Muslim body to take up the issue of youths booked in 'false' terror charges

LUCKNOW: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has decided to take up the issue of harassment of Muslim youth on false charges of terror acts across the country with the UPA government. The Board has decided to send a letter to the central government on the issue.

Though the issue of Muslim youth being falsely implicated in terror acts has been debated for long, it acquired political colour in 2012 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, when the Samajwadi Party (SP) promised that it will review the terror cases lodged against Muslim youth and release those found innocent. The SP came to power with majority. Muslims voted overwhelmingly for the SP. The SP government also formed a commission to review the cases. The commission submitted its report in October last year. However, no action has been taken by the state government so far.

Now, with Lok Sabha election scheduled within next 12 months, the issue has assumed significance again. However, Muslim community leaders are not ready to accept `promises' anymore and have demanded action. Sources said that the AIMPLB members have reminded SP national president Mulayam Singh Yadav about his poll promises. The issue may also be taken up in the annual general meeting of AIMPLB on March 22 in Ujjain. Demands includes speedy trial of terror cases, compensation to those acquitted and action against officers responsible for framing innocent youth.

Recently, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat along with senior party leaders had met Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and requested him to provide compensation and ensure rehabilitation of Muslim youths, who were arrested on terror charges but later acquitted by various courts in the state. Karat had then also handed over a list of nine such youths from Kanpur who were lodged in jail from 3-9 years facing trial on terror charges but were acquitted. Similar demands have been made by other Muslim outfits as well. However, BJP is opposing it.

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Navy hones combat skills with major exercise in Arabian Sea

NEW DELHI: The Navy has fine-tuned its operational strategy and honed its combat skills after a major exercise, which saw both the western and eastern fleets come together for intensive manoeuvres, in the Arabian Sea over the last 30 days.

Over 50 warships, including the new stealth frigates as well as nuclear-powered submarine INS Chakra, as well as 75 fighter jets, patrol aircraft and helicopters took part in the exercise called "Tropex'' (theatre-level readiness and operational exercise), which stretched across the entire western seaboard.

"All possible scenarios, from full-fledged combat operations to anti-piracy drills, were practiced during the exercise. It also included an amphibious component involving over 2,000 Army troops, tanks, amphibious vehicles and associated equipment,'' said an official.

"Elements from the IAF, like their maritime strike Jaguar fighters, and the Coast Guard also took part in the exercise. The lessons learnt will be suitably incorporated in the operational strategy,'' he added.

The exercise also witnessed the Navy practice operational concepts like maritime manoeuvre from the sea'', designed to ensure the maritime force Navy is capable of favourably influencing the outcome of the land-air battle in the short, swift and high-tempo conflicts of the future.

The armed forces have also been practising amphibious warfare drills over the last few years to ensure they can effectively take the battle to enemy shores. This has come after Navy acquired the 16,900-tonne strategic sea-lift vessel INS Jalashwa from US as well as inducted large landing ship tanks like the 5,650-tonne INS Shardul and INS Airavat.

The Army, on its part, has three specifically-earmarked 'amphibious brigades', with almost 10,000 soldiers, one based in South India, another in West India and the third at Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

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Navy hones combat skills with major exercise in Arabian Sea

NEW DELHI: The Navy has fine-tuned its operational strategy and honed its combat skills after a major exercise, which saw both the western and eastern fleets come together for intensive manoeuvres, in the Arabian Sea over the last 30 days.

Over 50 warships, including the new stealth frigates as well as nuclear-powered submarine INS Chakra, as well as 75 fighter jets, patrol aircraft and helicopters took part in the exercise called "Tropex'' (theatre-level readiness and operational exercise), which stretched across the entire western seaboard.

"All possible scenarios, from full-fledged combat operations to anti-piracy drills, were practiced during the exercise. It also included an amphibious component involving over 2,000 Army troops, tanks, amphibious vehicles and associated equipment,'' said an official.

"Elements from the IAF, like their maritime strike Jaguar fighters, and the Coast Guard also took part in the exercise. The lessons learnt will be suitably incorporated in the operational strategy,'' he added.

The exercise also witnessed the Navy practice operational concepts like maritime manoeuvre from the sea'', designed to ensure the maritime force Navy is capable of favourably influencing the outcome of the land-air battle in the short, swift and high-tempo conflicts of the future.

The armed forces have also been practising amphibious warfare drills over the last few years to ensure they can effectively take the battle to enemy shores. This has come after Navy acquired the 16,900-tonne strategic sea-lift vessel INS Jalashwa from US as well as inducted large landing ship tanks like the 5,650-tonne INS Shardul and INS Airavat.

The Army, on its part, has three specifically-earmarked 'amphibious brigades', with almost 10,000 soldiers, one based in South India, another in West India and the third at Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

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Syrian army captures key Aleppo airport road

DAMASCUS: The Syrian army said on Saturday it has seized control of a key road linking the central province of Hama to Aleppo international airport, scene of weeks of fierce battles with rebel fighters.

The capture of the road will allow the army to deploy fresh reinforcements and send supplies to the area near the airport, where fighting has raged since mid-February.

"In collaboration with honourable citizens, troops carried out a special operation and restored security and stability to villages on the airport road," the military said in a statement published by state news agency SANA.

"This achievement shows the commitment of our forces to continue to fulfil their sacred national duty, repelling killings and aggression targeting our people and our country," said the statement.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the report and said the army will now be able to deploy fresh troops and supplies in the area and the nearby Nayrab military airport.

Rebels launched last month an all-out assault on several airports in Aleppo province, including the international airport and Nayrab, which are located southeast of Syria's second-largest city.

They have since captured Al-Jarrah military airport as well as several other air defence complexes and nearby checkpoints.

But Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said that if the army succeeds in keeping control over the road "it will change the course of battles" around Aleppo and Nayrab airports "and even Aleppo", Syria's second city.

While rebels have taken over large swathes of territory and a number of key military garrisons in Aleppo province, fighting in the city has been at stalemate for months.

Abdel Rahman said that clashes around the airport road continued despite the army's capture.

Aleppo international airport has been closed since the start of the year.

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Rahul to hold fresh consultation with AICC leaders next week

NEW DELHI: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will hold a fresh round of consultations with AICC office bearers on March 6 during which a roadmap for future action for the party is likely to be unveiled as it prepares for LokSabha polls next year.

Party general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi said that as promised, Gandhi is getting back to the AICC leaders after receiving their suggestions in his first formal elaborate interaction with them between January 31 and February 4.

Gandhi's three-day meeting with AICC office bearers saw the party leaders complaining of uneven distribution of work, favouritism and demands to bring discipline and cohesiveness in the party's functioning.

Buoyed up by Gandhi's insistence for a "frank and open" discussion, the leaders had drawn his attention towards large number of problems plaguing the party as Gandhi told them that he wanted to know their opinion on "how to traverse the path ahead".

After the three-day interaction, Gandhi had promised them that he would meet them again and will go through their suggestions.

After the first meeting with AICC general secretaries, secretaries and CWC in-charges for the states, Gandhi held consultations PCC presidents and CLP leaders of states here on February 15 during which he sent signals of introducing performance-based "reward and punishment system" in Congress to tone up the functioning of the organisation.

He also set time-bound targets for the state Congress chiefs in the meeting asking them to step out of party headquarters and move into the field more often.

Gandhi later held an interaction with district and block level leaders in Orissa on February 18 and 19 beginning his state wise tours to interact with the grassroots. A number of other states followed suit.

He has earlier hinted that he would prefer that the party functions strictly as per set rules and procedures and has been giving strong message on the issue of indiscipline in Congress. He recently said that there was "tremendous talent" which needed to be aligned.

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Mukesh Gadhvi, Congress MP from Banaskantha passed away

AHMEDABAD: Mukesh Gadhvi, Member of Parliament from Banaskantha constituency and senior leader of state Congress passed away on Friday morning. Parliament was adjourn to condole the sitting member.

"An active social and political worker, he promoted the cause of education, particularly of the girl child," Speaker Meira Kumar said in her obituary reference as soon as the Lok Sabha met for the day.

Gadhvi was hospitalized since last few days after facing brain stroke when he was returning from a wedding function.

Born on 1 January 1963 in Sirohi, Rajasthan, Gadhvi was son of Congress leader late Bhairavdan(B.K) Gadhvi. He was member of Gujarat legislative assembly for three terms. In 2009 he won Lok Sabha election on Banaskantha seat. He was member, Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas, and member, Consultative Committee on Finance.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Shankarsinh Vaghela, Leader of Opposition(LOP) in the state assembly Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Political Secretary Ahmed Patel, Gujarat Congress President Arjun Modhwadia, Union ministers Dinsha Patel, Tushar Chaudhary, Bharatsinh Solanki, AICC General Secretary Madhusudan Mistry were among others who paid tribute to late MP.

Gadhvi's cremation will took place at Savarda in Banaskantha district. Gujarat Congress President Arjun Modhwadia was present there In recent state assembly elections also Gadhvi played a vital role in securing majority of the seats of district for the party despite BJP wave.

With Gadhvi's death Gujarat will witness by-polls of two Lok Sabha seats in next few months. One Porbandar seat is vacant after Vitthal Radadia's resignation.

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South Africa suspends 8 policemen who dragged man behind vehicle

PRETORIA: South Africa suspended eight police officers on Friday after the death of a man they had bound to a vehicle and dragged through a busy street in a videotaped incident that has further blackened the reputation of the police.

Mido Macia, a 27-year-old taxi driver from Mozambique, was found dead in detention with signs of head injuries and internal bleeding, according to an initial post-mortem report released by South Africa's police watchdog.

"We would like to assure the country and the world that what is in the video is not how the South African Police Service in a democratic South Africa goes about its work," commissioner Riah Phiyega told a news conference.

She said the eight officers involved had been suspended and the station commander would be removed from his duties.

President Jacob Zuma and opposition politicians have condemned the incident, caught on video on Tuesday and broadcast nationwide on Thursday.

"The visuals of the incident are horrific, disturbing and unacceptable. No human being should be treated in that manner", Zuma said of what he called "the tragic death of a man in the hands of the police".

Police told media they had detained Macia after he parked illegally, creating a traffic jam, and then resisted arrest.

The video shows the man scuffling with police, who subdue him. He is then bound to the back of a pick-up truck by his arms before the vehicle drives off in front of scores of witnesses in the east Johannesburg area of Daveyton.

It was the latest in a series of scandals to hit South Africa's police force in recent months.

The lead detective in the murder case against Olympic and Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius was removed from the investigation last week when it emerged he was facing seven attempted murder charges for allegedly opening fire on a minibus full of passengers..

Police shot dead 34 striking workers at a platinum mine in August last year - the deadliest security incident since apartheid ended in 1994.

The latest video footage and the taxi driver's death raised fresh concerns about police brutality in a country where more than 1,200 people a year die while in custody.

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South Africa suspends 8 policemen who dragged man behind vehicle

PRETORIA: South Africa suspended eight police officers on Friday after the death of a man they had bound to a vehicle and dragged through a busy street in a videotaped incident that has further blackened the reputation of the police.

Mido Macia, a 27-year-old taxi driver from Mozambique, was found dead in detention with signs of head injuries and internal bleeding, according to an initial post-mortem report released by South Africa's police watchdog.

"We would like to assure the country and the world that what is in the video is not how the South African Police Service in a democratic South Africa goes about its work," commissioner Riah Phiyega told a news conference.

She said the eight officers involved had been suspended and the station commander would be removed from his duties.

President Jacob Zuma and opposition politicians have condemned the incident, caught on video on Tuesday and broadcast nationwide on Thursday.

"The visuals of the incident are horrific, disturbing and unacceptable. No human being should be treated in that manner", Zuma said of what he called "the tragic death of a man in the hands of the police".

Police told media they had detained Macia after he parked illegally, creating a traffic jam, and then resisted arrest.

The video shows the man scuffling with police, who subdue him. He is then bound to the back of a pick-up truck by his arms before the vehicle drives off in front of scores of witnesses in the east Johannesburg area of Daveyton.

It was the latest in a series of scandals to hit South Africa's police force in recent months.

The lead detective in the murder case against Olympic and Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius was removed from the investigation last week when it emerged he was facing seven attempted murder charges for allegedly opening fire on a minibus full of passengers..

Police shot dead 34 striking workers at a platinum mine in August last year - the deadliest security incident since apartheid ended in 1994.

The latest video footage and the taxi driver's death raised fresh concerns about police brutality in a country where more than 1,200 people a year die while in custody.

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ED to attach Rs 143 crore properties in Madhu Koda money laundering case

RANCHI/NEW DELHI: Stepping up its action in the alleged multi-crore money laundering case involving former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has decided to attach properties worth Rs 143 crore belonging to his close aides.

The orders for attachment of these properties spread in cities like Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore, Ranchi and Jamshedpur will soon be issued and later be sent to the agency's investigations unit in the Jharkhand capital, sources said.

The properties, according to the sources, belong to the associates of Koda including those of businessman Anil Bastawade who was brought from Indonesia recently after the Interpol informed the ED about his presence in the foreign land.

Properties of other Koda associates like Manoj Punamiya have also been attached under the stringent provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) today, sources added.

The ED has been investigating Koda and others for allegedly making illegal investments and transactions by corrupt means and laundering during the time he was the state chief minister.

Bastawade is claimed by the investigators to be one of the crucial persons in the case and he is being continuously grilled by ED sleuths since he was brought to Ranchi last month.

Bastawade, investigators claim, helped Koda and his other associates to invest and purchase a number of properties in the middle-east, Indonesia and Thailand.

He is the seventh accused arrested after Koda, Binod Sinha, Vikas Sinha, Manoj Punamiya, Arvind Vyas and Vijay Joshi in connection with the money laundering and illegal investment case slapped against them.

Koda, who is at present in judicial custody in a jail in Ranchi, was arrested on November 30, 2009 after the Income Tax department and the ED claimed to have unearthed a Rs 2500 crore money laundering and illegal investment scam following country-wide raids on 70 premises on October 31 the same year.

An ED official said the amount of the scam, which allegedly took place during the Koda regime between 2006 and 2008, has now gone up to Rs 3,400 in course of investigations.

The ED had earlier attached properties -- both immovable and movable -- worth Rs 200 crore in this case and had also filed a charge sheet in this regard in a special court in Ranchi last year.

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ED to attach Rs 143 crore properties in Madhu Koda money laundering case

RANCHI/NEW DELHI: Stepping up its action in the alleged multi-crore money laundering case involving former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has decided to attach properties worth Rs 143 crore belonging to his close aides.

The orders for attachment of these properties spread in cities like Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore, Ranchi and Jamshedpur will soon be issued and later be sent to the agency's investigations unit in the Jharkhand capital, sources said.

The properties, according to the sources, belong to the associates of Koda including those of businessman Anil Bastawade who was brought from Indonesia recently after the Interpol informed the ED about his presence in the foreign land.

Properties of other Koda associates like Manoj Punamiya have also been attached under the stringent provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) today, sources added.

The ED has been investigating Koda and others for allegedly making illegal investments and transactions by corrupt means and laundering during the time he was the state chief minister.

Bastawade is claimed by the investigators to be one of the crucial persons in the case and he is being continuously grilled by ED sleuths since he was brought to Ranchi last month.

Bastawade, investigators claim, helped Koda and his other associates to invest and purchase a number of properties in the middle-east, Indonesia and Thailand.

He is the seventh accused arrested after Koda, Binod Sinha, Vikas Sinha, Manoj Punamiya, Arvind Vyas and Vijay Joshi in connection with the money laundering and illegal investment case slapped against them.

Koda, who is at present in judicial custody in a jail in Ranchi, was arrested on November 30, 2009 after the Income Tax department and the ED claimed to have unearthed a Rs 2500 crore money laundering and illegal investment scam following country-wide raids on 70 premises on October 31 the same year.

An ED official said the amount of the scam, which allegedly took place during the Koda regime between 2006 and 2008, has now gone up to Rs 3,400 in course of investigations.

The ED had earlier attached properties -- both immovable and movable -- worth Rs 200 crore in this case and had also filed a charge sheet in this regard in a special court in Ranchi last year.

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