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Foreign experts examine Karachi blast site
Karachi, June 15 (ANI): Twenty foreign experts, including FBI agents, have examined the site where a powerful car bomb went off near the US consulate here on Friday. They also took some photographs. The team, says The News, conducted close investigation for over two hours and collected some proofs to find out the actual causes and the culprits. They also interrogated the employees of Marriott Hotel, security guards of the US consulate and other private security guards. Ten people were killed and over 50 injured in the incident. Police are also on the inquiry job. "We are working on some leads in the blast, which I cannot share with you at this stage, but no one has been arrested in connection with this yet," Sindh province police chief Syed Kamal Shah told journalists. Meanwhile, a relatively unknown group calling itself Al Qanoon has claimed responsibility for the blast. A transcription of the original text in Urdu received by the newspaper said: "Hum Amreeki sifaratkhanay kay qareeb honay walay bomb dhamakay ko qabool kartay hain."-- Tarjumaan-e-Al-Qanoon. "Saathiyon nay jaldi kar di warna is say shadeed aur moassar hamla karna tha."--Salaar-e-Aala Al-Qanoon. "Yeh to trailer tha. Amreeka, uskay ittehadi aur uskay ghulam Pakistani hukmraan mazeed hamlon kay liye tayyar rahein. Bomb dhamakay Pakistan kay andar Al-Qanoon ki jehadi kaarwaiyon ki ibtida hai."--Al-Qanoon Media Cell. (ANI) Blast in Karachi: intention and implications
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to top Karachi, June 15 (ANI): The car bomb attack outside US consulate here seems to be "a deep-rooted machination to single out Pakistan from rest of the world," says a report in The Nation. The incident, many believe, will scare away foreign investors and tarnish the image of Muslims and Pakistan worldwide. Pro- government political parties term the perpetrators of the crime as enemies of Pakistan out to create an impression that it is the most unsafe country to live in. However, Opposition leaders have said that it had exposed the shallowness of security services. "Terrorists have attempted to isolate Pakistan", Khursheed Shah, former deputy opposition leader in National Assembly, remarked. "A new horrifying trend has been introduced during this military regime", said Imdad Chandio, acting president of Pakistan Muslim League (N), Sindh. However, Meraj Mohammad Khan, general secretary, Pakistan Tehrik- i-Insaf, says it is a "game" of those forces who want to make Pakistan a battlefield for United States and extremist religious forces against each other. "This will cause enormous damage to Pakistan", he asserted. But Khursheed Shah of PPP alleged that the security lapse was due to policies of Musharraf government, which incapacitated intelligence agencies as they were assigned the task of keeping the politicians and their parties under watch. It is also interesting to note that whenever government functionaries claim that they had restored peace and maintained law and order, terrorists come out to expose their tall claims. In a recent interview to a private TV channel, Naib City Nazim appreciated the administration for maintaining law and order. The Governor and Inspector-General of Sindh also were satisfied with "lull" since the attack which killed French naval engineers in May, only a furlong away from Friday's blast spot. (ANI)
Abortive attempt on Farooq's life Go to top Srinagar, June 15 (ANI):Farooq Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, escaped a bid on his life while he was inaugurating a building of the State Board of School Education at Bemina, near here. Militants fired two rifle grenades at the building at about 12.50 p.m. But these failed to hit the target--one exploded in mid-air and the other fell in a poll nearby. There was no loss of life or damage to property, official sources said.(ANI)
6 months needed to measure infiltration realistically: Army
Go to top Somewhere in J-K, June 15 (ANI): An Indian army commander has stated that it may take six months to determine whether there has been any decline in infiltration of militants into Kashmir. Guerrilla incursions had continued until the end of May and it was too early to discern whether there had been any change in the first two weeks of June, Lt-Gen JBS Yadava told reporters on Friday. "Upto May there has been no change in the infiltration. Now in a matter of two weeks, it's extremely difficult to say if infiltration has come down or not come down. It will take us at least three to six months to come to a definite conclusion. At this juncture, I am unable to say whether it has come down or it is coming down," said Yadava, who commands the 16 Corps, a formation deployed on the Kashmir frontier. The commander also reiterated that it will not reduce the million-strong force massed on its side of the border until it is convinced that Islamabad has made good its pledge to stop the flow of militants into Jammu and Kashmir. "We are not against de- escalation. We would like the tension at border to reduce, if possible to zero percent, but that is possible only if the cross- border infiltration and the terrorism which is being conducted by Pakistan is stopped totally," Lt-Gen Yadava added. He further said that there was a possibilty of remnants of Al Qaeda making an attempt to enter the state. "There were reports that Al-Qaeda people have reached forward Kabuta and Nikyal just across the border. So far we haven't had any physical contact with them. After all I can(not) also say if Al-Qaeda has infiltrated. There is no way we will be able to find out at this moment. Yes, at a later stage if they are in big number and they create some cells here, we may be able to," the commander observed. A map in his office showed 21 suspected militant training camps marked in red stars, and jumping-off points from which insurgents cross the rugged mountains into Indian Kashmir.(ANI)
Govt's talks with Jind farmers inconclusive
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top Jind, June 15 (ANI): The week-long talks between Haryana goverment and agitating farmers here have ended in a deadlock because both sides failed to agree on the extent of waiver of outstanding power bills. The government didn't accept the amount of compensation demanded by the farmers for the benefit of those whose family members were killed in police firing. The only positive note of the meeting was that the BKU leaders welcomed the government's decision to withdraw cases against several arrested farmers. While the government delegation, which was led by state finance minister Sampat Singh, said complete waiver of the power arrears was not possible, the Bharatiya Kisan Union stuck to its original demand of total withdrawal. Similarly, no agreement could be reached on the compensation to be paid to the families of the farmers killed in the agitation. The BKU leaders demanded a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for every family, but the government said the demand was "not acceptable". However, Sampat Singh assured the farmers that the government might consider giving jobs to the next of kin as demanded by BKU. "We will continue with the dialogue process. Everything can't be resolved in one meeting", he added. Meanwhile, BKU's Haryana unit chief Ghasi Ram Nain said the next course of action would be decided at the Union's executive meet on Saturday. The farmers had been agitating for more than one month now. For the Haryana government it has turned up like a Catch-22 situation. If it doesn't give in to the demands, they run the risk of more roads being blocked and more lawlessness taking place. And, if it gives in, it would set a dangerous precedent.
Railway police training days to help detect crime
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top Chennai, June 15 (ANI): The Railway Protection Force is now running a special training session for dogs to secure their help in crime detection. Keeping in mind individual strong points, canines of different breeds are trained for specific purposes. For instance, Labradors are given sniffing training as they have an amazing smelling sense. They are also said to be patient and stable. Likewise, Dobermans are trained for tracking since they can run at high speeds, besides possessing great physical strength. The training programme sstarts at the tender age of six months. During the first three months, the dogs are taught self- discipline and obedience. Thereafter, they are instructed to refuse food from strangers and other basic points. A single batch consists of six dogs. While two are trained to be tracker dogs, the rest are imparted sniffing skills. For the sniffers, which are taught to detect bombs etc, it is a nine- month-long training, while for the trackers, mainly used in theft cases, the training period lasts six months. After the completion of the training, the Assistant Commissioner of the Crime (Intelligence Branch) delegates the work of finding out the performance levels of the dogs. If needed, these dogs are put through the training once again. According to the trainers, the dogs have a retirement age. Their job performance usually goes down by the age of eight, after which they are auctioned to the public. The trainee dogs are give wholesome and adequate diet, which consists of milk, bread and an egg every morning and evening. Lunch and dinner consist of beef, rice and vegetables. The canines also get a rich dose of health tonics prescribed by the veterinarians, they added. K.S. Damodaran, a Sub-Inspector in Railway Protection Force, said, "The trained dogs generally stay with us for eight years. If they are fit, they remain with us for one year more. But, in case we feel that they are losing in temperament, we auction them to the public". (ANI)
20 fishermen kidnapped near West Bengal coast
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to top Kolkata, June 15 (ANI): At least 20 fishermen have been reportedly kidnapped off the Bay of Bengal. The fishermen, on board four trawlers, had docked off the Sunderbans area of West Bengal when they were taken hostage late on Thursday by an armed group of about 30 men, police said on Saturday. Two of the fishermen were later released and told to communicate a ransom demand of Rs 20 lakhs, they added. A senior police official said the two lodged a formal complaint at a local police station on Friday. Coast Guard has been alerted and a commando force sent to locate the missing fishermen, he added. (ANI)
Allahabad students protest against India's cool-down gesture Go to top Varanasi, June 15 (ANI): Hundreds of students of Allahabad University organised a march on Friday to protest against the Centre's decision to de-escalate tension vis a vis Pakistan. They alleged the decision was taken under U.S. pressure, as it coincided with the visit of Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. The students also said that the Pakistan-sponsored terrorism was the root cause of tension in the sub-continent. They criticised Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for "succumbing to the U.S pressure". On Tuesday, the Union Government had allowed Pakistani planes to overfly Indian space, besides pulling back their warships, as a goodwill gesture. "We are ready to fight against Pakistan. If President General Musharraf does not give up his wicked activities, then we want to go to war", said Abdullah, a student leader. The agitated students hanged an effigy of Musharraf and later burnt it. They also carried banners reading "Indian troops will not be pulled back under American pressure". They also demanded that the Union Government should keep up the pressure and make sure that Pakistan fulfullied its promise on stopping infiltration into Kashmir. "The youth want that the country's forces should crush the Pakistani army and march to Lahore. We also warn Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee that if he does not mend his ways and stop Army's pullback, then the youth of the country will march to the Red Fort and remove him from the chair," said Sanjay Tiwari, another student union leader. (ANI)
Iftikhar Gilani innocent, say family and friends Go to top New Delhi, June 15 (ANI): The wife and friends of the arrested Kashmiri journalist Iftikhar Gilani got together here on Saturday to plead his innocence. They said at a press conference that Gilani, arrested on June 9 under the Official Secrets Act, was not involved in any wrongdoing. The Act contains stringent provisions. Gilani's family is said to be worried about sub-section (2) and section (3) of the Act which say it is not necessary to prove that the accused person is guilty of any particular act against the state. The police claim to have recovered a document from his premises pertaining to Indian troop movements in Kashmir and blank Pakistani visa forms. Gilani and his wife say that the document in question is a newspaper article he wrote several years ago based on a published pamphlet of a government department. Pramod Jamwal, Gilani's friend and editor of Kashmir Times newspaper, said it was difficult to trace the origin of any such press release. "It is not practically possible to remember which press release has been sent by whom from the government department. And he said if you want we can ascertain it from which department that particular press note has come and if you want the confirmation, we can confirm it from the PRO (Public Relation Officer), also of the concerned department or the ministry. And about the bank records, I want to make it very clear that whatever he has spent either on the purchase of his house or anything else is on record and has been through bank transactions and there is nothing which can be doubted and I personally feel his integrity cannot be doubted", Jamwal said. Journalists present at the press conference said it was not uncommon for reporters who travel to Pakistan for professional or personal reasons to keep visa forms blank. They also urged the government to ensure that the investigation was fair and that Gilani was not harassed. Gilani, New Delhi bureau chief of the Jammu-based Kashmir Times, is the son-in-law of Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani who was also detained on June 9 on charges of channelising funds to Kashmiri militants. Gilani is well-known in the media and government circles and he is accredited with India's Press Information Bureau, which holds a thorough security check before issuing identity cards.(ANI)
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