Man said to be plotting Cup attack released
Vishwa Mohan | TNN
New Delhi: Maldivian national Iqbal Mohammed, whose arrest was billed by both Pakistan and Interpol as a major success in averting terror attack on the cricket World Cup, has been released on a court order in Male.
Iqbal was arrested six hours after leaving Karachi for Male via Colombo on March 10. He was wanted by Maldives in connection with a 2007 terror bombing in Sultan Park, Male.
Though there was no official word either from Islamabad or from the world police body, Iqbal’s release has confirmed Indian security agencies’ doubts over the claim made by both Pakistani interior minister Rehman Malik and Interpol chief Ronald K Noble.
Without identifying Iqbal or giving any other detail, Malik had on March 24 claimed that the arrested terrorist was plotting to target the ongoing World Cup while Noble praised Pakistan for helping authorities make the arrest possible.
A news agency, AFP, on Sunday reported from Colombo that Maldives Police had released Iqbal, who fled to Pakistan in 2007 after allegedly being involved in a bomb attack in Male.
“He (Iqbal) is no longer in our custody. He was released over the weekend on a court order,” AFP quoted Maldives Police spokesperson Ahmed Shiyam as saying.
Indian security officials had raised doubts over Iqbal’s arrest as they believed he was picked up while he was going ahead with a negotiated surrender settlement reached with Maldivian authorities. There was an Interpol Red Corner Notice (RCN) pending against him since 2007 on the request of Maldives.
A statement, issued by Interpol on March 10, had said Iqbal was arrested six hours after his passport triggered an Interpol alarm as he travelled from Pakistan to Maldives via Sri Lanka. He was identified by Interpol’s Major Events Support Team (IMEST), deployed to Sri Lanka for the cricket World Cup, during a routine check of Colombo airport passenger manifests, it added.
A security agency official here said, “Iqbal’s arrest on the basis of IMEST’s identification does not mean he was on World Cup terror mission. If he was actually on such a mission, then why did Pakistani authorities not arrest him in Karachi from where he took a flight for Colombo.”
Interpol has deployed IMESTs in all the three countries – Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka – as part of its support for the cricket World Cup security arrangements. Each team has been providing on the ground support to national police, including conducting real-time checks of Interpol’s global databases.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Interpol...why it ignores Pak record?
Pakistan honours intel chief, gets lauded in return
26 Mar, 2011 0408hrs IST TNN/ Vishwa Mohan
NEW DELHI: Pakistan has honoured Interpol chief Ronald K Noble with one of its highest civilian awards and got a pat on its back in return despite the country consistently not honouring the world police body's Red Corner Notices (RCNs) against many fugitives, including the 'global designated terrorist' and underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.
Accepting the award – Hilal-e-Pakistan (Crescent of Pakistan) – on the occasion of Pakistan's National Day this week as a "great honour and privilege", Noble lauded Pakistan for its consistent support to the world police body "to fight terrorism and all serious transnational crime". But, as pointed out by officials of Indian agencies here, he seemed to have forgotten that Islamabad has a very poor record of honouring RCNs.
An official said: "The free run of Dawood Ibrahim (an accused in the 1993 Mumbai terror attack) in Pakistan despite the RCN pending against him is the most glaring example."
Though Pakistan never accepts Dawood's presence in the country, he is among the few criminals/terrorists whose residential addresses are given in the RCNs.
According to the Interpol RCN and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) special notice against Dawood, he has been living in White House, near Saudi Mosque, Clifton, and also in House NU 37, 30th Street, Defence Housing Authority, Karachi.
26 Mar, 2011 0408hrs IST TNN/ Vishwa Mohan
NEW DELHI: Pakistan has honoured Interpol chief Ronald K Noble with one of its highest civilian awards and got a pat on its back in return despite the country consistently not honouring the world police body's Red Corner Notices (RCNs) against many fugitives, including the 'global designated terrorist' and underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.
Accepting the award – Hilal-e-Pakistan (Crescent of Pakistan) – on the occasion of Pakistan's National Day this week as a "great honour and privilege", Noble lauded Pakistan for its consistent support to the world police body "to fight terrorism and all serious transnational crime". But, as pointed out by officials of Indian agencies here, he seemed to have forgotten that Islamabad has a very poor record of honouring RCNs.
An official said: "The free run of Dawood Ibrahim (an accused in the 1993 Mumbai terror attack) in Pakistan despite the RCN pending against him is the most glaring example."
Though Pakistan never accepts Dawood's presence in the country, he is among the few criminals/terrorists whose residential addresses are given in the RCNs.
According to the Interpol RCN and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) special notice against Dawood, he has been living in White House, near Saudi Mosque, Clifton, and also in House NU 37, 30th Street, Defence Housing Authority, Karachi.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Red-faced DoPT:...Is it a corrective step or a mere face saving exercise?
Centre wants job details of IAS officers
Move Comes After CVC Thomas Fiasco
Vishwa Mohan TNN
New Delhi: Taking corrective measures after the P J Thomas episode,which left the department of personnel and training (DoPT) red faced,the Centre has written to all the states asking them to send personal particulars of all IAS officers in a bid to update the their executive record (ER) sheets with minutest of details.The move,which comes ahead of the appointment of new CVC,assumes significance as the states will have to send all detailsincluding copies of posting orders,joining reports,relieving orders and even notes on pending criminal cases of an individual officer to DoPT.
ER sheets are maintained by the department on the basis of information sent to it by states as well as individual officers.But in a number of cases (like Thomass case),sketchy ER sheets make it difficult for DoPT to compile details (bio-data ) of the IAS officers before any major appointment.Establishment officer of the DoPT,I V Subba Rao,in his letter to chief secretaries of states,said: The updating of entries in the ER sheets is done on the basis of copies of posting orders,joining reports and relieving orders issued by state governments or the government of India as the case may be.At times,due to non-receipt of various orders,the ER sheets remain un-updated.Reminder was sent to states amid continuing blame-game among DoPT,Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and Kerala government in the Thomas case.
DoPT had prepared bio-data of Thomas,which did not mention about pending case of corruption against him.The highpowered Committee,headed by the PM,appointed Thomas as the CVC on the basis of the biodata sans details of pending corruption case against him.However,the SC had to quash his appointment when the matter was brought before it through a PIL.
Move Comes After CVC Thomas Fiasco
Vishwa Mohan TNN
New Delhi: Taking corrective measures after the P J Thomas episode,which left the department of personnel and training (DoPT) red faced,the Centre has written to all the states asking them to send personal particulars of all IAS officers in a bid to update the their executive record (ER) sheets with minutest of details.The move,which comes ahead of the appointment of new CVC,assumes significance as the states will have to send all detailsincluding copies of posting orders,joining reports,relieving orders and even notes on pending criminal cases of an individual officer to DoPT.
ER sheets are maintained by the department on the basis of information sent to it by states as well as individual officers.But in a number of cases (like Thomass case),sketchy ER sheets make it difficult for DoPT to compile details (bio-data ) of the IAS officers before any major appointment.Establishment officer of the DoPT,I V Subba Rao,in his letter to chief secretaries of states,said: The updating of entries in the ER sheets is done on the basis of copies of posting orders,joining reports and relieving orders issued by state governments or the government of India as the case may be.At times,due to non-receipt of various orders,the ER sheets remain un-updated.Reminder was sent to states amid continuing blame-game among DoPT,Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and Kerala government in the Thomas case.
DoPT had prepared bio-data of Thomas,which did not mention about pending case of corruption against him.The highpowered Committee,headed by the PM,appointed Thomas as the CVC on the basis of the biodata sans details of pending corruption case against him.However,the SC had to quash his appointment when the matter was brought before it through a PIL.
Dawood Ibrahim...the designated global terrorist continues to haunt security agencies
Dawood will be back on Indo-Pak talks table
23 Mar, 2011 0313hrs IST TNN/ Vishwa Mohan
NEW DELHI: Underworld don and designated global terrorist Dawood Ibrahim's name will be back on Indo-Pak bilateral discussion table when the home secretaries of two countries meet here for a two-day talks on March 28–29.
The don's name was relegated to the background after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks amid prominence of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, including Hafiz Saeed, during exchange of multiple dossiers between New Delhi and Pakistan. Now, Dawood's name will figure in the list of over 40 terrorists/criminals that Indian home secretary G K Pillai will hand over to his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhary Qamar Zaman during the meeting, asking him to hand them over to New Delhi.
Government sources said the CBI on Tuesday handed over its note — comprising names of 1993 Mumbai attack fugitives, including Dawood, Tiger Memon and others — to the home ministry for incorporating it in the list that has names of 33 other terrorists.
"Similar input has also been given to the ministry by NIA (National Investigation Agency) that recently prepared dossiers of 407 terrorists, including Dawood," said an official.
The CBI mentioned that Dawood, against whom an Interpol Red Corner Notice (RCN) has been pending for long, is learnt to be in Karachi's Clifton area from where he has not only been controlling and guiding his henchmen in India but also operating the widespread Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICNs) racket through his confidant Aftab Batki.
The last time Dawood's name figured was in November 2008 when the then home secretary Madhukar Gupta visited Islamabad for talks. The Lashkar terrorists had attacked Mumbai on 26 November, 2008, when Gupta was in Islamabad. Post-26/11, India had sent 11 dossiers to Pakistan. But, it was all on the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and, therefore, did not refer to Dawood.
India had given Pakistan four lists, comprising names of 33 terrorists during the foreign secretary-level talks between the two countries in February, 2010.
23 Mar, 2011 0313hrs IST TNN/ Vishwa Mohan
NEW DELHI: Underworld don and designated global terrorist Dawood Ibrahim's name will be back on Indo-Pak bilateral discussion table when the home secretaries of two countries meet here for a two-day talks on March 28–29.
The don's name was relegated to the background after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks amid prominence of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, including Hafiz Saeed, during exchange of multiple dossiers between New Delhi and Pakistan. Now, Dawood's name will figure in the list of over 40 terrorists/criminals that Indian home secretary G K Pillai will hand over to his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhary Qamar Zaman during the meeting, asking him to hand them over to New Delhi.
Government sources said the CBI on Tuesday handed over its note — comprising names of 1993 Mumbai attack fugitives, including Dawood, Tiger Memon and others — to the home ministry for incorporating it in the list that has names of 33 other terrorists.
"Similar input has also been given to the ministry by NIA (National Investigation Agency) that recently prepared dossiers of 407 terrorists, including Dawood," said an official.
The CBI mentioned that Dawood, against whom an Interpol Red Corner Notice (RCN) has been pending for long, is learnt to be in Karachi's Clifton area from where he has not only been controlling and guiding his henchmen in India but also operating the widespread Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICNs) racket through his confidant Aftab Batki.
The last time Dawood's name figured was in November 2008 when the then home secretary Madhukar Gupta visited Islamabad for talks. The Lashkar terrorists had attacked Mumbai on 26 November, 2008, when Gupta was in Islamabad. Post-26/11, India had sent 11 dossiers to Pakistan. But, it was all on the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and, therefore, did not refer to Dawood.
India had given Pakistan four lists, comprising names of 33 terrorists during the foreign secretary-level talks between the two countries in February, 2010.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Hindu terrorism: Is BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh government scared of something?
MP hurdle leads govt to seek legal opinion in Joshi case
Vishwa Mohan, TNN
Mar 14, 2011, 12.19am IST
NEW DELHI: Madhya Pradesh government's reluctance has forced the Union home ministry to seek legal opinion before handing over the case of Hindu terrorist Sunil Joshi's murder to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is set to take up saffron terror cases — currently being probed by different agencies — in the next few days.
"Although the NIA Act empowers the Centre to suo-motu direct the probe agency to investigate any terror-related case, the ministry does not want to take any chance specifically when the Madhya Pradesh police has already filed chargesheet in the case and taken cognizance of the terror link," a senior home ministry official said.
Joshi, involved in a number of terror incidents including Samjhauta Express blast, was allegedly shot dead in Dewas, MP in December 2007 by fellow Hindu radicals who feared that if arrested, he may spill the beans about his and others' involvement in a number of blasts.
The state police in its chargesheet alleged that Malegaon blast case accused Pragya Singh Thakur was the brain behind Joshi's murder.
The official said, "Legal opinion is required as transfer of the case at this juncture may have its bearing during trial of these cases. We want to make the transfer of Joshi murder case or the other cases a foolproof decision."
The NIA is currently probing two (Modasa blast, September 2008 and Samjhauta Express blast, February 2007) of the total seven Hindu terror related cases while one case each is being probed by Rajasthan Police (Ajmer Sharif blast, October 2007) and Maharashtra Police (Malegaon blast, September 2008). The CBI is probing two cases — Malegaon blast of September 2006 and Mecca Masjid blast of May 2007.
Referring to the extent of probe done by different agencies and chargesheets filed, the official said the agency may "request the state government to associate itself with the investigation" under the NIA Act.
The ministry had recently taken an "in-principle" decision to hand over all right-wing terror cases to NIA so that one single agency could handle the probe into all such cases which were inter-linked. CBI and Congress-ruled Rajasthan and Maharashtra governments have indicated their consent for the transfer. But BJP-ruled MP government is learnt to be reluctant....http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTEvMDMvMTQjQXIwMTEwMw==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Vishwa Mohan, TNN
Mar 14, 2011, 12.19am IST
NEW DELHI: Madhya Pradesh government's reluctance has forced the Union home ministry to seek legal opinion before handing over the case of Hindu terrorist Sunil Joshi's murder to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is set to take up saffron terror cases — currently being probed by different agencies — in the next few days.
"Although the NIA Act empowers the Centre to suo-motu direct the probe agency to investigate any terror-related case, the ministry does not want to take any chance specifically when the Madhya Pradesh police has already filed chargesheet in the case and taken cognizance of the terror link," a senior home ministry official said.
Joshi, involved in a number of terror incidents including Samjhauta Express blast, was allegedly shot dead in Dewas, MP in December 2007 by fellow Hindu radicals who feared that if arrested, he may spill the beans about his and others' involvement in a number of blasts.
The state police in its chargesheet alleged that Malegaon blast case accused Pragya Singh Thakur was the brain behind Joshi's murder.
The official said, "Legal opinion is required as transfer of the case at this juncture may have its bearing during trial of these cases. We want to make the transfer of Joshi murder case or the other cases a foolproof decision."
The NIA is currently probing two (Modasa blast, September 2008 and Samjhauta Express blast, February 2007) of the total seven Hindu terror related cases while one case each is being probed by Rajasthan Police (Ajmer Sharif blast, October 2007) and Maharashtra Police (Malegaon blast, September 2008). The CBI is probing two cases — Malegaon blast of September 2006 and Mecca Masjid blast of May 2007.
Referring to the extent of probe done by different agencies and chargesheets filed, the official said the agency may "request the state government to associate itself with the investigation" under the NIA Act.
The ministry had recently taken an "in-principle" decision to hand over all right-wing terror cases to NIA so that one single agency could handle the probe into all such cases which were inter-linked. CBI and Congress-ruled Rajasthan and Maharashtra governments have indicated their consent for the transfer. But BJP-ruled MP government is learnt to be reluctant....http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTEvMDMvMTQjQXIwMTEwMw==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Jobs to JK youths...It'll certainly help if they move out and join mainstream
India Inc keeps word, to hire Jammu and Kashmir youth
Vishwa Mohan \TNN
Mar 12, 2011, 03.08am IST
NEW DELHI: With the Centre roping in big private companies to join its job initiative for Jammu and Kashmir, nearly 1,000 educated youth from the state will be hired in the next two months through the "placement-linked and market-driven skill training" programme.
The companies, which have already shown interest in the initiative, include Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Crompton Greaves, Bajaj Auto, Tata Motors, Godrej & Boyce and Apollo Hospitals.
Acting swiftly on recommendation of the Rangarajan Committee on the jobs plan for J&K, which submitted its report to state chief minister Omar Abdullah on March 3, Union home secretary G K Pillai had a detailed meeting on the issue on Tuesday when the ministry decided to approach all those private companies that have shown interest in the scheme that would benefit the educated unemployed youth......http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTEvMDMvMTIjQXIwMTcwMQ==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Vishwa Mohan \TNN
Mar 12, 2011, 03.08am IST
NEW DELHI: With the Centre roping in big private companies to join its job initiative for Jammu and Kashmir, nearly 1,000 educated youth from the state will be hired in the next two months through the "placement-linked and market-driven skill training" programme.
The companies, which have already shown interest in the initiative, include Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Crompton Greaves, Bajaj Auto, Tata Motors, Godrej & Boyce and Apollo Hospitals.
Acting swiftly on recommendation of the Rangarajan Committee on the jobs plan for J&K, which submitted its report to state chief minister Omar Abdullah on March 3, Union home secretary G K Pillai had a detailed meeting on the issue on Tuesday when the ministry decided to approach all those private companies that have shown interest in the scheme that would benefit the educated unemployed youth......http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTEvMDMvMTIjQXIwMTcwMQ==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Monday, March 7, 2011
Jammu and Kashmir:...untrained cops make pull-out plan difficult
J&K laggard in training cops on tackling terror
Vishwa Mohan, TNN
Mar 6, 2011, 03.32am IST
NEW DELHI: Are Jammu and Kashmir cops adequately trained to fill the gaps after proposed withdrawal of paramilitary personnel from the state in a phased manner? Home ministry statistics does not present a very encouraging picture in terms of state's record in sparing its constabulary for training.
Latest figures, released by the ministry this week, show that J&K is the worst among states in terms of utilising 'training slots' — provided by Army and Central paramilitary forces — for letting cops learn the art of fighting terrorists\insurgents during 2009 and 2010.
Records reveal that the state did not utilise a single out of the 44 'training slots' reserved for it at different centres run by the Army and paramilitary forces during the period.
Although there is no direct link between utilising training slots and having actually been trained to do the expected jobs, officials here point out that the record of states sending lesser number of cops for training has been quite poor in fighting terrorists or Maoists.
A senior home ministry official said, "Though the J&K cites operational reasons and law & order situation as factors that prevented it from utilising those slots, the argument does not hold ground if one looks at record of other states".
West Bengal — despite being under tremendous pressure due to Maoist problem, political violence and engagement in Darjeeling-Jalpaiguri area for handling Gorkhaland agitators — emerged as the best among states with utilising 236 out of 255 training slots. Other states like Chhattisgarh (190 out of 217), Orissa (197 out of 301) and Jharkhand (254 out of 358) also show a relatively good result. At present, J&K has nearly 70,000 CRPF jawan. The ministry has planned to withdraw 10,000 of them, if the security situation allows.....http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTEvMDMvMDYjQXIwMTMwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Vishwa Mohan, TNN
Mar 6, 2011, 03.32am IST
NEW DELHI: Are Jammu and Kashmir cops adequately trained to fill the gaps after proposed withdrawal of paramilitary personnel from the state in a phased manner? Home ministry statistics does not present a very encouraging picture in terms of state's record in sparing its constabulary for training.
Latest figures, released by the ministry this week, show that J&K is the worst among states in terms of utilising 'training slots' — provided by Army and Central paramilitary forces — for letting cops learn the art of fighting terrorists\insurgents during 2009 and 2010.
Records reveal that the state did not utilise a single out of the 44 'training slots' reserved for it at different centres run by the Army and paramilitary forces during the period.
Although there is no direct link between utilising training slots and having actually been trained to do the expected jobs, officials here point out that the record of states sending lesser number of cops for training has been quite poor in fighting terrorists or Maoists.
A senior home ministry official said, "Though the J&K cites operational reasons and law & order situation as factors that prevented it from utilising those slots, the argument does not hold ground if one looks at record of other states".
West Bengal — despite being under tremendous pressure due to Maoist problem, political violence and engagement in Darjeeling-Jalpaiguri area for handling Gorkhaland agitators — emerged as the best among states with utilising 236 out of 255 training slots. Other states like Chhattisgarh (190 out of 217), Orissa (197 out of 301) and Jharkhand (254 out of 358) also show a relatively good result. At present, J&K has nearly 70,000 CRPF jawan. The ministry has planned to withdraw 10,000 of them, if the security situation allows.....http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTEvMDMvMDYjQXIwMTMwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)