Property details of cops .... list of defaulters continues to be long

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Top cops fail to declare assets

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Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Jun 21, 2012, 02.24AM IST

NEW DELHI: The government's attempt to bring transparency in top bureaucracy does not seem to be working with the elite Indian Police Service (IPS) officers. Almost one-fifth of them failed to declare details of their immovable property before expiry of the deadline on Monday, despite repeated reminders issued by the home ministry.

The revised list of officers, who did not submit their Annual Immovable Property Return (AIPR) for the year 2011 by June 18, shows that 677 out of the total 3,393 IPS officers in the country have not acted upon the Centre's missive.

"As a result, these officers will not only be denied vigilance clearance for promotion and empanelment for central posting, but also not be considered for Service Medals for this year's Independence Day," a top home ministry official said. He said it was strange that the repeated reminders and warnings failed to move those IPS officers who knew the repercussion of not filing their AIPRs.

The maximum 200 out of these 677 IPS officers belong to Uttar Pradesh cadre followed by 79 of Karnataka, 31 of Jharkhand, 27 of Andhra Pradesh, 23 each of Maharashtra and Punjab, 22 each of Bihar and Rajasthan, 21 of Jammu & Kashmir, 20 of Himachal Pradesh, 18 each of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, 17 of West Bengal, 14 of Madhya Pradesh, 13 of Haryana and 11 each of Kerala and Odisha cadres among others.

Though it is possible that some of them might have submitted the immovable property details to their respective home departments in states, the same has not reached the home ministry which is the cadre controlling authority of IPS officers in the country.

Asking IPS officers to adhere to the June 18 deadline, the home ministry had made it clear that those who failed to do it would not be recommended for the award of President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service and Police Medal for Meritorious Service on the occasion of Independence Day this year.

Issuing the last reminders on June 6, the ministry in its note to home secretaries and police chiefs of all states/UTs and director generals of all central police organizations had said, "In the absence of AIPR for the year 2011, vigilance clearance will not be granted and thus the IPS officers will not be considered for Service Medals for Independence Day, 2012."

The ministry had issued similar notes twice in the past but to no avail. The first such deadline for filing the AIPR for the year 2011 was on January 31. Issuing this deadline much in advance, the ministry had said that unless the property returns were received by the central government, the records would not be complete and the central government had no option but to assume that the property return(s) had not been submitted.......................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTIvMDYvMjEjQXIwMTUwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

Extradition of American terrorist of Pakistani origin - David Coleman Headley - is impossible; New Delhi looks for alternative to depose him before Court

India wants Headley to depose via video

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Vishwa Mohan TNN | Jun 19, 2012, 02.49AM IST

NEW DELHI: India has asked the US to provide it with statements of 13 people associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist David Coleman Headley and his accomplice in the 26\11 Mumbai terror attack case Tahawwur Hussain Rana and explore a possibility of deposing the duo for trial before a court through video-conferencing in a pending NIA case. 


Indian investigators believe that the 13 people, including Headley's wife Shazia Gilani, his ex-wife, Rana's associates and his Canada-based relatives, could be potential witnesses against the duo in a NIA case of November, 2009, which looks beyond 26\11. 


Both Headley (US citizen) and Rana (Canadian citizen) - of Pakistani origin - are currently lodged in a Chicago jail. They were arrested by the FBI in October, 2009. The NIA case against them pertains to their involvement in a larger conspiracy to carry out terror attacks in New Delhi and other cities with the help of Pakistan-based terror outfits LeT and HuJI. 


Taking cognizance of the NIA's chargesheet against Headley, Rana, Lashkar founder Hafiz Saeed, the outfit's key commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and five others, the special court here on May 31 had sought their presence before it for trial on August 6. 


Seeking American cooperation to take the case against Headley and Rana to logical conclusion, India had placed its demand during the third Indo-US strategic dialogue in Washington on June 13. New Delhi reminded Washington of the pending Letters Rogatory which were sent to the US seeking help in the ongoing investigations. 


"Since extradition of both these accused seemed almost impossible, India has asked the US to explore an option of video-conferencing to depose them for trial," said an official. He said that the US told India that they would consider its request but conveyed that one or two persons were currently based in Canada and New Delhi would have to approach that country for the same. 


India had access to Headley, who had made a reconnaissance trip of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack targets for the LeT in June, 2010, but so far has not been able to quiz Rana, Shazia and others who have had links with him. 


Rana was last year convicted of knowingly conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist conspiracy to maim and murder people in Denmark, and of providing material support to the LeT. He was, however, acquitted in the Mumbai terror attack case. 


Home secretary R K Singh was part of the delegation which visited the US for the Dialogue last week. Singh had visited the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in the US and got a first hand feel of the anti-terror hub despite opposition to a similar set up back home..................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDEyLzA2LzE5I0FyMDEwMDA=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

New Visual Standards for paramilitary personnel ...... a practical move

Now, minor visual problem won't be bar to join paramilitary forces

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Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Jun 10, 2012, 10.09PM IST

NEW DELHI: Now, young aspirants having minor visual problem can join paramilitary forces, if the defect is corrected using laser eye surgery. Government will soon notify a revised visual standard, giving a ray of hope for such persons whose candidatures are, at present, summarily rejected due to stringent norms.

Government thinks that the changes, which can be made by getting rid of "redundant" stringent visual standards in this age of advanced technology, may not only help the paramilitary forces to recruit more personnel but also to retain the manpower.

The revised visual standards will also take into account different nature of works for different categories of personnel while revising the norms, unlike the existing rule which asks for same standard for personnel engaged in combat and non-combat jobs. The notification will be issued on the basis of a policy guideline that was brought out by the home ministry last month.

The new norms will be meant for recruitment and retention of personnel in all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), including CRPF, ITBP, CISF, BSF, SSB and Assam Rifles.

The ministry while coming out with the guidelines noted that there is no point in prohibiting candidates having minor visual defect in this age of advance technology when "there are many methods available for correction of distant vision like LASIK".

"Additionally, there has been a significant transformation in the job profile of the CAPF personnel and the methods of border guarding as well as the way warfare is conducted," said the ministry's in its note issued on May 18.

It said: "The armamentarium of sophisticated detection and combat gadgets has made redundant certain stringent visual standards hitherto considered essential". The ministry also noted how the CAPFs are losing out on recruiting candidates due to existing stringent visual standards. "This coupled with the lack of attraction towards the Forces as a career option among the youth has led to a situation where there is a shortfall in the induction of officers, non-gazetted officers and personnel in other ranks."

Pitching for the change, officials observed that there is no valid reason in expecting the same level of visual standards for personnel who work at borders or in militant-affected states for counter-insurgency operations and those who work as sweeper, cleaner, gardener or cook in the CAPFs.

The ministry has come out with the new guidelines on the basis of a recommendation made by a medical board - headed by ADG (medical) of the paramilitary forces B S Pandey and comprising team of doctors including director (medical) of CISF Navin Ram - that was constituted last year.................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JS00vMjAxMi8wNi8xMSNBcjAwOTAx&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

Sachar Committee recommendations......slow pace of implementation

Deploy Muslim cops in areas having higher community count: Centre to states

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Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Jun 7, 2012, 03.36AM IST

NEW DELHI: Observing that the states have not yet fully implemented one of the key recommendations of the Sachar Committee report, the Centre has recently written to all the states reminding them to post at least one Muslim inspector or sub-inspector (S-I) in police stations that fall under areas having high concentration of Muslim population.

In a note written to chief secretaries of all the states, the Union home secretary RK Singh urged them to send a status report on it by the end of this month.

The committee, which was constituted on March 9, 2005, under the chairmanship of Justice Rajinder Sachar to prepare a comprehensive report on the social, economic and educational status of Muslims in India, had in its report in November, 2006, recommended this as an initiative to build confidence among community members.

It suggested that it may be useful to have, at least, one Muslim inspector or S-I in police stations in areas having high concentration of Muslim population "not as a matter to eliminate discrimination but as an initiative to build confidence".

Reminding the states about an elaborate note written by the then Union home secretary Madhukar Gupta four years ago on the issue, Singh in his note in March had said: "I would once again request you to take appropriate action in the light of the recommendation and also apprise this ministry about the action taken in this regard".

Singh also asked them to do the follow up exercise again in December and make it a practice to send status report to the home ministry on a half-yearly basis.

Sources in the home ministry said that though a number of states had started the practice to post at least one Muslim inspector or S-I in such police stations, the implementation was erratic and consequently the full compliance was yet to be achieved. Sachar Committee had made various recommendations which are being followed up simultaneously by different ministries, taking into account their jurisdiction and subject.

"The particular suggestion on posting of Muslim cops is being followed up by the home ministry," said an official, adding the status of implementation of other recommendations concerning overall welfare of Muslims will be discussed in the national conference of state ministers for minority welfare here on Thursday.

He said: "The Sachar Committee report was prepared after detailed and wide ranging consultation with state governments, NGOs, Universities, academic bodies, intellectuals and different bodies of the Central government."..........................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JSC8yMDEyLzA2LzA3I0FyMDEwMDE=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

Sachin Tendulkar ....... an MP

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Sachin's zeal to excel on show in maiden House visit

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Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Jun 5, 2012, 01.57AM IST

NEW DELHI: Sachin Tendulkar got the most out of his maiden visit to Parliament as MP on Monday, touring the inner chamber of Rajya Sabha and Central Hall and also asking if he would be sitting somewhere between Jaya Bachchan and Rekha when shown his seat in the House.

After taking oath in Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari's chamber, Tendulkar with wife Anjali went to the Upper House and saw his seat and checked the seating of party blocks and reporters' desk.

"His inquiries about details on how Parliament works gave us an idea about why he has done so well. I think he will prepare for Parliament the way he does for a cricket match," said minister of state for parliamentary affairs Harish Rawat.

"He even read names of fellow nominated MPs and checked if all such members sit in the same block. He checked seating arrangements for Opposition and ruling party members. He asked about seats of Jaya Bachchan and Rekha and asked if he would be in a block between them," the minister said.

Tendulkar also went to secretary general VK Agnihotri's office and told him that he would have to learn a lot from him. He asked about certain rules and regulation for members, about how proceedings of the House start and where the chairman sits.

Ministers in attendance hoped that given the interest he displayed, Tendulkar will not prove to be a celebrity who is not seen much after becoming an MP.

Rawat said: "Tendulkar showed us a glimpse of the qualities that made him great. I firmly believe that he will be very successful in his innings as a Parliamentarian"......................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDEyLzA2LzA1I0FyMDEyMDY=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar in Parliament

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MP Sachin promises to bat for other sports

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Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Jun 5, 2012, 01.43AM IST

NEW DELHI: Sachin Tendulkar took oath as Rajya Sabha MP on Monday making it clear that he does not intend to reduce his focus on cricket although he now looks forward to helping the cause of not just cricket but all other sports in India.

The cricket icon's much anticipated visit to Parliament saw him being mobbed by media cameras as he emerged with wife Anjali surrounded by security staff after being sworn in as MP in Vice-President Hamid Ansari's office.

Determined to stick to a brief statement, he left without taking questions. In the few comments he offered to speak as he walked to Ansari's office, Tendulkar said he did not intend to stop playing cricket just yet, emphasizing he did not want to spark any speculation on this score.

The day and date of his becoming an MP had no particular significance, he said answering a query on sporting superstitions. "I have always felt that I would like to give back to cricket in the later part of my life... I would be really, really happy if I can be remembered for my contribution to other sports, not just cricket. That is something I want to do and that is why I accepted this," said Tendulkar.

While his cricketing engagements will keep him busy, by outlining sport as his priority as a parliamentarian, Tendulkar indicated he is not likely to alter his record of avoiding controversy and will not to be drawn into political or contentious matters. The emphasis is significant in context of criticism that his nomination will provide some shine to a beleaguered government.

Parliament being a restricted area, onlookers comprised staff and media and Tendulkar made a low key entry with just a handful of correspondents at hand as he got out of minister of state for parliamentary affairs Rajiv Shukla's official car. A few quick greetings later, he headed for Ansari's chambers.

Tendulkar began his innings as a parliamentarian by taking his oath in Hindi. He then took a tour of the Upper House and Central Hall before facing the cameras waiting for him. "I am here because of my cricketing career. I cannot take any focus away from my cricket. That is where it all started for me. I will focus on my cricket and as and when I stop playing cricket, I don't know when, I will start attending to other things," the cricketing great said.

He will be the only 'active' sportsperson in Parliament and minister of state for agriculture Harish Rawat later said Tendulkar could not take oath earlier due to his commitment to IPL cricket matches that ended on May 27. Since Parliament is not in session, the oath was delivered in the presence of three ministers - MoS in PMO V Narayanasamy, Rawat and Shukla.

The other person present was Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav, who said "I came because the ministers invited me."

Surprisingly, Tendulkar is the only first cricketer among 121 members "nominated" to Rajya Sabha since 1952. Besides him, there are, at present, nine other nominated members, including celebrities like Javed Akhtar and Rekha.

Trying to put to rest any speculation on his retirement, Sachin said: "I don't want rumours to start that I have stopped playing cricket. I will let everyone know when I will stop playing cricket".

On whether he would be able to attend to Parliament, he said: "See, I am a nominee. I didn't go to anyone to say that I want to become a Rajya Sabha member. It is an honour which I accept with full respect but I am here because of my cricketing career. Cricket has given so many things to my life. Whatever I am today is because of cricket and I always believe that in the latter part of my life I need to give something back to cricket".

He said: "I believe there might be few obstacles along the way and a few challenges along the way. And I need help from my fellow parliamentarians, administrators, media and our countrymen. I think, together we can make a lot of changes."

There are other sportspersons in Parliament, including hockey player and former India captain Dilip Tirkey in Rajya Sabha, and former cricketers Navjot Singh Sidhu, Mohammed Azharuddin and Kirti Azad in Lok Sabha. While Tirkey was 'elected' unopposed to Rajya Sabha as Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP from Odisha, Sidhu (BJP), Azaharuddin (Congress) and Azad (BJP) were elected to Lok Sabha in 2009 from Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar..............................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTIvMDYvMDUjQXIwMDkwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

A tug of war between Centre and States over transfer of loyalists

All transfers, postings according to norms, says Union home ministry

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Vishwa Mohan |TNN | May 31, 2012, 02.48AM IST

NEW DELHI: A day after Delhi and Goa chief ministers raised the issue of transfer/posting of officials and criticized the Centre for taking 'unilateral' decision, the home ministry on Wednesday rejected their claims saying all the transfers were done as per set norms and tenure policy of bureaucrats.

"All transfers and postings of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMU) cadre officers were done as per laid down norms and rules," home secretary R K Singh said.

He said the ministry did make exceptions in transfers and postings in extraordinary situation like ill health of officers or when service of officers concerned was urgently needed for executing certain works which needed 'continuity' for few months.

His remarks came in the backdrop of Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit making her discontent known to home minister P Chidambaram amid transfer of a number of officers out of the Capital.

Dikshit on Tuesday told TOI, "Earlier, the home ministry would consult us. But now, senior officials handling important portfolios are proposed to be transferred without any interface with us." Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar was more critical. He even demanded an apology from Chidambaram for, what he called, "unilaterally appointing IPS officers in the state without taking the state government into confidence". 

Toughening his posture, the BJP government in Goa has even started refusing to accept the IPS officers who were transferred to the state by the home ministry.

However, officials in the home ministry believe the public posturing by the CMs over the issue appeared to be an attempt to pre-empt the decision at a time when transfer/posting files of many officers are being processed for final decision.

They pointed out that the Goa CM had made such allegations despite the fact that on April 26, he was requested by Chidambaram to suggest names of officers the state government desired to be posted.

"Goa CM's wish was accommodated as far as possible after consulting the state chief secretary. All India Service officers cannot be left forever in service in a particular state. We have to follow rules and rotate the officers as per the tenure policy," said a senior official.

The list of recent transfer/posting of AGMU cadres showed that officers slated to move out of Goa or Delhi were those whose transfers were pending for long. Fifteen IAS and five IPS officers were transferred and posted in Goa since April while in Delhi, around 15 IAS and IPS officials were reshuffled. 


Sources said the home ministry would go for more reshuffle in Delhi and Andaman & Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS) and Delhi and A&N Police Service (DANIPS) officers soon. Most of those who were so far transferred from their respective postings have completed more than four years while there are still some officers serving either in Delhi or Goa for more than seven to 10 years who are required to be transferred. 


According to the guidelines, the home ministry has to ensure that cadre officers serve 'hard' areas at their turn and get required experience in serving in different constituent units of the cadre. It is also mandated to check and curb the tendency of some officers to stick to Delhi for years together by bringing extraneous pressures.  


"Notwithstanding anything contained in this policy, the home ministry has the absolute right, if necessary, to transfer or post any officer to any constituent at any time on administrative grounds/ in public interest," the guideline says..............................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDEyLzA1LzMxI0FyMDEzMDA=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

Indo-Pak ..... a long way to go before both the countries blink together

Pak says enough proof to nail Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi for 26/11 plot

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Vishwa Mohan |TNN | May 29, 2012, 12.55AM IST

NEW DELHI: Pakistan has finally acknowledged that there is enough evidence to prosecute Lashkar commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi for his involvement in the Mumbai terror attacks, in what marks the first endorsement of India's case against the 26/11 masterminds holed up across the border.

Pakistani officials admitted during last week's home secretary-level talks that investigation conducted by their Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had established Lakhvi's direct involvement in the 26/11 terror attacks.

According to sources in the home ministry here, the Pakistani officials told home secretary R K Singh that the evidence against Lakhvi -- largely related to his role in organizing money and logistics, including the boat and inflatable dingy for the gang that ravaged Mumbai -- was strong enough to secure his conviction in court. 

"Pakistan told India about the development at FIA's end during the home secretary-level talks between the two countries in Islamabad last week," said an official privy to the details of talks between the two home secretaries.

Officials here termed it as a "significant admission", stressing that Pakistani authorities will be required to produce the evidence in the court trying Lakhvi and six others including Lashkar commanders Zarar Shah and Abu Al Qama, who all are in jail.

The development marks a validation of the evidence that India gathered against Lakhvi, Shah, Qama and others and can give satisfaction to the investigators who saw Pakistan cussedly shrugging off their findings as flimsy. It should also leave them intrigued because they maintain that the evidence about Lakhvi's role contained in the several Indian dossiers submitted to Pakistan had been so foolproof that it could have easily been corroborated even by the neighbourhood cop long ago.

As it coincides with the pressure from the US for action against Hafiz Saeed, wary Indian officials wonder whether the new stance on Lakhvi's culpability is meant to isolate the Lashkar chief from his junior jihadis and to strengthen Pakistan's case that lack of evidence was the only reason why it was not acting against the Muridke-based hate monger.

Significantly, Pakistani officials bluntly told their Indian counterparts that the demand for action against Saeed was based on what Pakistan's interior minister Rehman Malik called "hearsay". They did not relent when the Indian side pointed out that in his confessional statement, Ajmal Kasab had spoken about Saeed's role in motivating the 26/11 attackers.

Though Pakistan, on India's insistence, agreed to put before the Pakistani court new details on Saeed's involvement, it maintained that the FIA could not find anything against him. The admission about evidence of Lakhvi's involvement in the Mumbai attacks raises the question of how Islamabad is going to treat the evidence against other 26/11 masterminds, particularly two serving officers of Pakistan army who were involved in the Mumbai plot.

David Headley, the Pakistan-born jihadi who reconnoitered Mumbai as part of the 26/11 plot, had spoken about the involvement of the two officers, besides Saeed. Islamabad also gave an assurance to consider positively the request for release of Sarabjit Singh, a condemned Indian prisoner currently lodged in Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore.

The assurance was given when home secretary R K Singh called on Pakistani interior minister Rehman Malik in Islamabad last week. "I have requested the Pakistan interior minister and my counterpart (interior secretary K M Siddiq Akbar) to release Sarabjit Singh. They have assured me that they will consider our request positively," Singh said while briefing reporters about his visit to Islamabad.

Sarabjit was convicted for his involvement in the 1990 serial bomb blasts in Lahore and Multan that killed 14 people. He was given death sentence but his execution was indefinitely put off by the Pakistan government. Akbar too had hinted about the possibility after the talks when he told media in Islamabad that the Indian team raised the issue of Sarabjit and the matter would be decided in line with Pakistani laws. It is learnt that Pakistan may take the "pardon" route to release Sarabjit, if at all it decides to do it. 


The talks also saw both sides agreeing to initiate negotiations for a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty which is meant to facilitate cooperation in investigation of crimes, prosecution and collecting evidence. Home secretary Singh said both sides have agreed "in principle" to initiate negotiations on a MLAT to strengthen cooperation in criminal matters. 


"The Pakistani side promised to examine the draft and revert with comments within two months," he said. He said the Pakistani side also "took note of Indian request" to consider the possibility of inking an extradition treaty between the two countries. "They said they would examine it," Singh said. 


Acceptance of the MLAT draft by Pakistan assumes significance as, if signed, it will pave the way for cooperation on all criminal matters including terror investigation. Assistance under the treaty includes locating and identifying persons and objects; search and seizure; making detained person available to give evidence or assist investigations; taking measures to freeze and confiscate any funds meant for financing acts of terrorism and obtaining statements of accused or detained persons..........................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDEyLzA1LzI5I0FyMDA5MDA=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

Indo-Pak home secretary-level talks.....a baby step towards MLAT

India, Pak boost ties on legal aid, prisoners’ swap

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Vishwa Mohan |TNN | May 28, 2012, 04.02AM IST

NEW DELHI: The failure to sign a new visa agreement may have been the low point of the home secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan but the meeting, which concluded on Friday, was a step forward in terms of initiating discussion on Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) and putting the process of releasing each other's prisoners/fishermen on fast track.

Despite initial resistance, Pakistan has agreed to examine the draft of the MLAT and revert with comments as early as possible.

Though it may take time before the two countries sign such an agreement, India believes Pakistan agreeing to discuss the matter assumes significance in view of recognizing the need to have such a legal instrument on criminal matters including terrorism.

The MLAT is devised in such a way that it can help both countries in combating transnational organized crimes, trans-border terrorism and other serious offences such as drug trafficking, money laundering, counterfeit currency and smuggling of arms.

"After signing the MLAT with Bangladesh and starting the process with Nepal, New Delhi has been keen on bringing Pakistan on board as well considering trans-border movement of criminals/terrorists in the countries bordering India," said an official.

The joint statement, signed between home secretary R K Singh and his Pakistani counterpart K M Siddiq Akbar on May 25, said, "In order to strengthen mutual cooperation in criminal matters, the two sides agreed in principle to initiate negotiations on MLAT."

An official explained that the treaty was designed to facilitate mutual assistance in investigation, prosecution, service of summons and other judicial documents including execution of warrants...............http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDEyLzA1LzI4I0FyMDExMDE=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

Naxals' PLA link .... NIA's charge-sheet points at bigger design

People’s Liberation Army trained Maoists, says NIA chargesheet

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Vishwa Mohan |TNN | May 22, 2012, 03.10AM IST

NEW DELHI: Submitting documentary evidence for the first time on the nexus between Maoists and northeast insurgent outfits, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday filed a chargesheet against three members of the Manipur-based People's Liberation Army (PLA) for allegedly training the Red ultras and supplying them arms, ammunition and sophisticated Chinese communication devices.

The chargesheet, filed in a special court in Guwahati, mentioned that the two outfits - PLA and CPI (Maoist) - had signed "a joint declaration for unified actions of waging war against India" during one of their meetings in Myanmar in 2008.

The PLA's training modules for Maoists comprised both 'signal' and 'military' training programmes which were conducted in two phases in the Saranda forest area of Jharkhand during September-November 2010. 

The Saranda forest area, which once used to be a 'liberated zone' of the Maoists, came under the domination of security forces only in May-June last year.

The chargesheet, carrying records of monetary transactions, was filed against self-styled chief of PLA's external affairs department N Dilip Singh alias Wangba and two other members of the outfit Senjam Dhiren Singh alias Raghu and Arnold Singh alias Becon. All three are lodged in Guwahati jail.

The NIA claimed to have established that the 'nexus' had taken root way back in 2006 and the two banned outfits held a number of meetings in Delhi, West Bengal, Assam, Mizoram, Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh for delivery of 'consignments' and 'cash' since then.

"The PLA used to provide the CPI (Maoist) arms, ammunition and communication devices - procured through a network of smugglers in China and Myanmar. The Red ultras, in turn, used to provide ammonium nitrate (explosive) and cash to the northeast outfit," an NIA official said.

He said the PLA had set up a base in Kolkata mainly to receive money, to coordinate meetings between the two groups and supplying arms, ammunition and communication devices. Leaders of both the groups used to meet in different states and also in the national Capital in order to avoid detection of the law enforcement agency, the official added.

The NIA had on July 11 last year registered a case on the basis of reliable information that PLA had links with CPI (Maoist). Its subsequent investigation in coordination with Delhi Police, Kolkata Police and central intelligence agencies resulted in the arrest of the three.

"The investigation indicated that around June 2006, the PLA leadership met the top leaders of CPI (Maoist), which followed several other meetings between the two groups in 2006-2008. These meetings resulted in establishment of an office of PLA in Kolkata towards the end of 2006,", the NIA said in a statement..................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JS00vMjAxMi8wNS8yMiNBcjAwNjAz&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom