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Lakhvi booked under MPO; to remain in jail

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Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi

Islamabad: Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi will remain in jail for at least three more months with Pakistani authorities today slapping stringent provisions under public security against the key accused in the 2008 Mumbai attack, a day after a court gave him bail sparking outrage in India.

Lakhvi, 54, was detained for three months under Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).

“Lakhvi was to be freed from Adiala Jail Rawalpindi today morning but the government detained him there for three months under the 16 MPO,” Prosecution chief Chaudhry Azhar told PTI, adding the Pakistan government had also informed India about this.

Lakhvi was granted bail by Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court yesterday due to lack of evidence against him.

The order of detention was handed over to Adiala Jail superintendent before Lakhvi’s counsel could show his bail order to jail authorities.

The prosecution chief further said that the government had decided in principle to
challenge the trial court’s decision in the high court.

“We have prepared an appeal against the ATC order and file it on coming Monday,” he said.

The decision to release Lakhvi has drawn sharp criticism from India and surprised many for its timing, just days after Taliban massacred 148 people, mostly schoolchildren, in Peshawar.

“The Nawaz Sharif government also got upset over the ATC decision as it had to face criticism from India on its policy on war on terror at the time when it is making its strong resolve to crush terror networks from its soil,” a source in interior ministry said.

He said the government had to take a prompt decision to detain Lakhvi before he was released from jail to avoid it from further embarrassment.

Lakhvi was granted bail a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Sharif pledged to announce a “national plan” to tackle terrorism within a week, saying “this entire region” should be cleaned of terrorism.

“The matter was brought to the notice of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who immediately ordered detention of Lakhvi,” the source said.

The ATC Islamabad decision had surprised the prosecution lawyers who said still 15 or so witnesses were to be produced against the seven accused of the Mumbai terror attacks including Lakhvi before it granted him bail.

Since the trial began in 2009, the prosecution had produced 46 witnesses.

Lakhvi, Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younis Anjum have been charged with planning, financing and executing the the Mumbai attacks on November 26, 2008 that left 166 people dead.

(PTI)

India 71/1 after Australia post 505 at stumps on day three

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Shikar

Brisbane: Steven Smith and Mitchell Johnson’s whirlwind partnership propelled Australia to a first innings score 505 runs, a lead of 97, but India made a solid start to their second innings, reaching 71 for one to trail by only 26 at stumps on day three of the second Test at the Gabba here Friday.

At stumps, India’s opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan and No.3 Cheteshwar Pujara were at the crease, on 26 and 15 respectively. First innings centurion Murali Vijay (27) was the Indian batsman to be dismissed.

Australia, though, will be happier of the two teams having fought back brilliantly from a precarious position to help themselves to a handy first innings lead.

Indian bowler’s ineptness at dismissing the tailenders once again cost them dear as Australia reached 505 from an uncomfortable position of 247 for six.

India have the worst average in Test cricket of giving away runs to tailenders. The visitors have given away 84 runs on an average to take the eighth, ninth and 10th wickets. Aned Friday’s performance gives credence to the fact.

Captain Steven Smith (133) and Mitchell Johnson (88) put together 148 runs for the seventh wicket as Australia smashed 282 runs in the first two sessions of play. To add to India’s woes No.8 batsman Mitchell Starc struck 52.

Starc combined first with Nathan Lyon (23) to add 56 runs for the ninth wicket and then with debutant Josh Hazlewood (not out 32) for a 51-run stand for the final wicket.

Pacers Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav took three wickets each while Varun Aaron and Ravichandran Ashwin shared four wickets among them.

Smith and Johnson, who counter-attacked with great fervour, though, laid the foundation of the fightback.

They carried on from where they left off at lunch and continued to be aggressive.

It finally took an Ishant over to get rid of the two. The Indian pacer first got Johnson with a wide and full delivery and then castled Smith with an sharp in-swinger.

Earlier, a blistering unbeaten 104-run partnership between captain Smith and Johnson took Australia to 351 for six at lunch.

The hosts seemed to be in a spot of bother when overnight batsman Mitchell Marsh (11) and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (6) were dismissed early in the session, where they scored 130 runs.

India began the session brightly. The visitors began with discipline, attacking the channel outside off, and were rewarded with two early wickets.

Ishant clean bowled Mitchell Marsh and then Varun removed vice-captain Haddin with a perfectly executed bouncer.

However, India switched their plan and bowled short deliveries indiscriminately and Johnson feasted on them to run away to a 37-ball half-century. The error in judgement proved costly as Johnson got much-needed confidence to put together a vital 148-run partnership with Smith that nullified India’s eraly supremacy and put the home team in a strong position.

Smith moved to his second century of the four-match series as well, as India’s 187-run lead at the start of the day shrunk to 57. From them on Australia didn’t falter.

(IANS)

Mehdi Masroor Biswas's police custody extended by 15 days

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Mehdi Masroor Biswas

Bengaluru: A court here Thursday extended the police custody of alleged Islamic State (IS) supporter Mehdi Masroor Biswas by 15 days for further interrogation on charges of waging war against a country which is at peace with India, police said.

“We produced Mehdi in the sessions court on expiry of his five-day custody to further interrogate him on his postings in the social media and Twitter handle (@ShamiWitness), as part of our investigation. We have secured his custody for another 15 days up to Jan 2,” city police commissioner M.N. Reddi told reporters.

Police registered a criminal case Dec 13 against Biswas under specific sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Information Technology (IT) Act for waging war against any Asiatic power in alliance or at peace with India.

A British news channel Dec 11 unmasked the city-based 24-year-old executive as a radical supporter of the IS through social media and Twitter.

“The investigation so far has revealed that Biswas is a propagandist of IS ideology and has been instrumental in influencing minds against our friendly countries and against whom the terror group is at war,” Reddi said.

Biswas, who hails from Gopalpur town in West Bengal’s Nadia district, is employed in the foods division of a Kolkata-based company in Bengaluru.

He confessed that he was operating the Twitter account after he got interested in the developments of the Levantine region comprising Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Gaza Strip, Egypt and Libya.

His parents – Mikhael Biswas and Mamtaz Begum – who arrived in Bengaluru Wednesday from Kolkata, were allowed to meet their son at an undisclosed place, as he has been in police custody since Dec 14.

“His parents also met me and shared their concerns over his alleged involvement with the IS terror activities through the social media. I have assured them that our investigation would be impartial, unbiased and objective,” Reddi said.

(IANS)

Rajya Sabha logjam over conversion row persists for fourth day

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Conversion Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha was Thursday stalled for the fourth consecutive day over the conversion row as the opposition insisted Prime Minister Narendra Modi should reply to a debate on attack on the country’s secular fabric and the government blamed them for shying from the discussion.

The first adjournment came during zero hour, and then question hour saw a 15 minute adjournment even as the prime minister was present. At 1 p.m., still unable to take up the debate, the house was adjourned for lunch.

The post-lunch session saw a 15 minute break again before it was adjourned for the day.

Modi was present in the house during question hour, and despite Chairman M. Hamid Ansari allowing the debate, it could not be taken up as the opposition insisted on an assurance first that the prime minister would reply to the debate.

Later, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the prime minister could have intervened in the debate if it had been taken up while he was there in the house.

“In the pre-lunch session, there was a general consensus that a discussion should take place. PM was here. I would have replied, and wherever needed, if the members were not satisfied, PM could have intervened,” said Rajnath Singh.

“I am sorry that the PM was present but opposition did not allow the debate. There is some prestige of the prime minister’s post,” he said.

The house witnessed repeated disruptions, adjournments and angry exchanges between ruling and opposition sides.

Members from both the opposition and treasury benches created a din and the debate could not be taken up despite the chair repeatedly asking the members to start the discussion.

Congress leader Anand Sharma accused the government of heckling the opposition.

“Treasury benches are not allowing our members to speak. They are heckling us,” he said.

An angry Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi accused opposition benches of running away from the debate.

“Look at your members. You come out with a new condition every time. You are running away from a debate,” he said.

Earlier, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley slammed the opposition, saying it appeared to be only interested in creating roadblocks in the functioning of the house.

“The notice for this discussion under Rule 267 (adjournment of question hour) came Monday. We agreed for a debate,” he said.

“But the opposition wants to decide how the debate will happen, who will respond,” he said.

He said even after the last statement by the prime minister, the house was not allowed to function.

“The (prime minister’s) response was conciliatory. It indicated the house should go on. But someone said this is not acceptable, and that is where competitive politics of disruption started,” said Jaitley.

(IANS)

Will finish Christianity and Islam in India by 2021: Dharma Jagran Manch leader Rajeshwar Singh

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Rajeshwar Singh

by Mariam Shaheen, ABP

New Delhi: Dharm Jagran Manch leader Rajeshwar Singh, of the Aligarh Christmas conversion programme fame, has raked up a new controversy with a fresh dose of vitriol.

Rajeshwar Singh has said that they plan to root out Christianity and Islam from India by December 31, 2021, adding that Christians and Muslims essentially have no right to live in the country.

“India’s inner voice has spoken. Just wait and watch. 31 December 2021 is the last for Christianity and Islam in this country. We will finish Christianity and Islam in this country by 31 December 2021. This is our aim,” Rajeshwar said.

Such comments are not new to the saffron leader, and he has been in the news for voicing similar views earlier as well.

His organisation had planned a mass conversion programme in Aligarh on Christmas. After widespread outrage over it, the future of the plan remains undecided.

Pak court approves bail of Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi in Mumbai attacks case

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Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi

Islamabad: Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, one of the main accused in the Mumbai attacks case, was granted bail on Thursday by an anti-terrrorism court.

The Federal Investigation Agency’s prosecutor disagreed with the bail plea. However, Advocate Rizwan Abbasi, the lawyer representing Lakhvi, stood before the court as the bail was approved.

The court has directed Lakhvi to pay surety bonds worth Rs. 500,000 before he can be released on bail.

Lakhvi is among the seven persons charged with planning and helping carry out the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The six other men facing trial in Adiala Jail for their alleged involvement in Mumbai attacks are Hammad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jamil Riaz, Younas Anjum, Jamil Ahmed, Mazhar Iqbal and Abdul Majid.

At the time of the attacks, Lakhvi was believed to be the operational head of the banned Laskhar-i-Taiba (LeT) that has been accused by India of carrying out the attacks in Mumbai.

Lakhvi along with Zarar Shah was allegedly the key planner of the attack that killed 166 people.

The acceptance of his bail plea came as Pakistan is mourning the deaths of school children and other victims of Tuesday’s Taliban massacre and New Delhi has showed solidarity with Islamabad.

The proceedings of the case began in 2009 at the ATC in Rawalpindi and the case was transferred to the ATC in Islamabad the next year.

In April this year however, proceedings came to a virtual standstill as special judge of the ATC expressed his inability to conduct the trial of the seven suspects due to security reasons. This came following a terrorist attack on the district courts in Islamabad in the month of March.

According to a report by The Times of India, the government is working on preparing a strong response against bail of the LeT commander.

Church blast cases: HC Commutes Death of 8 Deendar Men

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Church blast cases

Bengaluru: Partially reversing the judgment delivered by the special court three years ago relating to setting off blasts in three different churches in the state during year 2000, the high court converted death sentences awarded to eight of the accused into life imprisonments. At the same time, the division bench of the high court chaired by Justice N Kumar and Justice N Rathnakala confirmed the life imprisonments imposed on the other 12 accused.

These persons, who belong to the organization, ‘Deendar Anjuman’, had made an effort to ignite communal clashes between Hindus and Christians by setting of blasts in churches.

‘By attacking churches, the accused tried to destroy the fabric of communal harmony in the society. They also posed serious threat to the unity and integrity of the nation. This was a despicable act executed by perverted criminals to destroy the exalted principles practiced by the country, which has held norms of unity in the midst of diversity high and noble,’ the bench observed.

The bench also observed that the pamphlets and books seized from the possession of the defendants have proved that they wanted to spread Islam all over the country and convert India into an Islamic nation. ‘They wanted to warn the entire world to accept Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) as the only guide and Guru. The literature confiscated from them also prove that they firmly believed that nine lac believers (Pathans) can invade South India, and then take control of entire India’, the bench observed. The bench noted with regret that this plan only depicts the stupidity of these people.

22 persons of the said organization had planted and set off bombs in three churches in the state 14 years back. The special court, which found 20 among them guilty, had awarded death sentence to eight of them, and life term to the other 12, through a judgment delivered on November 11, 2008. Out of them, one had died in bomb blast, while the other died during the hearing of the case. The accused had appealed against the special court’s judgment in the high court.

Ijahar Baig, Sayyed Abbas Ali, Muhammed Sharfuddin, Muhammed Khalid Choudhary, Sheikh Hasim Ali, Muhammed Akheel Ahmed, Sayyed Muniruddin Mulla Sayyed and Muhammed Ibrahim are the lucky persons who were spared the noose by the high court.

DYFI launches matrimonial site to promote ‘secular’ marriages

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dyfi

Thiruvananthapuram/PTI: CPI-M’s youth wing, Democratic Youth Federation of India, has launched a matrimonial website exclusively to promote ‘secular’ marriages.

The website, “www.secularmarriage.com,” will function as a unique platform for liberal-minded people to find their partners irrespective of caste, creed and religion, DYFI sources said.

The site, launched by celebrity couple–director Ashiq Abu and actress Rima Kallingal at Kochi yesterday, was, however, hacked allegedly by some fundamentalist groups this morning.

“We are trying to set it right today itself,” DYFI state secretary M Swaraj told PTI.

“The hacking of the site itself proves that how deep-rooted is fundamentalism in our society. Secularism, one of the key foundations of our democracy, is at stake nowadays. A fundamental group hacked the site as they cannot digest the concept of secular marriages,” Swaraj alleged.

He said the core objective of the website is to create a secular space at a time when marriages are becoming more religion and caste oriented.

“We hope, the site can perform a significant role in helping those who want to find their partners irrespective of caste, creed and religion,” he said.

Unlike most other matrimonial websites, there is no space to mark bride’s or groom’s caste or religion in the new site, he said.

Interested youth, who want to tie the knot in a secular way, can register on the site and search for their partners there. They can make the alliance after enquiring about the background of the registered members, Swaraj said.

He claimed that they had received several threat letters against launching the site but would go forward with firmness to achieve the mission.

Hazlewood stars but Umesh gives India edge

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steve-smith

Brisbane: Debutant Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood’s five-for might have grabbed all the headlines but Indian quickie Umesh Yadav picked up three wickets to restrict Australia to 221 runs for four, in reply to India’s first innings score of 408 at stumps on the second day of the second Test here Thursday.

An unbeaten 64 from captain Steven Smith meant Australia are still 187 runs behind.

Things could have been a lot different for the hosts had the top-order batsmen not thrown their wickets away after making good starts.

After being 121 for three at tea, the final session belonged completely to Australia.

Smith along with Shaun Marsh (32) put on 87 runs for the fourth wicket as the hosts reduced at the deficit.

However, the timely wicket of Shaun, following a brilliant catch by Ravichandran Ashwin at slips, gave India the initiative again.

Bad light put an end to the day’s play with Smith and Mitchell Marsh (batting 7) at the crease.

Yadav was the pick of the Indian bowlers and got good support from offie Ashwin, who picked up a wicket too.

Varun Aaron bowled fast but without much luck. The pacer found the top edge of Shaun Marsh’s bat but Ajinkya Rahane grassed the chance.

Luckily for India the left-hander fell in the very next over to Yadav.

Earlier, a five-wicket haul by Hazlewood helped Australia bowl out India for 408 at the stroke of lunch.

India, who were in the driving seat at stumps on day one, managed to add only 97 runs to their overnight score of 311 for four.

The visitors were put on the backfoot almost immediately when Rahane (81) was dismissed in the third over of the day. His overnight partner Rohit Sharma (32) also didn’t survive much longer, getting dismissed six overs later.

After adding just 17 runs, India had lost both their overnight batsmen and had relinquished their strong position.

A 57-run partnership for the seventh wicket between skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (33) and Ravichandran Ashwin (35) stabilised the situation. But Ashwin’s wicket once again opened the floodgates as the visitors surrendered rather meekly in the end.

Dhoni looked good for a while but edged a Hazlewood delivery to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin while trying to leave the ball.

India’s tail failed to put up a fight and fell without much trouble for the hosts.

Australia, in their reply, came out all guns blazing with last match’s double-innings centurion David Warner (29) once again looking dangerous.

The hosts got off to a quick start, reaching 47 for no loss as Warner peppered the boundaries with some aggressive batting.

But a leading edge proved to be the downfall for the left-hander, giving India some reprieve.

Shane Watson (25) and opener Chris Rogers (55) were in no mood to hand the initiative back to India and took on the bowlers.

The duo shared a 51-run stand for the second wicket and scored at a fair clip, threatening to take the game away from the visitors.

But an overzealous Watson tried to take on Ashwin and was caught brilliantly by Shikhar Dhawan at mid-on.

Rogers kept the scoreboard ticking and was joined by new skipper Smith, forged a 23-run stand before gloving an Umesh delivery down the leg side to Dhoni.

(IANS)

India tests space launch vehicle, eyes global market

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GSLV Mark-III, India's largest rocket after lift-off from Sriharikota on Thursday. Photo: The Hindu

GSLV Mark-III, India’s largest rocket after lift-off from Sriharikota on Thursday. Photo: The Hindu

by Aditya Kalra, Reuters

New Delhi: India’s space agency successfully tested on Thursday its most powerful satellite launch vehicle that can put heavier payloads into space, and, it hopes, win India a bigger slice of the USD 300 billion global space industry.

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) also checked the working of an unmanned crew module on the vehicle, which could give the agency the option of manned missions.

Once operational, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark III will be able to put satellites weighing about 4 tonnes into orbit, almost doubling India’s current capability.

“The powerful launch vehicle … will change our destiny in placing various spacecraft into communication orbits,” said S. Somnath, project director of the new GSLV vehicle.

Prime minister Narendra Modi wants to develop India’s 50-year-old space program and the government increased funding for space research by 50 percent to almost $1 billion this financial year.

But ISRO’s growth has been stymied by a lack of a heavier launcher and the slow execution of missions. Between 2007 and 2012, it accomplished only about half of its planned 60 missions, government data showed.

Experts said the test of the GSLV took India a step closer to attracting more foreign business which would help Asia’s third-largest economy emerge as a stronger player in the global space race.

The experiment on Thursday also helped ISRO test the vehicle’s atmospheric stability and its design. It was powered by two engines while a third is under development.

“We still need to put a heavier third engine to ensure this vehicle can be used successfully for manned missions and heavier satellite launches,” said Mayank Vahia, a scientist at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.

In September, India’s Mars Orbiter Mission entered the red planet’s orbit, making India the first Asian nation to reach Mars on its first attempt. The mission was lauded for its shoestring budget of about USD 74 million.

(Editing by Sanjeev Miglani, Robert Birsel)

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