north east online - north east india news: Nov 26, 2009

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Eight North East Boys Beaten in Gurgaon by Landlord, Two Seriously Injured

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ew Delhi, November 26, 2009
Racial Discrimination never ends to North East people in Delhi and National Capital Region. The matter has been put up to high level of police authorities and government heads. Still the crime continues and north east people brutalised. Eight boys from North East India are brutally beaten by property owner at Sikanderpur, Gurgaon, Harayana today afternoon at around 3 PM. The rented rooms are locked by the house owner and boys and girls forced out without any shelter.

According to source reaching to North East Support Centre & Helpline, Mr. Guddu S/o Ramher Yadam, a resident of Sikanderpur attacked on two northeast boys living in his rented house. Mr Guddu gather his neighbouring friends and started attacking other North East boys living in surrounding rented rooms. They punched on face, kicked on chase, chased them and fled to neighbouring homes and none came to rescue them. Two of them severely injured bleeding from mouth and nose.

As soon as the matter was brought to the notice of North East Support Centre & Helpline, Spokes person Mr. Madhu Chadnra contacted Mr. Anil Dawal – Deputy Commissioner of Police – Crime Branch Gurgaon, who was on his office trip to Rajasthan. The same was informed to Sub-Inspector Naresh Kumar of Crime Branch who informed SHO of DLP Phase 2 Police Station. The victims are taken to police station, no medication attention is provided until filing of this report. The written complaint is submitted to the concern police station. Mr. Naresh has assured North East Support Centre & Helpline to book the culprit repeatedly.

NSG to have stable structures at new hubs by next year: DG

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ew Delhi, Nov 26 (ANI): National Security Guard (NSG) commandos positioned at their new centers in four cities and currently placed in temporary locations will have permanent positions by next year.
The permanent structures and multi-storey buildings will come up by next year at these places, said NSG Director General (DG) N P S Aulakh.

Till the permanent structures come up, the commandos will be housed in pre-fabricated structures by mid-December this year at their designated lands, he said.

"The National Building Constructions Corporation (NBCC) had given us the deadline of November 30 for completion of pre-fabricated structures and roads etc. At the most, we will move into all the four hubs by second week of December," said the NSG DG.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram inaugurated the regional hubs at Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata on July 1. The regional hub at Mumbai came into operation from June 30.

The hubs are located at Marol in Mumbai (23 acres), Nedunkundram in Chennai (85 acres), Trimulghery in Hyderabad (22 acres) and Badu in Kolkata (20 acres).

On the training of commandos, the DG said the commando training will be given to the force at its Manesar (Haryana) garrison.

The DG further said post 26/11 terror attacks; they have received requests from state police forces to train their men and special commando units.

The NSG, in a change of operational procedures, will now have augmented coordination between its Army and para-military units during operations. (ANI)

Taj Hotel GM has no desire to enter room where his family perished

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umbai, Nov.26 (ANI): The Taj Hotel here, one of the sites attacked by Pakistani-trained terrorists in November last year, still has someone who remembers that horrific incident and period, its general manager, Karambir Kang, a man whose family – wife and two sons -- was wiped out during the carnage.

Hotelier Kang says he would rather remember the family he lost, his wife, Niti, and their sons, Uday and Samar, as happy and vibrant, full of life.

Remarkably, after their deaths, he discovered that, on the day the militants struck, his family had visited the hotel photographer and posed for happy, carefree pictures. That is how remembers them now.

Now, he has no desire to enter the suite on the sixth floor where they perished.

"I have not entered that room – it''s not something I have done. Even in the aftermath I did not go in. I did not see the bodies. I refused to do this. To me, the last memories I want to remember are of them still alive," The Independent quotes Kang, as saying.

Twelve months after 10 Islamist militants swept ashore and laid deadly siege to the Indian city of Mumbai leaving more than 165 people dead and a nation stunned, the historic Taj Mahal Palace hotel is buzzing with the sound of workmen. Staffers say it is the sound of recovery, of the hotel coming back to life – the sound of defiance.

In the lobby of the 107-year-old building, Kang became famous as the man who worked without sleep to try and save his guests. Even after his family perished from the fire, trapped in their room – he had been speaking to his wife by phone until the very end – he refused to leave the hotel, insisting that he could help save the lives of others. At the time, his behaviour appeared remarkable, robotic even, but that was not the case.

Sitting in the hotel''s Sea Lounge, Kang says that, during those 60 terrible hours he received strength from his mother.

When he called her to say that commandos had finally broken into his family''s suite and found them dead, huddled together in the bathroom, his wife cradling one son, the body of the other lying beside them, she had told him he must do whatever he could for those still alive.

"I thought about it for a minute and I thought, ''Yes, that is the right thing do''," he says.

After the siege, many people told him that he should move away from Mumbai. He thought about it but decided to stay.

"If my family died here... I think it''s my moral duty to be here, maybe more than that – something deeper," he says.

"It''s important for me to oversee this task of rebuilding and see [the hotel] better than before. But also that I act in a way that makes my family, who are no longer, proud of me. Perhaps [I need] to redeem myself," says Kang.

"It''s not a question of forgetting. It''s not forgotten but we go ahead with our lives and we make sure this does not happen again," says Farhang Jehani, one of the owners of the Leopold Café, the first place that was attacked by the terrorists.

Additional Commissioner Deven Bharti, one of the policemen who have interrogated the sole surviving militant, Ajmal Kasab, the 21-year-old "highly motivated terrorist" whose trial is still ongoing, admits to the failure by the security forces, in particular a "failure of imagination".

"We never thought that 10 people from Pakistan would be landing in Mumbai and engaging five targets. I don''t think there''s anywhere in the world where militants have taken up five targets. The reorganisation and retraining has involved closer cooperation with the FBI and other international groups. "It has been a great learning experience," Barti adds.

Sebastian D''Souza, photo editor of the Mumbai Mirror and the man who rushed into the station and was rewarded for his dedication with a now-iconic image of Kasab, says the city rapidly returned to how things were, despite the carnage and the chaos. (ANI)

Parliament adopts resolution remembering 26/11 victims

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ew Delhi, Nov 26 (ANI): On the first anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attack, both houses of parliament on Thursday adopted a resolution, reiterating the nation’s firm commitment to fight the threat of terrorism and emerge victorious in against it.

Parliament also remembered martyrs of the 26/11 terror attack.

Both houses observed a minute’s silence in memory of those killed.

Parliament also saluted the bravery of the security personnel, who fought and sacrifices their lives during the 26/11 attacks.

The Lok Sabha adopted a resolution to unitedly fight and defeat forces of terrorism, which pose the gravest threat to humanity.

“On this day the House resolves that we will unitedly fight and defeat the forces of terrorism and never again allow them to spill the blood of innocent people,” Speaker Meira Kumar said.

“The House salutes the indomitable courage of the security forces who gave a crushing blow to the terrorists on November 26, 2008 and the fortitude of the people of Mumbai, she added.

Noting that terrorism has no justification whatsoever in a civilised world, Kumar said: “It was the duty of every country, which wanted to see peace and progress, to resist and defeat these dark forces of terrorism.”

“Realising the global network of terrorists and their unlimited resources, sophisticated arms and training and their diabolic mindset, there is an urgent need to mobilise the resources and coordinate action by all countries to track down and eliminate these enemies of mankind,” she said.

Members of the Lok Sabha also demanded the government to take all necessary steps to wipe out the scourge of terrorism from our country.

Making a reference to 26/11 in the Rajya Sabha, Vice President Hamid Ansari said: “Indomitable spirit of humankind cannot be subdued by such senseless acts of violence.”

Recalling the courage showed by Mumbaikars in bringing normalcy in short span Ansari said: “This speaks volumes for the resolve of our people to confront and defeat the evil designs of those wishing to destabilise the nation and disrupt its progress.”

It is noted that both the resolutions does not refer to Pakistan, but will talk about the threat from terrorism being global and the fact that India alone is not a victim of this menace.

On Wednesday, the Centre said that the challenge faced by the country today was from terrorist organisations that were not only equipped with the latest technologies and have immense access to funds, but were having active backing of various external agencies.

In a statement the Home Ministry said : “The focus of terrorists has also changed. Their targets are separately spreading beyond the Kashmir Valley to the hinterland with the dual purpose of disturbing the communal harmony and destabilising the economic prosperity of our country.”

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, a Pakistani anti terror court indicted seven men, including Zakir Rahman Lakhvi, the Lashakar – e – Taiba (LeT) operations commander, for their suspected involvement in the 26/11 attacks. (ANI)

Lashkar remains a threat not only in India, but also beyond: Experts

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umbai, Nov.26 (ANI): Experts say that the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the Pakistan-based group that staged the Mumbai terrorist strikes of last year that claimed 166 lives, remains a threat not only in India, but also beyond.

According to The Times, in India, it is believed that Lashkar retains strong networks in Mumbai, Gujarat, Agra, Hyderabad and Uttar Pradesh.

A recent report published by the Combating Terrorism Centre at the US Military Academy at West Point said: “In short, the threat of LeT-directed and LeT-supported terrorism against India remains high.”

A year on, and the security threat to Mumbai remains high. Confidence in the authorities’ ability to prevent another atrocity, however, does not.

The five-star hotels have a heavier and more visible security presence. Indian officials claim to have foiled six Lashkar terrorist plots against Indian targets in the past year — two in Indian-controlled Kashmir, and one in Delhi. (ANI)

26/11 anniversary turns into a verbal duel in Parliament

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ew Delhi, Nov.26 (ANI): Minutes after members of parliament observed a minute''s respect for the victims of the 26/11 terror attack, the treasury and the opposition engaged in an uncalled verbal battle over compensation and coordination issue.

The war of words took place during Zero Hour. The treasury maintained that every issue taken up in parliament need not necessarily to money and that there were other ways to commiserate with the families and friends of the 166 victims who were killed, the opposition said that to provide more relief, more coordinated action was needed between various agencies.

An emotional Leader of Opposition L.K.Advani said the government had come up short on the compensatory front, while Leader of the House, Pranab Mukherjee warned the opposition that its broadside would not go down well with the rest of the country because of the timing -- the first anniversary of the attack.

The heated exchange also focussed on the ooposition charge that the the Maharashtra government, the Central government and the Prime Minister''s Office (PMO) have not ensured proper relief and rehabilitation to people hit by the terror strike.

BJP leader Ananth Kumar sought the government''s responsed to Advani''s demand, but Mukherjee said: "I have come only to listen to him (Advani). Not to hear from you (Ananth Kumar),"

Pranab also said every zero hour reference could not be answered,and added that there was need to make it a habit.

This led to heated exchange of words between Mukherjee and BJP MPs.

"You are making politics on 26/11," Mukherjee shouted.

Speaker Meira Kumar stepped in and urged the members to maintain order as it was a solemn day.

She also said that she could not ask Mukherjee to respond to a Zero Hour reference. (ANI)

Assam blast victim in family custody row

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octors aren’t sure if Mintu Barman, a victim of the Nalbari twin blasts, will win the battle against death. If he does, he isn’t likely to come out unscathed from another war – of custody between his estranged parents.

Mintu, an 18-year-old vegetable vendor, was one of some 50 people injured in the twin blasts that killed eight last Sunday. He hasn’t regained consciousness since.

His critical condition forced the Nalbari authorities to shift him to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH), 60 km east, hours after the blasts. He was subsequently moved to a private hospital, where he is being kept in the ICU following a marathon surgery to remove splinters from his chest and abdomen.

Barely 24 hours after he underwent treatment as an “unidentified person”, a woman named Rekha Bora claimed Mintu was her son. She had apparently eyed the Rs 50,000 the Assam government announced for each of the seriously injured.

The hospital authorities called Bora’s bluff after Mintu’s real mother, Rinku Barman, reached the hospital on Tuesday. But they had no idea they were in for a bigger trouble with the boy’s father, Joydeb Barman, landing up on Wednesday.

The hospital lobby turned into the Barman’s battleground, as one parent refused to let the other take custody of Mintu. “He dumped us when our only son was a toddler, leaving us to fend for ourselves. I have swept floors and washed clothes and dishes from house to house to make both ends meet; he has no right to take him away from me,” said the mother.

“I am his father, and I will take him home,” said Joydeb, now jobless.

Baffled by the turn of events, the hospital authorities thought long to arrive at a solution. “Since the government asked us to treat Mintu, we will hand him over to officials unless he is fit enough to go home to whoever he wants to,” said the hospital’s PRO, Manoj Deka.

Rajkhowa hits out at Chidambaram

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UWAHATI: Ulfa's demand for sovereignty the long-hurting thorn preventing the initiation of peace talks between the Centre and the banned rebel
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outfit caused a fresh bout of pain on Wednesday. Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa said the Union government lacks "logic and courage" to sit for talks.

His comments were a scathing reply to Union home minister P Chidambaram's statement the day before. Blaming the proscribed group for Sunday's twin blasts in Nalbari, Chidambaram had said on Tuesday that talks with Ulfa were leading nowhere as its leadership was holed up outside the country. "Our position on militant groups in the North-East is very simple and straightforward give up violence, give up arms, give up any claim for sovereignty, we are willing to hold dialogue," he had stressed.

In a statement e-mailed to the media on Wednesday, Rajkhowa said Chidambaram's comment in Parliament on sovereignty only proved the Centre's lack of courage. "Otherwise, it (Centre) would not have made such an irresponsible statement to stay away from the political process and solve the issue. Our stand is clear Ulfa won't bow down before India for dialogue. We want a political solution of the issues and that is possible without sitting for talks," the Ulfa chairman said.

In the same breath, Rajkhowa added that Ulfa was in favour of talks to end the ideological conflict and get a peaceful solution. However, he warned, "The government should make it clear in Parliament if it wants a military solution to the issues. We will continue to fight to establish the rights of the people of Assam."

On the other hand, in a major development, security forces in Assam's Chirang district killed a prominent Ulfa leader suspected to be involved in Sunday's Nalbari explosions that left six people dead and injured 52 others. A joint army and police team gunned down the Ulfa cadre during an encounter in Bishnupur village under Bijni police station about 100 km away from the blast site on Wednesday morning. The militant, identified as Mohan Roy alias Mama alias Sukumar Kurmi is the "second-in-command" of Ulfa's "709 battalion", which has been blamed for the Nalbari attacks.

A senior police officer in Chirang told TOI that Roy had been arrested during "Operation All Clear" in neighboring Bhutan by the Royal Bhutan Army in 2003 and was the right-hand man of Hira Sarania, the "commander" of the outfit's battalion. "Based on information, a joint team of security forces cordoned off the area and set up an ambush. The rebel was killed in retaliatory gunshots after he opened fire at security forces. Since the "709 battalion" is responsible for the blasts, we suspect his involvement in the attacks, too," the police officer added.

Cops recovered a US-made 9mm pistol with ammunition and an extortion note demanding Rs 5 lakh from local MLA Kamal Singh Narzary from the slain militant. "The extortion note we have recovered from him was signed by Hira Sarania," the senior police officer said.

Ratan Tata leads prayer at Taj hotel

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n an internal meeting this evening, Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata will address staff of the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower Hotel and say a short prayer in memory of guests and employees slain in the terror strike on November 26 last year.

"The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, Mumbai, will hold a solemn and private memorial meeting within the hotel to mark the events that took place on 26th November last year," the Taj said in a statement.

"We do not propose to have a public event, which, we are sure, is fully understood by so many people in Maharashtra, all over India and the world. Their support has been overwhelming," the hotel added.

Top executives of the Indian Hotels Co Ltd (IHCL), which owns the Taj, including General Manager Karambir Kang, Managing Director Raymond Bickson, and Vice Chairman R K Krishna Kumar are expected to be present among others.

"Employees (about a thousand) will observe silence for a few minutes and say a short prayer. Mr Tata is also expected to say a few words," a source said.

The Taj had been holding private multi-faith prayer meetings according to Hindu, Islam, Buddhist, Sikh, Christian, Parsi norms between November 14 and 24.

Indian Hotels Co plans to reopen the 106-year old Taj's heritage or Palace wing in phases till April 2010.

SBI cashier held for Rs one crore fraud

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he Meghalaya police has arrested a cashier of a State Bank of India branch in Jaintia Hills district for fraudulently withdrawing over Rs one crore from accounts of several customers.

Sample Pohthmi, cashier of the SBI's Amlarem branch in Jaintia Hills district, was arrested yesterday by sleuths of the Criminal Investigation Department, sources in the CID said.

The SBI conducted an inquiry following complaints of missing money by several customers and confirmed that Pohthmi, who had been working in the bank for the last six years, withdrew huge amounts of money from customers' accounts through different means and forging signatures.

The CID, which was investigating the matter, said the total amount embezzled could run to over Rs one crore.

Chidambaram apologises to Kavita Karkare on NDTV

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n an exclusive interview on NDTV, the Home Minister concedes that it is shoddy of the Mumbai police to have misplaced the bulletproof vest of Hemant Karakare, who died while defending Mumbai in the 26/11 attacks. Speaking on whether India is any safer a year after 26/11, P Chidambaram said he could only say sorry for the lapse.

Hemant Karkare was the chief of the Anti-Terror Squad. He was killed on the night of 26/11 near Cama Hospital, along with Additional Police Commissioner, Ashok Kamte, and encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar.

His wife, Kavita, says she has filed an application under the Right to Information Act to locate the jacket but was told there was no sign of it. There have been allegations that the bulletproof vest that Karkare was wearing when he was shot was defective.

"It is being said that my husband, Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salskar got killed as they went into the operation blindly but the truth is they kept asking for reinforcements and help for 40 minutes which they never got. For 40 minutes, their bodies were there on the road while the terrorists' bodies were rushed to the hospital. They have spent Rs 22 crore on preserving the bodies of the nine terrorists. But they couldn't be careful enough to preserve my husband's bulletproof jacket," she said.

Watch the entire interview with P Chidambaram at 9:30 pm tonight on NDTV 24X7.

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