Gang of five held, valuables worth over Rs 9 lakh seized

Thane, May 29 — The police solved a dacoity case with the arrest of five people and recovered valuables worth over Rs 9.64 lakh including an Indigo, one revolver, one pistol and three choppers. “Ulhasnagar resident Raju Awhad (29), who was arrested on May 25, is the mastermind.

He along with his accomplices had robbed a Bhiwandi businessman, his brother and their regular client at gunpoint. They took around Rs 15 lakh and other valuables,” said additional commissioner of police (crime) Prashant Burde at a press conference on Friday.

“They also robbed a driver near Ranjnoli naka on the Mumbai-Agra highway.” While two of the accused – Badlapur resident Mahesh Sathre (30) and Ulhasnagar resident Naresh Chabria (29) – were arrested in March, Awhad, Ulhasnagar resident Prakash Gangurde (34) and Bhiwandi resident Rohidas Shelar (34) were arrested recently based on the information provided by Sathre and Chabria.

While Awhad has 11 cases of dacoity, robbery against him, Shelar has four such cases against him. Prakash has one case each of murder and dacoity whereas Chabria was convicted in a dacoity case and had spent seven years in jail.

The gang was formed while the accused were serving their respective jail terms. One more person is yet to be arrested.

They have been remanded in police custody till June 5. In another case, the anti-extortion cell nabbed three criminals – Diva resident Jitendra Maurya (23), Ahmednagar resident Gilbert alias John Ohol (30) and Diva resident Raju Mahathe (24) – from a Mumbra petrol pump on Wednesday.

Minister defends Hine inquiry timing

The Tasmanian Government has defended its decision to investigate a code of conduct complaint against the Acting Police Commissioner more than five months after the allegations were made.

A retired Federal Court Justice will investigate the complaints made by a retired Commissioner Richard McCreadie.

They relate to the failed prosecution of former Commissioner Jack Johnston and the Premier David Bartlett’s aborted attempt to reinstate Mr McCreadie while the case was dealt with.

Minister Lin Thorp says the permanent position of Police Commissioner can not be be advertised until the complaints are resolved.

“I had intended to start the advertising for the permanent position of Commissioner of Police for Tasmania and, of course, Acting Commissioner Hine deserves procedural fairness,” Ms Thorp said.

“To that end I’ll wait and see what the result of this inquiry into code of conduct charges comes up.”

Kasab”s quantum of punishment to be decided on May 6

Mumbai, May 4 (ANI): A Mumbai Special Court on Tuesday fixed May 6 as the date to announce the quantum of punishment to Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Earlier, Mumbai Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam formally demanded the death penalty for Kasab, who was found guilty of waging war against India.

Nikam said that Kasab wanted to inspire others to take part in fidayeen or suicide attacks.

He also called Kasab a killing machine manufactured in Pakistan.

The court-appointed defence lawyer for Kasab, K P Pawar, is now expected to seek leniency for his client.

On Monday, it pronounced a verdict in a courtroom at the Arthur Road Jail here. Judge M L Tahiliyani declared Kasab guilty of all 86 charges filed against him.

The charges against Kasab include waging war against India, murder, abetting to murder, attempt to murder, violation of the Arms Act, Explosives Act, the Unlawful Activity Prevention Act (UAPA) and others.

However, in an unexpected move, the court found two Indian co-accused– Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed – not guilty and said they must be acquitted of all charges due to lack of evidence.

For the first time in Indian judicial history, it was established in a court of law that Pakistan was involved in an act of terrorism and of waging war against India.

Judge Tahiliyani said the way the ten terrorists countered the elite National Security Guards (NSG) clearly established that they were trained to fight a war.

Though no direct evidences were mentioned against Lashkar-e Taiba leader Hafiz Saeed and Zakir -ur -Rehman, the court found them guilty based on Kasab”s confessional statement.

The court also accepted Kasab”s confessional statement.

The court also said the DNA test conducted on the seven dead terrorists matched prints collected from the boat ”Kuber”.

It said the evidence proved that Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Kamte had died of a bullet fired by terrorist Abu Ismail, while it was not established who killed Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare and encounter specialist Inspector Vijay Saluskar.

The trial, perhaps the fastest in a terror case in India, commenced on May 8, 2009.

Judge Tahaliyani recorded 3,192 pages of evidence after examining 658 witnesses on 271 working days. Thirty witnesses in the court identified Kasab as the man who had opened fire on them.

Nikam submitted 1,015 articles seized during investigations. He had also filed 1,691 documents to support the case.

He had also argued that Pakistan”s security apparatus was used by the terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

The prosecution also tabled CCTV footage of the terrorists moving about with guns and firing at people.

The images were captured on CCTV cameras fitted at CST Railway Station, the Times of India building, and the Taj Mahal and Oberoi Hotels.

Photographs of Kasab shot by photojournalists Sebastian D”souza and Sriram Vernekar were also placed before the court.

Kasab is a native of Faridkot, in Pakistan”s Punjab Province.

He along with nine other terrorists, who were killed during the gun battle with security forces in Mumbai have been charged with killing 166 people, including 25 foreigners. (ANI)

Mumbai prosecutor Nikam demands death sentence for Kasab

New Delhi, May 4 (ANI): Mumbai Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam on Tuesday formally demanded the death penalty for the lone surviving terrorist of the 26/11 attacks, Ajmal Amir Kasab, who was found guilty of waging war against India.

Nikam said that Kasab wanted to inspire others to take part in fidayeen or suicide attacks.

He also called Kasab a killing machine manufactured in Pakistan.

The court-appointed defence lawyer for Kasab, K P Pawar, is now expected to seek leniency for his client.

On Monday, it pronounced a verdict in a courtroom at the Arthur Road Jail here. Judge M L Tahiliyani declared Kasab guilty of all 86 charges filed against him.

The charges against Kasab include waging war against India, murder, abetting to murder, attempt to murder, violation of the Arms Act, Explosives Act, the Unlawful Activity Prevention Act (UAPA) and others.

However, in an unexpected move, the court found two Indian co-accused– Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed – not guilty and said they must be acquitted of all charges due to lack of evidence.

For the first time in Indian judicial history, it was established in a court of law that Pakistan was involved in an act of terrorism and of waging war against India.

Judge Tahiliyani said the way the ten terrorists countered the elite National Security Guards (NSG) clearly established that they were trained to fight a war.

Though no direct evidences were mentioned against Lashkar-e Taiba leader Hafiz Saeed and Zakir -ur -Rehman, the court found them guilty based on Kasab”s confessional statement.

The court also accepted Kasab”s confessional statement.

The court also said the DNA test conducted on the seven dead terrorists matched prints collected from the boat ”Kuber”.

It said the evidence proved that Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Kamte had died of a bullet fired by terrorist Abu Ismail, while it was not established who killed Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare and encounter specialist Inspector Vijay Saluskar.

The trial, perhaps the fastest in a terror case in India, commenced on May 8, 2009.

Judge Tahaliyani recorded 3,192 pages of evidence after examining 658 witnesses on 271 working days. Thirty witnesses in the court identified Kasab as the man who had opened fire on them.

Nikam submitted 1,015 articles seized during investigations. He had also filed 1,691 documents to support the case.

He had also argued that Pakistan”s security apparatus was used by the terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

The prosecution also tabled CCTV footage of the terrorists moving about with guns and firing at people.

The images were captured on CCTV cameras fitted at CST Railway Station, the Times of India building, and the Taj Mahal and Oberoi Hotels.

Photographs of Kasab shot by photojournalists Sebastian D”souza and Sriram Vernekar were also placed before the court.

Kasab is a native of Faridkot, in Pakistan”s Punjab Province.

He along with nine other terrorists, who were killed during the gun battle with security forces in Mumbai have been charged with killing 166 people, including 25 foreigners. (ANI)

Police nab Lashkar militant in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, May 4 (ANI): Andhra Pradesh Police arrested a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) operative here on Tuesday.

The militant has been identified as Mohammad Zia Ul Haq alias Abu Abdullah.

Addressing the media persons A K Khan, Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad, said that the militant was planning to commit a major incident in the twin cities (Hyderabad and Secunderabad).

“He was trying to commit a big action in Hyderabad. After an alert, and also after working out the information today he has been picked up along with the explosives and the fire arm that he had,” said Khan.

He further said that this militant was involved in the blast that took place at Odeon Theatre in the city during 2006.

Reportedly, Zia Ul Haq was studying in Saudi Arabia where he was roped in by the LeT operatives.

Two Chinese grenades, one Chinese 7.4 pistol with 6 rounds and one LG cell phone was recovered from his possession. (ANI)

Mumbai court to hear arguments, may sentence Kasab today

New Delhi, May 4 (ANI): A special trial court in Mumbai will hear arguments today from the prosecution and the defence on the lone surviving terrorist of the 26/11 attacks, Ajmal Amir Kasab, who found guilty of waging war against India.

On Monday, it pronounced the verdict in a courtroom at the Arthur Road Jail here. Judge M L Tahiliyani declared Kasab guilty of all 86 charges filed against him.

The charges against Kasab include waging war against India, murder, abetting to murder, attempt to murder, violation of the Arms Act, Explosives Act, the Unlawful Activity Prevention Act (UAPA) and others.

However, in an unexpected move, the court found two Indian co-accused– Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed – not guilty and said they must be acquitted of all charges due to lack of evidence.

For the first time in Indian judicial history, it was established in a court of law that Pakistan was involved in an act of terrorism and of waging war against India.

Judge Tahiliyani said the way the ten terrorists countered the elite National Security Guards (NSG) clearly established that they were trained to fight a war.

Though no direct evidences were mentioned against Lashkar-e Taiba leader Hafiz Saeed and Zakir -ur -Rehman, the court found them guilty based on Kasab”s confessional statement.

The court also accepted Kasab”s confessional statement.

The court also said the DNA test conducted on the seven dead terrorists matched prints collected from the boat ”Kuber”.

The court added that the photographs taken were genuine and the witnesses credible, as they had no other intention than to catch a person.

It said the evidence proved that Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Kamte had died of a bullet fired by terrorist Abu Ismail, while it was not established who killed Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare and encounter specialist Inspector Vijay Saluskar.

The trial, perhaps the fastest in a terror case in India, commenced on May 8, 2009.

Judge Tahaliyani recorded 3,192 pages of evidence after examining 658 witnesses on 271 working days.

Thirty witnesses in the court identified Kasab as the man who had opened fire on them.

The prosecution led by Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, submitted 1,015 articles seized during investigations.

Nikam had also filed 1,691 documents to support the case.

He had also argued that Pakistan”s security apparatus was used by the terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

The prosecution also tabled CCTV footage of the terrorists moving about with guns and firing at people.

The images were captured on CCTV cameras fitted at CST Railway Station, the Times of India building, and the Taj Mahal and Oberoi Hotels.

Photographs of Kasab shot by photojournalists Sebastian D”souza and Sriram Vernekar were also placed before the court.

Kasab is a native of Faridkot, in Pakistan”s Punjab Province.

He along with nine other terrorists, who were killed during the gun battle with security forces in Mumbai have been charged with killing 166 people, including 25 foreigners. (ANI)

Mumbai court charges Kasab with waging war against India

Mumbai, May 3 (ANI): A Mumbai Special Court on Monday found the lone surviving terrorist of the 26/11 attacks, Ajaml Amir Kasab, guilty of waging war against India, but acquitted the two other Indian co-accused.

Pronouncing the verdict in a courtroom at the Arthur Road Jail here, Judge M L Tahiliyani described the 26/11 attacks as clear act of war.

He declared Kasab guilty of all 86 charges filed against him.

The charges against Kasab include waging war against India, murder, abetting to murder, attempt to murder, violation of the Arms Act, Explosives Act, the Unlawful Activity Prevention Act (UAPA) and others.

However, in an unexpected move, the court found two Indian co-accused– Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed – not guilty and said they must be acquitted of all charges due to lack of evidence.

The court said the evidence against the two was weak both in “quality as well as quantity.”

For the first time in Indian judicial history, it was established in a court of law that Pakistan was involved in an act of terrorism and of waging war against India.

Judge Tahiliyani said the way the ten terrorists countered the elite National Security Guards (NSG) clearly established that they were trained to fight a war.

Though no direct evidences were mentioned against Lashkar-e Taiba leader Hafiz Saeed and Zakir –ur –Rehman, the court found them guilty based on Kasab’s confessional statement.

The court also accepted Kasab’s confessional statement.

When the judge was framing him with charges, there was no reaction on Kasab’s face.

Kasab was dressed in a white Kurta-Pyjama.

The court also said the DNA test conducted on the seven dead terrorists matched prints collected from the boat ‘Kuber’.

The court added that the photographs taken were genuine and the witnesses credible, as they had no other intention than to catch a person.

It said the evidence proved that Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Kamte had died of a bullet fired by terrorist Abu Ismail, while it was not established who killed Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare and encounter specialist Inspector Vijay Saluskar.

The court did not mention the quantum of punishment, but said the argument and counter argument in that matter would continue on Tuesday. The quantum of punishment is expected to be announced on Wednesday.

Monday’s judgment comes seventeen months after the incident.

The trial, perhaps the fastest in a terror case in India, commenced on May 8, 2009.

Judge Tahaliyani recorded 3,192 pages of evidence after examining 658 witnesses on 271 working days.

Thirty witnesses in the court identified Kasab as the man who had opened fire on them.

The prosecution led by Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, submitted 1,015 articles seized during investigations.

Nikam had also filed 1,691 documents to support the case.

He had also argued that Pakistan”s security apparatus was used by the terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

For the first time in the Indian history, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials deposed before the court and gave technical evidence.

The FBI informed the court about the technical data it gathered –that how Kasab and others came from Pakistan using Global Positioning System (GPS) and that they made calls from their mobile phones through Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) to stay in touch with their handlers across the border.

The prosecution also tabled CCTV footage of the terrorists moving about with guns and firing at people.

The images were captured on CCTV cameras fitted at CST Railway Station, the Times of India building, and the Taj Mahal and Oberoi Hotels.

Photographs of Kasab shot by photojournalists Sebastian D”souza and Sriram Vernekar were also placed before the court.

Kasab is a native of Faridkot, in Pakistan’s Punjab Province.

He along with nine other terrorists, who were killed during the gun battle with security forces in Mumbai have been charged with killing 166 people, including 25 foreigners. (ANI)

Kolkata Police moves to increase strength of its Disaster Management Group

Kolkata, Apr.29 (ANI): In view of the increased terror threats and major fire accidents, Kolkata Police has decided to increase the strength of its Disaster Management Group (DMG) to 120 personnel to rescue terror hostages and fire victims trapped in high rise buildings.

At present a 85-member squad, comprising youths from Armed Police, Rapid Action Force and Special Action Force of the Kolkata Police, along with a support staff of the green police and home guards, is being trained in high rise climbing, rappelling, rescue, first aid, tree cutting etc to handle any exigencies.

This gains significance in view of the alert in the city since Wednesday (April 28) against a possible Indian Mujahideen terror strike on sensitive installations or landmark buildings, serial blasts across the city or taking prominent industrialists hostage.

According to Ranjit Pachnanda, Special Commissioner of Police (I), Kolkata Police, the Disaster Management Group already had tree-cutting squads and divers. But after the Stephen Court fire incident in which 43 persons were killed and during which, DMG personnel carried out rescue operations with great success despite all odds, the West Bengal government decided to augment DMG’s strength and add rescue from high rise buildings in case of fire or other incidents to its specialization.

DMG personnel are now being trained to rescue people trapped in fires or evacuating hostages during terror attacks on buildings. They already have training in diving and water rescue operations during boat capsize or drowning accidents and clearing fallen trees off roads in case of storms, squalls or cyclones to prevent traffic disruptions.

Pachnanda said initial training was give at the National Industrial Security Academy (NISA), run by CISF in Hyderabad, in collapsible structure search and rescue and medical first responders. Currently, the DMG is being trained in climbing by Himalayan Mountaineering Federation in Kolkata where they are practicing climbing and rescue of victims up and down buildings up to 15 floors. The DMG is being kept in peak condition with several short term refresher courses on a regular basis with the BSF and the CISF as well as Mountaineering organizations, he added.

Rojar Fippen, a DMG member, said the additional training in climbing and rescue had now given the personnel confidence to climb high rises, jump off from top floors and efficiently rescue trapped persons.

Another DMG RAF member Mintu Pal said the training included climbing without ropes, preparing rappelling set ups for team members, rappelling down the buildings with conscious or unconscious victims and basic first aid.

It may be hoped that major fires or terror strikes would be prevented through effective disaster risk reduction techniques or alert intelligence and action, however, in case of any untoward incidents, the city police now has access to a highly trained and specialized force for Disaster Management and Crisis Control. (ANI)

Top Gujarat cop arrested in Sohrabuddin fake encounter case

Ahmedabad, Apr.28 (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Abhay Chudassama for his role in the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case.

Chudassama is currently serving as the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) (Crime Branch) at Ahmedabad and was formerly Superintendent of Police, Valsad.

Sohrabuddin and his wife were killed in fake encounters in 2005.

In March, 2007, police said that Sohrabuddin Sheikh, belonged to the Pakistan linked terrorist group Lashkar-e-Toiba and was planning to assassinate Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to avenge the death of Muslims killed in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

The government also admitted that Sohrabuddin”s innocent wife Kausarbi had been killed by the police and her body burnt in an attempt to remove the traces of the crime.

The Gujarat Government admitted that senior police officers were directly involved in the killing of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, and his wife, Kausar Bi, in 2005.

The admission came as a result of the intervention of India”s Supreme Court which ordered continued investigations into this case

In February this year, a CBI team visited Gujarat to take charge of the case from the Gujarat Crime Investigation Department (CID).

The Gujarat CID had filed a charge sheet against 14 police officials including suspended Deputy Inspector General (DIG) D G Vanzara and Indian Police Service (IPS) officers — Rajkumar Pandyan and M N Dinesh.

The CBI took up the case on directions of the Supreme Court. Earlier, the apex court had asked the CBI to probe if there was any larger conspiracy to the killings and submit the report within six months for its perusal.

In the same month, the Supreme Court rejected the bail application of Indian Police Service (IPS) officer M N Dinesh, an accused in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case.

Dinesh is a Rajasthan cadre officer.

An apex court bench consisting Justice P Sathsivam and Justice H L Dattu, however, granted liberty to the IPS officer to move the Gujarat High Court with his plea and treated his bail application as “dismissed as withdrawn”. (ANI)

Curfew continues in tense Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Mar 30 (ANI): The situation in the old city of Hyderabad continues to remain tense, as the curfew has been imposed till 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) South Zone Madhusudhan Reddy said the curfew that was imposed on Monday evening has been extended till 6 p.m. on Tuesday to avoid any untoward incident, adding that the Class 10 board examination in around 140 centres have been postponed following the incidents of communal violence.

Meanwhile, the Central Government has rushed in over 1800 troops in the sensitive areas to maintain law and order and restore peace.

Over 130 persons, suspected to be involved in the communal clashes, have been taken into custody so far, police added.

The Andhra Pradesh Government on Monday ordered deployment of additional security forces in old Hyderabad city where tension prevails; following overnight clashes between two communities.

The Rapid Action Force (RAF) and the state police were earlier deployed in Moosa Bowli, Hussaini Alam, Purana Pul, Begum Bazar, and nearby areas to restore peace following incidents of stone-pelting and assault on religious places, houses, shops and vehicles.

Strife started in Moosa Bowli area when the majority community reportedly removed green flags installed by members of the other community and installed saffron ones, instead, during a recent festival.

The heated exchanges snowballed into clashes between the two groups. (ANI)

All airports on high alert following Kingfisher flight bomb scare

New Delhi, Mar 23 (ANI): Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on Tuesday said that all airports across the country have been put on high alert following the low-intensity country-made bomb that was found inside a Kingfisher flight IT-4731 from Bangalore to Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday morning.

Addressing the media, Patel said the security was being tightened across all the airports in the country to avoid any untoward incident.

“The government has taken the Kingfisher bomb case issue seriously and are probing the same,” said Patel.

Patel further said, “Airports are usually and always in a state of high alert. But in view of the recent incident, the Bureau of Civil Aviation has further heightened security across all the airports in the country. Security will not be compromised at all.”

“The bomb scare that occurred on Sunday has been taken seriously. Investigations have been ordered and we consider it as a major breach of security, therefore every possible action to unearth the cause will be undertaken,” he added.

On the government”s stand to implement body scanners in airports, Patel said, “Body scanners will be used on a trial basis at the IGI in July. We will have to ensure that there is no violation of privacy of any passenger.”

“We will have to ensure that there is no violation of privacy of any passenger. There are some concerns raised in this matter, which is being looked into. However, the implementation of the same is imperative in view of the heightened security threats we face,” he added.

The Kerala Government has constituted a high-level committee headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jolly Cherian to probe the low-intensity country-made bomb that was found inside a Kingfisher flight.

The plane was on Sunday taken to the remote bay area of the Thiruvananthapuram airport, where the security personnel and the airport authorities assessed the suspicious object found on-board.

All the passengers were deplaned after the cargo cleaner alerted the CISF officials of a suspicious object.
The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) was soon rushed to the airport to check the nature of the crude bomb.
The explosive was defused and later taken off the aircraft. (ANI)

Kerala Government orders probe into bomb found inside Kingfisher flight

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 22 (ANI): The Kerala Government has constituted a high-level committee headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jolly Cherian to probe the low-intensity country-made bomb that was found inside a Kingfisher flight IT-4731 from Bangalore to Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday morning.

The state government has asked the security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation and find out how the lapse took place at the airport.

Kerala Law Minister M Vijaykumar said, “It is a serious security lapse. We have directed the security agencies to look into this.”

The plane was on Sunday taken to the remote bay area of the Thiruvananthapuram airport, where the security personnel and the airport authorities assessed the suspicious object found on-board.

All the passengers were deplaned after the cargo cleaner alerted the CISF officials of a suspicious object.

The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) was soon rushed to the airport to check the nature of the crude bomb.

The explosive was defused and later taken off the aircraft. (ANI)

Anti-hoon amendments rejected

The Opposition says changes to the State’s hoon laws don’t go far enough.

The Government was forced to revise the legislation after a doctor’s Lamborghini was impounded because his mechanic was caught driving it at 160 kilometres an hour.

The Police Minister Rob Johnson says the Government’s proposed changes will protect vehicle owners who lend their car to a mechanic, provide it as a courtesy vehicle, or let a person test drive it.

The Opposition has proposed amendments to the legislation including a provision where the Police Commissioner would have the power to judge the specific circumstances of a case.

Shadow Attorney General John Quigley believes some car owners will still be unfairly affected and individual cases should be referred to the Police Commissioner to determine the circumstances.

“There will inevitably be unjustice or unfairness, because we human beings can’t imagine all of the circumstances that may arise.”

Mr Quigley denies it would over-burden the Commissioner.

“It is reasonable that the officer could refer a case involving unfairness or injustice to the commissioner of police with a recommendation.”

But, Mr Johnson rejected the proposed amendments.

He says it is unreasonable to ask the Police Commissioner to take on more work.

“This is an amendment that I don’t agree with at all.”

“You will open the floodgates. You’re talking about something outside any applications you can make at the moment.”

Delhi Police arrest three Peruvian nationals for alleged theft

New Delhi, March 10 (ANI): Delhi Police arrested three Peruvian nationals, including a woman, on Wednesday for their alleged involvement in stealing foreigners” belongings from star rated hotels in the national capital.

The three accused, two men and a woman, were arrested after the police received complaints of a couple of thefts from prime hotels in the capital.

The arrested men were identified as Vicnta Montotyo Chipana and Francisco Cordoya Jaime while the woman”s name is Falicita Infs Iparraguirre Aliaga.

“There have been several incidents of bag lifting at five star hotels reported in the recent past. We have arrested some foreign nationals from Peru. Two men and a woman have been arrested. The men belonged to the age group of 71 and 45 respectively whereas the woman is aged 51. They primarily attempted theft at the Taj Man Singh and Park Hotels but more incidents have been reported from other hotels. That will depend on the recoveries. It is quite sure that they have been doing this for the past 15 to 17 days as they arrived in India on 20 February. And these incidents happened after 25 February,” said Additional Commissioner of Police, New Delhi district, Shankar Dash.

He also gave details of the stolen articles recovered from them.

“Mobile phones, laptops, I-pods and some cash have been recovered from them. Their targets were always the foreigners. An Indonesian lady was victimised from Taj Man Singh Hotel whereas a Malaysian lady was victimised from Park Hotel. Now they have been arrested hopefully, such incidents don”t happen in future,” added Shankar Dash.

The arrest could be possible during scrutiny of people through the CCTV footage after a couple of persons identified them as the suspects.

Their photographs had been circulated to the security wings of various star rated hotels in the national capital. (ANI)

Delhi CM Dikshit orders inquiry into school stampede

New Delhi, Sep 10 (ANI): Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Thursday, ordered a high level inquiry into the stampede at a Delhi Government School in East Delhi that killed five students and injured at least 24.

Dikshit and state Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely visited the injured and families of the bereaved at the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital soon after the tragedy was reported.

She announced Rs one lakh as compensation for the bereaved families and Rs 50,000 for those injured and added that the treatment costs would be borne by the Delhi Government.

She described the incident as an unfortunate but refused to comment on negligence by the school authorities.

“We have decided that the Deputy Commissioner of East Delhi will inquire into the incident. We will take every care of the children in hospital,” Dikshit said.

“We greatly regret what happened. This is an accident, which can happen any time. If at all there has been any fault on part of school management, only the inquiry will find out,” she added.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP)(North East Delhi) Surender Singh Yadav said he is yet to ascertain the exact reason for the stampede.

“All the kids were called together. Normally, they have space to stand in the compound, but due to the water and the crowd they were asked to go upstairs. The girls were asked to go up and the boys to come down for exams. The stairway is narrow, only 4.5 ft wide and a stampede resulted. Five suffocated, and 21 are still in hospital,” Joint Commissioner of Police Dharmedra Kumar said.

He also added that rumours of electrocution are still to be verified.Meanwhile, parents of students agitated outside the school campus. (ANI)

Gujarat High Court stays Tamang’s report on Ishrat’s encounter

Ahmedabad, Sep 10 (ANI): The Gujarat High Court on Thursday stayed a report given by the Metropolitan Judicial Magistrate S.P. Tamang, which had described the encounter of alleged terror operative Ishrat Jahan and three others as “fake.”

Ishrat, was killed on June 15, 2004, along with her partners Javed Ghulam Sheikh alias Pranesh Kumar Pillai, Amjad Ali alias Rajkumar Akbar Ali Rana and Jisan Johar Abdul Gani by the Gujarat Police.

Ishrat who was studying in under graduate course in Mumbai was allegedly involved in a plot to kill Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Tamang’s report, which was made open to media on Monday, described the 2004 killing of college student Ishrat Jahan and three of her friends a “fake encounter”.

The Gujarat Government approached the High Court against Tamang’s report

Acting on the petition of the Narendra Modi led Government, Justice Kalpesh Javheri said the observations made in the report were beyond the jurisdiction of the judicial magistrate.

He also ordered the appropriate authority of the High Court to look into the actions of Tamang and take necessary action.

However, the court has given liberty to Ishrat’s mother to produce the report before the three-member committee constituted by the High Court last month to investigate the encounter.

Justice Javheri also said in his ruling that the committee can consider the report as evidence.

Ahmedabad’s then Assistant Commissioner of Police, (ACP) G.L.Singhal, who was named by the Tamang’s report also approached the Gujarat High Court on Thursday demanding that the report should be declared null and void.

The Court is likely to take up Singhal’s petition by this evening. (ANI)

BJP leader Munde detained at Mumbai airport

Mumbai, Sep.7 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Gopinath Munde was detained at Mumbai airport by state police on Monday before he could go to violence-hit Sangli district to address a meeting there.

Officials said he was detained as his address could aggravate the tense situation in the district.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Brijesh Singh said Munde was prevented from going to Miraj in wake of communal clashes there. His boarding pass was seized.

The trouble had started on Anant Chaturdashi day-September 3– when some pro-Hindutva organisations tried to raise an arch on the Ganesh idol immersion procession route, depicting murder of Mughal warrior Afzal Khan by Shivaji as recorded in the Maratha history.

This led to a clash between two groups and violence that had repercussions in Sangli city also. (ANI)

Mumbai landslide kills 12

Mumbai, Sep 4 (ANI): Twelve people, including children, were killed and 13 others injured in a landslide in Mumbai on Friday morning.

According to police the incident took place in the suburban Andheri area due to the heavy rain and water logging in the lower areas.

Landslide hit the Lal Bahdur Shastri Nagar slum at Sakinaka early this morning, damaging over 20 houses, Additional Commissioner of Police Amitabh Gupta said.

Mumbai Police have deployed ten fire engines to clear the debris from the spot.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has announced a compensation of Rs one lakh to the family members of each of those killed in the landslide.

Chavan has also announced medical aid of Rs.25, 000 and 50,000 to each injured.

The state government has deputed, the Minister of State for Home, Naseem Khan to personally supervise rescue and relief operations. (ANI)

Bhajji fined for breaking Chandigarh traffic rules with his Hummer

Chandigarh, Sep. 1 (ANI): Driving his dream Hummer landed Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh in trouble on Tuesday, when he was fined by Chandigarh traffic police for using the vehicle without a valid number plate.

Singh had to pay a 3000-rupee fine for the offence, according to reports.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (traffic), H S Doon, told reporters that this episode would promote better traffic sense among the general public.

The off-spinner became the latest Indian cricketer to buy the American SUV after skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Harbhajan imported the car from England, which costs about 70 lakh rupees in India. After paying the duty, the cost of the vehicle has come to one crore rupees.

While Dhoni’s Hummer is silver in colour, Harbhajan has opted for a “Black Beauty”.

Harbhajan is also looking forward to shifting to a new home.

The house is under construction in the New Baradari area of the city. The plot was given by the state government for his outstanding performance in the 2001 home series against Australia.

However, he has no plans to sell off his ancestral home where he was brought up.

“It has memories of my late father Sardev Singh,” he said. (ANI)

Hooch claims two lives in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad, Aug 29 (ANI): Ahmedabad police recovered the bodies of two persons who died after allegedly consuming illicit liquor on Friday.

Three other persons are undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Relatives of victims accused the government of not taking steps to prevent the vending of illicit liquor.

“My father was complaining of a headache so I asked him to go to hospital but he didn’t want to go there then I said that take some tea. When we went for tea then we saw the dead body of a man who consumed liquor a day before, he died today after complaining of vomiting and stomach ache…there is no one to take care of poor, every one cares of rich people,” said Seema Ben, daughter of a victim.

However, police officials said that whether the victims had died after consuming illicit or poison could be ascertained only after reviewing post mortem reports.

“We can’t say that the victims consumed illicit liquor or not at this moment of time. However, doctors at the VS Hospital are said that the victims consumed some chemical but we would only say something on this only after reviewing post mortem reports,” said H. K. Mehta, additional commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad.

At least 132 people died of consuming illicit liquor in Ahmedabad in July.

Illicit liquor, also known as grog or hooch, is a flourishing beverage in India, particularly in states like Gujarat where prohibition is in force.

The illicit liquor is much cheaper as compared to the licensed drinks, which cannot be afforded by most of the people from the poorer sections of society. (ANI)