Archives for September 2017

New Delhi: The CBI has summoned former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and his son Tejashwi for questioning in connection with alleged corruption in awarding the maintenance contract for two IRCTC hotels to a private firm, agency officials said.

The RJD leader has been asked to appear for questioning at the agency headquarter on September 11 and Tejashwi the next day, they said.

It is alleged that Yadav as railway minister had handed over the maintenance of two Railways hotels– BNR Ranchi and BNR Puri– to Sujata Hotel, a company owned by Vinay and Vijay Kochhar, after receiving a bribe in the form of three acres of prime plot of land through a benami company.

The FIR alleged that Yadav, as a railway minister, abused his official position for extending undue favours to Kochhars and acquired the “high-value premium land” through a benami company Delight.

It alleged that Yadav, “dishonestly and fraudulently”, managed the award of leasing out BNRs at Ranchi and Puri to the company of Kochhars in quid pro quo transactions.

The CBI has registered the case against Lalu Yadav, wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi, and Sarla Gupta, the wife of former union minister Prem Chand Gupta.

Others named as accused in the FIR include Vijay Kochhar, Vinay Kochhar, both directors of Sujata Hotels and owner of Chanakya Hotel; Delight marketing company, now known as Lara Projects and the then Managing Director P K Goel.

(PTI)

Mumbai: A Special TADA Court on Thursday awarded the death penalty to two convicts, life sentences to two others, including gangster Abu Salem, while giving 10 years jail to one accused in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.

Special Judge G.A. Sanap pronounced the death verdicts on convicts Mohammed Taher Merchant and Feroze Khan for their role in the blasts, said Special Public Prosecutor Deepak Salve.

Besides Salem, the Special Court awarded life sentence to Karimullah Khan and 10 years rigorous imprisonment to the fifth convict, Riyaz Siddiqui.

The Special Judge also slapped varying amounts of fines on the convicts after finding them guilty on various charges, including murder, conspiracy to hatch the blasts, supplying arms and ammunition, and other serious offenses, Salve told media persons after the ruling.

All the six accused were earlier pronounced “guilty” by the Special Court on June 16, including Mustafa Dossa, who died on June 28.

The much-awaited verdict on the quantum of sentencing came 24 years after the March 12, 1993 serial blasts and nearly 80 days after they were found guilty (on June 16) by the Special Court.

On a quiet afternoon of March 12, 1993, the country’s commercial capital was shattered by a series of 13 blasts in quick succession at various locations in the city and suburbs, creating the worst unprecedented mayhem in the country, killing 257 and injuring 700 others.

The prime targets included the Air India Building, Bombay Stock Exchange, Zaveri Bazar, then existing five star hotels, Hotel SeaRock and Hotel Juhu Centaur, and others leading to damage to public and private properties worth Rs 27 crore.

(IANS)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed concern over “extremist violence” in Myanmar’s Rakhine and “violence against security forces” but skipped mention of the alleged persecution of Rohingya Muslims, which the United Nations says could turn into a humanitarian catastrophe.

Modi also praised Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s “leadership” amid mounting criticism of an alleged state-sponsored persecution of the minority Muslim community, forcing an estimated 1.25 lakh people to flee to Bangladesh and India.

Myanmar has an estimated 1.1 million Rohingya people.

“We share your concerns about extremist violence in Rakhine state and violence against security forces and how innocent lives have been affected,” Modi said in a joint statement with Suu Kyi at Myanmar’s capital Nay Pyi Taw.

“We hope that all stakeholders together can find a way out in which unity and territorial integrity of Myanmar is respected,” he said, adding “peace, justice, dignity and democratic values for all” can be achieved.

Suu Kyi, the de-facto leader of Buddhist-majority Myanmar, thanked India for taking a strong stand on the “terror threat” faced by her country.

She said India and Myanmar jointly can ensure that terrorism is not allowed to take root on their soil or on the soil of neighbouring countries.

Modi is expected to raise the issue of Rohingya exodus into neighbouring countries.

The Indian government says it will deport an estimated 40,000 Rohingyas staying illegally in the country.

The leader of Buddhist-majority Myanmar has come under pressure from countries with Muslim populations over the crisis, and on Tuesday UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres warned of the risk of ethnic cleansing and regional destabilisation.

In a rare letter expressing concern that the violence that has raged for nearly two weeks could spiral into a “humanitarian catastrophe”, Guterres urged the UN Security Council to press for restraint and calm.

The latest violence in Rakhine state began 12 days ago when Rohingya insurgents attacked dozens of police posts and an army base. The ensuing clashes and a military counter-offensive have killed at least 400 people and triggered the exodus of villagers to Bangladesh.

Suu Kyi has been accused by Western critics of not speaking out for the minority that has long complained of persecution, and some have called for the Nobel Peace Prize she won in 1991 as a champion of democracy to be revoked.

(Agencies)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court said on Wednesday that cow vigilantism has to stop and it is not permissible under the law.

It also directed the states to appoint nodal officers in each district to take steps to prevent such incidences of violence and act against the perpetrators.

“This must stop. What action have you taken? It is not permissible. There has to be some kind of action,” a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice Amitava Roy and Justice A.M. Khanwilkar said.

The remarks came as advocate Indira Jaising drew the court’s attention towards the violence being unleashed by the vigilante groups across the nation on mere suspicion of beef consumption.

Directing the appointment of nodal officers, the court instructed the Chief Secretaries of the states to file affidavits on the action taken, including the deployment of highway patrols.

It also asked the Centre why under Article 256 shouldn’t it be held responsible to prevent such incidents.

The court order came on a batch of petitions, including by Tushar Gandhi — the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.

(IANS)

Bengaluru: Outraged over the gunning down of one of their own, Gauri Lankesh, prominent journalists from across the city gathered at the Press Club of Bangalore here, and demanded justice amid call for standing up to “forces” trying to the “muzzle” the voices of dissent.

Lankesh, 55, was shot dead by unidentified assailants at the entrance of her residence in the Rajrajeshwari Nagar, Karnataka police chief R K Dutta said.

An outspoken critic of the Hindutva politics, Lankesh was the editor Kannada tabloid Gauri Lankesh Patrike, besides owning some other publications.

The Club has demanded that the attackers be identified and brought to book in a swift manner.

Meanwhile, the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) also staged a protest at the Jantar Mantar.

The Delhi unit of the forum said the killing of senior Kannada journalist was an example of “politics of intolerance”.

The KUWJ also said it is an “attempt” to muzzle the voices of criticisms.

“She was not only a journalist but a social activist who shared the concerns of the society. This murder is similar to the killings of M M Kalburgi, Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare,” KUWJ said in a statement.

Bengaluru: Activists, politicians and journalists all over India united in grief on Wednesday over the murder of editor and outspoken critic of Hindutva politics Gauri Lankesh, demanding a full investigation into her horrible murder on Tuesday evening.

The 55-year-old was shot dead by three unknown gunmen as she was entering her home in Bengaluru late Tuesday. Police found Gauri dead on her front porch. No arrests have been made yet.

State funeral was given to Lankesh.

The Editors Guild of India said her death was “an ominous portent for dissent in democracy and a brutal assault on the freedom of the press”, calling for a swift and thorough investigation.

Lankesh was a target of right-wing trolling on social media and had complained of facing “rabid hate” that made her fear for free speech in India.

Protests erupted across Bengaluru city, condemning the “cold blooded murder” of journalist and activist Lankesh.

Journalists took out a march from the Press Club to the Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat, and submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seeking immediate action to bring the culprits to book.

“We strongly believe that such silencing methods are an attempt of divisive forces in a democratic system to stifle the media,” the memorandum said.

Condemning the killing, Press Club of Bengaluru president Sadashiva Shenoy said he was closely associated with Gauri Lankesh and was at loss of words to condole her death.

“Divisive forces cannot muzzle the liberal voices by resorting to killing,” Shenoy said.

He said the Press Club of Bengaluru will form a committee to mount pressure on the government for speedy investigation.

“We demand that a judicial committee be constituted, headed by a sitting High Court judge, to probe the brutal killing,” Shenoy said.

Freedom fighter HS Doreswamy, 99, led a protest at the Town Hall, where hundreds of people turned up to condole the death and express their anger at the murder.

The body of Gauri Lankesh was kept at the Ravindra Kalakshetra in Bengaluru where mourners paid their last respects.

In Delhi, prominent journalists gathered at the Press Club and demanded justice amid a call for standing up to “forces” trying to the “muzzle” the voices of dissent.

Author and senior journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta termed Tuesday’s killing of Lankesh in Bengaluru as “a defining moment” in the history of Indian media.

“We are seeing the space for free-thinking shrinking. They want to silence the people who want to hold truth to power. We cannot remain silent, because that is what they want. Don’t keep quiet. That would be their success,” he said.

The Press Club of India (PCI) had on Tuesday strongly condemned the killing, saying, “A fearless and independent journalist who gave voice to many causes and always stood up for justice has been shot dead in the most brutal manner in order to silence her voice.”

Senior journalist Manini Chatterjee said, “Regardless of legislative majority, certain rights should be inviolable.”

The Club has demanded the attackers be identified and brought to book in a swift manner.

“What is wrong in being a journalist and also an activist or vice-versa,” Thakurta asked.

“There was a criminal defamation case against Lankesh. Why was Gauri targeted for the same story that was published by several others? At this defining moment in the right to free speech, we cannot forget Gauri, if we do, their objective would be served,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) also staged a protest at the Jantar Mantar.

The Delhi unit of the forum said the killing of senior Kannada journalist was an example of “politics of intolerance”.

The KUWJ also said it is an “attempt” to muzzle the voices of criticisms. “She was not only a journalist but a social activist who shared the concerns of the society. This murder is similar to the killings of M M Kalburgi, Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare,” KUWJ said in a statement.

The media in Hyderabad demanded immediate arrest of the culprits. Under the aegis of Press Club Hyderabad, a group of journalists raised slogans condemning Lankesh’s killing.

Holding placards that read: ‘I AM ALSO GAURI’, ‘You cannot curtail freedom of expression through murder’, the journalists also participated in a march from the Press Club to Khairtabad Circle.

In Thiruvananthapuram, journalists took out a march and raised slogans condemning the murder. Holding placards, the journalists took out a march stating that the killing of Lankesh was an attack on press freedom.

The media also demanded the guilty be arrested as early as possible.

At the Thiruvananthapuram Press club, journalists paid floral tributes in front of the portrait of the veteran journalist and lit candles. Later, a condolence meeting was also organised.

In Chennai, journalists and political parties condemned the brutal murder.

Political leaders, including AIADMK (Amma) deputy chief T T V Dhinakaran, expressed “shock” and concern over Gauri’s death.

“This incident has shocked the entire country and has once against raised questions on safety of journalists in India,” the Chennai Press Club said.

“The manner in which Gauri Lankesh was killed shows it was a planned execution. Chennai Press Club urges the Government of Karnataka to arrest those who are responsible for this murder,” the statement said.

Madras Union of Journalists also strongly condemned the killing and wanted the assailants to be arrested at the earliest.

Journalists also held a protest. They held placards that read: “Murder of democracy” and “Tomorrow it could be one of us”.

CPI state unit secretary R Mutharasan and TNCC president Su Thirunavukkarasar also expressed concern over the killing.

Amnesty International India said the killing of Gauri Lankesh “raises alarm” about the state of freedom of expression in the country.

Gauri, who was known for her strident anti-establishment views and writings against Hindu fundamentalists, was never afraid of speaking truth to power, the rights body said.

“Her assassination must be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice. The police must investigate whether she was killed because of her journalism,” Asmita Basu, Programmes Director at Amnesty International India, said.

Gauri was the editor of Gauri Lankesh Patrike, a Kannada weekly. She was widely regarded as an independent and outspoken journalist and activist, and a fierce critic of hardline Hindu groups in Karnataka.

“Critical journalists and activists have increasingly faced threats and attacks across India in recent years. State governments must act to protect those whose voices of dissent are being silenced,” Basu said.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has said there have been no convictions in any of the 27 cases of journalists “murdered for their work” in India since 1992, the statement said.

Condemning the murder of senior journalist Gauri Lankesh, the Indian Writers’ Forum on Wednesday pledged to continue her fight against the “haters of free speech and a plural India”.

A statement from the forum described Lankesh, who was killed at her home in Bengaluru on Tuesday, as a “voice of dissent, a voice of reason” who was “silenced with guns”.

“The forum condemns the continued unmaking of India in which writers, artists, scholars, rationalists — and indeed any citizen who exercises her right to speak freely — is no longer safe.

“We will continue to speak on her behalf and ours. They cannot silence us all,” the statement read.

It termed the murder of the 55-year-old journalist “a chilling continuation” of the series of killings of rationalists, writers, scholars and activists like Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and M M Kalburgi.

“None of the murderers has been punished, though much points to the extended right wing family. Instead, the punishment of critic voices continues, as do attacks on Muslims, dalits, adivasis and women — Indian citizens all.”

The Forum remembered Lankesh as a person who performed her duties as journalist and a citizen with “uncompromising honesty”.

“She was guided by democratic, secular values, that insist on an India in which speaking up against division and hatred is every citizen’s right,” it said.

In April, Reporters Without Borders ranked India 136th of 180 countries in its world press freedom ratings, blaming “Hindu nationalists trying to purge all manifestations of ‘anti-national’ thought from the national debate”.

Last year, Gauri Lankesh was found guilty of defaming a BJP lawmaker in a 2008 article about alleged corruption. She was appealing against the conviction.

“The murder must be investigated effectively and with urgency,” the All India Democratic Women’s Association said in a statement.

Lankesh’s murder was a “grim indicator of the intolerance and violence that have been let loose by the increasing influence of right wing forces in the country”, it added.

Human Rights Watch’s South Asia director, Meenakshi Ganguly, called on politicians to “condemn violence over beliefs”.

“Dissent, engaging with criticism, are strengths of a democracy, but in India, they are being drowned by allegations of causing offence to faith or nation,” she told AFP.

Colleagues, activists and friends gathered in cities around the country on Wednesday to protest Lankesh’s death and demand justice.

(Agencies)

Bengaluru: Senior journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh (55) was shot dead in front of her house at Rajarajeshwari Nagar on Tuesday evening.

According to the police, Gauri left her office – Gauri Lankesh Patrike – at Gandhi Bazar around 7 pm. She reached her home around 7.45 pm.

As she was about to open the main door, three assailants called her. As she stepped out, they pumped four bullets from point-blank range. The bullets pierced her abdomen and chest.

Neighbours rushed out on hearing gunshots and Gauri’s screams and called an ambulance.

“The house is located in a secluded area near Ideal Homes in Rajarajeshwarinagar. There was no immediate help after the attack,” said Shivasundar, Gauri’s close aide.

Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar said it is yet to be ascertained whether the assailants were following Gauri or waiting near her residence.

“Four cartridges have been found at the spot. There are two CCTV cameras at the house and the footage will be examined after forensic officials inspect the spot. Three teams have been formed to nab the assailants, including one headed by joint commissioner (crime). We are also checking other CCTV cameras in the area,” Kumar said.

Gauri’s death comes two years after rationalists M M Kalburgi and CPI leader Govind Pansare were shot dead.

Also, in 2013, anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar was shot dead by two youth near Pune.

The police said that the modus operandi in Gauri’s murder is similar to that of Kalburgi case.

Gauri is the eldest daughter of Kannada poet-turned-journalist P Lankesh. Gauri was known for her writings against the RSS and the BJP.

She had also spearheaded a pro-Maoist movement in the state. Gauri was instrumental in facilitating the surrender of Maoists who wanted to return to the mainstream.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “Soon after the police submit a preliminary report, we will determine the nature of the probe.”

The chief minister clarified that Gauri had not sought police protection and that there were no intelligence reports indicating a threat to her life.

After visiting the spot, Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy said, “She (Gauri) was staying alone and her mother was with her sister Kavitha in Uttarahalli. The officials told me that she met DGP R K Dutta three times. However, she never shared any information about a threat to her life. In fact, she called me on Saturday and said that she would meet on Monday. But she did not turn up,” Reddy said.

The body was shifted to the Victoria Hospital for postmortem. A family member said the funeral would be held on Wednesday.