PTI, New Delhi, 14 July : In a fresh strategy to combat the Maoist menace, the government today asked Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal to create a unified command for anti-Maoist operations and to appoint a retired Major General of the Army as its member.
The Centre will "request the state governments of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal to create a unified command for anti-Maoist operations and to appoint a retired Major General of the Army as a member of the command," Home Minister P Chidambaram said addressing leaders of seven Maoist-affected states here.The meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is being attended by chief ministers of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. While Jharkhand is being represented by its governor, West Bengal has sent a senior minister for the meet. န Photos : PTI
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maoist posters demand judicial inquiry into Azad's killing
Midnapore, 14 July : Maoists have circulated posters in West Midnapore district demanding a judicial inquiry into the killing of its top leader Azad. The posters which appeared in the Jhargram sub-divisional town today alleged that Azad alias Cherukuri Raj Kumar was shot dead by security forces at Adilabad district in Andhra Pradesh on July ne and demanded a judicial inquiry.
The posters warned of stern steps if no action was taken on the demand.
Midnapore, 14 July : Maoists have circulated posters in West Midnapore district demanding a judicial inquiry into the killing of its top leader Azad. The posters which appeared in the Jhargram sub-divisional town today alleged that Azad alias Cherukuri Raj Kumar was shot dead by security forces at Adilabad district in Andhra Pradesh on July ne and demanded a judicial inquiry.
The posters warned of stern steps if no action was taken on the demand.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Jamaat leaders Quader Molla, Kamaruzzaman remanded
Dhaka, 14 July : A Dhaka court has remanded Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretaries-general Mohammad Kamaruzzaman and Abdul Quader Molla in police custody for five days each in a 1971 genocide case.
The police have appealed to remand for 10 days in the case relating to alleged crimes committed during the 1971 War of Independence. Quader Molla and Mohammad Kamaruzzaman were produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's court at around 3:45pm(BDST) amid tight security.
Dhaka, 14 July : A Dhaka court has remanded Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretaries-general Mohammad Kamaruzzaman and Abdul Quader Molla in police custody for five days each in a 1971 genocide case.
The police have appealed to remand for 10 days in the case relating to alleged crimes committed during the 1971 War of Independence. Quader Molla and Mohammad Kamaruzzaman were produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's court at around 3:45pm(BDST) amid tight security.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
34 Burmese rebels to walk free after 12 years in Indian jail
Subir Bhaumik, BBC News, Kolkata, 14 July : A group of 34 Burmese rebels held in an Indian jail for 12 years have entered a plea bargain in a Kolkata court to pave the way for their release.They admitted immigration offences after prosecutors dropped more serious gun-running charges. They claim they were lured in February 1998 to India's Andaman islands by an Indian military intelligence officer who offered them sanctuary. But on arrival, six of their leaders were shot and the rest detained. The officer left the Indian army immediately after the incident and is said to have settled down in Burma, giving rise to suspicions he may have been a double agent for Burmese intelligence.
Accepting the plea bargain on Tuesday, a judge sentenced the rebels to three-and-a-half years in jail and imposed a $128 (£84) fine. The rebels, from Burma's Arakan area, have served their sentence and can be freed once they pay the fine. READ FULL STORY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pakistan ISI activity in northeast India states under scanner
Agartala, 14 July : Acting on tip-off from a central intelligence agency, police in Assam and Tripura are probing the activities of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the northeast, officials said here Wednesday.
According to officials, a team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) would arrive in Agartala soon to interrogate suspected ISI agent Manir Khan alias Omar Ashraf, 30, and his Indian associates. Manir and six of his associates were arrested here 3 July. Meanwhile, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar told reporters here Wednesday: ‘To check infiltration from across the border, trans-border movement of militants, anti-India elements, the state government has been asking the centre to strengthen the vigil along the India-Bangladesh border.’
Agartala, 14 July : Acting on tip-off from a central intelligence agency, police in Assam and Tripura are probing the activities of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the northeast, officials said here Wednesday.
According to officials, a team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) would arrive in Agartala soon to interrogate suspected ISI agent Manir Khan alias Omar Ashraf, 30, and his Indian associates. Manir and six of his associates were arrested here 3 July. Meanwhile, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar told reporters here Wednesday: ‘To check infiltration from across the border, trans-border movement of militants, anti-India elements, the state government has been asking the centre to strengthen the vigil along the India-Bangladesh border.’
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WB will complete land allotment to 3 steel plants by Sept
Kolkata, 14 July : The West Bengal government plans to complete the land allotment process to 3 mega steel projects in the state by September.
The West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) on Tuesday made a firm commitment to Jai Balaji Industries, Adhunik Group and Shyam Steel to complete the process by the stipulated time.
All the projects are coming up in the backward area of Raghunathpur in the Bankura district and require a total of 7,400 acres. The projects entail a total investment of Rs 24,000 crore. WBIDC officials had a meeting with the Bankura district officials on Monday evening, where the deadline for land allotment was fixed. The local CPI (M) Lok Sabha member, Basudev Acharya, who was also present at the meeting, emphasised on time-bound completion of land allotment.
Kolkata, 14 July : The West Bengal government plans to complete the land allotment process to 3 mega steel projects in the state by September.The West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) on Tuesday made a firm commitment to Jai Balaji Industries, Adhunik Group and Shyam Steel to complete the process by the stipulated time.
All the projects are coming up in the backward area of Raghunathpur in the Bankura district and require a total of 7,400 acres. The projects entail a total investment of Rs 24,000 crore. WBIDC officials had a meeting with the Bankura district officials on Monday evening, where the deadline for land allotment was fixed. The local CPI (M) Lok Sabha member, Basudev Acharya, who was also present at the meeting, emphasised on time-bound completion of land allotment.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRTLF announced Chittagong transport strike to free office
Chittagong, 14 July : Bangladesh Road Transport Labour Federation (BRTLF) announced on Wednesday a two day transport strike next week in Chittagong in support of a charter of demands including the "freeing" of one of their upazila offices.
Mrinal Chowdhury, the federation's Chittagong region president, declared the strike programme in a press conference at the Chittagong press club. The strike would be observed on 36 routes in northern Chittagong from 6 am on 18 July till 6 pm on 19 July. On 19 July, the strike would be a dawn to dusk one in the greater Chittagong.
Mrinal Chowdhury, the federation's Chittagong region president, declared the strike programme in a press conference at the Chittagong press club. The strike would be observed on 36 routes in northern Chittagong from 6 am on 18 July till 6 pm on 19 July. On 19 July, the strike would be a dawn to dusk one in the greater Chittagong.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inflation will come down to 5-6% by 2010 year-end: Pranab
PTI, New Delhi, 14 July : Attributing the double-digit inflation to the petro hike, Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said that prices would moderate by the end of the kharif season, and inflation would come down to 5-6% by the year-end."I do feel that the annual rate of inflation will be 5-6% (by 2010-end)," Mukherjee told reporters on the sidelines of a function relating to the setting up of an investment fund between India and Oman. Wholesale price-based inflation inched higher to 10.55% in June, owing to the pass-through effect of the hike in prices of petroleum products announced on 25 June.
"It is 10.55%. It is hovering around double digits. After the kharif season is over, there will be a moderating impact which is already being felt," he said. န Photo : PTI
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Suspected Maoists again kill one in West Midnapore dist
Jhargram, 14 July : Suspected Maoists shot dead a middle-aged man in West Midnapore district, police said Wednesday.
Locals noticed the bullet-ridden body of the victim near Khas jungle in Sankrial, and informed the police. “The victim was killed by suspected Maoists. The body has been recovered, but it is yet to be identified,” said Jhargram superintendent of police Praveen Tripathi. Locals identified the deceased as Chuni Moni Mahato, a CPI(M) supporter, of Beliabera village near Jhargram.
Jhargram, 14 July : Suspected Maoists shot dead a middle-aged man in West Midnapore district, police said Wednesday.
Locals noticed the bullet-ridden body of the victim near Khas jungle in Sankrial, and informed the police. “The victim was killed by suspected Maoists. The body has been recovered, but it is yet to be identified,” said Jhargram superintendent of police Praveen Tripathi. Locals identified the deceased as Chuni Moni Mahato, a CPI(M) supporter, of Beliabera village near Jhargram.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Norway support strengthens disaster management in BD
Dhaka, 14 July : To further the reach of community-level disaster risk reduction and adaptation to climate change, the Government of Norway has committed 100 million Norwegian Kroner (USD 16 million) towards the Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme for 2010-2014.
The Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme - a joint initiative of the Government of Bangladesh and UNDP supported by the UK Department for International Development, the European Union, the Government of Sweden, the Government of Australia and now the Government of Norway represents a harmonized approach to supporting the Government of Bangladesh in strengthening the disaster management system to reduce unacceptable risks and improve response and recovery activities by adopting a comprehensive risk management culture.
Dhaka, 14 July : To further the reach of community-level disaster risk reduction and adaptation to climate change, the Government of Norway has committed 100 million Norwegian Kroner (USD 16 million) towards the Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme for 2010-2014.
The Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme - a joint initiative of the Government of Bangladesh and UNDP supported by the UK Department for International Development, the European Union, the Government of Sweden, the Government of Australia and now the Government of Norway represents a harmonized approach to supporting the Government of Bangladesh in strengthening the disaster management system to reduce unacceptable risks and improve response and recovery activities by adopting a comprehensive risk management culture.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3arrested in fake local certificate case from South Andaman
Port Blair, 14 July : Altogether three people from South region of Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been arrested in fake local certificate case.
Superintendent of Police V Renganathan here yesterday said, ''During a recent Army Recruitment Rally held at Port Blair, the Revenue Officials had detected fake local certificates and on the basis of the report of the Tehsildar, Port Blair, a criminal case was registered against it.'' During the course of investigation one Sandeep Kumar Singh was arrested on 5 July. During interrogation, he revealed the name of one Arokiya Das who supplied him local certificate at the rate of Rs 2000.
Port Blair, 14 July : Altogether three people from South region of Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been arrested in fake local certificate case.
Superintendent of Police V Renganathan here yesterday said, ''During a recent Army Recruitment Rally held at Port Blair, the Revenue Officials had detected fake local certificates and on the basis of the report of the Tehsildar, Port Blair, a criminal case was registered against it.'' During the course of investigation one Sandeep Kumar Singh was arrested on 5 July. During interrogation, he revealed the name of one Arokiya Das who supplied him local certificate at the rate of Rs 2000.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15% of Sunderban delta will be submerged : UNDP report
"Neglecting the Sunderbans can have global implications"
Khulna, 14 July : An estimated 15 per cent of the Sunderbans delta will go under the sea by 2020, the UN Development Programme has warned. A UNDP report while describing the Sunderbans delta, which has the world’s largest mangrove forest, as highly vulnerable to climate change, said, ‘Neglecting the Sunderbans can have global implications.’The report of a district-wise human development survey was released by the UNDP’s chief of South and West Asia division and Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, Fadzai Gwaradzimba, here Monday. It says 54 of the 102 islands are inhabited and characterised by poor infrastructure which leaves the local poor with few alternative livelihood options.
‘Over-reliance on natural resources by the delta’s inhabitants can harm an already fragile eco system that is critical to maintaining the region’s biological balance,’ the report said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------www.bengalnewz.com-----
