Clinton announces envoy for NKorean nuclear talks
SEOUL: US secretary of state Hillary Clinton announced Friday the appointment of Stephen Bosworth as special envoy for the North Korean nuclear talks.
In a press conference, Clinton said Bosworth, a career diplomat who once served as ambassador to South Korea, "is up to the task."
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Clinton_announces_envoy_for_NKorean_nuclear_talks/articleshow/4158387.cms?TOI_latestnews
In a press conference, Clinton said Bosworth, a career diplomat who once served as ambassador to South Korea, "is up to the task."
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Clinton_announces_envoy_for_NKorean_nuclear_talks/articleshow/4158387.cms?TOI_latestnews
Obama should apologise for Iraq war: Tutu
LONDON: Archbishop Desmond Tutu has warned that US President Barack Obama risks squandering goodwill from around the world if he fails to take concrete steps such as apologising for the Iraq war.
Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and retired archbishop of Cape Town, urged Obama to support the International Criminal Court (ICC) and "come down hard" on African dictators.
The 77-year-old anti-apartheid icon said that when Obama was elected in November last year, "I wanted to jump and dance and shout" as he had done after voting in his homeland for the first time in 1994.
But a few weeks into the new administration, he now warned in an article for the BBC's website that the high hopes surrounding Obama's presidency may turn sour.
Obama "could easily squander the goodwill that his election generated if he disappoints," Tutu wrote.
"It would be wonderful if, on behalf of the nation, Obama apologises to the world, and especially the Iraqis, for an invasion that I believe has turned out to be an unmitigated disaster."
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Obama_should_apologise_for_Iraq_war_Desmond_Tutu/articleshow/4158398.cms?TOI_latestnews
Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and retired archbishop of Cape Town, urged Obama to support the International Criminal Court (ICC) and "come down hard" on African dictators.
The 77-year-old anti-apartheid icon said that when Obama was elected in November last year, "I wanted to jump and dance and shout" as he had done after voting in his homeland for the first time in 1994.
But a few weeks into the new administration, he now warned in an article for the BBC's website that the high hopes surrounding Obama's presidency may turn sour.
Obama "could easily squander the goodwill that his election generated if he disappoints," Tutu wrote.
"It would be wonderful if, on behalf of the nation, Obama apologises to the world, and especially the Iraqis, for an invasion that I believe has turned out to be an unmitigated disaster."
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Obama_should_apologise_for_Iraq_war_Desmond_Tutu/articleshow/4158398.cms?TOI_latestnews
Man who killed police officer executed in Virginia
JARRATT, VIRGINIA: Virginia has executed a purported drug dealer who gunned down a police officer during a foot chase a decade ago.
Corrections department spokesman Larry Traylor said Edward Nathaniel Bell was pronounced dead at 9:11pm. on Thursday (0200 GMT Friday) at the Greensville Correctional Center.
The 43-year-old was put to death by lethal injection for shooting police Sgt. Ricky Timbrook on Oct 29, 1999.
Bell had maintained that he did not shoot Timbrook. Prosecutors, however, say Bell was a flashy drug dealer who held a grudge against Timbrook for arresting the Jamaican man two years earlier.
Bell was the 103rd Virginia inmate executed since capital punishment was reinstated in 1976. Virginia ranks second only to Texas in the number of executions since then.
Source; http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Man_who_killed_police_officer_executed_in_Virginia/articleshow/4158459.cms?TOI_latestnews
Corrections department spokesman Larry Traylor said Edward Nathaniel Bell was pronounced dead at 9:11pm. on Thursday (0200 GMT Friday) at the Greensville Correctional Center.
The 43-year-old was put to death by lethal injection for shooting police Sgt. Ricky Timbrook on Oct 29, 1999.
Bell had maintained that he did not shoot Timbrook. Prosecutors, however, say Bell was a flashy drug dealer who held a grudge against Timbrook for arresting the Jamaican man two years earlier.
Bell was the 103rd Virginia inmate executed since capital punishment was reinstated in 1976. Virginia ranks second only to Texas in the number of executions since then.
Source; http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Man_who_killed_police_officer_executed_in_Virginia/articleshow/4158459.cms?TOI_latestnews
NCP gains ground in state
MUMBAI: The NCP is working overtime to consolidate its hold over western Maharashtra which has 10 LS seats. The party is planning to secure at least 35 seats so that its president Sharad Pawar could stake his claim to prime ministership in the event of a hung house. It is trying to bag the bulk of these seats from western Maharashtra.
At present, the party has eight of the 10 seats from this region, but it is planning to capture all 10. A fairly sure seat will be that of Pawar himself who is planning to contest from Shirur in Pune district.
Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule will contest from Baramati-from where he has been elected several times. In Solapur, which has a BJP MP, Union minister Sushilkumar Shinde is planning to field his daughter Preeti on a Congress ticket. But NCP is strategising to capture this seat too by tacitly backing a powerful Independent. In the last elections, Shinde's wife, who was the Congress nominee, was defeated by the BJP.
In Kolhapur, the NCP may field speaker Babasaheb Kupekar or former health minister Digvijay Khanvilkar. There are indications that Khanvilkar, who belongs to a royal family and has a mass base in the district, may be rewarded for his steadfast loyalty to Pawar. On Sunday, Khanvilkar proved his clout by organising a huge rally in Kolhapur to commemorate the martyrs of 26/11. The success of the rally has become the talk of western Maharashtra.
The NCP has decided to set up a war chest containing upwards of Rs 400 crore for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. As there is no limit on the amount spent by a party, the NCP will loosen its purse strings generously. The party controls a string of sugar factories and banks in the cooperative sector. Some of its second-rung Maratha leaders are individually worth Rs 100 crore each.
Apparently, the NCP's friends in the intelligence community have informed it that no party or combination of parties will obtain a majority and that the polls will throw up a fractured verdict. Apart from its own MPs, the NCP is also expecting the support of parties like the Sena. Though the Sena has an alliance with the BJP, if Pawar has a good chance of becoming PM, then the saffron party may support him on the grounds that he will be the first PM from Maharashtra.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Mumbai/NCP-gains-ground-in-state/articleshow/4157613.cms
At present, the party has eight of the 10 seats from this region, but it is planning to capture all 10. A fairly sure seat will be that of Pawar himself who is planning to contest from Shirur in Pune district.
Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule will contest from Baramati-from where he has been elected several times. In Solapur, which has a BJP MP, Union minister Sushilkumar Shinde is planning to field his daughter Preeti on a Congress ticket. But NCP is strategising to capture this seat too by tacitly backing a powerful Independent. In the last elections, Shinde's wife, who was the Congress nominee, was defeated by the BJP.
In Kolhapur, the NCP may field speaker Babasaheb Kupekar or former health minister Digvijay Khanvilkar. There are indications that Khanvilkar, who belongs to a royal family and has a mass base in the district, may be rewarded for his steadfast loyalty to Pawar. On Sunday, Khanvilkar proved his clout by organising a huge rally in Kolhapur to commemorate the martyrs of 26/11. The success of the rally has become the talk of western Maharashtra.
The NCP has decided to set up a war chest containing upwards of Rs 400 crore for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. As there is no limit on the amount spent by a party, the NCP will loosen its purse strings generously. The party controls a string of sugar factories and banks in the cooperative sector. Some of its second-rung Maratha leaders are individually worth Rs 100 crore each.
Apparently, the NCP's friends in the intelligence community have informed it that no party or combination of parties will obtain a majority and that the polls will throw up a fractured verdict. Apart from its own MPs, the NCP is also expecting the support of parties like the Sena. Though the Sena has an alliance with the BJP, if Pawar has a good chance of becoming PM, then the saffron party may support him on the grounds that he will be the first PM from Maharashtra.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Mumbai/NCP-gains-ground-in-state/articleshow/4157613.cms
Race course restoration in 3 months' time
MUMBAI: Work on restoration and conservation of the member's enclosure at the Mahalaxmi Race Course -which suffered major damages in two fires last year - is set to start before the end of this month.
The proposal by the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) earlier received a go-ahead from the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) to reconstruct the stands; municipal commissioner Jairaj Phatak gave a green signal to the plan last week. According to the architects - Mahimtura & Consultants - the grade II heritage structure will be restored to its former glory in less than three months. "Our idea is to just replicate the original architecture and heritage. No changes will be made to the exterior and even the interiors will only be minimally altered," said architect Shailesh Mahimtura.
The upper and centre decks of the member's stands, which about 1000 patrons, were gutted in fires on July 3 and September 19, 2008. The cost restoration, reconstruction and conservation of the member's stands will be over Rs 1 crore.
Under the plan, the roof will be relaid with Mangalore tiles, repairs will be carried out on the cement coba of the pantry, passage and sitting area. The roof will be decorated with wooden brackets and facia boards. Painted masonry brackets and plinth mouldings will also be put in place.
Vivek Jain, chairman, media and marketing committee of RWITC, said the ground floor of the member's enclosure is open to patrons. "We want to repair the affected parts of the first and second floors,'' he said.
The MHCC has however withheld permission for repair and reconstruction of enclosure 2 near the member's stand. Dinesh Afzulpurkar, chairman, MHCC, said, "Keeping in mind the new racing season from January 31, we granted permission to restore the old members' enclosure. But for enclosure 2, we are waiting for more documents.''
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Mumbai/Race-course-restoration-in-3-months-time/articleshow/4157614.cms
The proposal by the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) earlier received a go-ahead from the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) to reconstruct the stands; municipal commissioner Jairaj Phatak gave a green signal to the plan last week. According to the architects - Mahimtura & Consultants - the grade II heritage structure will be restored to its former glory in less than three months. "Our idea is to just replicate the original architecture and heritage. No changes will be made to the exterior and even the interiors will only be minimally altered," said architect Shailesh Mahimtura.
The upper and centre decks of the member's stands, which about 1000 patrons, were gutted in fires on July 3 and September 19, 2008. The cost restoration, reconstruction and conservation of the member's stands will be over Rs 1 crore.
Under the plan, the roof will be relaid with Mangalore tiles, repairs will be carried out on the cement coba of the pantry, passage and sitting area. The roof will be decorated with wooden brackets and facia boards. Painted masonry brackets and plinth mouldings will also be put in place.
Vivek Jain, chairman, media and marketing committee of RWITC, said the ground floor of the member's enclosure is open to patrons. "We want to repair the affected parts of the first and second floors,'' he said.
The MHCC has however withheld permission for repair and reconstruction of enclosure 2 near the member's stand. Dinesh Afzulpurkar, chairman, MHCC, said, "Keeping in mind the new racing season from January 31, we granted permission to restore the old members' enclosure. But for enclosure 2, we are waiting for more documents.''
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Mumbai/Race-course-restoration-in-3-months-time/articleshow/4157614.cms
No Bangla link in carnage: Cops
Mumbai police officials have denied the possibility of a Bangladeshi link to 26/11.
Bangladesh foreign affairs minister Hassan Mahmud hinted on Thursday that the terrorists involved in the 26/11 attacks might have used Bangladeshi soil, media reports said. This is the first time an official from the Bangladeshi government has pointed to a Dhaka involvement in the attack. "Since terrorist attacks have been happening in the region in the past few months, even in Mumbai, terrorists have cross-border links,'' Mahmud was quoted by the Bangladesh-based newspaper, The Independent.
"Not only Lashkar (LeT) and HuJI, but other terror organisations also. They trained in Afghanistan, they were in Pakistan, then they came here. It is dangerous. They cooperate among themselves, now we have to cooperate among ourselves in the region to combat them,'' Mahmud added.
Mumbai's police, however, have taken the official Indian line and discounted the possibility. "We have found nothing in the course of our probe that suggests any Bangladeshi link in 26/11,'' joint commissioner of police (crime) Rakesh Maria told TOI.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Mumbai/No-Bangla-link-in-carnage-Cops/articleshow/4157734.cms
Bangladesh foreign affairs minister Hassan Mahmud hinted on Thursday that the terrorists involved in the 26/11 attacks might have used Bangladeshi soil, media reports said. This is the first time an official from the Bangladeshi government has pointed to a Dhaka involvement in the attack. "Since terrorist attacks have been happening in the region in the past few months, even in Mumbai, terrorists have cross-border links,'' Mahmud was quoted by the Bangladesh-based newspaper, The Independent.
"Not only Lashkar (LeT) and HuJI, but other terror organisations also. They trained in Afghanistan, they were in Pakistan, then they came here. It is dangerous. They cooperate among themselves, now we have to cooperate among ourselves in the region to combat them,'' Mahmud added.
Mumbai's police, however, have taken the official Indian line and discounted the possibility. "We have found nothing in the course of our probe that suggests any Bangladeshi link in 26/11,'' joint commissioner of police (crime) Rakesh Maria told TOI.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Mumbai/No-Bangla-link-in-carnage-Cops/articleshow/4157734.cms
Nariman House still throws up 26/11 bullets
Nariman House caretaker Zakir Hussain, also a witness to the carnage last November, has found several empty shells of cartridges on the premises over the past few weeks.
We've got what we need: Cops
Joint commissioner of police (crime) Rakesh Maria, however, felt this did not necessarily point to a shoddy investigation. "We have collected all the evidence we need,'' Maria told TOI.
Clear all evidence: Expert
Police officer-turned-lawyer Y P Singh said the police should have collected every piece of evidence from the spot and furnished it in court. "And, if the shells are Ordnance Factory material and have been used by policemen and soldiers, then they should have collected everything after the operation was over,'' he added.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Mumbai/Nariman-House-still-throws-up-2611-bullets/articleshow/4157736.cms
We've got what we need: Cops
Joint commissioner of police (crime) Rakesh Maria, however, felt this did not necessarily point to a shoddy investigation. "We have collected all the evidence we need,'' Maria told TOI.
Clear all evidence: Expert
Police officer-turned-lawyer Y P Singh said the police should have collected every piece of evidence from the spot and furnished it in court. "And, if the shells are Ordnance Factory material and have been used by policemen and soldiers, then they should have collected everything after the operation was over,'' he added.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Mumbai/Nariman-House-still-throws-up-2611-bullets/articleshow/4157736.cms
Dawood forges tie-up with Taliban: Reports
MUMBAI: Dawood Ibrahim, India's most-wanted, is learnt to have tied up with a powerful section of the Taliban.
Sources in Indian security agencies say Dawood has worked out a "good equation" with Maulana Fazlullah aka Maulana Radio, commander of Tehrik Nifaz Shariat-e-Mohammadi (TNSM), an organisation active in areas along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, especially Swat.
The changing political equations in Pakistan-the latest factor being the decision to impose sharia in strife-torn Swat-have apparently prompted Dawood to go for the "tie-up". Also, this has reportedly been done with the full knowledge of Pakistan's ISI.
Sources say the Taliban is known to play a crucial role in the narcotics trade; the D-gang, too, has a major stake in this. "Apart from business interests, political compulsions have compelled Dawood to network closely with the Taliban,'' a security official pointed out.
What is worrying police agencies here is that the Taliban and al-Qaida have a close network with the Lashkar-e-Taiba as well as its front organisations, including the Indian Mujahideen.
Dawood has already been designated by the US as a "global terrorist''. His new link with the Taliban makes him even more dangerous for India, say officials.
The activities of Dawood's henchmen in Mumbai and other places are being closely monitored by security officials. The D-gang is also expected to back selected candidates for the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh and other states.
"We can act against these elements in India provided we get the green signal from the Centre,'' an official said.
Source; http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Dawood_forges_tie-up_with_Taliban_Reports/articleshow/4152167.cms
Sources in Indian security agencies say Dawood has worked out a "good equation" with Maulana Fazlullah aka Maulana Radio, commander of Tehrik Nifaz Shariat-e-Mohammadi (TNSM), an organisation active in areas along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, especially Swat.
The changing political equations in Pakistan-the latest factor being the decision to impose sharia in strife-torn Swat-have apparently prompted Dawood to go for the "tie-up". Also, this has reportedly been done with the full knowledge of Pakistan's ISI.
Sources say the Taliban is known to play a crucial role in the narcotics trade; the D-gang, too, has a major stake in this. "Apart from business interests, political compulsions have compelled Dawood to network closely with the Taliban,'' a security official pointed out.
What is worrying police agencies here is that the Taliban and al-Qaida have a close network with the Lashkar-e-Taiba as well as its front organisations, including the Indian Mujahideen.
Dawood has already been designated by the US as a "global terrorist''. His new link with the Taliban makes him even more dangerous for India, say officials.
The activities of Dawood's henchmen in Mumbai and other places are being closely monitored by security officials. The D-gang is also expected to back selected candidates for the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh and other states.
"We can act against these elements in India provided we get the green signal from the Centre,'' an official said.
Source; http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Dawood_forges_tie-up_with_Taliban_Reports/articleshow/4152167.cms
Pranab defends response to terror
NEW DELHI: Foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday strongly rebutted BJP's charge that the government's response to terrorism had been inadequate claiming that diplomacy had yielded results with international pressure being brought to bear on Pakistan.
He rejected BJP's criticism that anti-terror laws were half-baked, saying that their effectiveness lay in how they were implemented. He also ruled out military action, saying that retaliatory action was not necessarily the best way of resolving an issue. "We can't imitate other countries, their way of doing things because many innocent lives are lost," he said.
He also based his arguments against reactive strikes on terror bases by pointing out that diplomacy was achieving results without moving a single soldier or laying mines, a dig at the NDA government's decision to go in for Operation Parakram.
The minister, who spoke in both Houses, also took on the Left's perennial criticism that India was kowtowing to the US by pointing out that foreign policy was guided by national interest. "We are pro none. If at all, we are pro India." He denied the charge of deviating from India's held policy of supporting Palestinian people for their home land.
"Foreign policy is nothing but promotion of national interest," Mukherjee said and added that India was fully with the Arab League in condemning the attack on the Gaza Strip. He said he had visited Iran thrice and had close ties with Arabian countries who were the "principal suppliers of our fuel". "But I can have friendship with both," he added.
Mukherjee said, "We are not subservient to any one. We are not afraid but we don't go around brandishing our sword like Don Quixote at every windmill."
In Lok Sabha, he also indicated that government disapproved of chief election commissioner N Gopalaswami's recommendation for the removal of Navin Chawla as election commissioner.
BJP had charged that India under UPA had become a weak state with Taliban at its door steps, and internal security compromised for "vote bank politics". Leading the attack, Arun Jaitley had charged that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was like a night watchman in cricket who was waiting for the heir apparent to take charge from him and that the UPA government failed to bring a effective law against terrorism.
CPM's Brinda Karat had alleged that government's apathy towards farmers was reflected in the president's speech where there was no mention of it at a time when farmers were committing suicide.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Pakistan/Pranab-defends-response-to-terror/articleshow/4151855.cms
He rejected BJP's criticism that anti-terror laws were half-baked, saying that their effectiveness lay in how they were implemented. He also ruled out military action, saying that retaliatory action was not necessarily the best way of resolving an issue. "We can't imitate other countries, their way of doing things because many innocent lives are lost," he said.
He also based his arguments against reactive strikes on terror bases by pointing out that diplomacy was achieving results without moving a single soldier or laying mines, a dig at the NDA government's decision to go in for Operation Parakram.
The minister, who spoke in both Houses, also took on the Left's perennial criticism that India was kowtowing to the US by pointing out that foreign policy was guided by national interest. "We are pro none. If at all, we are pro India." He denied the charge of deviating from India's held policy of supporting Palestinian people for their home land.
"Foreign policy is nothing but promotion of national interest," Mukherjee said and added that India was fully with the Arab League in condemning the attack on the Gaza Strip. He said he had visited Iran thrice and had close ties with Arabian countries who were the "principal suppliers of our fuel". "But I can have friendship with both," he added.
Mukherjee said, "We are not subservient to any one. We are not afraid but we don't go around brandishing our sword like Don Quixote at every windmill."
In Lok Sabha, he also indicated that government disapproved of chief election commissioner N Gopalaswami's recommendation for the removal of Navin Chawla as election commissioner.
BJP had charged that India under UPA had become a weak state with Taliban at its door steps, and internal security compromised for "vote bank politics". Leading the attack, Arun Jaitley had charged that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was like a night watchman in cricket who was waiting for the heir apparent to take charge from him and that the UPA government failed to bring a effective law against terrorism.
CPM's Brinda Karat had alleged that government's apathy towards farmers was reflected in the president's speech where there was no mention of it at a time when farmers were committing suicide.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Pakistan/Pranab-defends-response-to-terror/articleshow/4151855.cms
Lakhvi, Shah remanded to police custody for 14 days: Report
ISLAMABAD: Top Lashker-e-Taiba operatives including Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and Zarar Shah arrested on Wednesday for their links to the Mumbai attacks
by Pakistani authorities, were on Thursday remanded by an anti-terrorism judge to police custody for 14 days.
With this, the total number of suspects remanded to the custody of law enforcement agencies has gone up to four.
LeT activist Hamad Amin Sadiq, described by Pakistani officials as the "main operator" behind the attacks, was remanded to custody of the Federal Investigation Agency on Monday.
Though interior ministry chief Rehman Malik had announced the detention of the three men — Lakhvi, Zarar Shah alias Abdul Wajid and Abu Al Qama — along with other suspects on February 12, police officials told the judge that they were only arrested yesterday in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.
Police charged the three LeT operatives with conspiracy and facilitating and collaborating in the attacks.
Lakhvi, Zarar Shah and Abu Al Qama were produced before an anti-terrorism court judge who remanded them to police custody for a fortnight, TV channels quoted court and government officials as saying.
Police told the judge that they needed custody of Lakhvi, Shah and Qama in order to recover some explosives from the suspects. The judge granted custody for further interrogation and investigation.
Malik had said last week that two more suspects had been detained by Pakistani authorities though their legal status and whereabouts are currently unknown.
The spokesmen for the interior ministry and other concerned departments have refused to speak on the status of Pakistan's probe into the Mumbai attacks, saying they had been asked by their higher-ups not to comment on the issue.
Meanwhile, attorney general Latif Khosa on Thursday told reporters that Pakistan could seek custody of Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist captured by India for the Mumbai incident, through Interpol only if a court issued an order in this regard.
Khosa said if the Pakistani police and prosecution named Kasab as one of the suspects in their chargesheet, the court could then issue an order for him to be produced before it.
But if the police said Kasab cannot be produced as he is outside Pakistan, the court could then secure his custody through Interpol, he said.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Lakhvi-Shah-remanded-to-police-custody-Report/articleshow/4156139.cms
by Pakistani authorities, were on Thursday remanded by an anti-terrorism judge to police custody for 14 days.
With this, the total number of suspects remanded to the custody of law enforcement agencies has gone up to four.
LeT activist Hamad Amin Sadiq, described by Pakistani officials as the "main operator" behind the attacks, was remanded to custody of the Federal Investigation Agency on Monday.
Though interior ministry chief Rehman Malik had announced the detention of the three men — Lakhvi, Zarar Shah alias Abdul Wajid and Abu Al Qama — along with other suspects on February 12, police officials told the judge that they were only arrested yesterday in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.
Police charged the three LeT operatives with conspiracy and facilitating and collaborating in the attacks.
Lakhvi, Zarar Shah and Abu Al Qama were produced before an anti-terrorism court judge who remanded them to police custody for a fortnight, TV channels quoted court and government officials as saying.
Police told the judge that they needed custody of Lakhvi, Shah and Qama in order to recover some explosives from the suspects. The judge granted custody for further interrogation and investigation.
Malik had said last week that two more suspects had been detained by Pakistani authorities though their legal status and whereabouts are currently unknown.
The spokesmen for the interior ministry and other concerned departments have refused to speak on the status of Pakistan's probe into the Mumbai attacks, saying they had been asked by their higher-ups not to comment on the issue.
Meanwhile, attorney general Latif Khosa on Thursday told reporters that Pakistan could seek custody of Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist captured by India for the Mumbai incident, through Interpol only if a court issued an order in this regard.
Khosa said if the Pakistani police and prosecution named Kasab as one of the suspects in their chargesheet, the court could then issue an order for him to be produced before it.
But if the police said Kasab cannot be produced as he is outside Pakistan, the court could then secure his custody through Interpol, he said.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Lakhvi-Shah-remanded-to-police-custody-Report/articleshow/4156139.cms
Evidence stacks up against Kasab
The state-run forensic laboratory and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have analysed hundreds of pieces of evidence - both physical and
electronic - to be used in the trial against the lone 26/11 terrorist caught alive, Amir Ajmal Kasab. The forensic lab is working overtime as well as on weekends to help the police present a watertight case in court; FBI help is coming in for analysing all the communication, via e-mail, satellite phone and GPS devices, between the 10 terrorists and their masters in Pakistan
What the forensic lab got
Evidence I: Arms & Ammo
The forensic lab has carried out 69 ballistic tests on the arms and ammunition recovered from the sites (Taj, Oberoi, Cafe Leopold, Nariman House and CST). The evidence includes AK-47s, 9-mm pistols, bullets and cartridges, hand grenades, traces of TNT and detonators used by the terrorists. The police say the 9-mm pistols used by the terrorists were manufactured by the Pakistan-based Diamond Nedi Frontier Arms Company and the grenades by Arges, a Pakistan Ordnance Factory franchisee.
Evidence II: The Rdx-Laced Bombs
Tests have revealed that the bombs used by the terrorists contained RDX. Two exploded in taxis at Vile Parle and Wadi Bunder, two at Oberoi, one exploded on the fifth floor of the Taj, two were discovered around the hotel, one burst on the Nariman House premises, another a few metres away at a petrol pump and the 10th (and last) was recovered from a bag left behind at CST.
Evidence III: The Debris
The debris from the two taxi blast sites at Wadi Bunder and Vile Parle has been analysed.
Evidence IV: DNA samples from articles of daily use
DNA samples of Kasab and the nine other terrorists matched with those found on articles they used on M V Kuber (the fishing trawler they travelled in from Porbandar to Mumbai). Forensic experts collected DNA samples of 16 articles. Ten were collected from toothbrushes, jackets, blankets and food packets and all matched with samples collected from the 10 terrorists. But six DNA samples gathered from the trawler did not match the terrorists'; officials said they must have belonged to Kuber crew members. This evidence proves conclusively that the terrorists travelled by the trawler.
Evidence V: The Motor
The terrorists used a dinghy to land at Badhwar Park, Cuffe Parade. The motor used in the dinghy was a Yamaha engine imported into Pakistan and distributed by Business of Engineering Trends, Lahore.
Evidence VI: The Viscera
Forensic experts also examined the slain terrorists' viscera. It did not show traces of any drug but established that they had been on a diet of nuts before entering Mumbai.
What's Left
Experts are yet to analyse a few ballistic samples and a couple of detonators.
What the police expect from FBI
The e-mail angle
The FBI is assisting Mumbai's cops in probing the origin of the e-mails sent on the evening of 26/11, purportedly by Deccan Mujahideen, from IP address deccanmujahideen@gmail.com. The address has been traced to a proxy server in Russia. LeT communication coordinator Zarrar Shah supervised the creation of a new e-mail account and had another ID, drmoazam@ymail.com, registered in Pakistan on 24 June 2008.
The satellite phone
The terrorists used Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to contact their handlers based in Pakistan. One of the virtual numbers was set up with a US company, Callphonex, by one Kharak Singh from India; payment for the account was made from Italy by Pakistani national Javid Iqbal.
The GPS trail
The Global Positioning System was pre-programmed to help the terrorists reach Badhwar Park. Officials suspect the terrorists used the GPC to travel and locate their targets.
The guns
The FBI is also assisting Mumbai investigators to locate the origin of the 10 AK-47s used in the attack.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/US/Evidence_stacks_up_against_Kasab/articleshow/4157735.cms
electronic - to be used in the trial against the lone 26/11 terrorist caught alive, Amir Ajmal Kasab. The forensic lab is working overtime as well as on weekends to help the police present a watertight case in court; FBI help is coming in for analysing all the communication, via e-mail, satellite phone and GPS devices, between the 10 terrorists and their masters in Pakistan
What the forensic lab got
Evidence I: Arms & Ammo
The forensic lab has carried out 69 ballistic tests on the arms and ammunition recovered from the sites (Taj, Oberoi, Cafe Leopold, Nariman House and CST). The evidence includes AK-47s, 9-mm pistols, bullets and cartridges, hand grenades, traces of TNT and detonators used by the terrorists. The police say the 9-mm pistols used by the terrorists were manufactured by the Pakistan-based Diamond Nedi Frontier Arms Company and the grenades by Arges, a Pakistan Ordnance Factory franchisee.
Evidence II: The Rdx-Laced Bombs
Tests have revealed that the bombs used by the terrorists contained RDX. Two exploded in taxis at Vile Parle and Wadi Bunder, two at Oberoi, one exploded on the fifth floor of the Taj, two were discovered around the hotel, one burst on the Nariman House premises, another a few metres away at a petrol pump and the 10th (and last) was recovered from a bag left behind at CST.
Evidence III: The Debris
The debris from the two taxi blast sites at Wadi Bunder and Vile Parle has been analysed.
Evidence IV: DNA samples from articles of daily use
DNA samples of Kasab and the nine other terrorists matched with those found on articles they used on M V Kuber (the fishing trawler they travelled in from Porbandar to Mumbai). Forensic experts collected DNA samples of 16 articles. Ten were collected from toothbrushes, jackets, blankets and food packets and all matched with samples collected from the 10 terrorists. But six DNA samples gathered from the trawler did not match the terrorists'; officials said they must have belonged to Kuber crew members. This evidence proves conclusively that the terrorists travelled by the trawler.
Evidence V: The Motor
The terrorists used a dinghy to land at Badhwar Park, Cuffe Parade. The motor used in the dinghy was a Yamaha engine imported into Pakistan and distributed by Business of Engineering Trends, Lahore.
Evidence VI: The Viscera
Forensic experts also examined the slain terrorists' viscera. It did not show traces of any drug but established that they had been on a diet of nuts before entering Mumbai.
What's Left
Experts are yet to analyse a few ballistic samples and a couple of detonators.
What the police expect from FBI
The e-mail angle
The FBI is assisting Mumbai's cops in probing the origin of the e-mails sent on the evening of 26/11, purportedly by Deccan Mujahideen, from IP address deccanmujahideen@gmail.com. The address has been traced to a proxy server in Russia. LeT communication coordinator Zarrar Shah supervised the creation of a new e-mail account and had another ID, drmoazam@ymail.com, registered in Pakistan on 24 June 2008.
The satellite phone
The terrorists used Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to contact their handlers based in Pakistan. One of the virtual numbers was set up with a US company, Callphonex, by one Kharak Singh from India; payment for the account was made from Italy by Pakistani national Javid Iqbal.
The GPS trail
The Global Positioning System was pre-programmed to help the terrorists reach Badhwar Park. Officials suspect the terrorists used the GPC to travel and locate their targets.
The guns
The FBI is also assisting Mumbai investigators to locate the origin of the 10 AK-47s used in the attack.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/US/Evidence_stacks_up_against_Kasab/articleshow/4157735.cms
Mumbai police gets 26/11 evidence from FBI
WASHINGTON: The Mumbai police has obtained "crucial evidences" from the FBI that points that the plot to execute the 26/11 terror attack was hatched in Pakistan.
The three-member team led by Mumbai Police Deputy Inspector General Deven Bharti received the evidences that also include the information collected by the FBI, which it had gathered by sending its team to Pakistan.
These evidences, ranging from details of Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), satellite phones used by terrorists, exchange of emails, intercepts and forensic examination of bullets used by attackers and others substantiates the links between the terrorists and their handlers in Pakistan.
The evidences also include the information collected by the FBI, which it had gathered by sending its team to Pakistan. The Mumbai police team left for India yesterday. It had come to Washington to hand over a Letters Rogatory issued by a Mumbai court and vetted by the Ministry of External Affairs to the US Department of Justice in Washington.
FBI's help had been sought in sharing the proofs like call details made through VoIP and from the satellite phone besides getting the documents related to Global Positioning System used by the terrorists while sailing from Karachi.
Backed up by its state of the art technological equipments, the FBI is believed to have got minute details of the voice over internet protocol services and satellite phones, which the terrorists used to call up their bosses in Pakistan.
The forensic examination of the bullets used by the terrorists in Mumbai was also a part of the evidence gathered from FBI by Mumbai Police. The evidence from FBI is expected to make the case water-tight as this kind of proof would further nail Pakistan's claims that the conspiracy behind 26/11 was not hatched in that country alone.
India and the United States share a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) which came into effect on December 3, 2005.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mumbai_police_gets_2611_evidence_from_FBI/articleshow/4157975.cms
Dev.D does good business at the box office
Anurag Kashyap’s Abhay Deol starer Dev.D managed to get critical acclaim from all quarters and also managed to garner good moolah at the ticket window. The path breaking music and the controversial content did the trick and in the first week this medium budgeted film managed to gross a whopping Rs. 13 crores at the box office and is also still running strong.
A good small budget movie rakes in an average of Rs. 6 crores and this is for the third time in a row that a film from the spot boy palette that has done so exceptionally well. However, more than anything else I had complete faith on Anurag Kashyap’s work and the concept of the film. I am glad that the film is garnering such a tremendous response and has surpassed all expectations. With rave reviews and continued positive word of mouth, I am sure the film will keep up with its pace considering the story being so much in sync with the youth of today- Vikas Behl, COO UTV Spot Boy. -Sampurn Media
Vidya Balan’s single but not ready to mingle
Vidya Balan might be linked to every other co-star but she claims to be still single.
After her first big film ‘Parineeta’, there were talks of her closeness with co-star Sanjay Dutt.
Then she was romantically linked to ‘Salaam-E-Ishq’ co-star John Abraham. During ‘Kismat Connection’ there were talks of her connection to Shahid Kapoor though many made fun of how she looked much older than him on screen.
She denied all that outright and said in a TV interview that if she actually was linked with all her co-stars then she should be a person to wear her heart on her sleeve, which is not the case. So they are only rumours and nothing else.
She would rather be stuck with her work and is busy shooting for ‘Chenab Gandhi’ with Vibhu Puri wielding the microphone.
She’s acting alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Harman Baweja for the first time and it revolves around the life of Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, better known as Frontier Gandhi as well as Bachchan Sr. and Abhishek. -Sampurn Media
Shilpa Shetty’s super costly music video
Shilpa who joined the IPL league after Preity Zinta is set to make a super rich music video to promote her cricket team.
The sizzling music video will have an evocative Rajasthani-folk number entitled ‘Halla Bol’ composed by Anand Raj Anand.
Interestingly it will be choreographed by Ken Ghosh who stopped doing music videos after turning feature filmmaker.
Shilpa says, “I’m so glad Ken is making an exception for me. We chose Anand Raj Anand because he’s an expert at catchy folk songs. I first worked in a film with his music when he scored for Pardesi Babu. I was simply bowled over by the numbers. Today when I hear the song he has composed for our team I feel deeply enthused.”
Shilpa’s beau and co-partner Raj Kundra is mighty excited by Anand Raj Anand’s Rajasthani song and have apparently decided to shell out a mini fortune close to Rs. 1 crore, to shoot the song featuring Shilpa.
The inside buzz is that the video would be better than anything that she has done. The word is that close to a total amount of Rs. 3 crores is expected to be spent.
The source has said, “From ‘UP Bihar Lootne’ to ‘Shut Up And Bounce’…Shilpa’s item songs have always been special. She wants her IPL music video to be her best item song ever. She’s working on the costumes, accessories everything in advance so that when they shoot the video in March she’ll sizzle like never before.”
However Shilpa refused to reveal any figures and simply said that they could all see the effect in the video.
-Sampurn Media
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