Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Teacher arrested for killing student

A professor at the Guwahati University has told the police that he killed a student who he was allegedly having an affair with.

Birlang Narzary has been teaching in the department of Bodo for the last three years. He says that when his student, Jhorna Owary, visited him at his house on campus on Sunday, he killed her.

Narzary's colleagues say that he was upset after he found out that Jhorna was involved in another relationship. Jhorna disappeared from her hostel since Sunday afternoon; her cell phone could not be reached.

After the murder, Narzary allegedly drank phenyl and then surrendered at the police station.

Terming the student's killing a 'stray incident', Dr Romoni Barman, the Joint Director of the University, said that there is enough security on campus but to monitor students at all times is not possible.

Karnataka Chief Minister on who attacked church

Facing flak over the twin attacks on churches in Karnataka, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Tuesday said he suspected the hand of an "organised group" which was trying to tarnish the image of the BJP government.

Speaking to media after the Republic Day function here, he said "I am aware of the incidents. Since these incidents have happened before the Republic Day, I suspect some organised group is trying to tarnish the image of the
government which is working for the welfare of the people."

Two churches were attacked and the statue of Mother Mary damaged yesterday in Mysore and in Uttara Kannada District.

Yeddyurappa said he had spoken to the police on the attacks on the churches, and assured that action would be taken against the culprits.

"We are committed to protecting the interest of the minorities," he said.

His comments came after Governor H R Bhardwaj in his Republic Day address said that it was the "constitutional duty of every government to deal with heavy hand the forces who tend to disturb communal peace and harmony".

Pakistan violates ceasefire twice on India''s 61st Republic Day

New Delhi, Jan.26 (ANI): Even as India celebrated its 61st Republic Day, Pakistan violated a ceasefire near the International border in Jammu twice on Tuesday.

Pakistan allegedly fired on two posts in Kanachak and Akhnoor in the wee hours of the morning.

A private television report said it was the 15th cease-fire violation by Pakistan in just one month.

Tuesday''s first violation came around 2.30 a.m. when intermittent firing was reported in Kanachak area near the international border. The Alfa Machal post was allegedly targetted from across the border.

The second violation was on the Akhnoor sector''s Tent Post, when two rockets were reporedly fired by Pakistani Rangers at about 2:45 a.m. from the Pakistan side.

"There was firing at around 2 a.m. in the morning today, and continued for a few hours," the channel quoted Jammu and Kashmir police chief Kuldeep Khoda, as saying.

"The intensity was initially huge, later on it died down a bit. We are watching the situation, our forces are there, they are very alert, our patrolling parties and the BSF are there supportnig them. And things are well under control right now," he added.

A red alert has been sounded in the Akhnoor sector in response to the cease-fire violation.

The cease-fire violations came a day after Union Home Minister P Chidambaram described Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s comment that his country could not guarantee against another 26/11 attack on India, as an irresponsible statement.

He added that if there was another attack from Pakistani soil, not only India but the whole world would hold Pakistan responsible.

Chidambaram said: “Gilani is the prime minister of that country. Ordinarily, I should not comment on a prime minister''''s statement, but with great respect, that was a very irresponsible statement.”

“Secondly, the prime minister of the country has all the information that has been furnished by us. More that what we have given to them following Kasab''''s interrogation in court, now there is more information after Headley and Rane were arrested. I believe Americans shared that information with Pakistan. Given that information, how can the prime minister of Pakistan say that he can''''t do anything or won''''t do anything. In fact, the information that has come to us from the Americans in the last few days, which I believe is also available to Pakistan, should make Pakistan take firm action, crack down on the names that have been provided to him,” Chidambaram added.

Asked for his comments on credible and strong inputs of worrying signals of plans that are happening across the border, Chidambaram said: “We assess the credibility of the information and we take appropriate pre-emptive measures. We have strengthened air port security and also security on the air craft. It is not imminent and not as though some will happen. We are fully alive to the nature of the threat and have taken adequate pre-emptive measures.”

Commenting on the recent attack in Srinagar, Chidambaram said: “It seems that in the New Year, they (the militants and their handlers) have stepped up the level of infiltration. We have seen at least half a dozen cases of infiltration and every one of them is repelled. It is possible that some of them sneaked through. There were incidents of fence cutting. Yesterday, we recovered large cache of arms and ammunition. So, the level of threat is pretty high and remains vulnerable but you must have noticed our response has been effective and swift.” (ANI)

* Thousands defy bandh; celebrate RDay in Meghalaya

Shillong, Jan 26 (PTI) Defying a bandh called by an insurgent outfit, thousands joined the Republic Day celebrations in Meghalaya today amid a tight security blanket thrown across the state.

Unfurling the tricolour in the state capital, Governor R S Mooshahary said the state remained peaceful without any "law and order threatening situation".

"Due credit for this must go to our vigilant police as well as to our peace-loving people. The importance of peace and order for the growth and development of an economy cannot be over emphasised," Mooshahary said, hoping that the peace in the state will continue.

While many people turned out for the Republic Day function, shops and business establishment remained closed in the Khasi-Jaintia region in response to the 24-hour bandh call given by the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).