Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Private school set afire in Manipur

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mphal, Nov 18 (PTI) In yet another attack on educational institutions, a private school has been set ablaze by some miscreants in Manipur's Thoubal district after it defied the diktat of three students' organisations to boycott classes.

Some assailants entered the Khongjom Standard English School complex, about 35 kms south east of here, on Monday night and set the building on fire, a delayed official report reaching here today said.

This is the third incident in which an educational institute has been set afire by miscreants after the government's call to open them from November 9.

On November 10, some miscreants had torched the Kakching Khunou college and Langmeidong High School in Thoubal district.

Women fighter pilots not a good financial option: IAF

By Praful Kumar Singh

New Delhi, Nov 17 (ANI): President Pratibha Patil flying in a Sukhoi-30MKI at the age of 74 shows how empowered women in the country are, but the Indian Air Force believes in a different manner, and maintains that having women fighter pilots is not a good financial option

Air Marshal PK Barbora, Vice Chief of the Air Staff, said on Tuesday that it is not worth to train women to fly, and explained that it costs about 11.66 crore to train a fighter pilot.

"We can induct women fighter pilots for show purposes. But we spend exorbitant amount on training fighter pilots, and if we are not able to utilise them optimally, it may not be prudent to have women fighter pilots at the moment," Air Marshal Barbora said.

"Once the lady goes the family way, she will be off flying for 10 months out of 12 months. And when we have invested so much, it is not a fruitful development," Air Marshal Barbora said.

"Now while we can always utilise a lady in some other job, but in the pure profession in which we have invested so much if the poor lady herself who has contributed so much ...if we cannot utilise... then it is not fruitful for either party. But we are looking at it and in a few more years we can see a change coming with certain preconditions," he added.

Barbora said that the armed forces have taken decision not to place women in combat roles for the time being, but if that happens in the future, there may be certain preconditions to it.

"We may say (if women are allowed in the fighter stream) that till this age, you can be happily married but do not go for pregnancy till that time. After 14-15 years of service, the value (of the money invested) is recovered.... We are just looking into the area. Even for men, we do not allow them to leave the service before a certain period of time," the Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force said.

At present there are 784 women officers working in various fields in the IAF, barring the fighter stream.

However, Air Marshal Barbora assured the aspiring women officers that there would be a change down the line.

"A few years from now, there will be some change. But we will not induct them for the sake of it but for optimally utilising their potential," he said. (ANI)

Pakistan has more nukes than India: Report

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ashington, Nov.18 (ANI): A new report has revealed that Pakistan enjoys a substantial lead over India when it comes to nuclear weapons.

According to the report compiled by Robert S Norris and Hans M Kristensen in the latest edition of the Bulletin of the Atomic Science, Pakistan is estimated to possess 70 to 90 nuclear arsenals, way ahead of what India boasts.

India is said to have about 60 to 80 nuclear weapons currently, the report said.

The report also said that all the major Asian powers India, China and Pakistan were ‘quantitatively’ and ‘qualitatively’ adding on to their nuclear stockpile, however, it said it was tough to identify the locations of the deployment of the those nukes.

“Beijing, Islamabad and New Delhi are quantitatively and qualitatively increasing their arsenals and deploying weapons at more sites, yet the locations are difficult to pinpoint,” the report said.

“Whereas many of the Chinese bases are known, this is not the case in Pakistan and India, where we have found no credible information that identifies permanent nuclear weapons storage locations,” it said.

The two nuclear experts highlighted that it is believed that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons were not fully operational in normal circumstances, but India is thought to store its warheads in central storage locations rather than on bases with operational forces.

The report comes months after the US raised alarms over Pakistan’s expansion of its nuclear capabilities.

US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen, in a confidential briefing, had told members of Congress that there are certain reports which confirms that Islamabad is rapidly adding to its nuclear arsenal.

When enquired whether he had seen evidence of an increase in the size of the Pakistani nuclear arsenal, Admiral Mullen just said: “Yes”.

This certainly raises questions over the proposed billions of dollars of US military assistance to Pakistan that might be sidetracked to expand its nuclear capability rather than utilizing it to counter insurgency.

Officials of the Obama administration have said that they had communicated to Congress that their intent was to assure that military aid to Pakistan was directed toward counterterrorism and not diverted. (ANI)

India may import rice, if necessary, says Pranab Mukherjee

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ew Delhi, Nov. 18 (ANI): Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday said that India has quite adequate stocks of food grains though some imports may be needed at a later stage, due to projected shortfall in Kharif crop.

“We have started the rice season with almost six million tonnes surplus, which began from October 2009, with starting of wheat season from 1st April with surplus of almost 7 million tonnes. Therefore stock is quite adequate,” Mukherjee told reporters here.

“Since there is a projection that there would be some shortfall about kharif crop, to make it up we may have to make some imports, but exactly what quantum and at what point of time we will decide later,” he added.

Earlier in the day, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma had said that India was looking at importing rice from Thailand and Vietnam.

This would be the first time in 20 years that India would be importing rice.

The government might also consider banning cotton exports to help domestic supply, Sharma added.

Three state-run trading firms last month floated rice import tenders totalling 30,000 tonnes and received 18 bids ranging from 373 to 599 dollars per tonne. (ANI)

Ulfa raises voice against illegal Bangladeshi settlers

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or the first time in 30 years of its existence, the banned militant outfit United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) has raised its voice against Bangladeshi migrants settled in Assam. The outfit has made a sudden u-turn on Bangladeshi migrants’ problem of the state after two of its leaders were recently arrested by security force of Bangladesh in Dhaka and handed them over to India.

Ulfa leader Pradip Gogoi on Monday said that unabated influx from Bangladesh to Assam had posed a grave threat to identity of sons of the soil. If the trend continued, then the Bangladeshi migrants would outnumber indigenous people of the state in next ten years.

He appealed to all communities, political parties and socio – cultural organizations of the state to intensify movement against Bangladeshi immigrants. “ The Bangladeshi migrants’ issue is a big problem of Assam. The people of Assam will face an identity crisis in coming days. It is high time for people of Assam went all out against immigrant Bangladeshi settlers ”, said Gogoi.

For Ulfa, Bangladesh was a friendly country and all top leaders of the outfit run their activities from soil of Bangladesh. But under pressure from Govt. of India, the new Govt.of Bangladesh has intensified its operation against Ulfa and other militant outfits of Northeastern region taking shelter in that country.

On November 2, security forces of Bangladesh arrested Ulfa’s foreign secretary, Sashadhar Choudhury and its finance secretary, Chitraban Hazarika and handed them over to BSF at Indo- Bangladesh border in Tripura. India and Bangladesh have no extradition treaty.

Only few days back, another arrested Ulfa leader Mithinga Daimary, who was Central Publicity Secretary of the outfit , also raised voice against Bangladeshi migrants. He said that Ulfa leaders’ handed over to Indian Govt. by Bangladesh has paved ways for the Government of India to deport illegal Bangladeshi migrants from Assam.

Ulfa started its Bangladesh journey in 1991. The outfit enjoyed Bangladesh Govt. support to use the soil of that country to carryout anti-India activities for almost two decades. Ulfa had about 30 camps in the neighbouring country and the outfit invested huge amounts in different sectors in Bangladesh. But the situation for Ulfa became unfavourable for the separatist- militant outfit after the formation of new govt. under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.

The Ulfa Vice Chairman who is currently imprisoned at Central Jail here was brought to medical college hospital on Monday for his health check-up. Gogoi was arrested on April 18 in 1998 at Lindsay street in New market area of Kolkata by West Bengal Police and handed over to Assam Police.

Bhutanese want mukti from Gorkha Janmukti Morcha dress dikat

A dress code diktat by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha asking all students to wear traditional dress on three days a week has the Bhutnese government worried about its students in Darjeeling. The Bhutanese students have been asked to wear traditional Bhutanese apparel.

A Bhutanese government delegation has sought exemption for its students from the dress code diktat, as it feared that they would become soft targets for anti-Bhutan ultras. It was ironically, a similar decree by Bhutan king that had forced thousands of Bhutanese students of Nepal origin to flee Bhutan and seek refuge in refugee camps in Nepal.

The Gorkha Jamukti Vidhyarthi Morcha, the student's front of the GJM, has refused to give any concession and said that the code will be strictly enforced. If the Bhutanese students had no objection to following the dress code, why should the Bhutan government and more important, the West Bengal government rush into the matter, it questioned and alleged that it was a conspiracy by the West Benal government to propel a minor issue into an international one.

"No expemption will be allowed," the Morcha declared.

In Darjeeling there are 400 Bhutanese students and 450 in Kalimpong studying in colleges like St. Joseph's College, Darjeeling Government College, Ghoom Degree College and Salesian College Sonada, among others.

Now, the Bhutanese govenment plans to take up the issue with the external affairs ministry.

A delegation of Bhutan government officials called on the Inpsector General of North Bengal Kundan Lal Tamta, who assured the delegation of protection to Bhutanese students if they wanted to ignore the dress code. "The Bhutanese students feel threatened and apprehensive. As they are foreign nationals they have nothing to do with the issue. On top of that the Bhutanese Government feels that they coould be the targets of ultra outfits as they would stand out in their Bhutanese traditional outfit" Tamta said after the meeting held on November 12 in Darjeeling.

Keshav Raj Pokhrel, General Secretary of the GJVM questioned "When the Bhutanese students have no problem in sporting their traditional clothes, why is the IG interfering? He has stated that he would be providing police protection to the Bhutanese students. This is a conspiracy hatched by the State Government to disrupt the peace and tranquility in the Hills before the next round of tripartite talks slated for December 21 in Darjeeling. We will foil all such attempts."

Incidentally after the end of a month-long "cultural revolution" of the GJM (in which Hill residents were asked to wear traditional clothes) on October 25, GJM Supremo Bimal Gurung had asked all college students to sport their traditional attires three days a week (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) continuously. Accordingly students sport traditional clothes to college including students from Bhutan wearing traditional Bhutanese clothes.

"From tomorrow checks will be severe. The Youth wing of the GJM has also assured us of all cooperation. If the State Government can use their police force to protect the Bhutanese students then we will ensure that they wear it. Practically there is no existence of police in the Darjeeling Hills, we will further ensure that the police disappear theoretically also" warned Pokhrel.

Janchuk Dorji, President of the Bhutanese Students Association of Darjeeling talking to HT confirmed of the meeting held in Darjeeling. "Officials from the Indian and Bhutanese side along with Bhutanese students were present in the meeting held at the Darjeeling Circuit House. In the meeting we were asked not to wear our traditional clothes."

KL Tamta, IG, North Bengal stated that the Director Law and Order of Bhutan led a Bhutanese Government delegation that had called upon the State Government asking for help. uld become soft targets to anti-Bhutanese ultra


On January 16, 1989, the King of Bhutan issued a decree requiring all citizens to observe Driglam Namzah - a traditional code of conduct and dress based on the Drukpa culture of the ruling autocracy. Institutes were opened up to teach Driglam Namzah. These institutes taught people how to eat, dress, and speak. "Gho" and "Kira" (Drukpa dresses) were enforced along with Dzongkha language. Soon there was a ban on Nepali language.

The alleged ethnic cleansing gave way to an exodus in 1990 as thousands of Southern Bhutanese fled the country to seek refuge in neighboring India. Now nearly a lakh Bhutanese refugees of Nepali origin languish in refugee camps in Nepal. Many anti-Bhutan ultra outfits are believed to be operational.

12 oil tankers of goods train charred, ULFA's hand suspected

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welve oil tankers of a goods train were charred and four others derailed due to a blast allegedly triggered by ULFA militants near Moriani in Assam's Jorhat district, disrupting train services on the section.

Each tanker was carrying 70,000 litres of high speed diesel valued at about 25 lakh each, Numaligarh Refinery Ltd sources said.

The fire in the tankers broke out when the train was coming from Numaligarh refinery to Panki in Uttar Pradesh at about 9.30 pm on Monday night.

"ULFA militants caused the sabotage. Forty metre of flexible wire was recovered from the area leading to the tracks. Investigations have begun and a clear picture will emerge soon," GRP sources said.

The fire was contained after 12 hours at about 9.30 am on Tuesday, Northeast Frontier railway sources said.

The guard and driver of the freight train carrying 51 tankers were safe, officials said.

Sources said the driver of the train heard a blast and saw plumes of smoke billowing out of the tankers. Some of the tankers derailed and fell on other tracks, sources said.

NF railway officials said they have been able to save 31 tankers, two safety tankers and the brake-van.

A total of 16 tankers have been affected. While 12 of them were charred, four others derailed with oil leaking from three of them. A small bridge was also damaged in the incident.

Fire tenders were brought in from Army, police, fire brigade and nearby industries.

The nature of the fire is such that fire officials will have to wait for the fuel to be burnt out.

Train services have been disrupted in upper and lower Assam as the main track has been blocked, officials said. The UP and DOWN Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express are among the trains disrupted by the fire.

Senior railway officials have rushed to the spot at a place between Barpathar and Bhirgaon and are making arrangements to clear the tracks.

"More than 300 metre rail track was damaged as the goods train derailed, toppling the tankers. The restoration work was affected due to extreme heat in the area and it will take 6-7 hours," A NFR spokesperson told PTI.

Services of both the UP and DOWN Dibrugarh Rajdhani Expresses were disrupted. The Dibrugarh-bound Rajdhani Express has been stopped at Moriani station and the passengers would be taken to Simoluguri station in Jorhat district by road.

From Simoluguri, they will be taken to Dibrugarh by the Rajdhani Express coming from Dibruragh, railway officials said.

Fire tenders were brought in from Army, police, fire brigade and nearby industries.

The nature of the fire is such that fire officials will have to wait for the fuel to be burnt out.

Train services have been disrupted in upper and lower Assam as the main track has been blocked, officials said. The UP and DOWN Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express are among the trains disrupted by the fire.

Senior railway officials have rushed to the spot at a place between Barpathar and Bhirgaon and are making arrangements to clear the tracks.

"More than 300 metre rail track was damaged as the goods train derailed, toppling the tankers. The restoration work was affected due to extreme heat in the area and it will take 6-7 hours," A NFR spokesperson told PTI.

Services of both the UP and DOWN Dibrugarh Rajdhani Expresses were disrupted. The Dibrugarh-bound Rajdhani Express has been stopped at Moriani station and the passengers would be taken to Simoluguri station in Jorhat district by road.

From Simoluguri, they will be taken to Dibrugarh by the Rajdhani Express coming from Dibruragh, railway officials said.

26/11: NSG commandos to testify today

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hree top commandos of the National Security Guard (NSG), who fought with terrorists during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, will depose in the case today via video conferencing, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said.

As per the directives of the Bombay High Court, the media will not be allowed to cover the deposition of the commandos.

Hearing will be in-camera, behind closed doors.

Commandos have been called as the court's witnesses. They can only be questioned on actual events, not on planning or operational issues.

The NSG had challenged appearance in court as it may compromise national security.

On Tuesday, Manpreet Vohra, joint secretary in Ministry of External Affairs, appeared as witness before the court to throw light on a dossier sent by Pakistan to India on Faheem Ansari, who is facing trial along with captured gunman Ajmal Kasab.