IMC-USA Weekly News Digest – November 2nd, 2009

by on November 1, 2009

IN THIS ISSUE

COMMUNAL HARMONY

NEWS HEADLINES

OPINIONS & EDITORIALS

BOOK REVIEW

COMMUNAL HARMONY

MASS MARRIAGE SPREADS MESSAGE OF COMMUNAL HARMONY (OCT 29, 2009, TIMES OF INDIA)

Thirty-eight Hindu and 11 Muslim couples tied the knot at a unique mass marriage held at Himmatnagar on Thursday. "We want to set an example that marriage functions of different religions can be held under one roof," said district governor of Lions Club Bhavesh Patel, who presided over the function. Several eminent people of the town attended the event.

Both the qazi and priest, who solemnized the nikaah and Hindu wedding ceremonies respectively, also administered an oath to the couples against female foeticide and urged them to plant at least two saplings. "Himmatnagar is an example we wish others to follow. This event is a rare case of communal harmony," said resident deputy collector Kishore Bachani of Sabarkantha.

Many people from both communities showered their blessings on the couples. They said the mass marriage would serve as an eye-opener to religious fanatics as well as those who resorted to female foeticide. "Besides necessary household items, we are also offering ornaments to each couple worth Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000," said Archana Soni, president of Lioness Club, Himmatnagar.

Shabnam Fakir, one of those who got married said this sort of help was a boon since most couples were from a poor background. "We would welcome a daughter as our first child," said Yogesh, 23, who married Kiran Goswami. However, Tejal, who has studied up to class X, and has married Ghanshyam Shrimali said she would prefer a son. However, she was quick to add that a girl child was the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and left the matter to divine grace.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5177779.cms

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NEWS HEADLINES

2002 RIOTS: CISF DEPLOYED TO PROTECT WITNESSES (OCT 29, 2009, INDIAN EXPRESS)

Two companies of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) have been deployed in the state for security of witnesses in the nine cases relating to the 2002 riots, including the Godhra train burning, being probed afresh by the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT). The move follows a Supreme Court direction last year that central forces should provide security to witnesses of the 2002 riots and also the train burning cases. "Now, when the trial has begun, two companies (around 220 men) of CISF have been deployed for protection of the witnesses of the nine cases being investigated by the SIT," SIT officials said on Tuesday.

A section of the CISF personnel has been deployed as pickets where the concentration of the witnesses is high like Naroda Patia, one of the worst-hit areas, they said. Others will be deputed to provide protection to witnesses when they go to the court for trial in places like Mehsana, Od, Anand and even in Ahmedabad, the officials said. Witnesses have time and again complained that they have been threatened by accused in the riot cases and those associated with them. SIT officials, however, said they have not come across any major complaint of threats to witnesses after the trial started. Earlier also, one platoon of the paramilitary security force had been deployed for protection of the witnesses, the officials said.

"Besides CISF and State Reserve Police Force, local police have also been roped in for protection of the witnesses of 2002 riot cases," the SIT officials said. The SIT has implemented a detailed witness protection scheme which involves the state as well as central forces. An officer of the rank of SP has been deputed as in-charge of witness protection and to coordinate with SIT members and its head R K Raghavan.

http://www.indianexpress.com/story-print/534112/

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COPS, HINDU GROUP NEXUS IN BLAST: LAW PANEL HEAD (OCT 26, 2009, IBN)

Goa’s Law Commission Chairman Ramakant Khalap has made a sensational claim, pointing to a nexus between the police, top bureaucrats and even some state MLAs with the Hindu right wing group Sanatan Sanstha – the organisation suspected to be behind the Goa blast. "Sanatan Sanstha has penetrated into the police department, legislature and even the judiciary. The race has begun to protect perpetrators," said Khalap.

It seems that the Law Commission Chairman is echoing what the Goa Home Minister Ravi Naik had earlier revealed. The Minister had said that the police are investigating the links of State Transport Minister Ramkrishna Dhavalikar’s wife with the controversial organisation. "The Minister’s wife is involved in the Saunstha," he said.

The blast in Margao on October 17 has brought to the fore the ugly face of terrorism in Goa. Fortunately, the bomb exploded before it could be planted, killing the two who allegedly planned to massacre innocent people. This dastardly terrorist attack was reportedly intended to target the Diwali Narkasur festival, which the Hindu outfit Sanatan Sanstha denounces as a glorification of evil.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/cops-hindu-group-nexus-in-blast-law-panel-head/103937-3.html

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BATLA ENCOUNTER: SC DISMISSES PLEA FOR PROBE (OCT 31, 2009, THE TRIBUNE)

The Supreme Court today deplored the tendency to introduce a communal angle to police action against criminals. "Criminals are criminals. This is the problem. Why should you identify them with any community," a Bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan asked an NGO which sought an independent inquiry into the Batla House encounter here last year. The Bench made the observation after counsel Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioner, said the incident had shaken the confidence of a large section of a community in the country.

Rejecting the demand, the Bench, which included Justice P Sathasivam and BS Chauhan, said ordering an inquiry would affect the morale of police officials. "Thousands of police officers have been killed. Inquiry will affect the morale of the police force," the Bench ruled, pointing out that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had already given a clean chit to the police involved in the encounter. Two suspected terrorists and a police officer had been killed in the encounter.

Dismissing the petition of "Act Now For Harmony and Democracy," the Bench also said the NGO had come to the court one year after the incident. Ordering an inquiry at this stage would only cause harassment to the police. Prashant said the victims were in their teens, one of whom had sustained bullet shots on top of his head and another had injury marks on his back. All this raised suspicion. However, the Bench felt that the boy was perhaps shot while trying to escape through a window and in that case such injuries were possible. The court also felt the fact that one senior police officer had lost his life in the encounter lent credence to the incident.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091031/nation.htm#10

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MANY OF THE 1984 ACCUSED YET TO BE CHARGESHEETED (NOV 1, 2009, THE HINDU)

Notwithstanding the fact that two Commissions of Inquiry and eight government-appointed committees have till date been constituted into the 1984 riots, many of the prime accused were either not charge-sheeted or were acquitted. Starting from the Marwah Commissionappointed in November 1984, when Ved Marwah, Additional Commissioner of Police, was assigned the job of inquiring into the role of the police during the carnage, to the Nanavati Commission that was appointed by a unanimous resolution passed in the Rajya Sabha, these panels looked into various aspects of the violence. But, according to the victims, little relief came by way of these panels. Incidentally, while the records of the Marwah Commission were taken over by the government and later transferred to the Misra Commission, the handwritten notes of Mr. Marwah, which contained important information, were not transferred.

Over the years, such episodes continued to eat into the confidence of the victims in the justice delivery system. Some relief was, however, provided by the Nanavati Commission that was headed by the retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India Justice G.T. Nanavati. It submitted its report in February 2004. It claimed that that there was evidence of Congressmen Jagdish Tytler, Sajjan Kumar and H.K.L. Bhagat of instigating the mobs to violence. The Commission also held the then Delhi Police Commissioner S.C. Tandon directly responsible for the riots. Following this report, Jagdish Tytler resigned from the Union Cabinet and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh apologised to the Sikhs for the riots.

Phoolka, who was the lawyer in charge before the Mishra Commission and who also appeared before the Nanavati Commission before which over 10,000 affidavits were filed, believes that there is still a lot that needs to be done. "It is my duty to pursue the cases and take them to the logical end. We should keep fighting irrespective of results. These people are very powerful, we also have to gather our strength to fight them." Though a constitutional and property lawyer, Mr. Phoolka has been fighting all the cases related to the 1984 carnage as a mission. "In all," he said, "about 200 cases were registered in the beginning including a single case in Trilokpuri for 292 killings in separate areas there. Most of these cases were closed in the initial stages but many were reopened on the recommendation of the Jain-Agarwal Committee. Then in 1993, 400 cases were registered, including those that were reopened.

While a majority of these were closed by police for lack of evidence about 200 went to trial. Of them, only about half a dozen are pending now. "In the murder cases, there was conviction in only nine and a total of 20 accused were convicted. These cases were then approved by the High Court. For injuries and rioting, about 200 people were convicted in 10 different cases. This, when nearly 4,000 people were killed (2,733 as per official records). "All along, the investigation was very defective – it is better in cycle theft cases – and attempts were made to shield individuals," he says.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/11/01/stories/2009110161171100.htm

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KARNATAKA BJP CRISIS DEFIES SOLUTION, IN-FIGHTING CONTINUES (OCT 29, 2009, DECCAN HERALD)

The crisis in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s first-ever government in Karnataka deepened Thursday with Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa demanding action against rebellious ministers while senior party leader Arun Jaitley struggled for a compromise between the warring factions. Yeddyurappa seemed to have lost hopes of a compromise in the wake of no-holds barred attack against him by Tourism Minister G. Janaradhana Reddy, Revenue Minister G. Karunakara Reddy, and their loyalist Health Minister B. Sriramulu. The Reddys are brothers and also rich mine owners. After another round of meeting with Jaitley, who rushed here Wednesday for patch-up bid, Yeddyurappa Thursday said he had asked the central leadership to take "stern action" against the Reddy brothers and Sriramulu. "I will not be cowed down by them," the chief minister, who continued to shunt out officials said to be close to the three ministers, told reporters.

Yeddyurappa’s move to go public with his demand came amid reports that Janardhana Reddy has taken a group of supporting legislators to Hyderabad and was planning to take another group to Goa to "protect" them from being won over by the chief minister’s camp. Of the 117 BJP legislators, around 30 are said to be supporting the Reddy brothers, of whom Janardhana is the elder. Continuing their defiance of the chief minister, the Reddy brothers also organised ‘bhumi puja’ (ground breaking ceremony) to build houses for the flood victims in north Karnataka. On Wednesday they launched the programme in Bellary to build 50,000 houses from the money they and other mine owners have raised. They have rejected pleas of Yeddyurappa to make the programme a collective government effort and not their own. At Wednesday’s function, Janardhana Reddy ridiculed Yeddyurappa’s claim to have raised Rs.1,000 crore through his ‘padayatra’ (walk) in Bangalore for relief and rehabilitation of people affected by floods that devastated vast areas in north Karnataka between Sep 30 and Oct 2. Reacting to the strong attack on him Wednesday by Janardhana Reddy and his supporters, Yeddyurappa said, "They have criticised me at a function held in Siruguppa taluk (Bellary district) where they launched their own housing programme for flood-affected victims. I am not scared of these things."

Jaitley’s efforts Wednesday to persuade the Reddy brothers to sort out their differences with Yeddyurappa did not yield positive results. He met Karunakara Reddy and Sriramulu while Janardhana Reddy stayed back in their iron ore-rich home district of Bellary, about 400 km from here. "I will let you know our decision on Nov 2," Karunakara Reddy said. The Reddy brothers have rebelled against Yeddyurappa accusing him of dictatorial functioning, not giving them a free hand to run their ministries, not consulting them on party affairs and denying a final say in posting of officials in their ministries and in areas where they wield influence. They are also said to be upset that Yeddyurappa was giving prominence to his favourite ministers, particularly the lone woman minister Shobha Karandlaje, who holds panchayati raj portfolio. The Reddy brothers are cut up at lack of decisive role in the administration and party matters as they are believed to have funded the operation to secure majority for the BJP after the May 2008 assembly polls and make Yeddyurappa the first BJP chief minister in Karnataka and south India. The BJP won 110 of the 224 elected seats in the 225-member assembly but managed to form the government with the help of six Independents. The Reddy brothers claim they won over the Independents, five of whom were made ministers.

Later, to reduce the dependence on the Independents, the party launched "Operation Lotus" (Lotus is BJP’s election symbol) to woo legislators from the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular. More than half a dozen legislators from these parties switched loyalties and won as BJP contestants in by-polls, giving the party the majority on its own with 117 members. This is the second time that differences between the Reddy brothers and Yeddyurappa have come into the open since he formed the government 17 months back. Early this year too, Jaitley had rush to Bangalore to calm down the Reddy brothers and a few other ministers upset with Yeddyurappa’s functioning. This time both camps appear to be in no mood for compromise. Jaitley’s task has become complicated as those opposed to Yeddyurappa are propping assembly speaker and prominent party personality Jagadish Shettar as an alternative leader. Shettar has been unhappy with Yeddyurappa as he was denied a cabinet berth and made a speaker. Shettar believes that Yeddyurappa wanted to cut him politically by depriving him a political post. Like Yeddyurappa, Shettar belongs to the politically influential Lingayat community, in which the BJP has large support base. Shettar is also from north Karnataka, again an area where the BJP enjoys strong support.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/33110/karnataka-bjp-crisis-defies-solution.html

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IT AUTHORITIES RAID MADHU KODAS RESIDENCES (OCT 31, 2009, DECCAN HERALD)

Income Tax sleuths on Saturday raided the residences of former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda after the Enforcement Directorate registered a case against him and his three former ministerial colleagues for alleged money laundering and diversion of state funds. According to a senior IT official, separate teams conducted raids at Koda’s residences in Ranchi and Chaibasa. "We can only tell later," he said when asked about the number of places being raided. The Enforcement Directorate had registered the case on October 9 against them also on charges of making huge illegal investments abroad including purchase of mines as far as in Liberia. Koda was chief minister between February 2006 and August 2008.

38-year-old Koda, who may also face arrest, is the first former chief minister and high-profile politician to have been booked under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The ED had filed an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), which is equivalent to an FIR, before the Prevention of Money Laundering Act court in Ranchi against Koda and three of his cabinet colleagues – Kamlesh Singh, Bhanu Pratap Shahi and Bhandu Tirkey – besides five other persons. According to the ECIR, Koda is alleged to have purchased mines in Liberia worth USD 17 lakh (Rs 8.5 crore) besides making other ‘benami’ purchases in the name of his close confidant Binod Sinha, once a tractor mechanic.

As per the ECIR, the property in the name of Sinha runs into several hundred crores of rupees. One time close associate of RSS, Koda shot into fame after he clinched a political coup with Congress support by becoming chief minister of the mineral rich state in 2006 as an independent MLA, the third politician in the country to achieve this feat. Koda and eight others have been accused of amassing property worth hundreds of crores of rupees including those in places like UAE, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Liberia. As per the declaration given by the three ministers individually, nobody had bank deposits more than Rs 1.9 lakh or immovable property worth over Rs 1.15 lakh.

The ED was looking into details of real wealth of the accused persons. Two other cabinet colleagues of Koda have already been booked by the ED for alleged money laundering, foreign exchange violations and forgery. The ED swung into action after Jharkhand vigilance department lodged a complaint and searched the homes of Koda, and Hari Narayan Rai and Enos Ekka, both former ministers. ED officials claimed they had come across documents suggesting that the former ministers had amassed huge wealth including mines, real estate firms and property also in Hong Kong.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/33414/it-authorities-raid-madhu-kodas.html

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PANEL SUMMONS DEFENCE OFFICIALS OVER MOSQUE (OCT 25, 2009, CENTRAL CHRONICLE)

The Minority Commission of Uttar Pradesh has summoned defence authorities of Kanpur on November 13 here in connection with restricting namaz at Bhajjapurwa Mosque. Commission’s chairman S M A Kazmi in his directive yesterday has also asked the Defence Secretary at the Centre to enquire into the matter and send some responsible defence officer on November 13.

In his letter to the Defence Secretary, Mr Kazmi said according to facts the Bhajjapurwa Mosque at Kanpur is registered with the Wakf Board and was built by ancestors of late Mohammad Ayyub, ex-soldier of 13th Battalion before the Independence. He also said,"the truth may be certified immediately and it would be appropriate to restore the mosque vicinity and allow the Muslims of the area to offer Namaz there."

Qazi-e-Shaher Kanpur Mohammad Alam Raza Khan, moved a complaint before the Minority Commission that Military authorities of Kanpur Cantonment had stopped the entry of Muslims in the Mosque for offering Namaz and also Fateha on the Mazar of Hazrat peer Mohammad Sahab alias Ghazi Khalifa, situated adjacent to the mosque. The complainant also alleged that some new constructions were also raised by the Military authorities to de-shape the mosque and mazar.

http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=17652

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6 COPS SURRENDER IN FAKE ENCOUNTER CASE (OCT 28, 2009, THE TRIBUNE)

Six policemen, accused in a fake encounter case of 1999, today surrendered before a local court in Bhadohi district and were remanded in 14-day judicial custody.Still 15 of the 32 accused policemen are still on the run for killing four persons on October 17, 1999, on the Mirzapur-Bhadohi road. At that time the police had claimed that one of the four killed was the notorious history sheeter and criminal Dhananjay Singh, who then carried a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head. Today Singh is a BSP MP from Jaunpur. The three others killed in the encounter were said to be members of his gang. The case had come to light after Singh had turned up four months after the so-called "encounter".

After public outrage, the then government handed over the matter to the CB-CID. The agency found that the encounter was completely fake as none of the killed youth had any criminal record of any kind. The CB-CID had held 32 policemen guilty, included the then CO Akhilanand Mishra, and a charge sheet was filed against them in 2007. Immediately Mishra and his three subordinates had succeeded in getting anticipatory bail from the High Court. One of the accused has since died.

After filing of the charge sheet in the case on May 1, 2007, the court had issued summons to all the 32 accused policemen but they failed to appear before it. While the policemen did not respond, those assigned the duty to arrest them avoided the task. Finally, the court issued non-bailable warrant and ordered to initiate action under Section 82 of the CrPC. To execute this order, notices were forwarded to the principal secretary, home, to ensure their execution.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091028/nation.htm#3

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CENTRE RAP FOR MAOIST SUPPORTERS (OCT 27, 2009, THE TRIBUNE)

The Centre today slammed those supporting the Maoists, a day after fresh Naxal violence killed four CISF jawans in Chhattisgarh and condemned the landmine attack as wanton, mindless and pre-meditated. It also assured the West Bengal government that it will not withdraw the 1,700 personnel of Central security forces from the three Maoist-hit districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia. In a statement, the Union Home Ministry suggested that pro-Maoist sympathisers must think over the violence unleashed by Naxals. It questioned not only the CPI (Maoist) but also those who speak on their behalf as to what was the motive behind the attack and what is the message the banned outfit intends to convey.

"What is the motive behind the attack on a police force that provides security to National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC)? What is the message that the CPI (Maoist) intends to convey? These are questions that the government would like to put not only to the CPI (Maoist) but also to those who speak on their behalf and chastise the government," the statement said. The statement said the government strongly condemned the unprovoked and heinous attack by the Naxals on a public sector security force that was on a routine patrol in an area falling under the jurisdiction of a public sector corporation.

Four CISF personnel – a sub-inspector, a head constable and two constables – were killed and two others were critically injured in a landmine blast in Bacheli in Dantewada yesterday. Over 50 Naxals triggered a blast to blow up a jeep carrying six CISF jawans, who were on a regular patrol near Rajabangla village in the district, RK Vij, Inspector General of Police told PTI. The CISF jawans were deployed at the National Mining Development Corporation in the area, he said. The armed Naxalites also opened fired on the vehicle which was promptly retaliated by other CISF men who were patrolling and reached the spot soon after the attack, Vij said, adding the rebels fled immediately.

The deceased have been identified as SK Samal, Satpal Singh, Virendra Dhruv and Rahul Gopal. The injured have been identified as SK Sharma and Jugal Kishore. The MHA statement noted that NMDC is engaged in development of minerals, gives employment, promotes economic activity, and undertakes many welfare activities in the area as part of its corporate social responsibility. The assurance to retain security forces to combat Maoists was given to West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram when the two met in Delhi recently. A CPI state leader, who preferred anonymity, said the CM gave a briefing of his discussion with Chidambaram at a Left Front meeting here today.

The CM reportedly expressed his government’s firm determination to take on the Maoist challenge. He was also keen to find out the whereabouts of the two policemen missing since July 30. He said Buddhadeb dwelt at length on steps to fortify all 20 police stations in West Midnapore district, alert security forces and agencies about an impending Maoist attacks and augmenting police force and check-posts in the vulnerable areas. "Efforts will be made to face the Maoists through encounters," he is said to have told the meeting. Bhattacharjee said it was evident from Chidambaram’s assertion that the Centre would like to combat the Maoists effectively, the CPI leader said.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091027/main1.htm

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DALITS ENTER TN TEMPLE FIRST TIME IN 100 YRS (OCT 28, 2009, TIMES OF INDIA)

For the first time in a hundred years, dalits of Chettipulam village stepped inside the local Shiva temple on Tuesday, in a historic moment brought about by government and political intervention. Escorted by revenue and police officers, nearly 70 dalits of the village situated near Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam district entered the century-old Kamatchi Amman Sametha Ekambareswarar Temple at around 11 am and offered prayers for 25 minutes. Dressed in their best, women had brought flowers and other offerings. A group of non-dalits, including panchayat president V Manimaran, also accompanied the dalits. District collector C Munianathan himself distributed prasadam’ to the dalits after the prayers.

"It is a historic day for us. For decades, we were barred from entering the temple. All we could do for generations was to stand 10 feet away from the temple entrance and offer prayers," said Nandan alias N Natarajan, a dalit labourer. He and other dalits were greeted by non-dalits inside the temple. The dalits here had earlier made three attempts to enter the temple. On September 30, they found it locked. The next day they were arrested when they tried to break the lock. On October 14, when Nagapattinam revenue divisional officer Rajendran led the dalits towards the temple, violence broke out as non-dalits started pelting stones. Police fired warning shots in the air and resorted to a lathicharge. The CPI(M), spearheading the agitation, had warned of another attempt on November 2 if the government failed to ensure entry of the dalits into the temple by October 30.

A tripartite meeting involving non-dalits, dalits and government officials was held on Monday. It was decided there that the dalits would be taken into the temple on Tuesday. A large of posse of police personnel was deployed in the village. On Tuesday morning, a police vehicle picked up dalits from their doorsteps and took them to the temple. Once everybody gathered in front of the temple, the collector ushered them in. Thanjavur range DIG Abhay Kumar Singh and SPs of Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur were also present.

"The dalits need not worry about their safety in the village. They can enter the temple and offer prayers without fear. The district administration will ensure that they are not stopped from entering the temple," said Munianathan. Police would be stationed in the village for a few more days, he said. Meanwhile in Chennai, the CPI(M) took out a rally to highlight the rights of dalits and tribals. Later, they met chief minister M Karunanidhi and handed over a 14-point charter of demands pertaining to the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Tribes.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5170727.cms

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OPINIONS AND EDITORIALS

TERRORISM IN GOA: THE PLOT THICKENS – BY MUSTAFA KHAN (OCT 26, 2009, COUNTERCURRENTS)

Malgonda Patil who died in the Margao explosion was from the Sangli unit of the Sanatan Saunsthan. Sangli and Miraj had recently been scenes of communal riots over the controversy of the gory depiction of Shivaji killing Afzal Khan. The purpose of the display was obvious: provoking people on a sensitive historical divisive event and sowing seeds of hatred. In Miraj the SS had distributed literature that was starkly communal. During the riots Patil had been traveling between the headquarters of SS at Ramnathi and Miraj. By carrying out bomb attack on the eve of Diwali the calculated aim was creating communal disharmony, suspicion and hatred. The target was an age old local tradition of competition of effigies, Narakasura, which is not a canonized tradition of Hinduism. Hindutva ideology is urbanized middle class drawing room creation of a monolithic Hindu society. Patil was in touch with one of the accused in Mahrashtra bombings of last year. Vikram Vinay Bhave. The scooter was traced to the wife of a Goa, minister. Jyotil Dhavalikar was known as a sympathizer of SS and yet the police did not do much. It could also be weak motivation, or bias.

The bomb blast in Margao and the other at Sancoale surely indicate how organized the Hindu right terrorists are. They also enjoy patronage within the governmental set up and the police and even the investigating agencies. A full year after the exposure of the Sanatan Sanstha’s involvement in Thane and Vashi, Mumbai, and Panvel bomb attacks the governments and the police not only did not take any action like banning the organization but let it and other such organizations of the Hindu right flourish. This is in sharp contrast with swift ban of SIMI and branding by the Maharashtra government of the whole Ahlehadesh section of Muslims as extremist involved in terrorism. The central government followed suit.

There is too much of self justification on the part of the office bearers of the SS and it surely smacks of the self justification of Himani Savarker of the notoriety of bomb for bomb strategy. Could this too much self assurance be the product of the general support they enjoy among the power that be? The other disturbing factor is how the explosives reached there. It is plausible that the arms haul of October 10, 2009 at Bhatkal found its way to Margao through sea route. Nagaraj Somaya Devadiga, Jattayya Devadiga and Anand Manjunath Devadiga were arrested. Although 1200 kg of ammonium nitrate, 3000 electric and 500 non electric detonators recovered from them, this loose end was not tied to the subsequent blasts in Goa. Even so coastal security police officer LH Nandesh does say that the ammunition was brought by the sea. There is also misgiving that the coastal security police have accepted bribe to suppress the matter. People in Bhatkal fear that this is repeat performance of Hubli court blast where Hindu right terrorists were involved and yet the Muslim youths picked up by police are still languishing in prison.

http://www.countercurrents.org/khan261009.htm

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TERRORISM AND THE NEW LINE OF INVESTIGATION – BY MUSTAFA KHAN (OCT 27, 2009, COUNTERCURRENTS)

The investigating agencies are notorious for changing horses in the mid stream while probing terror incidents in the country. Somewhere someone in the hierarchical structure does not feel comfortable if the line of investigation is in the right direction. For example, RDX found in Samjhauta express attack could have come only from military stock. This makes sense when Lt Col Prasad Purohit admitted that he had pilfered 60 kg of RDX from Jammu and Kashmir army godown. A part of it he had given to one Bhagwan for use in Samjhauta incident.

This disclosure so much shocked the national security advisor MK Narayanan that he warned the government of the consequences of this on the bilateral relationship between India and Pakistan and the much vaunted weltanschauung that India was victim of terrorism from across the borders. That of course derailed the investigation. Muslim youths who had nothing to do with the attack were arrested from Rajasthan and other places and are still languishing in prison. The suit cases, bottles and batteries were of course bought in Indore. Then happened Malegaon, thanks to Hemant Karkare.

Karkare admitted on August 18, 2008 that he had found no trace of SIMI in the bomb attack on September 8, 2006. Next month Malegaon suffered another attack on September 29 2008. He caught the real culprits and then someone again stymied. ATS found the mobile phone number of Dr Bipin Parekh with sadhvi Pragyasingh and Ramchandra Kalsangra. The line of investigation did not go any further. But the approver Abrar Ahmed mentioned in his April 2009 affidavit that Parekh along with Dr Rajender Amin and others had caused the blast in 2006.

However, strangely the phone records of Malegaon accused Ramchandra Kalsangra lifted veil from the secrecy of those who had actually bought suitcases, bottles and batteries from Indore that were in fact used on Samjhhauta express on February 18 2007. Pranav Mandal not only had close association with Kalsangra alias Ramji of sadhvi Pragyasingh but was a member of another of the uncountable and ever expanding Hindu right outfits, Shivaji vikas mandal. Indeed so many of these are there that a thesaurus of terror would be half filled with them. Accidental bomb explosions in Goa, Kanpur, Nanded (twice) have played havoc with the numbers. Thus the new line of investigation by the CBI is pertinent but we have to wait and see if it is also persistent.

Goa blast was also accidental. However, what were more persistent and pertinent were the ominous repots over the years how Goa was used to train the terrorists of the Hindu right. No significant action was taken in this regard. Could all this add up to what SM Mushrif argues in his book "Who Killed Karkare: the real face of terrorism in India", that the driving force of Hindu right terrorism is to put innocent Muslims in the dock and bring a bad name to Muslims of the country.

http://www.countercurrents.org/khan271009.htm

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OPERATION BLIND HUNT – BY TUSHA MITTAL (NOV 7, 2009, TEHELKA)

On the morning of October 23, 14 adivasi women walked out of West Bengal’s Midnapore jail in crumpled saris. Frail and bewildered, they wondered how they would travel 100 km back to their villages in Lalgarh. The women did not know why they had been arrested, or why they were being released. The previous night, these women had been the cause of shrill debate across television studios – their release was equated with the famous Kandahar terrorist swap. Maoists had attacked the Sankrail Police Station in West Bengal, killed two officers and kidnapped the officer in charge (OC). These women – "the Naxal prisoners," India’s own Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists – were being swapped for OC Atindranath Dutta. A lower court had rejected their bail plea; now a sessions judge in Midnapore had conveniently granted bail.

Related posts:

  1. IMC-USA Weekly News Digest – November 30th, 2009
  2. IMC-USA Weekly News Digest – November 9th, 2009
  3. IMC-USA Weekly News Digest – November 23rd, 2009
  4. IMC-USA Weekly News Digest – November 16th, 2009
  5. IMC-USA Weekly News Digest – November 1st, 2010

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