Haryana's Jat agitating over reservation intensifies, curfew imposed in Rohtak, Bhiwani city areas

 

According to media reports, the curfew has been imposed with immediate effect in view of protesting mobs going on rampage and indulging in violence.

Army units are being rushed to Rohtak from nearby Cantonment at Hissar, about 50 kms away, he said these will be deployed immediately in Rohtak and Bhiwani areas.

He said Army units are also being rushed from Jaipur for deployment in other worst-affected areas of the state.

The Army will assist the civil administration in restoring peace and law and order which worsened today shortly after an all party meeting here where an appeal was made for maintaining peace.

Two senior civil and police officers - Principal Secretary (Home) A K Singh and ADGP of Haryana Police BS Sandhu- have been rushed to Rohtak to coordinate with the army and the civil administration to restore normalcy.

Haryana Director General of Police Y.P. Singhal told media in Chandigarh that the army has been called in, in Rohtak, Jhajjar, Sonipat, Panipat, Jind, Kaithal, Bhiwani and Hisar districts.

"The government has asked the army to be called in eight districts. The request has been sent. The chief secretary has spoken to the army chief. The chief minister (Manohar Lal Khattar) has spoken to defence minister (Manohar Parrikar). The effort is to deploy the army as soon as possible to control the situation," he said.

A protestor was killed and at least 10 injured when a BSF unit fired in self-defence after being fired upon by the protestors. A BSF trooper was injured in the firing. The injured were taken to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Rohtak, 75 km from Delhi, police said.

"One person from mob fired on BSF personnel with a home-made weapon. The BSF fired in self defence and one person was killed," Singhal said, adding that the mob did not allow the injured trooper to taken to hospital and efforts were being made to rescue him.

He said that a mob attacked a Haryana Police official and other policemen near the Maharishi Dayanand University gate and held the hostage and more forces had to be sent to rescue them.

"A leaderless mob is moving through Rohtak town. They came near the Circuit House and damaged the vehicle of the deputy inspector general of police, two police vehicles and set on fire another police vehicle," Singhal said.

The mob attacked the office of the DIG, and set the house of Finance Minister Abhimanyu on fire. At some places in the town, black smoke could be seen coming out of property set on fire by the agitators, who even manhandled media persons at some places.

"We are trying to stop the mob," the police chief said, adding that three companies of paramilitary forces were already stationed and 30 more companies would be deployed in Haryana soon.

Protestors had clashed with security forces in Rohtak on Thursday evening when police tried to remove the blockades. 

The authorities blocked Internet and SMS services in the affected districts.

Appealing to protesters to end road and rail blockades, Singhal said that curfew had not been imposed in Rohtak or other places so far.

Thousands of trucks, carrying supplies and goods, were stranded in the affected districts due to highways and roads being blocked. Over 40 trains were cancelled by railway authorities across Haryana on Friday as the Jat agitation escalated.

In Gurgaon, Jat protestors blocked roads, leading to traffic jams and chaos in the city, adjoining the national capital.

Life continued to be affected in most parts of Rohtak, Jhajjar Sonipat, Bhiwani, Jind, Hisar and some other districts as the agitation by Jats for reservation in jobs and educational institutions continued for the sixth day on Friday.

The protestors have blocked roads, highways and railway tracks, inconveniencing the common man. Hundreds of railway passengers were stranded as protestors blocked the Delhi-Ambala-Amritsar railway track at Rajlu Garhi village in Sonipat on Friday evening.

Railway authorities cancelled several trains, including express trains like Kalka-Delhi Shatabdi Express, Pashchim Express and others.

The stir escalated even as the Haryana government called an all-party meeting in Chandigarh to discuss the reservation issue and the Jat protests. The meeting urged the protestors to end their agitation and remove blockades.

Jat leaders however rejected the appeal.

After the all-party meeting, Khattar said: "The government is in favour of reservation for Jats in the state and is trying to find out ways and means for the same."

Referring to statements of BJP's Kurukshetra MP Raj Kumar Saini, who is opposed to reservation for Jats, Khattar said he had been asked to withdraw his statement against the protestors.

Security had been tightened at Saini's house in Kurukshetra town.

Agriculture Minister OP Dhankar meanwhile said in Gurgaon that the state government was ready to give special backward class quota to the Jats.

Nawaz Sharif, Narendra Modi likely to meet in Washington next month

 

Sharif and Modi have both accepted President Obama`s invitation to attend a nuclear summit he is hosting in Washington on March 31 and April 1, diplomatic sources told Dawn.

"The chances are strong, very strong," said a senior official. 

"But you know the history of India-Pakistan talks, you cannot be certain about an event until it has happened," the official added.

It will be the first time that both Indian and Pakistani premiers will be attending the nuclear security summit, which President Obama initiated in 2010.

Fugitive underworld don and LTTE sympathiser Kumar Pillai held in Singapore

 

According to a report in the Indian Express, Pillai of the notorious Kumar Pillai gang was taken into custody after a Red Corner Notice was issued by Interpol.

The Mumbai Police is currently trying to ascertain identity of the person arrested by Singapore authorities. Once it is confirmed that the arrested person is Kumar Pillai, the process for his extradition will be initiated, a senior police officer was quoted as saying.

According to some other source, Pillai, who was living under a false identity, was arrested at the airport.

Pillai’s stronghold used to be Vikhroli, where he mostly operated in the construction industry.

Pillai also had a very close link with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).  

Up till now, the investigators believed Pillai to be holed up in the UK, Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka or Singapore, which have a sizeable Tamil population.

JNU row: There should be no 'Taliban culture' in India, say ABVP leaders after resigning

 

"JNU is the most nationalist institution in the country. I do not support the government's stand over the issue. Let Supreme Court find Kanhaiya Kumar guilty and award him life imprisonment. But let the law take its course. There should be no 'Taliban culture' in India," said Pradeep Narwal, former Joint Secretary of JNU unit of ABVP.

Pradeep Narwal, Joint Secretary of JNU unit of ABVP, Rahul Yadav, President of ABVP unit of JNU's School of Social Sciences (SSS) and its Secretary Ankit Hans, had yesterday resigned from the BJP student wing, saying they "cannot be mouthpiece of such a government which has unleashed oppression on student community".

"We are going to fight for JNU. If law find Kanhaiya guilty, let him be punished. If Umar Khalid is guilty he should be jailed. But do not attack the entire university, students and teachers. Let there be space for voices of dissent," he added.

Ankit Hans, said, "We had ideological differences with the party over the issue so we decided to disassociate ourselves. We want to stand for the university as students and not political leaders of an outfit, whose stand is not acceptable to us".

While the ABVP senior leaders are claiming that the three students have been "influenced" to protest against the party and divert the whole issue, Hans said, "This is our individual decision. We have not done this under anybody's influence.

In a hard-hitting resignation letter, the trio had yesterday said, "We think there is a difference between interrogation and crushing ideology and branding entire left as anti-national. We cannot be mouthpiece of such a government which has unleashed oppression on student community."

"Every day we see people assemble at front gate with Indian Flag to beat JNU student, well this is hooliganism not nationalism, you can`t do anything in the name of nation, there is a difference between nationalism and hooliganism".

The three students, however, maintained that they will not join the ongoing strike by the students demanding release of JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar.

He was arrested on Friday last in connection with a case of sedition and criminal conspiracy registered over holding of the event at the varsity during which anti-India slogans were alleged to have been raised.

Members of the ABVP had objected to holding of the event following which Vice Chancellor had withdrawn the permission for it. However, the organisers had gone ahead with the event.

JNU row: Kanhaiya Kumar 'beaten' in court complex, sent to judicial custody; SC asks Bassi to ensure safety

 

Not only Kumar, several journalists were again beaten up by a section of lawyers at the Patiala House Court - much like what happened on Monday - before the JNUSU president was brought there.

The court directed Delhi Police and the superintendent of the Tihar jail to ensure his safety. 

The JNUSU president has been booked under sedition charge in connection with an event at JNU where anti-national slogans were allegedly raised last week. He was arrested by Delhi Police on February 12.

I do not support anti-national activity​, says Kanhaiya Kumar​

Kanhaiya Kumar told the court that he was attacked by a group of people wearing black robes while he was being escorted by police to the court room. The leftist All India Students Federation (AISF) leader was arrested on February 12 on after anti-India slogans were raised at an event held at the JNU campus on February 9 to commemorate the execution of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. 

Kanhaiya Kumar, in a statement leaked to the media, appealed to students to maintain calm and said he does not support anti-national activity. 

He condemned the February 9 event at the JNU and said those who shouted the allegedly anti-national slogans included "some people from JNU and a section of outsiders". 

Kanhaiya moved to Tihar Jail, kept under high security

Kumar was tonight taken to Tihar Jail and kept in a separate cell, following which authorities have sounded a high security alert inside the prison complex, and are keeping a round-the-clock watch for the safety of the student leader.

"Kanhaiya who was brought to Tihar at around 8 pm has been lodged in a separate cell of ward number 4 of jail number 3. Two Tamil Nadu Special Police personnel have been deputed to keep a round-the-clock watch over him and ensure his safety," said a senior Tihar official, as per PTI.

"In view of the prevailing tension over sedition charges being faced by Kanhaiya, maximum vigil will be maintained and a high security alert has been sounded to ensure all the precautions and measures are taken to prevent any untoward incident," the official said.

SC asks  Commissioner of Police​ to ensure safety

On the other hand, a team of senior lawyers today told the Supreme Court, which had asked them to get a first hand assessment, that situation at the Patiala House Court was 'unprecedented' and there was an 'atmosphere was of fear and terror'.

Senior lawyers including Kapil Sibal, Indira Jaising and advocate Prashant Bhushan, drew the attention of the bench of Justices J Chelameswar and A M Sapre to the "extra-ordinary" situation in Patiala House Court where security and safety was under threat.

They also informed the apex court that JNU students' union president Kanhaiya Kumar was "manhandled" while being produced in court.

The court stepped in to rush a six-member panel of advocates appointed by it to Patiala House courts in the afternoon after it was apprised of fresh incidents of violence involving persons in black robes.

The lawyers team gave an oral report mentioning that there was a total breakdown of law and order in which Kumar was 'manhandled'.

The bench then made it clear that 'the responsibility is exclusively is that of the Commissioner of Police, Delhi to ensure the safety of the accused'.

The court had earlier in the day given a slew of directions and limited the entry of lawyers, journalists and others in the court premises in the wake of violence on Monday when scribes, teachers and students of JNU were thrashed by the lawyers.

Indrani Mukerjea a threat to our lives, Sheena's boyfriend Rahul told Peter Mukerjea

 

filed on Tuesday, CBI claimed that Peter was actively involved in the murder conspiracy, alongwith other accused Indrani Mukerjea, Sanjeev Khanna and Shyamvar Rai. Both Peter as well as Indrani were not too pleased with the fact that Sheena was into a relationship with Rahul Mukerjea. While Sheena was Indrani's daughter from an earlier relationship, Rahul was Peter's son from his first wife.

CBI also mentioned in its chargesheet that in an email written by Rahul to Peter Mukerjea dated April 13, 2011, both Rahul and Sheena feared for their lives.

The email, published by TOI today, said, "There is threat to our lives (Sheena and him) by Indrani. We documented every fact, communication, messages and other details. We have given it to a third party for safekeeping. If anything happens to me or her, authority in India and UK will be made aware of the details."

he chargesheet was filed by the national investigation agency, just two days before the stipulated 90-day deadline.

 

RSS worker hacked to death in Kerala; BJP calls for hartal, CPI(M) sympathisers taken into custody

 

Sujit, who suffered serious injuries in the attack, succumbed to injuries before reaching hospital last night.

His aged parents and a brother tried to stop the assailants, who stormed into the house at around 11.30 pm last night, and suffered injuries in the process.

Police said some Communist Party of India (Marxist)​ sympathisers have been taken into custody for questioning.

The BJP has called for a 'hartal' in Kannur, Pappinessery and Azhikode areas to protest against the killing.

Intelligence agencies name 4 suspects behind JNU anti-India event

 

Anirban Bhattacharya, Riazul Haq and Rubina Saifee, the four students of JNU, have been named by intelligence agencies as suspects behinf organising pro-Afzal Guru event at the JNU campus as well as participating in anti-India activities.

All the four JNU students are said to be members of democratic student union, which is considered to be a frontal organisation of CPI-Maoists.

According to India Today report, intelligence agencies have claimed that these four students activists used to work on the instructions of Delhi University professor G.N. Saibaba, who is currently lodged at Pune central jail, on charges of having links with Maoists.

Reports said that democratic student union member Omar Khalid had submitted an application to Jawaharlal Nehru University administration, seeking permission to organise a cultural evening in the campus on February 9. He was granted permission by the JNU administration.

Posters were put across the campus by the student body inviting the university students to participate in the event. However, a complaint was filed by ABVP members before college administration alleging that pro-Afzal Guru event was scheduled to be held by JNUSU, following which JNU administration cancelled its permission for the event.

Despite JNU administration cancelling its permission to allow the event in the campus, the DSU went on to organise the cultural evening at JNU campus.

Incumbent on us to maintain sanctity of constitution: President

"Our nation has grown from strength to strength since Independence. It is primarily due to our steadfast adherence to the principles enshrined in our constitution," he said at the inauguration of the 47th Conference of Governors at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here. 

"It is an enduring document that reflects our aspirations and the avenues to achieve them in an inclusive manner," he added. 

Twenty-three governors and lieutenant governors are attending the conference. 

The president said as constitutional heads of their respective states, governors can play an inspirational role to ensure the state government's active cooperation for the successful implementation of central government’s schemes like Make in India, Start-up India, Smart City Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission. 

13 college students from Pune, in Raigad for picnic, drown at Murud beach​

As per reports, 13 bodies – of 10 women and three men – were recovered after a massive rescue operation carried out by the Navy, the Coast Guard, police and locals.

The Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard deployed three helicopters, including a Chetak and a Seaking chopper, and an Interceptor 117 speedboat, while ICG ship Achook was diverted to the area for 'locate and rescue' operation.

The students belonged to Pune's Abeda Inamdar College – an arts, science and commerce institute – and were reportedly on a trip to Raigad.

Assistant inspector of police Arvind Patil told AFP that the victims were aged between 19 and 23.

"A total of 155 students from Pune went to Murud main beach and some of them went swimming around 3.30 pm this afternoon," he said.

"Thirteen students are dead due to drowning," Patil said, adding that 10 women and three men died.

The cause of the massive tragedy, which occurred around 3 pm at Murud beach - located around 140 kilometres south of Mumbai - was still not clear.

However, local people speculated that some of the students ventured too far out into the waters and were probably caught by the tidal currents, which swept them away.

PA Inamdar, a trustee at the college, said the students had been on a picnic to Murud, which had been arranged by the educational institute.

"They were on an excursion and must have gone into the sea against the advice of the teachers. They were swept away by the tides," Inamdar said.

He said that 14 people had drowned, 10 women and four men, although police insisted that the death toll was still at 13 late on Monday.

Inamdar said all other students had been accounted for while Patil also said everyone else on the excursion was "safe" after a massive rescue operation.

Commander Rahul Sinha, a spokesman for the Navy, said up to 18 students had got into difficulty in the water and that six of them had been rescued and taken to hospital.

Murud sits on the Konkan coast, which has dozens of beaches popular with locals who prefer it to the internationally renowned tourist state of Goa.

Introduce Bill to amend laws for conducting jallikattu during Pongal: Jayalalithaa

Amid growing chorus for holding the banned bull-taming sport 'jallikattu' in January, Tamil Nadu government has urged the Centre to introduce a bill to amend laws for its conduct. It also suggested a special Parliament session for the purpose or even promulgating an ordinance considering the "urgency" of the matter.

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Pongal (Tamil harvest festival) was fast approaching (next month) and "it is very important that the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu, who have a deep attachment to the conduct of the traditional event of jallikattu, are honoured."

In a December 22 letter to Modi, she said media reports had "indicated" that Minister of State for Environment and Forests Prakash Javadekar had stated the Centre would introduce a Bill in Parliament in the Winter Session to enable its conduct.

She said, "We were eagerly looking forward to introduction of the bill," but Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan was quoted in media that the deadlock in Rajya Sabha was the reason for non introduction of the legislation.

Strongly urging the PM to immediately direct the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to introduce a Bill to comprehensively and suitably amend relevant provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, she said it had to be passed immediately to enable conduct of Jallikattu.

"May I request that the Parliament session be extended, or a special session called for this purpose? Alternatively, considering the urgency of the issue, the Government of India may consider promulgating an ordinance enabling the conduct of jallikattu during Pongal 2016. On behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu, I urge you to have the ordinance promulgated expeditiously," she said in the letter, released today.

The CM said inability to conduct Jallikattu has caused general disappointment and widespread resentment among the people, particularly in rural areas, as this was a sport, which was part of their cherished tradition.

Jayalalithaa said jallikattu was a traditional sporting event held as part of Pongal festivities in rural Tamil Nadu for many centuries, adding that bulls reared exclusively for this event were tamed by able-bodied youth.

Jallikattu had considerable historical significance and was ingrained in the cultural tradition of Tamil Nadu and even found mention in the 'great epic Silappathigaram', and was popular among warriors since the Sangam era, she said.

"The sport is inextricably linked to rural, agrarian customs and practices and helps with the conservation of native germplasm since bulls with excellent physical attributes are reared. It also has religious connotations with families donating bulls to temples in fulfillment of vows."

"The second day of the Pongal festivities is dedicated to showing gratitude to the bulls that serve and contribute to the prosperity of the farmers," she said.

Students eat beef in Osmania University hostel rooms

Hyderabad: Police on Thursday thwarted efforts to conduct the beef festival in Osmania University. The festival was planned at the Arts College to observe Human Rights Day by 24 Dalit and Left wing student organisations. The police ensured that the event was not held.

However, students claimed that they prepared beef items and consumed them in their hostel rooms. Pictures of students consuming beef in the hostel were circulated on social networking sites and mobile apps.

Some arrested students even posted pictures of themselves eating beef inside the Amberpet police station.

Cops ensure students don’t leave hostels

Police ensured that none of the students living in hostels where the festival organisers stayed stepped out of their rooms.

Mussavir Mohammad, one of the organisers at Ambedkar hostel said, “The police arrested anyone who stepped out of the hostel regardless of whether the student was an organiser or not. Even mess workers were not allowed into the hostel to prepare dinner.”

The pork festival too was not allowed to take place which was to be conducted at Arts College on Thursday. Solanki Srinivas, the organiser, was arrested on Wednesday evening.

OU registrar Prof E. Suresh Kumar said, “University was peaceful and I thank the police for upholding court orders.”and not allowing any untoward incident to take place in the university."

Outside the university campus too there was high drama as groups of people belonging to Hindu organisations shouted “Jai Sri Ram” slogans and made sporadic appearances near the NCC gate.

While the police detained a few, others escaped. In one incident a cow was brought near the gate to conduct “gau puja” but that effort too was thwarted.

All entrances to OU were sealed for outsiders and police were deployed to ensure that only those with university identity cards were allowed to enter.

As per sources, only students who had exams were allowed to move about subject to scrutiny. While a final semester theory exam which was to be conducted in the Technology department was cancelled, exams in the Engineering College were conducted peacefully.

Mumbai court pardons David Headley, accepts him as witness in 26/11 terror attacks case

Mumbai: A local court on Thursday granted pardon to David Coleman Headley, one of the main accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case, and accepted him as a witness on certain conditions.

The court agreed to Headley's plea to turn an approver in return for pardon and wants Headley to reveal roles of him and co-conspirators in 26/11 attacks.

Headley, the Pakistani-American LeT terrorist serving prison sentence in the US, told the court that he was ready to depose and turn approver in the 26/11 trial if he was given pardon.

Headley appeared before the sessions court here through a video link from an undisclosed location in the US. Ujjwal Nikam, the special public prosecutor, told the judge G A Sanap that Headley was ready to turn "approver" if given pardon.

As Nikam sought some time to consult the investigating officers, the court adjourned the proceedings for half an hour this evening.

"I have received the charging document filed against me in this court. It charges me with same conduct for which I was charged in the US. I had pleaded guilty to the charges in the US and I admitted that I was participant in these charges," Headley told the court.

"I accepted responsibility for my role in those offences in my plea agreement (in US). I also agreed to make myself available as a witness in this court. I appear here ready to answer questions regarding these events if I receive a pardon from this court," he said.

At this point, Nikam said that Headley had proposed to become an approver provided he was given pardon. The prosecutor then requested the judge to adjourn the hearing for half an hour, so that he could consult the investigating officers about Headley's offer.

Earlier, the judge explained to Headley the charges against him.

On November 18, the court had said that Headley must be produced through video conference on December 10 as it allowed the Mumbai police's plea to make him an accused.

Headley is currently serving 35 years in an American prison for his role in the Mumbai terror attacks. The police had said he should be tried by the Mumbai court along with the key conspirator Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal.

Following this, the court took 'cognisance of offences' against Headley.

The offences with which Headley is likely to be charged by Mumbai court are distinct and separate than the offences with which he had been charged and punished in the US, the police had said then.

The police's application also noted that Headley entered into a plea bargain agreement with US authorities in 2010, and thereby willingly and voluntarily agreed that he was part of the conspiracy behind the November 26, 2008 attacks in Mumbai which claimed 166 lives.

He is accused of conducting a special reconnaissance of targets before the Mumbai terror attacks. His reconnaissance provided vital information for the 10 LeT terrorists and their handlers.