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Naxals withdraw from future peace talks

     Hyderabad: Maoist rebel leaders in Andhra Pradesh today said that they had given up on the efforts to make peace with the state government. They accused the local police of fake encounters since a truce collapsed more than three months ago. Peace talks between the Maoists and the Andhra Pradesh government collapsed in January after 12 rebels were killed in clashes with police. The rebels had since set fresh conditions for talks including an end to all police action against them and the suspension of four district police chiefs. They accused the four senior policemen of staging gun battles to kill captured rebels. "We put our work at halt for two-and-a half months but it seems to be futile because the government on one hand though it is saying it is trying to hold talks, it is trying to bring violence by killing our people. It has killed 18 people in fake encounters, killed people in custody...and also it has started thinking of banning the party at all India level.

     The Centre government is also thinking on those lines and it is rather thinking of giving military range to them, because of these fascist reasons we thought there is no use of continuing as emissaries and we are withdrawing from talks," said Vara Vara Rao, a prominent rebels' spokesman. Maoist leaders said the state government had gone back on its commitment to resolve the more than three-decade-old revolt through negotiations. The state government termed the Maoist decision as unfortunate and blamed it on a "lack of communication". The government has said that it was willing to meet all Maoists' demands if they gave up arms and joined the mainstream. But the rebels have refused to lay down arms. Violence has escalated in Andhra Pradesh since the ceasefire collapsed and more than 110 people, including 53 rebels, have been killed. More than 6000 people, including about 1000 policemen, have been killed so far since the rebels rose in revolt in the late 1960s in the largely farming state. The rebels have been fighting for land for poor peasants. They target government property and police posts and are also active in half a dozen other states in southern and eastern parts of the country.

Gutka king deposes before CBI court (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: Gutka king Rasiklal Manikchand Dhariwal today deposed before a designated CBI court in the Capital. He was questioned on his alleged links with a Dubai-based underworld kingpin Dawood Ibrahim. The CBI had in February asked the Interpol to arrest Dhariwal and his former associate JM Josh after non-bailable warrants were issued against them in Mumbai. Dhariwal denied any involvement with the Dawood gang. "I had said this earlier in all the newspapers that I have no connection in this entire issue. I have given it in writing. I do not want to make any further comments. I have come here to answer CBI," Dhariwal told reporters in New Delhi. Dhariwal and Josh were business partners in the early 1990s, but fell out after a bitter row. They are alleged to have approached Dawood to mediate in the settlement of dues in exchange of setting up a Gutka business for his younger brother. Dhariwal has moved the Supreme Court against a non-bailable warrant by the Mumbai special anti-terror court. Dhariwal, who owns the Manikchand Gutka brand, came into the spotlight when he gifted his daughter with a Maybach sedan worth 50 million rupees, the costliest car in the country, on her 21st birthday. Joshi is the owner of the sprawling Goa Gutka empire.

Toofan Express catches fire near Patna (Go To Top)

     Patna: Fire broke out in three bogies of the Howrah-Sriganganagar Toofan Express near Mughalsarai in Bihar early today. However, no casualty has been reported. Soon after the fire broke, the train was stopped at the Dildarnagar railway station near Buxar. The Railways authorities have also confirmed that no casualties occurred. According to the Railway sources, the fire started at around 7.30 a.m. (IST), soon after the train left the Patna station. However, the reason for the fire has not been ascertained yet. The traffic on the route has been affected due to the fire and relief and rescue teams have rushed for the spot.

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