXIwMTUwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Jun 5, 2010, 02.14am IST
NEW DELHI: Indian Mujahideen (IM) — a shadow outfit of the banned SIMI and Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) — was on Friday formally declared a “terrorist organization”.
The group, which is also part of Pakistan ISI’s grand plan to attack India under its ‘Karachi Project’, has been involved in a number of strikes in different cities during 2007-10 with the German Bakery at Pune being its latest target in February. Although the police across the country had been taking action against its cadres (mainly Indians) ever since it first claimed responsibility for the serial blasts in Uttar Pradesh through its signature style of sending emails to media in November 2007, the move of declaring it a terrorist organization will remove any legal ambiguity while booking its cadres for terror acts in the country.
“An order has been issued adding Indian Mujahideen, all its formations and front organizations to the existing list of terrorist organizations under a schedule to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967,” said a home ministry official. The list currently carries the names of all the big terror outfits, including ULFA, LTTE, LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen, al-Qaeda, Al Badr, CPI (Maoist) and Khalistani and northeastern insurgent groups. Besides, the government had recently also added 100 odd outfits — banned under United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions — from across the globe by putting them together at entry No 33 in the list.
The move of formally declaring IM as a terrorist organization will help the prosecuting agency in getting orders from the court to seize any land, house or any movable and immovable properties belonging to the members of the outfit and its fronts. Besides, anyone associated with the banned terror outfit will be liable for imprisonment ranging from two years to seven years under the UAPA.
An official said: “It will only smoothen the entire process. Earlier, we had been taking action against the IM cadres as ones belonging to a front of the SIMI, which has been in the list of banned outfit for long.”
The IM was founded after a rift in the ranks of SIMI, with one group led by Safdar Nagori sticking to radical militant ideology while the other, led by Mohammed Islam, former chief coordinator of SIMI, preferred a moderate approach.
Indian agencies have enough evidence which suggest that the outfit has full support of ISI through LeT.....http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTAvMDYvMDUjQXIwMTUwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
There seems to be too much politics in everything..MB had her way only when she prooved her worth
Didi wins twice: CBI to probe train carnage
Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Jun 3, 2010, 03.24am IST
NEW DELHI: After keeping the matter hanging for three days, the Centre on Wednesday ordered a CBI probe into the Jnaneshwari Express derailment. The decision was taken on the day when railway minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress -- which had been demanding CBI probe -- scored a thumping win in the state civic polls.
The state government, which on Monday rejected calls for a CBI probe, quickly fell in line when the Union home ministry informed it that the central agency would investigate the case under relevant section of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act which does not require state's concurrence when an incident takes place in "railway areas".
"We have decided to hand over the case to CBI under Section 5 of the DSPE Act which provides legal power to the central probe agency to investigate such cases," a senior official said, adding the state police and railways would assist the central agency in the investigation.
The CBI will take over the probe by Thursday once the matter is formally notified. State police and the CID, which are currently probing the incident, will hand over all relevant details to the central agency and will join the CBI sleuths as and when required during investigation.
"The West Bengal government has conveyed to us that they will fully cooperate in the investigation," the official said.
The incident took place on May 28 when Jnaneshwari Express was derailed due to removal of fish plates and the cutting off of a portion of the rail track. Although the state police insisted that it was the handiwork of Maoists, Banerjee had alleged that there was a political conspiracy and this could only be unearthed through a CBI probe.
After the railway ministry expressed the need for CBI probe on May 29, the home ministry sought West Bengal government's views. The state government, on its part, rejected CBI probe on May 31 saying since the CID probe was making progress, it did not feel that a parallel inquiry was necessary. State's view that the incident could be the handiwork of Maoists was also endorsed by home minister P Chidambaram who on Monday said that the needle of suspicion pointed to the CPI (Maoist) or its front organisation.....http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTAvMDYvMDMjQXIwMTEwMQ==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Jun 3, 2010, 03.24am IST
NEW DELHI: After keeping the matter hanging for three days, the Centre on Wednesday ordered a CBI probe into the Jnaneshwari Express derailment. The decision was taken on the day when railway minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress -- which had been demanding CBI probe -- scored a thumping win in the state civic polls.
The state government, which on Monday rejected calls for a CBI probe, quickly fell in line when the Union home ministry informed it that the central agency would investigate the case under relevant section of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act which does not require state's concurrence when an incident takes place in "railway areas".
"We have decided to hand over the case to CBI under Section 5 of the DSPE Act which provides legal power to the central probe agency to investigate such cases," a senior official said, adding the state police and railways would assist the central agency in the investigation.
The CBI will take over the probe by Thursday once the matter is formally notified. State police and the CID, which are currently probing the incident, will hand over all relevant details to the central agency and will join the CBI sleuths as and when required during investigation.
"The West Bengal government has conveyed to us that they will fully cooperate in the investigation," the official said.
The incident took place on May 28 when Jnaneshwari Express was derailed due to removal of fish plates and the cutting off of a portion of the rail track. Although the state police insisted that it was the handiwork of Maoists, Banerjee had alleged that there was a political conspiracy and this could only be unearthed through a CBI probe.
After the railway ministry expressed the need for CBI probe on May 29, the home ministry sought West Bengal government's views. The state government, on its part, rejected CBI probe on May 31 saying since the CID probe was making progress, it did not feel that a parallel inquiry was necessary. State's view that the incident could be the handiwork of Maoists was also endorsed by home minister P Chidambaram who on Monday said that the needle of suspicion pointed to the CPI (Maoist) or its front organisation.....http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTAvMDYvMDMjQXIwMTEwMQ==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
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