Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Daily Latest News

Daily Latest News

Daniel Radcliffe wants to be known for his acting

Posted: 19 May 2010 12:53 PM PDT

Los Angeles, May 20 (IANS) Hollywood actor and “Harry Potter” star Daniel Radcliffe wants to be known for his acting performances.

The 20-year-old actor admits he enjoyed the Potter ride and says he would love to be recognised for his acting ability and wants to become a “working actor”, reported femalefirst.com.

“It’s bizarre. Most working actors want to become stars. I am sort of a star because of Harry Potter, and I would love to become a working actor,” Radcliffe said.

“But to be honest, I’m happy to ride this as long as it goes. If it goes for two months after Potter, I’m happy. If it goes for six years, I’m happy. It’s a tough industry and I’ve got a lot of friends in it. And I truly believe that if I don’t make it as an actor, I will make it another way – I don’t have doubts about myself,” he added.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” has been split into two movies which will be released in November 2010 and in the summer of 2011.

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3G spectrum shortage, auction format were hurdles: Airtel

Posted: 19 May 2010 12:12 PM PDT

New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) India’s leading telecom operator Bharti Airtel, which won 13 circles in the auction of airwaves for third generation (3G) telephony, said it could not achieve pan-India target as auction format and spectrum shortage drove prices beyond reasonable levels.

“We would like to point out that the auction format and severe spectrum shortage along with ensuing policy uncertainty, drove the prices beyond reasonable levels. As a result, we could not achieve our objective of pan-India 3G footprint in this round,” Bharti said in a statement.

Bharti, which won 13 of 22 circles, will have to pay Rs.12,295.46 crore ($2.73 billion) to the government.

“This gives us a strategic footprint and an opportunity to provide 3G services in significant markets, including key metros and category ‘A’ circles,” it said.

Other leading player Vodafone Essar won nine circles, in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Tamil Nadu and Haryana, for Rs.11,617 crore.

“Vodafone Essar has secured a critical strategic footprint across the country, particularly in the markets where we expect the main demand for 3G services to be in the next few years. We aim to launch the services before the end of the year,” said CEO & managing director Marten Pieters.

Aircel, which focussed largely on south India, won 13 circles and will have to shell out Rs.6,499.46 crore ($1.44 billion).

“This will allow us to take our data strategy to the next level. It further opens new revenue opportunities and gives way to a dynamic business model. We now cover the whole of southern and eastern belt where we have our strong presence and in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh (East) as well. With this, we will be able to offer seamless connectivity and meaningful products and services to our consumers,” said the company’s COO Gurdeep Singh.

~ Rest Continues Below ~

The 3G auction, that concluded Wednesday, fetched Rs.67,718.95 crore ($15 billion) for the Indian government.

Slots for three-four players were available in the 22 circles into which the country was divided for 3G services that facilitate faster connectivity and applications such as Internet TV, video-on-demand, audio-video calls and high-speed data exchange.

Nine companies — Bharti Airtel, Reliance Communications, Vodafone Essar, Idea Cellular, Tata Teleservices, Aircel, Etisalat, S Tel and Videocon Telecommunications — took part in the online auction that started April 9.

Among them, Etisalat and Videocon could not win a single circle.

Lip injections, a bad idea: Sharon Stone

Posted: 19 May 2010 12:10 PM PDT

New York, May 19 (IANS) “Basic Instinct” star Sharon Stone has confessed having lip injections to boost her self-esteem was a bad idea because they made her look “like a trout”.

The 52-year-old actress has revealed she had her lips boosted with injections in a bid to grow her self-esteem following her divorce from Phil Bronstein six years ago but was horrified by the results, reports aceshowbiz.com.

Explaining her thought processes at the time, she said: “Nobody loved me. My life would be better if I had better lips”.

Recalling her response afterwards, she said: “What the hell? I looked like a trout”.

The actress also admitted she doesn’t think her age will make her change her sense of style.

“You know, I’m still wearing a bikini. That’s my bathing suit. I’ll be wearing leather pants when I’m 70 because that’s my style,” she said.

Stone, however, admitted she still suffers from feelings of self-doubt but knows they are normal.

Andhra hastens to protect coastal villages from Laila

Posted: 19 May 2010 12:10 PM PDT

Hyderabad/New Delhi/Kolkata, May 19 (IANS) Over 50,000 people were evacuated in coastal Andhra Pradesh by late Wednesday as hundreds of villages face threat of inundation with cyclonic storm Laila, which is set to hit the state’s coast Thursday morning.

Authorities were forcibly evacuating people from coastal areas and low-lying villages while nearly 500 personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed and four helicopters kept ready for rescue and relief operations.

“The government has asked district collectors to use police, wherever necessary, to evacuate people from low-lying areas,” state Minister for Information and Public Relations J. Geeta Reddy told reporters.

The 10th storm warning signal was hoisted at all eight ports along Andhra Pradesh coast, indicating the severity of the storm christened Laila. The ports have 11 warning signals and the final signal may be hoisted later Wednesday.

The districts of East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur may bear the brunt of Laila, which is likely to cross the coast between Nellore and Kakinada close to Machilipatnam, officials said Wednesday.

The government released a list of 777 villages vulnerable to the cyclone, which lay centred at 250 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam.

“Storm surge of 1.5 to 2 metres above the astronomical tide is likely to inundate the coastal areas of Guntur, Krishna and West and East Godavari districts at the time of landfall,” the India Meteorological Department said.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah asked ministers and officials to do whatever possible to protect life and property of people.

“The government is fully aware of the grave threat of the cyclone and closely monitoring the situation round the clock,” he said.

“Control rooms have been established both at Hyderabad and the district headquarters,” said a statement from the chief minister’s office.

A union home ministry statement in New Delhi said the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) ordered deployment of disaster management personnel Tuesday itself and the deployment was completed by Wednesday evening.

A total of 438 personnel along with 64 inflatable boats were deployed at various locations in six coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh – Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Machilipatnam, Guntur, Prakasam and Nellore.

“The NDMA deployed NDRF on receipt of cyclonic warning from India Meteorological Department (IMD) around 5 a.m. Tuesday…..,” said the release.

As many as 338 villages are in East Godavari district, where the port city of Kakinada is also likely to be affected. The Krishna district (233 villages), Guntur (158 villages) and West Godavari (48 villages) and the port city of Machilipatnam is also likely to be hit hard.

Nine senior officers have been deputed to nine coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh to monitor rescue and relief work, while ministers also rushed to districts likely to be hit by the cyclone.

The IMD has warned of heavy to very heavy rains of 25 cm and above and gales with wind speeds of 115-125 km per hour at the time of the cyclone’s landfall.

The IMD has suggested total suspension of fishing operations, moving coastal hutment dwellers to safer places and advised people in coastal districts to remain indoors.

Strong gales with speeds of 65 to 70 km per hour have been lashing the region since Tuesday night, uprooting trees and damaging electricity and communication towers in some districts, officials said.

Almost the entire Nellore district plunged into darkness as strong gales damaged electricity system. Districts of Vijayanagaram, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur are receiving heavy rains since Wednesday morning.

At least 10 people were killed in rain-related incidents like lightning strikes and wall collapses since Tuesday night. About 25 fishermen were also reported missing.

Andhra Pradesh has about 1,000-km-long coast line, which is vulnerable to cyclones, storms and low pressure areas over the Bay of Bengal during September-October every year.

Officials said this was the first time in 20 years that the coastal region is facing a cyclonic storm during May.

Weather department officials have also issued warnings to Orissa and West Bengal as the cyclone is likely to move northeastwards after landfall across the two states. Fishermen have been advised to be cautious while going out into sea.

In Kolkata, the meteorological centre director G.C. Debnath rushed to the state secretariat Writers’ Buildings in the evening and briefed senior officials about the likely effects of Laila.

“Tomorrow (Thursday) evening it will hit West Bengal, but the wind speed could be substantially lower at 60-70 km per hour. It may trigger stormy winds and heavy rains,” Debnath told reporters.

West Bengal Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta said the state government has ordered seven districts – North 24-Parganas, South 24-Pargans, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia, East Midnapore and West Midnapore – to take precautionary measures on a war footing.

Jessica Parker to take son for ‘Sex and the City 2

Posted: 19 May 2010 12:09 PM PDT

London, May 20 (IANS) Hollywood actress Sarah Jessica Parker is planning to take her seven-year-old son James Wilkie for her upcoming movie “Sex and the City 2″.

The 45-year-old actress wants her son to watch her performance in the movie, though she will be making proper excuses to take him out of the theatre during the two intimate scenes.

“If I can manage to take him out for popcorn for two certain moments, I think he’s ready for it (the film). He has too many questions, and he’s too clever for us to keep it from him,” contactmusic.com quoted Parker as saying.

SA vs WI T20 Live Streaming Score: South Africa doing well after early wickets

Posted: 19 May 2010 12:08 PM PDT

Bosman lost his wicket in early overs but after his wicket, Smith and Kallis played well, Smith played some lovely shots and departed on 37 runs. Check out the ball by ball update at bottom.

The upcoming South Africa vs West Indies T20 series would see certain changes in the former team such as the omission of certain senior players and inclusion of some new faces. Those dropped from the team include Herschelle Gibbs, Albie Morkel, Rusty Theron and Rory Kleinveldt, while David Miller, Hashim Amla, Alviro Petersen, Ryan McLaren and Lonwabo Tsotsobe have found a place in the team.

South Africa's underperformance in the world cup is reportedly the major reason behind the announcement of the new team. The West Indies tour consists of two T20s matches, and five ODIs. Andrew Hudson, South Africa's convenor of selectors was hopeful that the new squad would enhance the team's performance, especially at the batting front.

David Miller has been a star performer in the local Pro20 series. Having proven his credibility as an efficient fielder as well, Miller shall replace Wayne Parnel, who is currently recovering from a groin injury.

South Africa expects to set the records straight in West Indies thus compensating for their early exit at the world cup.

Digvijay Singh blames Raman Singh for Maoist attack

Posted: 19 May 2010 12:04 PM PDT

New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh Wednesday blamed Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh for failing to prevent attacks by Maoist in his state.

“If Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra can contain Maoists, why can’t Chhattisgarh do it?” Digvijay Singh said here.

“Law and order is a state subject. It is the state which decides deployment of central forces,” he added.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram Tuesday called for a bipartisan approach to the Maoist problem while also emphasising that states had to play a major role in tackling the Leftwing guerrillas.

Opposing any air strikes in operations against Maoists, Digvijay Singh said he has reservations on the issue. He said that the Rammohan Committee, which probed the Dantewada massacre, in which 76 security personnel were killed last month, had also opposed the use of air power.

His remarks come two days after Maoists massacred 31 people in Chhattisgarh.

Asked about the government-backed civil militia movement Salwa Judum, Digvijay Singh said it was “an excellent movement” but the state government had not given villagers adequate support and had asked them to come out of villages and put them in camps.

The Congress leader said Home Minister Chidambaran shouldn’t have taken the blame for the attack by Maoists in Chhattisgarh.

“Why is he (Chidambaram) taking blame on himself? He is not responsible. The chief minister is responsible.”

“Raman Singh has taken a stand that this conflict can only be solved by armed offensive. He does not explain where were Chhattisgarh Police when the Dantewada incident took place,” he said.

Drew Barrymore to direct again

Posted: 19 May 2010 11:54 AM PDT

Los Angeles, May 19 (IANS) Hollywood actress Drew Barrymore who marked her directorial debut earlier this year with “Whip It” will be going again behind the camera for “Surrender Dorothy”.

The film is based on a script by Zach Helm which was originally set to start in 2002. It has now been raised by Warner Brothers, though it is unclear whether Drew is still planning to act in it too, reported imdb.com.

The actress was originally going to play the great, great granddaughter of Dorothy who has to learn how to use the power of those ruby red slippers to keep the wicked witch of the West from taking control of the kingdoms of Earth and Oz.

Somdev in third round of French Open qualifiers

Posted: 19 May 2010 11:49 AM PDT

Paris, May 19 (IANS) India’s Somdev Devvarman moved into the third round of French Open qualifiers with a straight set demolition of Daneil King-Turner of New Zealand here Wednesday.

The sixth-seeded Indian outclassed Daniel 6-1, 6-2 in an hour and 12 minutes.

Somdev converted four of his nine break points while Daniel failed to convert any of his six break point opportunities.

The Indian will next take on France’s Adrian Mannarino, who got the better of Ramon Delgado of Paraguay 6-2, 7-6 (3).

Lindsay Lohan prefers jail to Rehab, says her father

Posted: 19 May 2010 11:49 AM PDT

Los Angeles, May 19 (IANS) Actress-singer Lindsay Lohan’s father Michael Lohan says his daughter’s disappearance from court hearing proves that she would prefer jail to rehab.

“She thinks that three days in jail is better than 60 days in rehab and she’s sadly mistaken. Lindsay doesn’t realise how horrible it is to be in jail for one, two, three days or longer. It’s something that would stick with her for the rest of her life and she doesn’t need any more torment,” aceshowbiz.com quoted him as saying.

The “Mean Girls” star has jetted to the Cannes Film Festival in France just days before her probation hearing in Los Angeles. And reportedly she hasn’t completed court-ordered alcohol education classes, as per the terms of her probation.

“The last time Lindsay went to jail, it was only for 84 minutes, so she probably feels that if she gets jail term, it will be for a short period of time. If she thinks that, she’s playing with fire. I hope she’s back (from Cannes) in time. She’s known all along that this hearing was coming up. Unfortunately, Lindsay decided to risk going to Europe,” his lawyer Lisa Bloom said.

“If she fails to show up for Thursday’s hearing, it’s almost certain she’ll be going to jail. She needs to show respect for the courts and let the judge know that she’ll be attending her classes. Showing up Thursday is absolutely critical,” he added.

Two killed as trainer aircraft crashes in Madhya Pradesh

Posted: 19 May 2010 11:48 AM PDT

Bhopal, May 19 (IANS) A pilot and a trainee were killed after their aircraft crashed near Ujjain town in Madhya Pradesh, police said Wednesday.

“The accident occurred around 5 p.m. when the aircraft hit a telephone wire near a high tension power supply line and caught fire. Instructor Girish Koperkar, 21, and trainee pilot Hitesh Karia, 20, were killed. Both belonged to Mumbai,” Superintendent of Police Satish Saxena told IANS over phone.

The aircraft of Yash Air crashed at Kalyanpura village, 200 km from here.

“The incident took place after the aircraft took off from Datana-Matana airstrip, touched the wire and crashed into the dry Kshipra river bed at Kalayanpura village,” Additional Superintendent of Police Dharmendra Chaudhary told IANS.

Hilton, Lohan to be kept apart at Cannes

Posted: 19 May 2010 11:47 AM PDT

London, May 20 (IANS) The organisers at the ongoing 63rd Cannes International Film Festival are desperate to keep Hollywood actresses Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton apart to prevent them from clashing with each other.

Authorities at Cannes are making sure that both the actresses do not come in each other’s way at the event keeping in mind their infamous clash at a bar in 2006.

“Lindsay hand-picked the VIPs for her area – and they didn’t include Paris. Organisers are doing everything they can to keep them separated this week,” dailystar.com quoted a source as saying.

Lufthansa plans to fly Airbus A380 to India in winter

Posted: 19 May 2010 07:57 AM PDT

Mumbai, May 19 (IANS) German air carrier Lufthansa will start operating the Airbus A380, the largest aircraft with a seating capacity of 526 seats, to New Delhi during the winter season, said a top official here Wednesday.

The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-bodied, four-engine airliner. An airbus is the quietest of aircrafts and creates “the least possible noise”.

“Our first Airbus A380 is operational from today (Wednesday). We will soon fly the German national football team on a special flight when it takes off from Frankfurt on Sunday, June 6 bound for Johannesburg, where the World Cup will be held. We plan to fly it to India anytime between November to March, our winter season,” said Axel Hilgers, Lufthansa’s South Asia director.

“The facilities at the New Delhi international terminal need to be upgraded for being able to accommodate the A380,” Hilgers said.

The airline has ordered for 15 Airbus A380s. With the first one to be flying soon, three others are expected to be acquired by the end of 2010. “Rest of the 11 aircrafts will be acquired in the next couple of years,” said Hilgers.

Lufthansa plans to increase flight frequency

Posted: 19 May 2010 07:56 AM PDT

Mumbai, May 19 (IANS) German air carrier Lufthansa plans to increase its frequency to all major locations across India, and official said here Wednesday.

“We are planning to increase the frequency of Pune-Frankfurt-Pune flights to five times a week as against the present three times a week. Same is the case with Hyderabad-Frankfurt-Hyderabad flights,” said Axel Hilgers, Lufthansa’s South Asia director.

Apart from these two locations, the airline is looking forward to making the Mumbai-Munich-Mumbai flight a daily flight as against the present five times a week flight. Bangalore-Frankfurt-Bangalore and Chennai-Frankfurt-Chennai has already been made a daily flight.

Hilgers said that the airline has been seeing an upward trend in the business class bookings.

“The yield for business class bookings has gone up by 30 percent. The first quarter of 2010 has been far better than the last quarter of 2009 inspite of a five day shutdown – four days due to the ash cloud and a one-day due to strike of pilots,” Hilgers said.

Hilgers said that they did go through a rough patch due to the downturn last year. “But with summer approaching, we are expecting a stable business,” he said.

“Our booking figures are promising and we are looking forward to high yields during the year,” he added.

Port officers call off mass casual leave May 21

Posted: 19 May 2010 07:55 AM PDT

Kolkata, May 19 (IANS) All India Major Ports & Docks Officers’ Federation Wednesday called off its mass casual leave protest May 21 after an assurance from the shipping ministry on their pay and allowance revision.

Minister of state for shipping Mukul Roy has said that the issue of enhancement of pay and allowances to the port officers is under consideration, the federation said in a statement.

A total of 3,600 officers of 12 major ports across the country earlier planned to go on mass casual leave demanding pay revision for 64,000 port employees. According to the federation, the pay revision is due since Jan 1, 2007.

Apart from this, there are 11 other demands of the federation.

In a letter to Rama Kant Burman, zonal secretary of the federation, Roy said: “As you may be aware, the issue of enhancement of pay and allowances to the port officers is under consideration by the ministry of shipping and I have personally requested G.K. Vasan, minister of shipping, to resolve the matter at an early date.”

West Bengal issues alert on cyclone Laila

Posted: 19 May 2010 07:54 AM PDT

Kolkata, May 19 (IANS) Seven coastal districts in West Bengal were put on alert Wednesday and fishermen asked to return to the land to prevent any possible damage by cyclone Laila, which is likely to hit the Andhra Pradesh coast early Thursday and West Bengal by evening.

Meteorological Centre director G.C. Debnath rushed to the state secretariat Writers’ Buildings in the evening and briefed senior officials about the likely effects of Laila in the state.

Debanth later told reporters that cyclone Laila was intensifying and would hit the Andhra coast with a wind speed of 115-120 km per hour Thursday morning.

“Tomorrow (Thursday) evening it will hit West Bengal, but the wind speed could be substantially lower at 60-70 km per hour. It may trigger stormy winds and heavy rains.”

“However, things may worsen any moment as nothing can be said for certain in such cases. If the cyclone intensifies, the situation may turn serious,” he said.

Briefing the media, Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta later said the state government would not take any risk and has already ordered seven districts – North 24-Parganas, South 24-Pargans, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia, East Midnapore and West Midnapore – to take precautionary measures on a war footing.

The district magistrates have been asked to open control rooms and move people living in low-lying areas to safer places. Fishermen, who have ventured deep in the sea or the rivers, have been asked to return.

Announcements were being made for the benefit of the fisherfolk in the riverine and coastal areas. The state government has already kept ready 4.28 lakh tarpauline sheets, clothes and plenty of drinking water for use in case of an adversity. A master control room would be set up at the secretariat here from Thursday morning.

The threat of cyclone Laila comes a year after cyclone Aila tore through 13 of the state’s 19 districts, leaving a trail of destruction with houses levelled, trees uprooted, power cables snapped and 138 lives lost. Around 6.1 million people were affected.

Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest that runs through vast parts of the two 24-Parganas districts, had borne the brunt of Aila.

CPI-M seeks more power for northeast autonomous councils

Posted: 19 May 2010 07:48 AM PDT

Agartala, May 19 (IANS) The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Wednesday urged the central government to give more powers to the northeast autonomous councils for all round development of the tribals, who constitute 27 percent of the region’s total population of around 40 million.

“We have been urging the centre to give more powers to the tribal autonomous district councils in northeast to eradicate poverty and diverse backwardness of the indigenous tribals,” CPI-M central committee member Khagen Das told reporters.

He was speaking ahead of the Left Front controlled sixth council’s assumption of office in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).

The CPI-M also demanded infrastructural development in the existing 16 autonomous district councils (ADC) in northeast India facilitating the socio-economic development of tribals.

Of the 16 ADCs, six are in Manipur, three each in Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram and one in Tripura.

“The Tripura government has given huge power to the TTAADC. The state assembly had passed a resolution long back urging the centre to give more powers to the TTAADC,” Das added.

An eight-member executive council led by chief executive member Ranjit Debbarma Wednesday assumed office at the TTAADC headquarters at Khumulwng, 25 km north of state capital Agartala.

The ruling CPI-M-led Left Front has stormed back to power in the TTAADC earlier this month for the second consecutive term.

The Left parties won handsomely in all the 27 seats with the dominant CPI-M securing 25 seats while its ally Communist Party of India (CPI) and Forward Bloc bagged one seat each.

The Congress and the other opposition parties failed to secure a single seat in the politically important autonomous council.

The council, election for which was held May 3, has 30 members, two of whom are nominated by the governor. Polling for one seat was postponed after a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate died after being bitten by a dog.

With this victory, the Left Front has captured the TTAADC four times (1985, 1995, 2005 and 2010) after the autonomous council was formed under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian constitution in 1985.

Haryana civic polls Thursday

Posted: 19 May 2010 07:47 AM PDT

Chandigarh, May 19 (IANS) Elections to the municipal corporation of Faridabad, 10 municipal councils and 28 municipal committees across Haryana will be held Thursday.

“All preparations for the elections in 35 wards of Municipal Corporation of Faridabad, 266 wards of 10 municipal councils and 436 wards of 28 municipal committees have been made. Polling will start at 7.30 a.m. and would continue till 4.00 p.m.,” a state election commission spokesman said here Wednesday.

The state government has declared a public holiday in all towns and cities where civic polls are to be held. Sale of liquor too has been banned Wednesday and Thursday in view of the elections.

He added that at most places, the counting of votes will begin immediately after the voting ends and results will be declared the same day.

As many as 4,134 candidates are in the fray for the municipal general elections. Out of these, 493 candidates are contesting the elections to the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad, near Delhi.

The 10 municipal councils are Palwal, Fatehabad, Tohana, Hansi, Jind, Narwana, Thanesar, Narnaul, Sirsa and Sonepat. The 28 municipal committees are Naraingarh, Charkhi Dadri, Ratia, Sohna, Barwala, Jhajjar, Safidon, Cheeka, Gharaunda, Taraori, Assandh, Nissing, Shahabad, Ladwa, Pehowa, Mahendergarh, Nuh, Ferozepur Zhirka, Hodel, Punhana, Samalkha, Bawal, Meham, Kalanwali, Ellenabad, Rania, Gohana and Ganaur.

The ruling Congress has already announced that it will not field any candidates on the party’s official symbol.

The contest will be mainly between candidates supported by the Congress, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). A lot is at stake for all parties as this is the first major election in the state after the assembly polls October last year.

Pakistani LeT commander, aide killed in Jammu and Kashmir

Posted: 19 May 2010 07:47 AM PDT

Jammu, May 19 (IANS) The Indian Army said it killed Wednesday a top Pakistani commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit and his aide in a fierce gun battle in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district.

Abdullah Anas or Abu Anas, a self-styled divisional commander of the LeT, was gunned down inside a house in Judi Khurd area, 190 km northeast of Jammu, the state’s winter capital.

Abu Anas was also the main ‘hawala’ coordinator for LeT, responsible for clandestine money transfers in Jammu and Kashmir.

Also killed was his trusted aide Abu Maaz, also a Pakistani.

Acting on a tip, soldiers from the 26 and 31 battalions of Rashtriya Rifles – a counter-insurgency force of the army – surrounded the house.

“Four civilians were evacuated from the house to ensure they were not harmed,” said army spokesperson Lt. Col. Biplab Nath in a statement.

Once that happened, the fighting started between the troops and the holed up guerrillas.

“There was heavy exchange of fire after terrorists opened fire at the troops around 1 p.m. (Wednesday). This continued for two hours before the terrorists were gunned down,” Lt. Col. Nath said.

Soldiers recovered two AK-47 rifles from the dead men.

An army official said the two Pakistanis routinely molested local women.

“Fearing reprisals, the locals chose to turn a blind eye. The two were actively involved in planning terror strikes against security forces,” the official said.

“For the security forces, the neutralization of the two LeT militants is a resounding success,” he said.

Magazine condemns Brahmanical order, Mayawati orders probe

Posted: 19 May 2010 07:46 AM PDT

Lucknow, May 19 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Wednesday ordered a probe after a Hindi monthly, patronised by the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), published an article condemning various Hindu rituals and Brahmanical practices.

The May issue of the periodical has also made alleged derogatory references to temples, Vedas, Upanishads and Ramayana.

Even Mahatma Gandhi has not been spared and referred to as “enemy of Dalits” while Hindu religion has been dubbed a “slur on human values”.

Published from Jaunpur, the journal is titled “Ambedkar Today”, whose calendars can be seen hanging in every senior bureaucrats’ office in the state secretariat here.

Even though the magazine has been in publication for more than five years, it became one of the journals patronised by the BSP. This fetched the magazine government advertisements worth crores of rupees.

The Crime Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will probe the case.

Meanwhile, a government release said the magazine editor, Rajiv Ratan, a close kin of senior BSP leader Paras Nath Maurya, did not know about the offending article.

“When we made inquiries from the editor, he claimed the article had gone into print without his knowledge as it was not physically possible for him to go through every article,” said an official release.

“The editor adds that he would not have allowed the article to be published in case he had the opportunity to take a look at it,” it said.

The editor also feigned ignorance about the mention of the names of several prominent BSP ministers in the list of patrons of the magazine.

These are Naseeuddin Siddiqui, Babu Singh Kushwaha, Swami Prasad Maurya and Paras Nath Maurya.

Posted by Suresh at 3:01 PM

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