Cash-for-votes scam: LS Speaker clears prosecution of BJP MP

Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar has given sanction to Delhi Police to prosecute BJP MP Ashok in the cash-for-vote scam in which four other party men are already in jail facing charges of criminal conspiracy and under Prevention of Corruption Act.

Parliament sources said Ms. Kumar's nod came after Delhi Police approached her seeking sanction for prosecuting the BJP MP from Madhya Pradesh for his alleged role in the scam during the trust vote in July 2008.

Former BJP MP's Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahavir Bhagora, senior leader L.K. Advani's former aide Sudheendra Kulkarni and a BJP worker and middlemen Suhail Hidustani have already been arrested in the case.

Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh and his former aide Sanjeev Saxena were also arrested in this case.

Allegations were leveled against the then BJP MPs Mr. Argal, Mr. Kulaste and Mr. Bhagora that Mr. Saxena had delivered Rs.1 crore in cash at the behest of Mr. Amar Singh to them at the 4,  Ferozshah Road residence of Mr. Argal to vote in favour of government.

According to the Crime Branch, the three BJP MP's - Mr. Argal, Mr. Kulaste and Mr. Bhagora have stated that on July 22, 2008, Mr. Saxena delivered money to them at Mr. Argal's residence.

The case was registered in the year 2009 on the recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee.

The sanction came on a day when BJP chief Nitin Gadkari questioned the arrest of two former BJP MPs and Mr. Kulkarni in the scam saying everyone knows who beneficiaries of the scam were.

Two days back, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi had stated that the scam was a matter between the BJP and Mr. Amar Singh.

News reported by   AR for newsvision news paper online

Gujarat riots 'Whistlebowler' cop Sanjeev Bhatt arrested

Suspended IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt, who had accused Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi of complicity in 2002 post-Godhra riots, was arrested today following a complaint by a police constable.

Bhatt was being questioned in connection with an FIR filed against him by Constable K D Pant, who had worked under him during the 2002 riots.

He has been accused of threatening a public servant, fabricating false evidence and wrongful confinement.

The City Police Commissioner Sudhir Sinha said that Bhatt has been arrested and is being questioned.

Pant alleged that Bhatt had threatened and made him sign a "false" affidavit about a high-level meeting called by Modi on February 27, 2002 after the Godhra train accident in which 59 persons were killed.

According to Bhatt, Modi is alleged to have said at the meeting that the Hindus should be allowed to vent their anger and that Muslims should be taught a lesson.

Reported by

    AR

 

Chidambaram alone couldn't have cancelled 2G licences: CBI

The CBI on Thursday strongly defended P. Chidambaram in the Supreme Court, saying he could not be accused of not having done anything to prevent the 2G spectrum allocation scam or cancel licences during his tenure as Union Finance Minister. Cancellation of licences, being a major policy, could have been done only by the government and not by Mr. Chidambaram alone.

Senior counsel, K.K. Venugopal, appearing for the CBI told a Bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and A.K. Ganguly that it is easy to attack the then Finance Minister P. Chidambaram as it will get them headlines and it is politically fruitful for them. Attacking the then Finance Secretary D. Subbarao will not get them headlines.

Counsel said that the consistent stand of the Finance Ministry and Mr. Chidambaram on entry fee, licences and spectrum was that they should be auctioned. But the then Telecom Minister, A. Raja, postponed a Full Telecom Commission meeting, scheduled for January 9, 2008, where the issue of auction was to have been discussed, to January 15, 2008.

Mr. Venugopal said Mr. Raja jumped the gun and issued Letters of Intent to telecom companies on January 10, 2008. The then Finance Minister could not have cancelled the licences by himself as it had to be a major policy decision by the government.

Mr. Venugopal said the CBI was an independent agency and was conducting investigating the investigation in one of the most high profile cases in the history of India. As a result of independent investigations, a Minister (Raja), a member of a coalition partner in the government, and Ms. Kanimozhi, a daughter of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M. Karunanidhi, were arrested and  the role of one or more former Minister, Dayanidhi Maran was being probed.

The CBI officers were doing their duty day and night and investigation of this magnitude could have normally taken at least a year and a half to be completed. The Ministries of Law and Corporate Affairs and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had given unsolicited opinions, but the CBI was not accepted by them. Counsel said that they have not accepted the report of the TRAI on zero loss. Counsel produced the 500-page document prepared by the then Finance Secretary D. Subbarao, now RBI Governor and a decision to issue licences was taken by Mr. Raja.

Justice Singhvi drew counsel's attention to some missing papers and asked  him get them included on Friday.

Arguments will continue on October 10.

News reported by AR for Newsvision online newspaper

Cash-for-vote scam: Amar Singh's bail plea rejected

Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed the Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh's bail pleas in the 2008 cash-for-vote scams.

Special Judge Sangitha Dhingra Sehgal relied on the medical reports to reject both the bail applications of the former Samajwadi Party leader who is at present undergoing treatment for his kidney ailment at AIIMS.

The medical reports of the accused were sought from the AIIMS Director from time to time. As per the report dated on September 26, the accused is stable but requires monitoring.

The court said that the interim bail comes to an end today. The regular bail has been declined, vide separate detailed order.

It said that the bail bond submitted at the time of the grant of the interim bailbe canceled and documents be returned to the accused i.e the Singh.

Singh was arrested on September 6 after he appeared before the court in response to the court summons to him for his alleged involvement in the 2008 cash-for-vote scam.

On September 12, he had to be rushed to the AIIMS hospital from Tihar jail after a bout of vomitting and diarrhoea and later on the court had granted him interim bail on September 15.

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CBI opposes Government on Chidambaram's role in 2G scam

The CBI on Tuesday objected to the Central Government telling the Supreme Court that it will examine the documents given by the Janata Party Chief Subramanian Swamy indicating that the then Finance Minister P. Chidambaram was involved in the 2G scam.

Swamy is seeking a CBI probe against Chidambaram alleging that the spectrum price was not decided by jailed former communications minister.

An Apex Court bench of justices GS Singhvi and Justice AK Ganguly was told that the 15 documents presented by Swamy were part of the 500 documents in a file that have already been persued by the CBI and the report was already with the special court trying the 2G Scam case.

Senior Counsel KK Venugopal, appearing for the probe agency, took exception to the Central Government telling the apex court that the new documents filed for the first time before this court will naturally be studied and will be considered naturally by the CBI as usual and may be covered in the next status report.

Venugopal said that they are autonomous and independent of government and nobody can influence them in any manner.

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Tourist plane crashes in Nepal, killing all the 19 people on board

The officials reported that on Sunday, a plane carrying the tourists to view Mount Everest crashed while attempted to land in Nepal, killing 19 people on board.

Tourism Secretary, Ganeshraj Joshi said that thirteen foreigners were among the vitims, including ten Indian nationals, two US citizens and one Japanese.

In addition to the foreign tourists, the plane belonging to Buddha Air was also carrying three Nepalese passengers and three crew members when it crashed in Bisankunarayan village, just a few metres to the south of the capital, Katmandu.

Rewant Kumar, an official at the Katmandu's international airport rescue office, said that 18 bodies were pulled out of the plane's wreckage and that another victim died on the way to hospital.

Haribol Poudel, an eyewitness told reporters that the plane had hit the roof of a house in the village and disintegrated into various pieces. No casualities were reported on the ground. He also added that it was foggy and that the mountain was not visible.

News reported by  AR for Newsvision online newspaper

IIM-B Bangalore student commits suicide

An MBA student hanged herself in her hostel room in the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, on Monday evening. Malini Murmu, 22, was a first year MBA student and a native of Jamshedpur in Jharkhand.

Investigation officers said that when she found out from Facebook on Sunday that her boyfriend had dumped her. She later became depressed and as a result could not attend the classes. When her classmates noticed her absence, they, subsequently went to her room and called out her name but when they did not get any responses from her they called out the security guard and broke open the door where they found her hanging on the ceiling fan.

Police said that she had left a suicide note on her laptop, saying her boyfriend had left her and she was killing herself over it. Also added that she had also scribbled as "He ditched me" on a board in her room and added that she had no roommates.

Police said her boyfriend was in town and the couple had an argument, which had resulted in the breakup.  Later her boyfriend had left a post in facebook saying, "Feeling super cool today. Dumped my new ex-girlfriend. Happy independence day".

Malini's body is being shifted to the mortuary and the police force is waiting for her parents to reach Bangalore before carrying out an autopsy.

IIM-B officials refuse to comment over the incident.

Regional News reported by AR for Newsvision

Afghan Peace Council Cheif killed in attack on his home

An unidentified attacker on Tuesday killed the leader of Afghanistan's High Peace Council, a Former President of the country whose main responsibility was to negotiate a political end to the war with the Taliban. The assassination has caused a serious blow to any notion of reconciliation with the Taliban.

Afghan officials said that the Peace Council leader, Former President Burhanuddin Rabbani, was killed by a suicide bomber near his heavily guarded home in the Afghan capital, Kabul. The assassination coincided with President Hamid Karzai's visit to the United Nations General Assembly, where he was scheduled to confer  with President Obama about the war. A spokesman for Karzai said that he would cut short his trip to return home.

Afghan officials said that at least three other people were wounded in the attack. Minsters of the Afghan government raced to the scene and the streets were closed off near Mr. Rabbani's home.

Shukria Barakzai, one of the few female members of the legislature, started crying as she spoke to the newspaper reporters. One of the member of the parliament on the defense committee said that this is not good for the peace process.

Reuters quoted Hashmatullah Stanikzai, a police spokesman in Kabul said the killer was probably a suicide attacker.

Mr. Rabbani, who once led a powerful resistance group during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980's was President in the 1990's following the Soviet withdrawal.

He was killed a week after Taliban insurgents orchestrated a surprise attack on sveral Kabul neighborhoods that demonstrated the seeming ease with which they can strike despite ambitious efforts by the American-led NATO forces hereto improve security and to persuade the Taliban insurgents to engage in negotiations to end the war.

News reported by  AR

Shut the nuclear plant, shout protesters at visitng Minister

Hundreds of protesters near the Kudankulam nuclear plant in Tamil Nadu made it impossible for the Union MinisterV Narayanasamy to address them. They yelled to shut the plant. The minister was quick to reassure them and later promised adding that the Prime Minister will decide whether to stop working on the power plant.

Mr. Naranasamy who is the Minister of the State in the Prime Minister's office, had been deputed by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to meet with the villagers and to reassure them that the nuclear plant meets the international safety standards.

But later when he had to deliver a speech, people started shouting at him. Before that Mr. Narayanasamy had assured that all the available safety measures are intact and they are hoping the people to be convinced and to relieve any fears abou the safety of nuclear plant.

Yesterday, Chief Minister Jayalalitha sent a strong note to the PM, asking why the government has not deputed anyone to talk to the villagers about their fears. She said that the Centre has relinquished its responsibility. The PM called her after a few hours and said a minister would reach her state today.

Protesters by residents have been escalating mainly over security for the plant. Various experts have certified that the nuclear plant is designed so as to overcome natural calamity of tsunami and is not located in a region where it is not prone to earthquakes. But reportedly hundred people are on a hunger strike.

The nuclear plant is a joint venture with the Russians and is expected to help reduce Tamil Nadu's power problem. The first of its two nuclear reactors is scheduled to start its operations next month itself.

Senior Counsellor at the Russian Embassy, Sargei Karmalito said that the Russian government is unhappy with the latest developments and they think that the protesters that are growing now in Tamil Nadu against the power station are a rather unfortunate development. And they think that it is an integral matter of India, and they hope that this problem can be settled by discussions between the Central government, the Department of Atomic Energy, local authorities and the people who are now protesting at Kudankulam.

News reported by AR

Cash for votes: Congress dismisses allegations against Ahmed Patel

Congress on Monday dismissed the allegation by Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh's counsel Ram Jethmalani that senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel was the source of the money in the 2008 cash-for-votes scam.

Party spokesperson Renuka Chaudhary told reporters that they have nothing to do with it. They have decided to take the challenge of vote of confidence. They were not going to start cash for vote in the midst of the process after all.

She claimed that Congress leader Ahmed Patel was the source of the money allegedly given to three BJP MP's as bribe ahead of the trust vote by UPA government in 2008.

When Renuka Chaudhary was asked whether she feels that Amar Singh was responsible for the scam, she snapped that "she's not the judge'. When asked on whether the UPA government was benefited from the cash for vote scam, she replied that she do not know who got benefited out of this, probably the country got benefited.

She also ridiculed Jethmalani's submission in the court, recalling that he had put the blame for the scam on BJP a few days back.

Chaudhary also added to wait for three more days and said something else would come out.

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Modi ends fast, talks progress but not Gujarat riots

Narendra Modi addressing thousands after ending his three-day fast in Ahmedabad, he reportedly harped on the widely recognised economic progress of Gujarat since he had become the Chief Minister a decade ago.

In the process, without naming any other governments he stated that no other government anywhere in India had managed to achieve what he had by transforming Gujarat into an economic power house. He said that his mantra was to involve people in the development schemes and to usher in a new work culture.

He said that the mood of despondency in the country has been changed by Gujarat, what people call as impossible elsewhere in India, Gujarat has made it possible.

He took a swipe at his own political tribe, saying most politicians were only interested in winning the next election. Flanked by other BJP leaders on the stage, Narendra Modi said India and Indians had stopped dreaming.

The Chief Minister underlined that he too could have run a government in a routine manner. Narendra Modi said his Sadhbhavana Mission- the name given for his fast undertaken to promote amity, should not be seen from a political prism.

He made a reference to the 2002 communal violence that engulfed Gujarat but declared that his government did not frame politics for minorities or majority community.

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Sikkim quake kills 50; landslides prevent rescue cops

At least 50 people, including 23 people in Sikkim were killed in the earthquake that triggered widespread landslides and road bloackages making the rescue work more difficult on the worst hit Himalayan state. Major General S L Narasimhan told the reporters that another eight peole who were travelling in a bus is believed to be dead as their vehicle got under the debri of a landslide caused by the 6.8 magnitude tremblor last evening.

Official reports said that the overnight toll climbed to 50, with 23 people being killed in Sikkim, six in West Bengal and seven each in Bihar, Nepal and Tibet.

They said that over hundred peope has been injured in the earthquake which has devastated Sikkim, causing hindrances in relief work because of landslides and road blockades.

Narasimhan also said that the army has launched 'Operation Madad' in Gangtok and other areas by deploying over 2,000 troops. He said that around 44 columns of army are working in various parts of Sikkim, while another 15 are in the east district of the state. They are also sending teams to Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

He said that two districts in Sikkim has remained inaccesible to the army, delaying the rescue work. He also added that the local authorities were carrying out the relief work and the army commanders stationed there has to be alert.

Officials said that the casualities has occurred mostly in North Districts andin towns and villages like Rangpo, Dikchu, Singtam and Chungthang located along the course of Teesta river.

Narasimhan said that a group of 14 tourists were rescued by the army from north Sikkim last night. In Delhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced Rupees two lakhs as ex-gratia to next of kin of those who killed in the earthquake and rupees one lakh each for those who are seriously injured.

News Reported by  AR for Newsvision online Newspaper

NIA probing role of 7 people in Delhi blast case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has finally got some definite leads in the Delhi High Court bomb blast case.  Sources told the reporters that the NIA is investigating the role of the seven people in the Delhi High Court blast case.

The group which planned and executed the Delhi High Court blast includes two minors, who have been later on arrested in Jammu and Kashmir. NIA forensic experts have established that the time of the computer used to send the e-mail on behalf of Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) was messed-up so as to mislead the investigations.

The group included five adult members, all aged between 25 to 30 years who were involved in the actual planning and execution of the blast, while the minors were used for sending the HuJI e-mail. The Kishtwar court had earlier ordered the minors to be sent for 10-day police remand and the NIA may apply for their transit remand later.

The two minors who were arrested in Kishtwar also took part in the meeting where the plan to carry out the the blast was finalised. During the continuous interrogation both the minors leaked about the entire plan of the Bombay High Court bomb blast.

The five reportedly had arrived in New Delhi on September 6 and executed the attack on September 7.

There have also been reports that the remaining five members are hiding in different places such as Meerut, Kolkata, Hydrebad and Ahmedabad.

According to the sources, the materials used in the blast was highly sophisticated and complex, which is almost impossible for a local gang to assemble and operate. However, they also added that the nature of the material used was such that the explosive could not have been made in Kishtwar and then sent to Delhi.

Sources also reveals that it can be assumed that the bomb might have been sourced and assembled in the capital itself. Sources claim that though there is no direct link between the blasts in Mumbai and New Delhi, they claim that the material used for the blast was similar to the nature of the explosives which were used in the Zaveri Bazar blast in Maharashtra's capital.

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Delhi blast: Man who sent third mail arrested in Gujarat

Police here on Monday arrested a man for sending the email threatening of a bomb blast in the city after the Delhi Court blast.

Manu Oza, the arrested man, allegedly sent the email to the Delhi police immediately after the blast outside the Delhi High Court on September 7. He had used the name of the most wanted terrorist from US agency FBI's list.

The city Police Commissioner SK Sinha told the reporters that Oza is a resident of Ghodasar area of the city, was arrested from Patan district  on Sunday where he had been staying with his pals for the last five months.

Sinha said that in the email, Oza had claimed responsibility for the blast in Delhi, identifying himself as Ali Saed El-Hoorie, a member of the Indian Mujahideen (IM). The email was sent using a proxy sever in Mexico.

Oza's was the third email to be received by the Delhi police regarding the blast, of the total four.

Oza had said in the email in coded language that the next target would be Ahmedabad, which led to massive security strengthening here.

Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram had said that the email was seemed to be sent by an amateur, as the numerical code used in it was very simple.

Sinha said that the email was sent with the intention to strike terror and create an atmosphere of fear. Oza has been arrested under Section 66 (F) of the Information Technology Act which carries maximum punishment of life imprisonment.

He added that the Police Commissioner had said that Ali Saed El-Hoorie, whose name Oza used, was on the top of the most wanted list of the FBI. Hoorie had a reward of $5 million on his head.

According to the city crime branch which investigated the email, Oza in a standard 11^th drop out and he used to work in a call centre.

After Oza saw the news of Delhi blast on TV, he decided to send a prank email to terrorise the people.

The cyber crime cell of the crime branch found out that the email which was sent from was from Yadav's laptop, using a USB mobile broadband connection.

Oza had sent the mail without Yadav's knowledge, using the internet connection registered in Yadav's name. when Oza was brought before the mediapersons, he said that he sent the mail simply for fun and to get famous quickly.

Sinha said that Oza told them that after the Delhi court blast he got scared for his family in Ahmedabad and to alert the police he sent the mail. There is no evidence of he having a link with any of the terrorist organisation.

The city crime branch is also probing another email, similar to the one sent by Oza. Police believe this email to be a prank, but still they are not ruling out the possibility that it could have been sent by a genuine IM operative.

News Reported by AR for Newvision

Jethmalani denies accusing BJP in cash-for-vote, blames media

Senios advocate and BJP MP Ram Jethmalani on Monday denied that he had accused BJP of having played a substantial role in arranging the money in the cash-for-vote scam of 2008 and had accused the media of misreporting.

He said on a function in Mumbai that he had not done anything of that kind. And the reports which are being spread is not appropriate.

He added that there was no evidence that Amar Singh gave the money and in the charge sheet, it doesn't say that Amar Singh has given the money. Amar Singh has not arranged the sting operation either.

Talking to the reporters outside the court, Jethmalani reportedly said that there are no allegations against Amar Singh in the charge sheet and Advani had said that he had arranged for the sting operation.

The BJP, however, sought to make light of the embarassment saying Jethmalani was acting in his capacity as a lawyer and it would not like to comment as the matter is sub-judice.

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Gujarat government expresses happiness over Supreme Court order on Narendra Modi

State government spokesperson Jaynarayan Vyas on Monday expressed happiness at the Supreme Court's order on Zakia Jafri's petition sending the entire matter to the trial court for the onward process of law.

He added that through the entire course of events leading up to the setting up of the Special Investigation Team by the apex court, its investigations and also its subsequent report of the amicus curie, and not a shred of evidence has emerged on the involvement of the chief minister or that of a political conspiracy.

Vyas said that it effectively gives a lie to the misleading propaganda which is being initiated at the behest of some of NGO's seeking to defame the government  and the chief minister.

He added that if the NGO's had not created a commotion on the issue, the victims would have already got justice.

Vyas sought to make it quite clear that it was the earnest desire of the state government  to see that justice is done to the victims  and they shall help in every measure posible to this end.

Earlier Zakia Jafri, a widow of Congres MP Ahsan Jafri, expresseed her happiness who was among the 69 who perished in the Gulberg society massacre in Ahmedabad following the Godhra riots.

She said that she has faith in the Indian judiciary, but is not satisfied with the decision of the Supreme Court. They said that they a lot of expectations from the apex court. She added that if it cant give proper justice then how can they ensure that the lower court will render them the required justice.

The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that a tria court would hear the petition by Zakia Jafri, who alleged deliberate inaction on the part of the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in preventing the killing of her husband Ehsan Jafri and dozens of others in Ahmedabad's Gulberg Society during the 2002 riots.

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BJP's core group discusses Advani's proposed yatra

LK Advani's proposed yatra against corruption was on Sunday disussed threadbare in a meeting of BJP's core group.

The meeting held at Advani's residence today morning saw various suggestions from leaders like taking the yatra to the states which are going to polls next year and to begin it on October 2 to coincide with Mahatma Gandhi's birthday.

The party sources said that the meeting was attended by the party president Nitin Gadkari, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Bal Apte, Ananth Kumar and others also discussed contemporary issues.

Two more meetings with party's national office bearers and senior leaders are planned.  

In the three-hour longing meeting, there were suggestions that there should be breaks in yatra during festivals such as Dussehra. The yatra could roughly cover a distance of 6000 kms.

Some senior leaders of the BJP were of the view that it should be an anti-corruption yatra as the issue of corruption has reasonated across the country. While Advani is of the opinion that it should focus on clean politics good governance.

While leaders from states like Punjab, Uttaranchal, Goa and Uttar Pradesh want that the yatra should also pass through these states, some of the leaders in the meeting did not favour the idea.

Advani's announcement of undertaking a yatra across the country is also being seen as an attempt by him to get a trip over the party.

Gadkari had recently said the party will not declare  its prime ministerial candidate in the next Lok Sabha elections and the decisions would be taken after the polls.

New Reported by  AR for Newsvision

Two killed in police firing in caste-sensitive south Tamil Nadu

Two persons were killed in a police firing in Paramakudi in Ramanathapuram district in caste-sensitive South Tamil Nadu while several others including senior police officials were injured in stone pelting incidents that lead to the firing on Sunday afternoon.

One more person is feared to be killed in the incident. In Madurai too police opened firing so as to disperse a crowd of the protestors demanding the release of John Pandian, founder of Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, who was detained on the way to Paramakudi to participate in the 54^th memorial day observation of Immanuel Sekaran, a Dalit leader.

The detantion of John Pandian sparked an immediate agitation by Dalits who thronged Paramakudi for the memorial and turned violent later on. The dalits, who staged a protest soon started pelting stones on the police injuring Ramanathapuram  DIG Sandeep Mittal and the deputy commissioner of police K A Senthivelen prompting the police to open fire.  Two men among the agitators died on the spot.

As the news of the firing and deaths spread more dalits started converging on the spot. Police had cordoned off the entire district and stopped vehicles at the entry points of the district to prevent growth of violence. About 5000 such vehicles that brought the Dalits from across the state are lined up outside the district.

Police said that many police vehicles were damaged and set on fire by the mob. A police official said that they are not even able to go near the memorial, the epicentre of the violence incidents now. The firing occurred around 1 pm at a distance of about one km from the memorial of Immanuel Sekaran. Police said that the bodies of the victims are now with the agitators adding that no women were injured in the firing.

In Madurai, two police officers were injured in a police firing at Chintamani area. The firings have sparked tension in the entire South Tamil Nadu region and a body of police personnel have been posted at the sensitive spots.

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Mohammed Azharuddin's son is critical after bike accident

Ayazuddin, the youngest son of the former Indian cricket captain and Congress MP Mohammad Azharuddin sustained serious injuries while his companion passed away in a road accident on city outskirts today evening.

Police said that the misfortune occurred around 9 am near Puppalguda tollgate on Outer Ring Road when the Suzuki sports bike which Ayazuddin and his friend Ajmaan were riding skidded, adding that Ayazuddin was riding the bike.

The hospital sources said that both suffered head injuries. Ayazuddin was 19 years old, who was an upcoming cricketer,was admitted to the Apollo Hospital at Jubilee Hills and his condition was very critical.

Ajmaan, Ayazuddin's relative died on the spot in the accident.

A police officer told the news reporters that the bike was apparently riding at a high speed, adding that the two were proceeding towards Gachibowli area when the bike skidded.

A police official also said that the outer ring road, which leads to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), was prohibited for two-wheeler and auto-rickshaws.

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US journalist becomes witness in Benazir Bhutto assassination case

As per the media report released on Saturday an American journalist Mark Seigel has become the prosecution witness in the Benazir Bhuto assassination case.

Federal Investigation Agency prosecutor general Chaudhry Zulfiqar said that Seigal gave a statement saying that the then President Pervez Musharraf telephoned Benazir Bhutto in his presence and threatened her when she returned to Pakistan before the 2008 elections. Bhutto replied that Musharraf would be responsible if anything will happened to her. Seigel further said in the statement that Benazir Bhutto appeared disturbed after the Musharraf's phone call.

Benazir Bhutto (1953-2007) was the first woman Prime Minister of Pakistan. She was twice the prime minister, but could not complete any term. She was removed in 1996 as Prime Minister on charges on corruption, and went into self-imposed exile to Dubai in 1998.

Benazir Bhutto rturned to Pakistan in October 2007 after an understanding with the then President Musharraf. Benazir Bhutto was granted amnesty and all corruption charges were withdrawn. Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in December 2007, after a Pakistan Peoples Party rally in Rawalpandi, just two weeks before the scheduled election of 2008.

The prosecution-general said a member of the investigation team recorded Seigal's statement in the US.

According to the Pakistan media, Seigal was Benazir Bhutto's friend for almost 25 years. He also acted as her lobbyist and a key negotiator between her and the Musharraf government.

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Anna wants performance audit for MPs

Social Activist Anna Hazare has decided to write a letter to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the impending Right to Reject clause in elections. Prominent member of Team Anna, Aravind Kejriwal made an announcement in this regard while addressing the media and supporters of Anna Hazare from Siddhi.

Kejriwal announced that Anna Hazare will write a letter to the Prime Minister over the issue of the Right to Reject clause in elections. He added that the elected representatives must be held accountable for  performing their duties. And stated that they are also going to meet Chief Election Commissioner S Y Qureshi over the issue.

Kejriwal also taking a stand on the proposed Land Acquisition Bill, he announced that Anna Hazare's letter will also suggest some changes in the Land Acquistion Bill currently under the purview of the Parliament. Kejriwal further added that the suggestions include taking the views on Gram Sabhas and Gram Panchayats into consideration while deciding on the bill.

When asked about the BJP leader L K Advani's announcement of a country-wide yatra against corruption, Kejriwal said that the country wants a Jan Lokpal Bill, not a yatra. He said that all the political parties should come together to get the bill passed. They should ensure that the MPs vote in Standing Committee and Parliament for Jan Lokpal Bill.

Replying to the allegations of another social activist Aruna Roy, Kejriwal said that she has accused them of not discussing their version of the Jan Lokpal Bill with her. And added that it is a false accusation and he rightly rebutted it. He clarified that they discussed the bill with her on April 3^rd and 4^th. She also had a detailed discussion with one of the team member on April 16. He clarified that Roy's team had not drafted any law but only proposals. He said that Team Anna Hazare and Roy differs on mainly three issues- on the inclusion of Prime Minister and lower Bureaucracy and citizens charter. He said that they are open to talks. And said that they indeed also invited Roy and team for a public debate. He said that it is their duty to ensure that those MPs who are not supporting the bill should not be re-elected. No-one should vote in their favour.

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Provisions of NAC drafted communal violence bill

The proposed communal violence bill, which was discussed at the National Integration Council (NIC) meeting held on Saturday intends to prevent and control targeted violence against the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the religious and linguistic minorities.

According to the draft bill prepared by the National Advisory Committee (NAC), the legislation is intended to enhance the state accountability and to correct discriminatory exercise of state powers in the context of identity-based violence.

The note on Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill, 2011, prepared by NAC, lists its key provisions:

Dereliction of duty by public servants- The bill recognizes offences of both ommission and commission. Public servants who fails to act or ommit to eercise authority vested in them under law and fail to protect or prevent the offences or act with malafide and prejudice shall be guilty of recklessness with penal consequences.

Defining communal and targeted violence-  The provisions of this bill will apply only when it is first established that the offence was 'targeted' in nature. Offences under the Indian Penal Code shall be considered as offence under this bill when they meet the definition of 'targeted'.

Breach of command responsibility- The bill seeks to ensure that thepower of holding command over the actions of others is upheld as a sacred duty, and that there is culpability for those who are effectively 'in-charge'.

Sanction for prosecution of public servants- The bill proposes that if there is no response to a request for sanction of prosecution within 30 days from the date of the application to the concerned government, sanction to prosecute will be granted.

Monitoring and accountability- Monitoring and greivance redressal shall be the responsibility of the National Authority for Communal Harmony, Justice and Reparation (NACHJR) and corresponding State Authorities for Communal Harmony, Justice and Reparations (SACHJR).

Composition of the NACHJR- The bill proposes that NACHJR will have seven members of which four must belong to a linguistic minority or religious minority in any state or to the SCs or to the STs. Not more than two members of the NACHJR may be retired public servants.

Offences of communal and targeted violence- The Indian Penal Code contains most offences committed during episodes of communal and targeted violence.

The brutual forms of sexual assault and torture have been included in the bill.

Victim's Rights- The bill seeks to strengthen the rights of the victim in the criminal judicial system, through certain provisions in their struggle for justice.

Relief and Reparation including compensation- All affected persons, whether or not they belong to non-dominant groups in a state have been given justifiable rights to immediate relief, and comprehensive reparations, including compensation if they suffer any harm.

News Reported by AR for Newsvision news paper