Daily News

US Open: Bopanna, Qureshi enter finals

2010-09-09T12:19:00.003+05:30

New Delhi: Rohan Bopanna from India and his Pakistani teammate Aisam Qureshi beat Argentina's Eduardo Schwank and Horacio Zeballos in straight sets 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 to enter the men's doubles final of the US Open at Flushing Meadows in New York on Wednesday.

The Indian duo of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi was the last pair from the sub-continent to reach the finals at Flushing Meadows.

In fact, the two made it to the finals of all the four grand slam events in 1999 and went on to win the French Open and Wimbledon that year.

They were also the last subcontinental team to win the men's doubles in a grand slam tournament when they won at Roland Garros again in 2001. Earlier, the Indo-Pak duo cruised into their first ever Grand Slam semi-final with a hard fought straight sets victory over 10th-seeded Dick Norman of Belgium and Wesley Moodie of South Africa.

Bopanna and Qureshi will take on top seeds Mike and Bob Bryan in the finals, whom they beat in the quarter finals of the Legg Mason Classic event in August.

The Bryan brothers beat the no. 12 seeds Marcel Granollers and Tommy Robredo of Spain 6-1, 6-4.

Coming into the US Open, the Indo-Pak combination have been in red hot form. They reached the finals of the Pilot Pen tennis tournament just before the US Open where they went down to the Swede-Romanian pairing of Robert Lindstedt and Horia Tecau.

They also made it to the semi-finals of the Legg Mason tournament in Washington by upseting the Bryan brothers in the last eight.

On the eve of Eid, curfew lifted in Kashmir

2010-09-09T12:19:00.000+05:30

Srinagar: Curfew was lifted on Thursday from all parts of the Kashmir Valley on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr.

"Curfew has been lifted from all parts of Srinagar city, and Anatnag and Bijbehara towns in south Kashmir in view of Eid-ul Fitr," said a police official.

Eid-ul Fitr will be celebrated on Friday or on Saturday, depending on the sighting of the new moon, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadhan.

Curfew was imposed in Srinagar city on Tuesday and in Anantnag and Bijbehara towns on Wednesday after violent protests broke out in these areas over the killing of four persons allegedly in police firing at Palhalan in Pattan area of Baramulla district, 30 kms from here, on Monday.

Meanwhile, a police spokesman said several incidents of stone-pelting and arson were reported from different parts of Srinagar and Budgam district late last evening.

"Some miscreants torched a car at Ompora in Budgam district," he said.

A 55-year-old civilian, identified as Ghulam Mohammed Guroo, was injured when he was apparently hit by a brick during a stone pelting incident at Bemina, the spokesman said. A youth was injured when security forces fired pellets to disperse an unruly mob at Telbal in the outskirts of the city last evening. Bilal Ahmad Bhat has been admitted to a hospital, the spokesman said.

He said an alleged stone pelter, Showkat Ahmed Khan was injured when he was hit by a plastic pellet fired by security forces to chase away a mob of miscreants at Beehama in Ganderbal district.

Another youth was injured under similar circumstances in Chattabal area of the city, he added.

Kashmir Valley has been rocked by violent protests after killing of a youth by a tear smoke shell at Rajouri Kadal area of the city on June 11. The fresh unrest has left 69 persons dead and several others injured.

Mangalore air crash: Pilot's error revealed

2010-09-09T12:17:00.000+05:30

New Delhi: According to a report of DGCA and Boeing officials probing the crash, it was pilot error that led to the Mangalore crash – India’s worst air tragedy that killed 158 people.

The report says that data retrieved from the cockpit voice recorder shows that the captain was on the wrong flight path.

Not only that, Captain Zlatko Glusica a British national of Serbian origin also delayed in taking corrective measures despite being requested by his co-pilot for "a go-around".

The 2.05 minutes of cockpit voice recorder or CVR recording revealed that despite being warned by the aircraft computers to "pull up”, the captain had not paid heed to it. Captain Zlatko Glusica also ignored his co-pilot Captain Aluwalia telling him to go-around. The co-pilot is heard warning "we don't have runway left" after which a loud crashing sound was recorded.

The enquiry committee also revealed the pilot was on the wrong glide path while approaching Mangalore airport.

Not only that, the pilot also approached for landing at an angle more than 3 degrees, which is more than the standard procedure for a safe landing.

There were anomalies in captain's corrective measures as well, which the committee says could have averted the crash.

Employers in India to step up hiring in next 3 months

2010-09-08T09:30:00.000+05:30

New Delhi: Employers in India are planning to hire at a robust pace in the next three months. A survey says public administration, education and services sectors are expected to see strong recruitment trends.

Globally, India is the most optimistic in terms of recruitment intentions for the fourth quarter, after China and Taiwan, according to staffing services firm Manpower's Employment Outlook Survey released on Tuesday.

"The job market remains robust in India as a result of strong domestic growth and recovery from key global markets. But employers in other countries are reporting strong hiring forecasts as well," Manpower India's managing director Sanjay Pandit told PTI. India's net employment outlook -- an indicator of employers' hiring intentions -- stood at 38 per cent on a seasonally adjusted basis for the next three months. For the third quarter, the outlook stood a little higher at 41 per cent.

The outlook fell slightly for the next three months as recruitment activities are relatively less in this period, mainly on account of festival season, Pandit noted.

For the fourth quarter, China has the highest outlook of 47 per cent and is followed by Taiwan (40 per cent). Interestingly, for the 2010 third quarter, India was the most optimistic when it came to hiring intentions.

Of the total of 36 countries surveyed by Manpower, 28 showed positive hiring trends for the next three months. As many as 5,395 employers in India participated in the survey.

In terms of sectors in India, public administration and education has the highest net employment outlook of 45 per cent, followed by services (40 per cent) and finance, insurance and real estate (34 per cent).

According to the report, transportation and utilities, and wholesale and retail trade sectors, each have an outlook of 22 per cent. "Once you combine strong domestic hiring along with improved international opportunities, we see one of the best scenarios that Indian job-seekers could have imagined," he said.

With an employment outlook of 41 per cent, employers in the South have strong hiring plans for the fourth quarter of this year. Northern region has an outlook of 37 per cent, followed by East (36 per cent) and West (32 per cent).

Going by the survey, the weakest hiring plans for the upcoming quarter were reported from Greece, Italy, the Czech Republic, Spain and Ireland.

Trustees sell Wakf land at throwaway prices

2010-09-08T09:29:00.000+05:30

New Delhi: A Minority Affairs Ministry report accessed by CNN-IBN reveals that land belonging to various Wakf boards in India are being misused and even sold at throwaway prices.

The report contains nationwide details of prevailing corruption in Wakf boards. It exposes a nexus involving politicians, community leaders and private developers.

In Maharashtra's Aurangabad district a 14 acre plot of land belonging to Wakf Board was allegedly sold to Nirman Bharati developers for just Rs 8 crore when the actual market rate for it Rs 60 crore. The land was with the board since 1973. What highlights the possible nexus between the politicians and those in-charge of using the land for the betterment of the Muslims is the fact that Diliprao Deshmukh, a Congress MLC and brother of Heavy Industries Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was one of the directors in Nirman Bharati, when the deal was signed.

Those who are aware of this practice allege collusion between the trustees and the builder lobby.

"Such blatant sale is common. The trustees are hand-in-glove with builder lobby and Wakf board looks the other way or sometimes even gets a cut," says lawyer Sana Baugwala.

After a furore against the sale, the matter is now pending before the Aurangabad High court.

"I can't talk about this case since it is subjudice. I was Director in the said company for 18 days only,"Diliprao Deshmukh told CNN-IBN.

Meanwhile, allegations of sale, shockingly low rental rates, under-hand land deals continue discreetly. The Maharashtra Wakf Board owns and maintains over 23 thousand Wakf properties spanning 92,000 acres. As per a government survey report, 60 per cent of this has been encroached upon.

The three-storey mall, Citi Centre which is worth Rs 300 crore, stands on what used to be an orphanage under the Haji Zakariya Ahmed Patel Mohammadan Orphanage & Asylum Trust.

According to documents with CNN-IBN, trustees of the orphanage in Mumbai Central, sold 13,800 sq m or 3 acres of land for Rs 1 crore in September 2004 to Neel KamalRealtors & Builders Pvt Ltd. Its market rate is estimated to be Rs 100 crore.

When CNN-IBN spoke to the trustees, they defended their decision saying that the land property was sold off for commercial use since it had become a liability to maintain. Since the property was registered under the Bombay Public trust, the sale was allowed. The then Wakf Board CEO MA Aziz ratified the sale.

"The charity commissioner gave permission for the sale of the property to Citi Centre after Wakf Board issued notice," says Haji Ahmed Pathan, Wakf Board member.

The Pir Baghdadi dargah in the heart of Mumbai's Dadar area is also currently under the scanner for allegations of financial irregularities in its lease agreement.

Devotees like Sher Khan allege the trustees rented out over 4000 sq ft of the dargah terrace to a hotel for shockingly low rates.

"In a central and business location like Dadar, you cannot give away 4100 sq ft at throwaway prices. It would be worth at least Rs 14 crore. But they sold it to them at Rs 70 lakh," alleges Sher Khan.

With losses of about Rs 1,000 crore annually due to low valuation of its properties, the Wakf Board submitted a report to the Joint Parliamentary Committee of Rajya Sabha in 2007 which had details of the state-wide encroachment of its land, litigation and others under disputes.

The man at the helm of affairs at the Wakf Board is as controversial as the deal they strike. CEO SS Qadri had been in the board since 2008 but earlier this month, he was shunted out amidst allegations of corruption in land dealings.

"The board CEO went out of his way to accept his brother-in-law's tender. The court had given a status quo on the property. How could the CEO even invite tenders in such case,” says social activist Mirza Rafatullah.

Mirza has also lodged an FIR against Qadri for what he claims was an illegal tender to develop a 20 acre open plot at the historical site of Aurangabad's Daulatabad Fort that is now dotted with encroachments.

The transaction that Qadri approved even illegally allowed for transfer of the property to his relative.

A huge resource that could be developed for the Muslim community's welfare has been systematically mortgaged, sold and encroached upon in connivance with the same individuals who are supposed to safeguard it. Unless the state and the Centre step in, such a blatant misuse will go unnoticed.

Rajasthan doctors call off strike after 50 die

2010-09-08T09:28:00.000+05:30

Jaipur: Rajasthan doctors called off their strike on Tuesday evening after “positive” talks with the government. The doctors, who have been on strike for the past three days, said their demands had been accepted.

Ajay Malviya, president of the Rajasthan Doctors’ Association, said: “The government has unconditionally accepted our demands. We will call the general body meeting and call off the strike.”

He added that the doctors would be back at work in half and hour. The doctors’ key demand was the suspension of the police officers who allegedly lathicharged medicos at the MDM College in Jodhpur on Saturday. Over 60 students and doctors were injured in the incident.

Resident doctors said the police lathicharged them following a minor scuffle among a few doctors and attendants of a patient. Some doctors were also arrested but later released.

The strike across the state claimed the lives of 50 patients, 31 in Jodhpur alone. The doctors had earlier demanded a meeting with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to discuss the issue.

The government had also been working on a contingency plan to tackle the situation and said over 300 medical officers would be deputed at affected hospitals if the doctors did not call off strike.

Union Minister of State for Health Dinesh Trivedi also requested the doctors to come back to work. "I appeal to the doctors with folded hands to come back to work. I have also spoken to Rajasthan Chief Minister and he said he's trying his best to control the situation. If needed I am ready to personally go and meet these doctors," Trivedi had appealed.

Trivedi also warned that action would be taken if the doctors don't join work soon.

"There are many laws that the state government has at its disposal that it should use if it comes to that. I would suggest the MCI to take action against these doctors who cause death by negligence. It should even consider de-recognising their degrees," he said.

Almost 3,500 resident doctors in all the six government medical colleges and its attached hospitals in Rajasthan were on strike, but Jodhpur was the worst hit.

Trade unions go on a 24-hour nationwide strike

2010-09-07T09:11:00.003+05:30

New Delhi: Trade unions are going on a 24-hour nationwide strike against price rise on Tuesday.

Nearly six crore workers under the banner of 8 trade unions will be participating in the strike.

They are demanding a control on price rise, streamlining of the rationing system and proper implementation of Labour laws. The bandh is likely to have maximum impact in Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. In fact, all flights to and from Kolkata have been cancelled.

More than 50 flights have already been cancelled. The unions taking part primarily belong to the transport, banking and the industrial sectors.

Normal life in Delhi is likely to be badly hit because of this strike.

Of 15 only the Rashtriya Rajdhani Kshetra Auto Union Union is taking part in the strike.

In this strike, apart from SBI most of the nationalised banks like PNB, Vijaya Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce will take part. One group from the transport sector will be protesting at Jantar Mantar between 10am and 2pm, while one from the banking sector will be protesting outside the Jeevan Bharti building in protest. AITUC trade union along with left leader like Gurdas Das Gupta would protest outside the RBI at 11am.

Mumbai is likely to be hit as the auto unions there may also join the strike called by trade unions against price rise. However, the taxi unions have not joined in the strike yet.

PM won't retire, wants younger Cabinet

2010-09-07T09:11:00.000+05:30

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to reshuffle his Cabinet before the winter session of Parliament. He told the editors of major newspapers at a breakfast meeting in New Delhi on Monday that he "would like to reduce the average age of his Cabinet".

Rejecting the perception that there is a disconnect between his government and Congress party, Singh said that his Cabinet was functioning with much greater degree of cohesion than even the first Cabinet headed by Jawaharlal Nehru.

"I am not aware of anything that can be called a disconnect between the Congress Party and the Government. I can't say that I will shut up every colleague in my Cabinet," Singh said. The Prime Minister also clarified that he was not retiring ending all speculation of him calling it a day.

He also gave backed Union Home Minister P Chidambaram saying he had been doing a good job in handling the Maoist menace. Commenting on the ongoing spat between his environment and industry ministers, he said environment concerns are a priority but industrial development was also important

Singh also reacted to a Supreme Court order on distributing free grain to the poor, saying the courts should not get into policy formulation.

"An estimated 37 per cent of the population lives below poverty line. How can free food be given to such a large number of people," Singh said.

It's battleground Kashmir again as three die in firing

2010-09-07T09:10:00.000+05:30

Pattan: There was no let-up in violence in Kashmir as three civilians died in police firing. Prime MinisterManmohan Singh reached out to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in an effort to evolve a package for the Valley.

Several people were injured in Patan in North Kashmir as the police opened fire after protestors pelted stones at them. The toll of civilian deaths in firing by security forces now stands at 68 since June.

Meanwhile, New Delhi is considering a phased withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which is a key demand of the Kashmiris. But the BJP is talking tough on the Act. Pattan: There was no let-up in violence in Kashmir as three civilians died in police firing. Prime MinisterManmohan Singh reached out to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in an effort to evolve a package for the Valley.

Meanwhile, New Delhi is considering a phased withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which is a key demand of the Kashmiris. But the BJP is talking tough on the Act.

Pakistani Muslim youths turning into atheists

2010-09-06T09:18:00.002+05:30

Islamabad: A handful of Pakistani Muslim youths is beginning to question the existence of God and, in the process, giving up Islam to become atheists.

Still a small number, the trend seems to be telling of pressures that the image of militant Islam has had on them. A Facebook group has been floated for Pakistan's agnostics and atheists by Hazrat NaKhuda, a former Pakistani Muslim.

At last count, the group had over a 100 members. In a thread started on the discussion board on "How did you become an atheist", Hazrat writes, "I used to be a practising Muslim. I used to live in Saudi Arabia. I have done two Hajs and countless Umrahs. Used to pray five times a day. When I turned 17-18, I realised that the only reason I was a Muslim was because my parents were Muslims".

Hazrat is a young computer programmer from Lahore.

Ahmed Zaidi (name changed), another member, posted on the discussion board: "I'm an agnostic simply because I see little or no evidence for the existence of God.

Some time ago I decided that I'd never believe anything unless it has a firm basis in reason and as far as I know (and I admit I know very little and that there's much to be learnt), there's little or no evidence for the existence of God."

The group, which is open strictly to members, has young Pakistani students studying in New York University to Oxford University to the prestigious Lahore University of Management Sciences as members.

Saeed Ahmad (name changed), who used to be a "practicing Ahmedi Muslim", started questioning his beliefs at the age of 17.

"I don't think there is any more detail to be added," he posted on the Facebook community for Pakistan's atheists and agnostics.

Nawab Zia (name changed) wrote that the moot question is not "how did you become an atheist" but "how did you become a believer".

He wrote: "I was a born atheist like every human being until my parents corrupted me with faith. Every child is born free and pure," Ali Rana (name changed), who loved Islamic preacher Zakir Nair and hated authorSalman Rushdie, has had a change of heart too.

He now thinks Nair is an "idiot" and Rushdie a genius.

There are other threads on how the members "wasted" their years as theists.

Don't judge CWG beforehand: Mike Hooper

2010-09-06T09:17:00.000+05:30

CEO of Commonwealth Games Federation Mike Hooper says that although concerns over Delhi's preparedness for the CWG remain, he is pragmatic and hopes that at the end, all pending work will be completed.

Below is the full transcript of his interview with Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN's weekly interview show, theDevil's Advocate:

Karan Thapar: Hello and welcome to Devil's Advocate. With just 4 weeks to go, how does theCommonwealth Games Federation regard Delhi's preparedness for the Games? That's the central issue is shall discuss today with the CEO of the federation, Mike Hooper. Mr Hooper, with just 28 days to go, are you worried by Delhi's state of preparedness or, with each passing day, your confidence levels are rising?

Mike Hooper: Look, it is fair to acknowledge that there have been issues all the way along for the delivery of these games. A lot of them linked with the delivery of the games venues which are still creating ongoing ripple effects for others to get their work done. Be it the installation of overlay, the installation of the venue based teams etc. But look, I am one who is a pragmatist. We have got 28 days left to go, we need to focus on making sure that things that matter to the athletes are put right. Yes there are issues, there have been issues and there is more work to be done. We have to recognise that we have to make sure that everyone, be it the Delhi Police, be it the Delhi Government, be it the Organising Committee, the contractors etc will have to focus on doing their job. Yes, there is still more to be done. It's going to go down to the wire. I am sure there will be issues as we go through the games and a key to successful games is ensuring that we have systems in place, as in here in India, to respond to those.

Karan Thapar: Let's look at the issues that still remain and let's start with the stadiums. The Hindu says that all is not well with Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium which is the principle stadium. The paper says several parts of the ground have either capsized or are threatening to do so and members of the Organising Committee have actually admitted to the paper that they are worried. What exactly is the situation in that key stadium?

Mike Hooper: Well, to my knowledge, there have been some subsidence due to the heavy rains etc in the grass terrier and in the middle of the track, and that's being addressed. But certainly, if there is some damage in the track itself, then it will have to be recertified by the IAAF because it was certified previously back in July. But if there is subsidence or damage on the track, that has to be looked at. Now coming back to safety in Jawaharlal Nehru and any other venue, you know, we are clearly aware of the CVC report about the a month back and the implications of that report suggesting sub-standard materials and fabricated test results. That's still a great concern to us and despite many promises made by the government agencies and others to deliver documentation to validate and verify all the building costs etc, have been met, and they are safe and fire safety certificates have been issued, and building completion certificate issued. We still don't have them. So it still remains a concern to us today. I am hopeful that based on discussions with Mr Kalmadi recently, that we will have those earlier than a week.

Karan Thapar: Have you set a deadline by which you want these safety certificates because it's a critical issue that is missing?

Mike Hooper: It's a very critical issue and one that should be easy to allay the fears of theCommonwealth Games Association. They should be there. Obviously you have got to have them; they must follow the law.

Karan Thapar: So is there a deadline for having them?

Mike Hooper: Wow, you obviously cannot occupy a venue if you don't have a completion certificate. So, people are due to arrive -- for example to the games village on the 16th of September. So I cannot occupy the games village unless there is a building completion certificate on that development.

Karan Thapar: You could be heading towards the crisis on the 16th if you don't get these certificates.

Mike Hooper: Well for sure, that is very obvious that could happen.

Karan Thapar: What about the track? If the track at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is damaged, as you suspect could be the case, have you got enough time to repair and certify that it has been repaired?

Mike Hooper: Well certainly that is the case. The repair work is underway on the track.

Karan Thapar: Will it happen in time?

Mike Hooper: I understand it has been done, undertaken. Whether it has been certified, I don't know yet.

Karan Thapar: Sadly the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium is not the only one that is supposed to have problems. I am told that the Yamuna Sports Complex and even the shooting ranges are both considerably behind schedule. Is the archery field at the first and the ground at the second, acceptable?

Mike Hooper: Well I think, clearly, whatever the issues are, we have been going on about the completion of the venues and sign off by international federations etc for the field reply etc, has to occur. Now, that must be done. I mean again, look at the time we have available now, 28 days, it has to comply with all federation requirements. And if it needs signing off, it has to be signed off. They have got to do it.

Karan Thapar: Let me put it like this: just hearing you speak, there is a long list of things that need to be done, some of which are very critical as you admit it, the safety certificates for the stadiums. You do have 28 days but you have no agreed deadlines for delivery of these certificates. So, can it all happen?

Mike Hooper: It must. Well that is the message I would like to send to all the government agencies.

Karan Thapar: But are you worried?

Mike HooperWell of course it's a concern. We don't have them but I believe we will get them.

Karan Thapar: But is this an issue of hope over experience?

Mike Hooper: Well, it may well be.

Karan Thapar: What happens if you don't get them?

Mike Hooper: Well clearly, if you don't get the documentation, you can't use the venues. If they aren't going to build in --

Karan Thapar: --in which case, what happens to the games?

Mike Hooper: Then a particular may be in trouble. Maybe. But let's not speculate on that. Clearly, the government agencies are aware of what is required. The Organising Committee has said to me that early next week, they should have all of these so the sooner we get them, the sooner we can allay the fears of people on this matter.

Karan Thapar: We are at a very worrying point. We are actually, it is even possible to speculate about the possibility that one or two events could be in trouble. That is a sad situation to be in.

Mike Hooper: Well it's a concern but as I say, I still believe we will get them, and we will get them before they are put to use.

Karan Thapar: What about beyond the stadiums. The actual scoring systems, I am told, are not fully in place. I am told that the technology that will be responsible for such things as storing data, for recording timings even the cameras and communications are not finally ready. Aren't these things unacceptably delayed?

Mike Hooper: The answer to that is yes. But we are where we are. And clearly, running about like a headless chicken, panicking about it, we have to focus on getting it right, getting it right in time before the 3rd of October. Now, those who are responsible for delivering the TSR - Thomas Scoring and Results equipment etc - need to get on and do their job.

Karan Thapar: How much time have they got?

Mike Hooper: They have got till the 3rd of October.

Karan Thapar: Is that enough time?

Mike Hooper: Well, it has to be done, it has to be done on time for the games.

Karan Thapar: As you said there is no point running around like headless chicken. But are panic levels silently beginning to rise?

Mike Hooper: Well, I think stress levels are certainly starting to rise all around and they have been for some time but, you know, a game, we have to manage that. We have to look at the things that matter and address the things that matter, get the village right, get the transport right; get the venues right and the delivery of the sport right and get the broadcast right. They are the things, well, they are nice to haves.

Karan Thapar: Audiences listening to you will be suddenly, deeply concerned because on so many levels, so many things simply haven't happened. They are going to question whether they are going to happen in time. They are going to ask themselves whether they are going to be in an event or two that's in danger. Is it possible that, come 3rd of October, one or two things in several stadiums still maybe incomplete? And if that's possible, will that be acceptable?

Mike Hooper: Well, I don't think that will be the case. If there are minor things that need to be addressed, then obviously they will address them. But it comes down to securing the building certificates etc, completion certificates--

Karan Thapar: --that's critical?

Mike Hooper: Of course it is. It's critical.

Karan Thapar: Let's then come to one area where even the members of the Organising Committee, although in private, admit that there are serious problems at the games village. I am told that the games village is substantially behind time. What does substantially behind time mean?

Mike Hooper: I have no idea because Mr Fennell and I viewed the games village ourselves on August 18th and at that point of time, 24 towers had been completed and handed over to the Organising Committee etc. I understand that it's a substantially greater figure today as we speak today. Needless to say though that village becomes live on the 16th of September--

Karan Thapar: --which is eleven days away.

Mike Hooper: Exactly. Therefore, there is a lot of work to be done. The developer, the DDA, need to get off the site and get the work completed.

Karan Thapar: In fact, let me just pick up on that thought. In exactly eleven days, on 16th of September, you could have potentially as many as 700 people coming to occupy the village. If 10 officials per country turn up, is the village in a position to receive 700 in eleven days time?

Mike Hooper: Well, it won't be 700. It will be more like 300 to 400--

Karan Thapar: --but even that is a substantial count.

Mike Hooper: Well of course. And certainly you recall Mr Fennell's press conference when he was here on a visit. He expressed concerns about the completion of the dining and the catering facility, the main dining. And there is a casual dining facility that has been put up in the residential zone that could cater for those people if indeed is not --

Karan Thapar: --when you say casual, is that a temporary measure before the proper one is put in place?

Mike Hooper: No, it's a casual dining facility that would operate throughout the games.

Karan Thapar: As you said, the dining facilities and the catering facilities were a cause of concern when Mr Fennell was here in August. You know and I know that, in fact, the catering contract was finalised towards second half of July. The kitchens will be actually handed over to Delaware on 3rd of September. Can they be up and running by the 16th of September to feed the 300 or 700?

Mike Hooper: What I know after speaking to Delaware is that they need two weeks or ten days to actually commission everything to make it right--

Karan Thapar: --there is not a day to spare on that time period.

Mike Hooper: There is no day to spare.

Karan Thapar: So can they do it? Are you worried? You could have 700 or 300 people who won't be fed.

Mike Hooper: We are faced with what we are faced with and there are 24 hours in a day. It means we got to work 24 hours in a day. We have got to do that.

Karan Thapar: Are you biting your nails?

Mike Hooper: Well, that's a bad habit but I have not just to do with Delhi.

Karan Thapar: Beyond the catering, beyond the lack of completion certificates, beyond the safety concerns, how does the amenities and the facilities in the games village in Delhi compare with those you have previously seen in Melbourne or Sydney or even Beijing?

Mike Hooper: Well, my view, and I support Mr Fennell's comments, this village and those apartments and the spatial air, the quality of the apartments, the ratio of 2 per room, the bathroom ratios etc, assuming everything works as it should, it would be the best games village we have ever had, the best accommodation we have ever had for the games.

Karan Thapar: But the big question is that can you get the safety certificates in time, can the catering be up and running, can the kitchens be functioning and can everything be completely perfect, in eleven days?

Mike Hooper: It has to be. It's as simple as that. Unless the message to whoever is responsible, the DDA, we have the Emaar MGF, the contractors, the overlay suppliers etc. the time is what it is. The date of the games does not change; there is no question of changing the date.

Karan Thapar: Is there any question of postponing the games?

Mike Hooper: Absolutely not.

Karan Thapar: So one or two events may suffer, but the games will have to happen.

Mike Hooper: We can't speculate whether they will suffer or not but the games will happen for sure.

Karan Thapar: Let's come to the fear of dengue. With possibly as many as 1200 cases compared to just a handful last year, with dengue widely believed to be peaking in October and with the meteorological department predicting excessively heavy rainfall in September, how do you assess the threat of dengue?

Mike Hooper: Well I think, it is well known to everybody that dengue is a seasonal problem that you have here in Delhi and in India and it's not new.

Karan Thapar: Worst this year than it has been in the last five.

Mike Hooper: Yes of course. We are aware of that and I think it comes back to prevention is better than cure and therefore we have to ensure that in and around the games village, in and around the games venues etc all appropriate measures are taken.

Karan Thapar: Are they happening?

Mike Hooper: Well, we have been told that.

Karan Thapar: But have you been able to check it out yourself?

Mike Hooper: When Mr Fennell was here, again in August, we communicated with the CMO -Chief Medical Officer - Bharatinder Singh of the Organising Committee and he provided us with the details of what various preventive measure have been taken. For example - the fogging, the removal of access water, the removal of debris--

Karan Thapar: In terms of plans and execution, are they happening?

Mike Hooper: We were told they were happening. Mr Fennell, there was a speculation in the media whether there should be advisory on dengue. We didn't issue and advisory. What we did was we did a report on the games, his visit on the games security etc.--

Karan Thapar: --I read that in the papers.

Mike Hooper: And what we said is that certainly, when we went around, the measure seemed effective.

Karan Thapar: Now, two weeks later?

Mike Hooper: Two weeks later, I am not aware of anything around the venues. But certainly, it's an issue and that preventive measure must take place. We have been saying to people when you come here, use repellents etc. It's common sense.

Karan Thapar: Is there a danger that because of the fear of dengue, sizeable number of athletes and officials might decide not to come thus, undermining your games?

Mike Hooper: There have been lot's of speculations on lots of reasons why athletes may or may not come to the games. Whether it is performance issues, whether it is security issues--

Karan Thapar: --but dengue is a particular concern.

Mike Hooper: Dengue is a concern. But, there are a lot of areas you can travel to where there are vector borne diseases, there are other things that you need to protect yourself against.

Karan Thapar: So you are hoping that people will come.

Mike Hooper: I am sure they will come.

Karan Thapar: Has Delhi got enough preparations in place I am talking about: the hospitals, doctors and medicines in case, god forbid, dengue hits athletes, officials and tourists.

Mike Hooper: Well certainly, the advisory here from the CMO is that.

Karan Thapar: Have you got any way of double checking?

Mike Hooper: We will confirm further with him between now and the games. Obviously.

Karan Thapar: Are you also going to personally make an effort to check that defogging and all the other devices that are taking as precautionary measures are being taken?

Mike Hooper: Well, I will follow up on it. I am not qualified enough to know whether they have done something or not done something. But we will follow up accordingly.

Karan Thapar: Let's then come to the second big challenge you face - the challenge of Delhi's roads and the flow of traffic. I know that was an issue of particular concern when he came in August. But since then, reports of roads capsizing and caving in have proliferated. We know that the rains in September are going to be excessive and add to the problem. How do you assess this problem.

Mike Hooper: Well, we have always known right from the get go, right from the award of the games that traffic in Delhi is a substantial challenge, the one that the Delhi Police and the traffic police are working very hard to overcome, particualarly to ensure that the smooth movement of athletes and officials to and from the village, to their places of training.

Karan Thapar: Are you satisfied with the plans they are putting in place?

Mike Hooper: If they work, yeah.

Karan Thapar: If they work?

Mike Hooper: Yeah, but then the proof is in the pudding, isn't it? When there is implementation. We can't speculate today and say that won't work. Certainly, on the plans that were presented to us etc, there is no reason to doubt the dedicated lanes that they won't work.

Karan Thapar: Well, I will come to the dedicated lanes in a moment's time because they are very controversial with the residents of Delhi but, first of all, are you, as far as the plans go, reasonably confident that the athletes and officials will be able to move around fairly quickly and fairly easily?

Mike Hooper: Seeing against the plans that we have been presented - yeah.

Karan Thapar: The problem with the dedicated lanes which give you comfort and assurance is that they infuriate the residents of Delhi. They are anyway beginning to dread the games; several are beginning to curse the games because of the chaos in the city. When those dedicated lanes happen from 20th of September, that animosity could rise. Does that worry you? You are coming to a city where people are fed up with the games and dreading the prospect of them happening.

Mike Hooper: I think there is a wide generalisation that you have made. I have seen surveys that say quite the opposite. Ninety per cent of the people surveyed in a particular survey, I know that they are subjective, support the games and want it to be a success in India. But look, clearly traffic is going to be an issue. We know that by providing dedicated lanes adds to it but we need to get the athletes and officials to the events on time. Now public transport is what is being encouraged. Buy tickets for the games, come to the games, free on the Metro, free on the buses.

Karan Thapar: The second or rather the third challenge that you face is the security. There is no secret that the game are a tempting target to terrorists, and according to some newspapers, they even present a tempting target to the Maoists. Are the necessary security precautions in place?

Mike HooperL: I believe so.

Karan Thapar: When you say you believe so, how can you double check? What gives you the confidence?

Mike Hooper: Quite simply, right from the get go, the government of India made it very clear that we will deliver safe and secure environment for the Commonwealth Games to take place and there has been nothing, in so far as the planning and interaction with the Delhi Police and others, that would suggest anything other than that. Now our own security advisers have come here on regular occasions, nine time in total and certainly from a planning perspective, have echoed the comments from the Met police and others who have made comments when they have come in, the ISGL conference that was held here in July, all saying plenty in on track. And again, you are right, it comes down to the implementation and the proof is in the delivery.

Karan Thapar: Problem is the implementation. As you perhaps know the Home Minister, just a couple of days ago, revealed that even the security agencies won't have access to the stadiums till perhaps the 8th of September and then they are going to have only one week to put their systems and arrangements in place. They wanted 4 weeks, they are getting one. Are you confident that in 25 per cent of the time they need, they can actually do the job?

Mike Hooper: Well, the bottom-line is they have to. Now the reason they delayed is obviously is that other government agencies didn't deliver the venues. So, they have to do the work. We all have had our challenges. Many of them are associated with delivering these games. What we want to see come October 14th, is the athletes saying these are successful games.

Karan Thapar: Let me put it like this. You are saying repeatedly that the things will have to happen: safety certificates have to be done, stadiums have to be completed, catering has to be ready, the games village has to be ready and now, security arrangements have to be ready.

Mike Hooper: Of course.

Karan Thapar: But the problem is what if they aren't?

Mike Hooper: Again, we will have to face those issues as we go through. The games team management group that incorporates all the stakeholders, that has been put in place throughout the games and as and when things perhaps don't happen, then it is putting right that counts and making sure they are fixed.

Karan Thapar: You got your back against the wall haven't you?

Mike Hooper: It's challenging. Absolutely.

Karan Thapar: Let me put it like this. Suresh Kalmadi and Jaipal Reddy have repeatedly said that these are going to be the best ever Commonwealth Games. Do you share that confidence or would you hesitate to put it so strongly?

Mike Hooper: Ideally, I don't make these sorts of judgements. People speculate like this, at the end of the day, it's the athletes who decide whether these games are success or not. And let's ask them on 14th of October.

Karan Thapar: It's very interesting that the CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation refuses to endorse the claim of both Suresh Kalmadi and Jaipal Reddy that these will be the best ever games. There is clearly a message in that refusal to endorse it.

Mike Hooper: You can speculate as you see but we have never said it for Melbourne, we have never said it for Manchester. At the end of the day, others will be the judge.

Karan Thapar: And damned if you are going to say for Delhi just now.

Mike Hooper: What was that for anyway?

Karan Thapar: Mike Hooper, a pleasure talking to you.

Mike Hooper: Thank you.

Hostage cops freed? Maoists say yes, govt no

2010-09-06T09:15:00.000+05:30

Patna: Maoists on Sunday claimed to have released the three Bihar policemen taken hostage a week back but the state government said it had no information as the agonizing wait for their families continued.

Hopes of an end to the hostage crisis were dashed when there was no trace of the abducted policemen several hours after the Maoists claimed they had released them.

"The search has been intensified as we have to ensure safe release of the hostages," Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) P K Thakur told PTI. "We do not depend on the media reports that showed Maoists claiming to have released the cops," he said.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also said that he had no knowledge about the release of the hostages.

His comments followed an unsubstantiated claim by Maoists to some local media offices that they had released the three cops.

Local TV channels in Jamui quoting Maoist sources said that the policemen had been released in Belhar forest on the border of Banka and Jamui.

According to footage beamed on a local channel, a self- proclaimed Maoist leader identifying himself as 'Kishanji' met family members of one of the hostages, Abhay Prasad Yadav in the wee hours today and assured them that he would be home soon.

"We have alerted the Superintendents of Police of these districts, but not a single hostage has been located anywhere," Director General of Police Neelmani and IG (Operation) K S Dwivedi, overseeing the combing operation in the districts of Munger, Jamui, Lakhisarai, Banka and Kaimur, said.

The area of search operation concentrated mostly in the hills and forests of the districts of Banka, Jamui, Munger, Lakhisarai and Kaimur, Dwivedi said, adding CoBRA battalion of CRPF, SAP, BMP and STF was engaged in a "meticulously planned search."

A solution to the week-long hostage crisis in the state appeared to have emerged with a Maoist leader last night claiming that the three kidnapped policemen – Rupesh Kumar Sinha, Mohammad Ehsaan and Abhay Yadav-- would be freed by 8 AM on Sunday. They had earlier killed one of the captives, Lokus Tete. His body was found on Friday.

Under intense pressure to end the crisis in the poll-bound state, the Chief Minister on Saturday held an all-party meeting and offered Maoists safe passage for talks for the release of the hostages.

Avinash, a self-proclaimed spokesman for the Maoists, had claimed on Saturday night that the central committee had decided to let off the three policemen.

Giving a glimmer of hope, 'Kishanji' said, "Naxalites do have mothers and sisters and we don't want your family to grieve anymore." Abhay's wife, Rajni, tied a 'rakhi' to the Maoist.

Dwivedi said, "We too have seen the TV footage, but we don't know the identity of the person as yet."

IPL IV: 2 groups, 4 foreigners, $ 9 million cap

2010-09-05T17:18:00.002+05:30

New Delhi: Mumbai: The IPL Governing Council met here Sunday and decided to introduce a changed format involving a total of 74 matches during the expanded fourth edition of the twenty20 extravaganza.

"There would be a total of 74 matches in all," IPL's interim chairman Chirayu Amin told reporters after the meeting. "Each franchise would get to play a minimum of seven matches," according to another IPL source.

Indications are that the teams would be split into two groups in the initial phase.

Till last season there were eight franchises who played on a home-and-away basis leading to 56 matches in the league phase, followed by two semi-finals, a 3-4 placings match (played only in IPL-III) and a grand final - making it a total of 60 matches.

With two additional franchise teams added to the fray, Sahara Warriors of Pune and as yet unnamed Kochi franchise, a continuation of the home-and-away format would mean a total of 94 matches which the Council members did not find feasible.

Among the other major decisions taken on Sunday were the retention of players for next few seasons by the original eight franchises and date of the next players' auction.

The IPl GC on Sunday decided that a total of four players can be retained by each (original) franchise, which includes a maximum of three Indian players. The players' auction would be held in the second week of November.

Amin said that each franchise would have a cap of 9 million dollar to spend at the next players' auction but this amount would get reduced with retention of players.

"The franchises may have only half their money in hand if they decide to retain all the four players to spend during the new players' auction," he explained.

At the inaugural players' auction held here in February, 2008, each franchise had 5 million dollar to spend.

Another 2 million dollar was the cap for the second auction held in Goa and for the third auction, held again in Mumbai, each franchise was allowed to spend only 750,000 dollar.

The Council also proposed minor changes in the catchment areas of the various franchises. The decisions have to be vetted by the BCCI's AGM on September 29.

Bihar cops released? Nitish denies knowledge

2010-09-05T17:17:00.003+05:30

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has denied having any knowledge of the Maoists reportedly promising the release of three policemen they abducted last week.

"We don't have any information about the release of policemen," said Kumar after local TV channels reported that a Maoist leader had promised family members of kidnapped sub-inspector Abhay Prasad Yadav that he would be returned shortly, leading to rumours that they have been released.

The Maoist leader, who turned up at Yadav's home here identified himself as 'Kishanji' and assured the family that Yadav would be released shortly, according to footage beamed by a local TV channel. "Naxalites do have mothers and sisters and we don't want your family to grieve anymore," the man, wearing a saffron turban, said while accepting a 'rakhi' from the sub-inspector's wife, Rajni.

"We have decided to free him after being influenced by your emotional outburst...," he said before leaving.

Inspector General of Police (Operations) K S Dwivedi said, "We too have seen the footage, but we don't know the identity of the person as yet."

Besides Yadav, the Maoists had kidnapped another sub-inspector Rupesh Kumar, assistant sub-inspector Lokus Tete and Bihar Military Police havildar Ehtesham Khan during an encounter in Lakhisarai district last Sunday.

They later killed Tete and left his body on the road.

Nitish Kumar had on Saturday appealed to the Maoists to free the three remaining hostages and offered safe passage to the Maoists to hold talks.

Day 8: Bihar hostage crisis may end today

2010-09-05T17:17:00.000+05:30

Patna: Families of three Bihar policemen still being held hostage by the Maoists are waiting for the rebels to keep their words and release them by Sunday.

Self-proclaimed Maoist spokesman Avinash on Saturday responded to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s appeal to not harm the hostages and release them by saying that the three abducted policemen were safe and that they would be released on Sunday.

This news was a welcome relief for the families of Abhay Prasad Yadav, Rupesh Kumar Sinha and Ehtesham Khan. They have been fearing the worst since the killing of Bihar Military Police Sub-Inspector Lokus Tete who was kidnapped with the other three policemen during a gunfight on August 29 in the forest of Lakhisarai. Avinash said the abducted policemen would be handed over to their respective families though he refused to disclose the location. He said the decision has been taken on humanitarian grounds and after the Bihar government's offer. The Bihar hostage crisis entered its 8th day on Sunday.

Bihar government on Saturday decided to reach out to the Maoists who have abducted Bihar policemen. Following an all-party meeting held in Patna, Nitish Kumar appealed to the Maoists to release the three policemen still being held hostage by them.

Kumar on Saturday appealed to the Maoists to come forward for talks, but he did not reveal if the state government was willing to negotiate on the Maoists demand to release eight of their fellow men.

"I appeal to the Maoists not to harm the hostages," appealed the Kumar.

Kumar had promised the Maoists leaders who come for talks a safe passage.

Mastermind of Bihar hostage crisis arrested

2010-09-04T10:36:00.000+05:30

Patna: The mastermind behind the Bihar hostage crisis has been arrested. Bihar Police on Saturday morning arrested the two senior Naxal leaders in an encounter in a combing operation near the jungles of Lakhisarai and claimed that one of them is the mastermind behind the abduction of four Bihar policemen, one of whom was killed on Thursday.

The alleged mastermind has been identified as Pramod, a senior Naxal leader. The other leader’s identity is yet to be established.

However, there is still no word about the three remaining policemen. But Pramod’s arrest is likely to bring relief not only to the family members of the abducted policemen but also to the Nitish Kumar government. On Friday the body of Lokus Tete, an assistant sub-inspector with the Bihar Military Police adbcuted with three other policemen, was found in a pool of blood in the forests near Lakhisari. For three other families, the harrowing wait continues.

Naxals shot Tete after holding him in captivity for five days. Contrary to the reports that appeared on Wednesday, it was not inspector Abhay Prasad Yadav who was killed.

But the letter found on Tete's body laid all doubts to rest. His killers repeated their warning: "Pay heed to us or the other kidnapped cops will also meet the same fate."

CBI unearths fresh railway recruitment scam

2010-09-04T10:34:00.000+05:30

New Delhi: After unearthing a multi-crore railway recruitment scam in February this year, CBI has now unearthed another scam, this time related to the appointment of Class 4 employees.

CNN-IBN has accessed a secret letter written by CBI Director Ashwini Kumar to Vivek Sahay Chairman of the Railway Board. The letter seeks approval to investigate appointments made by the present General Manager of the West Central Railways VK Manglik and Chief Personnel Officer BL.

The CBI report says the duo between April 2008 and June 2009 abused their official positions as public servants with malafide intention and appointed 370 persons in Group D posts. The appointments of substitutes was made against existing normal vacancies in Group D when these appointments can only be made in case of an urgency and that too for jobs related to train operation, passenger amenities or production.

CBI report says the two flouted many procedures.

The department concerned was not asked about the requirements, which is happens to be an important criterion.

Also no notifications were issued and no tests conducted on officers for facilitating back-door entry to undeserving candidates.

What's seems interesting is that the officers had approached the candidates directly.

However, it is not just the West Central Railways, the CBI has also completed enquires on two former General Managers of the North Frontier Railways. The report says AK Sanwalka, former GM of NF Railways Guwahati, made appointments two days before his retirement in 2007.

His successor Ashutosh Swami charged with appointing 40 substitutes in Group D and processed application of 100 candidates.

The CBI report says that some of the appointees simply submitted bio-data and got away by greasing the palms of Ashutosh Swami.

The railway is at present cleaning up the mess of the recruitment scam. This scam related to appointments is likely to hurt it badly, leaving several questions unanswered for India's biggest recruiter.

Hostage crisis is Nitish's biggest litmus test

2010-09-04T10:33:00.000+05:30

Patna: In a cruel twist of fate it was the body of Lokus Tete, an assistant sub-inspector with the Bihar Military Police, that was found in a pool of blood on Friday. For three other families, the harrowing wait continues.

Naxals shot Tete after holding him in captivity for five days. Contrary to the reports that appeared on Wednesday, it was not inspector Abhay Yadav who was killed.

But the letter found on Tete's body laid all doubts to rest. His killers repeated their warning: "Pay heed to us or the other kidnapped cops will also meet the same fate." So what will Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar do now? Time is of essence to the CM, who ironically is hailed as a god in the tribal-dominated areas of Jamui. As a first step, he has called for an all-party meeting. But questions are already being raised about his approach so far.

Why did it take five days and the murder of a cop for the state government to show urgency in dealing with the situation? What were the circumstances which led to the killing of seven cops and kidnapping of four on Sunday? Has any communication been established at all between the kidnappers and the government?

The trouble for Nitish is that he still doesn't know the identity of those he is dealing with. Rather strangely, the jails of Bihar have top Naxal leaders. The kidnappers are asking for the release of ordinary Maoistcadre. It's a dilemma which Nitish must resolve soon.

Lalu Prasad said: "Nitish shouldn't have spoken the way he did."

Human rights activists are now asking the Maoists not to harm any of the cops. With each killing of a policeman in captivity, sympathy for the Naxals' cause is bound to deteriorate.

Swami Agnivesh, a social activist, said: "With folded hands I request them not to harm anyone and release these people."

There is still a big question mark on the safety of the other three cops. For a chief minister who made a mark for himself by becoming the face of development, the present crisis is his biggest litmus test.

Sonia re-elected as Cong President for 4th term

2010-09-03T19:29:00.000+05:30

New Delhi: Sonia Gandhi was re-elected as Congress President for fourth consecutive term in New Delhi on Friday. Sonia is already the longest serving party President.

With no one else choosing to contest, her election as President was a foregone conclusion. The formal announcement about Sonia's election was made by Congress Central Election Authority Chairman Oscar Fernandes. After announcing Sonia's election Fernandes handed over the certificate to her.

Thanking the party leaders and workers, she said: "since the beginning, the Congress has been working for every section of the society. Whether we are in government or not, we should not forget this big responsibility". "I am grateful to all the Congress workers across the country for supporting me," she said.

The function was attended by many Congress leaders and Union ministers including Prime MinisterManmohan Singh.

Agnivesh blames Nitish for policeman's death

2010-09-03T19:28:00.001+05:30

Patna: In the latest development to the hostage crisis that has been unfolding in Bihar, social activist and Naxal sympathiser Swami Agnivesh has blamed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the death of one of the four kidnapped policemen. The dead policeman has been identified as Lokus Tete.

He termed the Nitish Kumar government as being callous having lost precious time in dealing with the situation.

He also said that Naxals killed Tete because of Kumar’s decision to send policemen out to kill them. “The government is callous, they lost precious time… It must appeal to the Maoists to extend the deadline by another 24hours, “ said Agnivesh. “Had it been a minister’s son the state government would have secured his release by now,” stated Agnivesh.

“If Nitish is someone who is against using force, why did he send the cops to kill the Maoists in the first place? It’s obvious that they’ll retaliate now,” he added.

Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has also asked the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumarthat all efforts need to be made by the Bihar government to rescue the abducted cops.

Hostage crisis: different cop's body found

2010-09-03T19:27:00.002+05:30

Patna: The body found in the forests of Lakhisarai has been identified as that of Bihar Military Police Sub-Inspector Lokus Tete. Tete’s body was found with a note reportedly written by the Maoists in which they warned that the other abducted policemen would be killed if their demand for the release of their eight jailed comrades was not accepted.

"The body found in Lakhisarai is of Sub Inspector Lokus Tete. We are working on finding the other three policemen as soon as possible," said Bihar ADG (Headquarters) PK Thakur.

Munger Range DIG M S Majid also confirmed that the body was that of Tete. "The body at Lakhisarai is of Lokus Tete. We are trying our best to locate the three policemen. This range is hilly and difficult to go beyond a certain level," said Majid. Meanwhile, Centre has decided to send more paramilitary force to Bihar for anti-Maoist operations.

"Centre is sending additional companies there. The state is handeling the situation and Centre is giving full support to the state," Kashmir Singh, Joint Secretary (Naxal Management), Union Home Ministry, said.

On Thursday Maoists had clamed that they had killed the officer in-charge of the Manikpur outpost in Lakhisarai district Abhay Prasad Yadav after a 'jan adalat' pronounced him guilty. A Maoist leader, who identified himself as Avinash, had on Thursday called some local media persons and said that Yadav had been killed. There is still now news about the other abducted policemen.

Maoists kidnapped four Bihar Police officials during a gunbattle in Lakhisarai district on Sunday and have been demanding the release of their eight comrades in lieu of the abducted men. The four policemen who have been kidnapped are Rupesh Kumar Sinha, Lokus Tete, Mohammad Ehsaan and Abhay Prasad Yadav. Tete hailed from Koleibera in Jharkhand's Simdega district.

Rupesh Kumar Sinha is a resident of Bettiah in Bihar. He is the only son of his parents and the sole bread winner of his family. He is a trainee Sub Inspector with Bihar Police.

Hawaldar Mohammad Ehsaan is a father of four children and hails from Goregaon village in Jharkhand while Abhay Prasad Yadav is the officer in-charge of the Manikpur outpost. Yadav's wife and daughter live in Patna.

It has been a tough call for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Does he bow to Maoist demands and release eight of their men or does he stand firm and risk the lives of the other three policemen.

The unanswered questions that are now being raised: Has the government been late in responding to the hostage situation? Should they go for an all-out offensive after one policeman's death? Do Bihar Police and paramilitary forces lack co-ordination? Does Maoist-affected Bihar have a policy in place?

Maoist deadline ends, Bihar CM under pressure

2010-09-03T12:04:00.000+05:30

Patna: The new deadline of 10 am Friday set by the Maoists for the release of the three remaining Bihar policemen still being held hostage has expired but there is still no confirmed news about them. Reports say the three policemen still being hostage are safe, but their fate too hangs in the balance with the Maoists new deadline now over.

A Maoist leader Avinash had on Thursday called some local media persons and claimed that they had killed one of the four abducted police officer, Abhay Prasad Yadav, on Thursday after a 'jan adalat' pronounced him guilty. Yadav was the officer in-charge of the Manikpur outpost in Lakhisarai district and had been kidnapped with three other policemen during a fierce gunbattle with the Maoists on Sunday.

Police have recovered a body from the forests under Kajra police station in Lakhisarai district. But it is still not clear if it is Yadav’s corpse. Police officials are trying to identify the body. A note found on the body reportedly written by the Maoists warned that the other three policemen would be killed if their demand of releasing eight Maoists in jail is not met. The Maoists also want that Operation Greenhunt be called off. "We want the immediate release of our eight people else we shall kill the remaining three policemen as well, " the note said.

However, police officials say the body found in the jungles could be a bait.

"Villagers have claimed that they have seen the body. It has not been verified. It could be a bait. It is a difficult terrain. We do not want any more casualties so we are moving cautiously," said Lakhisarai Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Mishra.

Lakhisarai Station Officer Atul Kumar Mishra claimed that the body found was not that of Yadav. "The body is not Abhay Yadav's. He can be from the Bihar Military Police. Only they will have to verify it," he said.

Bihar ADG PK Thakur, too, said they have not received any information about Yadav being killed.

"We can't confirm if Abhay Yadav has been killed. We have not got any information in this regard. We have checked it from various sources. Police operation will continue. We will find our four men at any cost. The news that has come in the media is very serious. The Chief Minister has called a meeting to know the ground report,” Thakur had said on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, operations to rescue the abducted police officials have been intensified.

"A combined force of Cobra Battalion of Central Reserve Police Force, Bihar Military Police, Special Task Force and Special Auxiliary Police (SAP) of Bihar Police have intensified anti-Maoists operations for rescuing the policemen kidnapped by the Maoists during Sunday's encounter in Lakhisarai district," Inspector General (Operations), KS Dwivedi, overseeing the anti-Maoists operations, said.

Intense search operations have been continuing in the hilly and forest areas in Dharhara, Kajra and several other places in Bihar's Munger, Jamui and Lakhisarai districts.

Pressure is mounting on Bihar Chief Minister to start negotiations with the Maoists for the safe release of the policemen. The residence of Bihar Chief Minister at 1 Anne Marg has been cordoned off and a high alert sounded. Nitish has called for an all-party meet at 4 pm on Saturday.

The four policemen who have been kidnapped are Rupesh Kumar Sinha, Lucus Tete, Mohammad Ehsaan and Yadav.

Nitish struggling to solve the hostage crisis

2010-09-03T12:02:00.000+05:30

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is faced with a tough question: does he give in to Maoistthreats and release their eight comrades or does he stand firm and risk the lives of the three policemen.

The Bihar hostage crisis has meant that Nitish is facing the toughest test of his political career and that too on the eve of Assembly elections in the state.

The man who has been hailing himself as the saviour of Bihar is now struggling to resolve the latest Maoist crisis. On the one hand he doesn't want to be seen to be giving in to Maoists' demands, but on the other he also does not want to project himself as being totally helpless.

He has already said that he is ready to talk with the Maoists but there is also the talk of launching an all-out offensive against the rebels. "We will go all out to rescue our colleagues," Bihar ADGP PK Thakur.

With one kidnapped policeman Abhay Prasad Yadav already killed and scenes of his grieving family only adding up pressure on him, Nitish needs to do some quick thinking. Many are raising the question if the state administration underestimated the gravity of the situation.

Maoist sympathisers blame Nitish for not having opened a direct negotiation channel in last three days, causing loss of a human life. The government has been denying any effort been made by naxals for any such negotiation.

"No one ever contacted Nitish Kumar. Only once did a man named Vinesh call up the Chief Minister's office. He demanded that eight Maoists be released or the policemen will be murdered. But he disconnected and did not speak to the Chief Minister," said JD(U) leader SOT Shivanand Tiwary.

Swamy Agnivesh appealed to the Maoists to not kill the policemen held hostage.

"I am appealing to Maoists through you, give up violence, don't kill these policemen, extend deadline. I am willing to talk," he said.

Now the latest deadline of 10 am Friday set by the Maoists for the state to meet their demand is already over. They still have three more policemen with them.

Even Nitish's allies are unwilling to offer any solution to him at this stage.

"Negotiating with Maoists will give the wrong message," said BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Watching all the action from the sidelines is the Union Home Ministry. Unlike Chhattisgarh where everyMaoist strike has led to quick reactions from the Centre, Bihar Chief Minister's public disagreement with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's anti-Maoist approach has created a silence this time.

Indian wrestlers, athletes fail dope test

2010-09-03T09:26:00.002+05:30

New Delhi: Two athletes and four wrestlers have tested positive in random testing conducted by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) during the trials in Patiala in the run-up to the October 3-14 Commonwealth Games and provisionally suspended by their respective federations.

The wrestlers - Sumit (74 kg), Mausam Khatri (96 kg) and Rajiv Tomar (120 kg) in men's freestyle and Gursharanpreet Kaur (72 kg) in women's section - were part of the Commonwealth Games squad and have been replaced, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president GS Mander said.

The two athletes, who returned positive in the dope test conducted by NADA during the trials at Patiala from August 5-8, are shot-putter Saurav Vij and discus-thrower Akash Antil.
Vij, who was part of the Commonwealth Games squad announced on Tuesday, and Antil have been provisionally suspended with immediate effect, the Athletics Federation of India said.

"As per the report received from National Anti Doping Agency (NADA), the athletes Saurav Vij and Akash Antil were found positive in the dope test conducted during National Inter State Senior Athletics Championships held at Patiala from August 5-8.
"They are hereby provisionally suspended with immediate effect till the pending enquiry," Ravinder Chaudhry, Officiating Secretary, AFI, said.
The incident comes barely a week after the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) bailed out the weightlifters by giving an interest-free loan to the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) to pay off fines due to doping sanctions.
In wrestling, WFI named Narsingh Pancham Yadav (74 kg), Anil Mann (96 kg) and Praveen (120 kg) in the freestyle section and Anshu Tomar (72 kg) in the women's section as replacements in the 21-member squad which include seven women.
The wrestlers tested positive for a banned substance called methylhexanamine. The tests were part of routine random testing by the NADA during the August 8-9 trials in the run-up to the Games.
The suspended wrestlers can appeal against the result but the WFI had to name their replacements since Thursday was the last date for official entries of participants.
A dejected Mander said in an emergency meeting on Thursday that the WFI decided to provisionally suspend the four wrestlers.
"During the trials, we tested all the probables and these four wrestlers tested positive. The methylhexanamine is a stimulant and it is easily available at medical stores. Now we have sent them a notice and we will take necessary action against them," Mander told IANS.
Mander said that in the last four years, since Sushil Kumar's bronze in Beijing Olympics, Indian wrestling has come a long way and WFI is trying its best to keep the sport dope-free.

"We have adopted a strict policy against doping. The WFI has conducted several out-of-competition testing this year and only these four have tested positive. We have come down hard on cheaters," said Mander, after the emergency meeting of the selection committee at the KD Jadhav Wrestling Stadium.

Clock is ticking for remaining abducted cops

2010-09-03T09:25:00.000+05:30

Patna: Rajni Yadav - wife of Abhay Yadav, a jawan of the Bihar Military Police - pleaded with the government to step in and save her husband from the Naxals.

His daughter's heartrending plea and prayers, too, failed to move the Naxals of Bihar. Sub-inspector Yadav, who was taken hostage along with three others, was reportedly killed. His body was thrown near the Piri Bazaar railway tracks.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had earlier said: "We are ready for talks. Whoever wants to come for talks can come. There is no use making a hue and cry outside my house. I am also helpless." Yadav, Mohammad Ehsaan, Rupesh Kumar Sinha and Lokus Tete were taken hostage on Sunday after an encounter in the forests of Lakhisarai. Seven other policemen were killed during the encounter and 11 others were injured.

Naxals demanded that their arrested commanders be set free and they be given a safe passage in return for the hostages. A deadline of 4 pm on Wednesday was set after which they threatened to kill the hostages.

Reports quoting a Maoist spokesperson suggested Yadav was killed as the government failed to negotiate even six hours after the deadline ended. A 'jan adalat' was called in the Lakhi Sarai forests and the decision to kill Yadav was taken.

The Naxals then set a fresh deadline of 10 am on Friday for the other three hostages.

Pyari Tete, Lokus's wife, said: "My only son has already died. I have three daughters. How will I feed them? He (Lokus) is the only earning member of my family."

Shafiq Ehsaan, brother of Mohammad Ehsaan, said: "There is no communication from the administration. We got all information only through the media. We don't know where he is. Till now we have no information."

The killing of Yadav has narrowed the choice before the state government. It's either to go all-out offensive or budge under Naxals pressure. The government has clearly chosen the aggressive path and in process endangered the lives of three other abducted cops.