Delhi's Sunday is being spent on edge as the alert for a possible terror strike in a crowded place continues.
The government and the police say precautions added at markets like Sarojini Nagar include security cameras, metal detector and more policemen than usual.
"Delhi police are not just concentrating on markets and malls in the national capital, but we are also keeping strict vigil on all crowded areas as it's a weekend," Delhi Police spokesman Rajan Bhagat told IANS.
"Additional police forces are being deployed in all the market areas like Connaught Place, Mehrauli, Karol Bagh, Sarojini Nagar and Chandni Chowk. Even big malls in and around the city have been alerted on security checks," he said.
Soon after the terror alert, the Delhi Police appealed to the public to be vigilant. "If any suspicious object, person or vehicle is noticed, information should be passed on immediately to the nearest police station, or the public can call up toll free number - 1090," Bhagat said.
On Saturday, the US, in an advisory to citizens, warned of an "imminent" attack in the capital. Americans were asked to avoid markets like Sarojini Nagar, Greater Kailash and Karol Bagh. This is the first time the US has used the word "imminent" in any advisory on a terror alert in India. Canada and Australia issued similar advisories on Saturday. (Read: US advisory warns of Delhi attack, cops on alert)
Sources in the Indian government say that Indian intelligence agencies received information on Friday night that a person had been asked to attack a crowded place on Saturday. That alert is still being followed.
Sources say the latest threat, like other recent ones, is aimed at disrupting the Commonwealth Games in Delhi later this year. Emails received by sports bodies in UK, Canada and Australia warn them not to send athletes to Delhi for the Games. Sources say these emails have been traced to servers in Pakistan. (With IANS inputs)
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Youth detained for creating panic about blasts in Delhi
Jammu and Kashmir Police has detained a youth alleged to be the brain behind spreading panic by making calls claiming that blasts will be carried out in crowded markets of Delhi, which had prompted even the United States to issue a travel warning.
Highly-placed sources in the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department said that the man was detained in the wee hours after a massive manhunt was launched to nab him.
Last week, the security agencies had monitored his activities including his conversation with one "Furqan", suspected to be a Lashkar-e-Toiba operative across the border, and claiming that a group had entered India through Bangladesh and Nepal to carry out blasts in the national capital.
He is alleged to have been roped in by overground workers of separatist and terror groups for making such frivolous calls and creating panic among the intelligence agencies and unrest in other parts of the country, the sources said.
The Kashmiri youth had earlier also misguided the intelligence agencies by indulging in these kinds of acts, they said.
However, in absence of any stringent law, he managed to walk free, the sources said.
The successive warden notices issued by the US and sharing of intelligence by the American authorities raised eyebrows this time following which the authorities decided to get to the bottom of the case.
The US had issued a fresh advisory warning of "imminent" terror attacks in New Delhi, particularly in busy market places like Connaught Place, Greater Kailash and Chandni Chowk, which are "attractive targets" for terrorist groups.
"This warden message provides updated information related to the April 21, 2010 warden message and additional information related to the travel alert issued for India on April 16, 2010," the renewed advisory primarily intended for American citizens in India had said and also pointed out that there were "increased indications that terrorists are planning imminent attacks in New Delhi."
While countries like the UK and Australia were quick to follow, issuing travel alerts, Delhi Police went on high alert increasing its presence at all important places in the national capital, especially the markets mentioned in the advisories issued by the respective countries.
In the meantime, the Kashmiri youth, who was picked up after series of night-long raids by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, is understood to have told his interrogators that he had been promised money for creating such panic.
Highly-placed sources in the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department said that the man was detained in the wee hours after a massive manhunt was launched to nab him.
Last week, the security agencies had monitored his activities including his conversation with one "Furqan", suspected to be a Lashkar-e-Toiba operative across the border, and claiming that a group had entered India through Bangladesh and Nepal to carry out blasts in the national capital.
He is alleged to have been roped in by overground workers of separatist and terror groups for making such frivolous calls and creating panic among the intelligence agencies and unrest in other parts of the country, the sources said.
The Kashmiri youth had earlier also misguided the intelligence agencies by indulging in these kinds of acts, they said.
However, in absence of any stringent law, he managed to walk free, the sources said.
The successive warden notices issued by the US and sharing of intelligence by the American authorities raised eyebrows this time following which the authorities decided to get to the bottom of the case.
The US had issued a fresh advisory warning of "imminent" terror attacks in New Delhi, particularly in busy market places like Connaught Place, Greater Kailash and Chandni Chowk, which are "attractive targets" for terrorist groups.
"This warden message provides updated information related to the April 21, 2010 warden message and additional information related to the travel alert issued for India on April 16, 2010," the renewed advisory primarily intended for American citizens in India had said and also pointed out that there were "increased indications that terrorists are planning imminent attacks in New Delhi."
While countries like the UK and Australia were quick to follow, issuing travel alerts, Delhi Police went on high alert increasing its presence at all important places in the national capital, especially the markets mentioned in the advisories issued by the respective countries.
In the meantime, the Kashmiri youth, who was picked up after series of night-long raids by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, is understood to have told his interrogators that he had been promised money for creating such panic.
Sikh woman likely killed her babies: Canada police
A 28-year-old Sikh woman who was found dead along with her three infants in Calgary in October last year. It is likely she killed the babies herself in depression, Canadian police has said.
Harsimrat Kahlon (alias Simmi Kahlon) was found dead in the home in October 2009. Family members subsequently found the bodies of three infants hidden in sealed plastic bags and suitcases around the basement unit she shared with her partner.
The mystery surrounding the four deaths was revealed on Thursday when police said the mother died of complications related to childbirth.
It was still unclear how the newborns died.
However, police said the case "has many of the characteristics of infanticide" due to the physical and psychological evidence they gathered.
Kahlon's diary entries reflect a long history of mental illnesses.
She suffered from borderline personality disorder, said forensic psychologist Dr Thomas Dalby, who was part of the investigation.
"It was clear that she was significantly depressed at times, looked at herself as worthless, and had lost her will for life," said Dalby.
Kahlon gave birth to the first child in hospital in 2005, while delivering the other children she was alone in her house, according to police.
She went to great lengths to conceal her pregnancies from her partner and others.
Investigators are satisfied no one other than Kahlon was involved in the deaths and no charges against anyone else are being filed.
Harsimrat Kahlon (alias Simmi Kahlon) was found dead in the home in October 2009. Family members subsequently found the bodies of three infants hidden in sealed plastic bags and suitcases around the basement unit she shared with her partner.
The mystery surrounding the four deaths was revealed on Thursday when police said the mother died of complications related to childbirth.
It was still unclear how the newborns died.
However, police said the case "has many of the characteristics of infanticide" due to the physical and psychological evidence they gathered.
Kahlon's diary entries reflect a long history of mental illnesses.
She suffered from borderline personality disorder, said forensic psychologist Dr Thomas Dalby, who was part of the investigation.
"It was clear that she was significantly depressed at times, looked at herself as worthless, and had lost her will for life," said Dalby.
Kahlon gave birth to the first child in hospital in 2005, while delivering the other children she was alone in her house, according to police.
She went to great lengths to conceal her pregnancies from her partner and others.
Investigators are satisfied no one other than Kahlon was involved in the deaths and no charges against anyone else are being filed.
Obama pokes fun at McCain's maverick claim
President Barack Obama shared some words of wisdom on Saturday, saying there a few things in life harder to find and more important to keep than love.
"Well, love and a birth certificate," Obama quipped at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, poking fun at those who question his place of birth. "I happen to know that my approval ratings are still very high in the country of my birth." Obama was born in Hawaii, but birthers question whether he was born overseas.
Obama also jabbed Jay Leno, the comedian headlining the dinner. Obama dinged Leno as "the only person whose ratings fell more than mine."
He said he was glad he spoke before the television host, "because we have all seen what happens when somebody takes the time slot after Leno." Comic Conan O'Brien left NBC after his stint hosting "The Tonight Show" following Leno didn't work out.
He took aim at his own administration too, cracking jokes about Vice President Joe Biden and his chief of staff Rahm Emanuel.
Republicans were also the victims of many Obama punch lines. The president noted Sen. John McCain's claim this year that he was not identified as a maverick. "We all know what happens in Arizona when you don't have ID. ... Adios amigos," Obama quipped, referring to a new law in the state that targets illegal immigration.
He wasn't hesitant to mention the attention-hungry couple who crashed his state dinner last fall. "Odds are that the Salahis are here. There haven't been people that were more unwelcome at a party since Charlie Crist," he said about the Florida governor who decided to defect from the Republican party.
Although his poll numbers are down, Obama said he hears he's popular on Twitter and Facebook. "Or as Sarah Palin call it, the socialized media," he said.
Leno picked up on this joke to take a dig at Obama, saying the president isn't as aloof as some critics say he is. "He loves to socialize -- health care, car companies," Leno said, naming a few industries where the Obama administration has intervened.
Obama also acknowledged the problems facing the Gulf coast after the disastrous BP oil spill. He plans to go to the Gulf Coast Sunday for a firsthand assessment on efforts to contain the massive oil spill from an offshore drilling rig.
Among the 3,000 guests on hand included Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn, comedian Chevy Chase, actor Alec Baldwin, comedian Bill Maher, actress Michelle Pfeiffer, actor Dennis Quaid, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, GOP Chairman Michael Steele, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, White House senior adviser David Axelrod, the Jonas brothers and pop star Justin Bieber.
Hollywood heavyweights Michael Douglas and Steven Spielberg were seen chatting with Emanuel.
At the dinner, the White House Correspondents' Association introduced students who received college scholarships.
Honored at the dinner were several journalists:
--Ben Feller of The Associated Press and Jake Tapper of ABC News, for winning the Merriman Smith Award for presidential coverage under deadline pressure. Feller won for his coverage of Obama's unexpected late-night visit to Dover Air Force Base to honor fallen soldiers. Tapper won for his story that revealed tax problems of former Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D.
--Mark Knoller, of CBS News, for winning the Aldo Beckman award for sustained excellence in White House coverage. Knoller won for his work covering the White House for more than 35 years and in using multiple platforms to report.
--Suzanne Bohan and Sandy Kleffman, of the Contra Costa (Calif.) Times, for winning the Edgar A. Poe Award for excellence in coverage of news of national or regional significance. They were cited for a four-part series entitled, "Shortened Lives: Where You Live Matters."
The White House Correspondents' Association was formed in 1914 as a liaison between the press and the president. Every president since Calvin Coolidge has attended the dinner.
"Well, love and a birth certificate," Obama quipped at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, poking fun at those who question his place of birth. "I happen to know that my approval ratings are still very high in the country of my birth." Obama was born in Hawaii, but birthers question whether he was born overseas.
Obama also jabbed Jay Leno, the comedian headlining the dinner. Obama dinged Leno as "the only person whose ratings fell more than mine."
He said he was glad he spoke before the television host, "because we have all seen what happens when somebody takes the time slot after Leno." Comic Conan O'Brien left NBC after his stint hosting "The Tonight Show" following Leno didn't work out.
He took aim at his own administration too, cracking jokes about Vice President Joe Biden and his chief of staff Rahm Emanuel.
Republicans were also the victims of many Obama punch lines. The president noted Sen. John McCain's claim this year that he was not identified as a maverick. "We all know what happens in Arizona when you don't have ID. ... Adios amigos," Obama quipped, referring to a new law in the state that targets illegal immigration.
He wasn't hesitant to mention the attention-hungry couple who crashed his state dinner last fall. "Odds are that the Salahis are here. There haven't been people that were more unwelcome at a party since Charlie Crist," he said about the Florida governor who decided to defect from the Republican party.
Although his poll numbers are down, Obama said he hears he's popular on Twitter and Facebook. "Or as Sarah Palin call it, the socialized media," he said.
Leno picked up on this joke to take a dig at Obama, saying the president isn't as aloof as some critics say he is. "He loves to socialize -- health care, car companies," Leno said, naming a few industries where the Obama administration has intervened.
Obama also acknowledged the problems facing the Gulf coast after the disastrous BP oil spill. He plans to go to the Gulf Coast Sunday for a firsthand assessment on efforts to contain the massive oil spill from an offshore drilling rig.
Among the 3,000 guests on hand included Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn, comedian Chevy Chase, actor Alec Baldwin, comedian Bill Maher, actress Michelle Pfeiffer, actor Dennis Quaid, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, GOP Chairman Michael Steele, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, White House senior adviser David Axelrod, the Jonas brothers and pop star Justin Bieber.
Hollywood heavyweights Michael Douglas and Steven Spielberg were seen chatting with Emanuel.
At the dinner, the White House Correspondents' Association introduced students who received college scholarships.
Honored at the dinner were several journalists:
--Ben Feller of The Associated Press and Jake Tapper of ABC News, for winning the Merriman Smith Award for presidential coverage under deadline pressure. Feller won for his coverage of Obama's unexpected late-night visit to Dover Air Force Base to honor fallen soldiers. Tapper won for his story that revealed tax problems of former Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D.
--Mark Knoller, of CBS News, for winning the Aldo Beckman award for sustained excellence in White House coverage. Knoller won for his work covering the White House for more than 35 years and in using multiple platforms to report.
--Suzanne Bohan and Sandy Kleffman, of the Contra Costa (Calif.) Times, for winning the Edgar A. Poe Award for excellence in coverage of news of national or regional significance. They were cited for a four-part series entitled, "Shortened Lives: Where You Live Matters."
The White House Correspondents' Association was formed in 1914 as a liaison between the press and the president. Every president since Calvin Coolidge has attended the dinner.
US Army captain becomes king in Afghanistan
In the US Army, Casey Thoreen is just a 30-year-old captain. Around here, he's known as the "King of Maiwand" district -- testimony to the fact that without the young captain and a fat international wallet, local government in Hutal, Kandahar, as in much of the insurgency-ravaged south could not function at all.
Setting up effective governments at the district level is key to US strategy. US officials hope that providing basic services will draw support away from the Taliban, especially here in the Islamist group's heartland of Kandahar province.
But in this dusty farming community 40 miles (60 kilometers) west of Kandahar, Thoreen has discovered that bolstering the authority of a district governor, who relies on him almost completely for financial resources and credibility, is a delicate balancing act. He also knows the effort is unsustainable without greater support from the central Afghan government in Kabul.
"We are putting a big gamble on this," Thoreen said. "Any of this stuff we're doing here, not just at our level but the $800 billion we have spent so far in the country, is contingent on the government being effective."
For now, Thoreen and Maiwand's district governor, Obaidullah Bawari, are working with what they have -- which isn't much.
The 49-year-old Bawari, who has occupied the post for a year, has no staff except his personal assistant and no government budget except for the roughly $400 monthly salary that he receives from Kabul. He is responsible for civilian government operations in the district, including water, power and schools, and he mediates disputes.
There are about 150 Afghan police deployed in Maiwand, but they report to both the chief of police in Kandahar City as well as the provincial governor.
"Everything you see here is from the coalition forces," said Bawari, sweeping his hand toward the center of the district capital, Hutal, where the Army has paid for a new government headquarters, an agricultural center and various other projects.
It's a picture repeated across the country, including in the ethnic Pashtun heartland of southern Afghanistan, where opposition to the government and support for the Taliban run deep.
The Afghan government recently launched a new program backed by the U.S. to increase support to 80 key districts in the country, many of them in the south and east.
But Kandahar's provincial governor, Tooryalai Wesa, visited Maiwand for the first time recently and said he didn't have any additional resources to offer the district.
"That kind of blew my mind," said Thoreen, a West Point graduate from Seattle, Washington. "After nine years in Afghanistan we're still at this point."
When the troops from 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment first arrived in Hutal in September, Bawari basically had no authority within the district because he doesn't come from a powerful family and isn't well-educated.
"He was very intimidated, very helpless and had no sense of his responsibilities," Thoreen said.
The troops, who live in a small base in the middle of Hutal, have tried to boost Bawari's standing by encouraging him to take credit for development projects the U.S. military funded. They have also set up a series of traditional meetings, known as shuras, with tribal elders in an attempt to enlist their support.
"Through the district leader and us, the elders are involved in laying out the ideas for these projects and actually implementing them," Thoreen said. "All that has enhanced and empowered the district leader as well."
But the dynamic gets more complicated when Thoreen and the district governor disagree on an issue. That presents the captain with the difficult choice: either overrule Bawari and damage his authority or give in and accept a decision he believes is bad for the mission.
Such a situation arose at a recent shura when 25 farmers showed up to demand the return of more than 300 pounds (135 kilograms) of opium that Special Forces had seized from a car.
Thoreen refused to return the opium or compensate them for it, saying US forces have been clear that while they will not seize drugs from individual farmers, they will target smugglers. He sidelined Bawari during the debate because he knew the district governor disagreed with him and wanted to return the opium.
"I knew he would go that way in the shura if I opened it up to him, so I intentionally did not ask his opinion on it," said Thoreen.
Afterward, Bawari complained that the captain's decision damaged his credibility.
"The coalition forces didn't give the farmers a good answer and they walked away angry with us," he said.
But Thoreen said there have been other times when he has caved to the district governor's wishes, including agreeing to release three insurgents who had been caught with weapons just before they were about to attack a NATO supply convoy. He freed them after significant pressure from Bawari and a large number of tribal elders, who promised to prevent the men from engaging in future insurgent activity.
"It may not have been the greatest thing to do since we arrested one of the guys again doing something similar, but we created value in the district leader for the people through that decision," Thoreen said.
The district governor certainly appreciates Thoreen's efforts and says he is worried about what will happen when the captain leaves this summer with the rest of the 5th Stryker Brigade.
"We need the next person who comes to be exactly like Capt. Thoreen, patient and very smart," said Bawari. "If we get that kind of person, we won't have any problems."
Thoreen is flattered by the compliment, but adds a word of caution.
"I think that's all right as long as other people don't see that and think he's dependent on me," Thoreen said.
Maharashtra turns 50; Sachin, Lata, Thacekrays pay tribute
As Maharashtra celebrated 50 years of its statehood on Saturday, the self-proclaimed champions of the Marathi manoos: the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena launched a series of programs to attract the Marathi vote - from roping in Lata Mangeskar to sing praises of the state, to felicitating master blaster Sachin Tendulkar.
Sena supremo Bal Thackeray used everything, from party mouthpiece Saamna to even a record breaking blood donation drive.
In his speech Thackeray said, "The youth of today who attend rave parties need to know what sacrifice is. It is not enough to just visit the martyrs memorial."
Raj Thackeray, MNS Chief retorted, "I have woken up those who were sleeping. Lata Mangeshkar came even when I invited her to my function." Lata Mangeshkar will perform at a Shiv Sena organised function later today where she is expected to sing the same song she sang 50 years ago, the day Maharashtra was born.
Activities have sparked off a war of words between Bal Thackeray and his nephew Raj who broke away from the Sena to launch the MNS.
The war of words is taking place not just at public events but even on public hoardings.
Shiv Sena first put up a hoarding outside the Sena Bhavan or Sena headquarters in Dadar, saying- Some chose to break blood relations, others forged new relations through blood, a clear reference to the Sena's blood donation drive, spearheaded by party Executive President, Uddhav, but making a point about his cousin Raj. Not to be left behind in this hoarding battle, the MNS put one up right next to the Sena's claiming the MNS' love for the land, read Maharashtra, went way beyond family ties.
Shiv Sena Spokesperson, Sanjay Raut joined in. "What is this MNS? We have Bal Thackeray who was part of the fight for Maharashtra on our side."
The MNS in its turn organised food festivals, football tourneys and even felicitated prominent Marathis including Sachin Tendulkar who was recently targetted by Bal Thackeray. Sachin Tendulkar was also presented with a replica of the Jagdamba sword. Besides the master blaster, other prominent dignitaries felicitated include cricketers Dilip Vengsarkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, historian Babasaheb Purandare, Dr. R Mhashelkar, actors Ashok Saraf, Sachin Pilgaonkar, renowned singer Kishori Amonkar.
The level to which the Thackeray conflict has reached perhaps best reflected at the statue of family patriarch Prabodhankar Thackeray that stands near the Portuguese statue in Dadar. A well-known social reformer and activist, Prabodhankar Thackeray played a key role in the fight for a united Maharashtra. Fifty years on his statue is lined almost evenly with flags of his warring descendants.
In the midst of it all, is Mumbai's Marathi manoos taking the bait?
One lady from Andheri said, "All of them are fighting for the Marathis, but we have seen little success from it."
A staunch Raj Thackeray supporter added, "The brothers may be fighting but we are benefitting from it. And Raj Thackeray has led the way."
Another Mumbaikar said, "Their fight is an internal family fight. We see them as being united for our cause."
So is this political one upmanship really benefitting the Marathi manoos, for whom all this is being done? The jury as they say is still out on that.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
US warns of imminent terrorist attacks in Delhi
The US has indicated that terrorists are planning imminent attacks in Delhi. The country has asked its citizens in Delhi to be highly vigilant. (Read: April 22 - US warns of terror strikes in Delhi markets)
Attacks are likely in Jammu and Kashmir as well as in Delhi. All precautions were in place and there was no need to panic, the Home Ministry further said.
Reacting to the fresh warning, the Indian Home Ministry said that it was aware of these terror threats, which are not specific to Delhi. However, the ministry said that the terror warning was related to increased infiltration attempts in Jammu and Kashmir.
In the latest alert issued to its citizens the US says, "There are increased indications that terrorists are planning imminent attacks in New Delhi. Terrorists have targeted places in the past where US citizens or Westerners are known to congregate or visit. Markets, such as those located in Chandni Chowk, Connaught Place, Greater Kailash, Karol Bagh, Mehrauli, and Sarojini Nagar, can be especially attractive targets for terrorist groups".
"If you are in an area where unattended packages are spotted, you should immediately exit the area and report the packages to authorities," the alert adds.
Americans traveling or residing in India are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, remain aware of their surroundings, monitor local news reports, and take appropriate steps to bolster their personal security.
Attacks are likely in Jammu and Kashmir as well as in Delhi. All precautions were in place and there was no need to panic, the Home Ministry further said.
Reacting to the fresh warning, the Indian Home Ministry said that it was aware of these terror threats, which are not specific to Delhi. However, the ministry said that the terror warning was related to increased infiltration attempts in Jammu and Kashmir.
In the latest alert issued to its citizens the US says, "There are increased indications that terrorists are planning imminent attacks in New Delhi. Terrorists have targeted places in the past where US citizens or Westerners are known to congregate or visit. Markets, such as those located in Chandni Chowk, Connaught Place, Greater Kailash, Karol Bagh, Mehrauli, and Sarojini Nagar, can be especially attractive targets for terrorist groups".
"If you are in an area where unattended packages are spotted, you should immediately exit the area and report the packages to authorities," the alert adds.
Americans traveling or residing in India are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, remain aware of their surroundings, monitor local news reports, and take appropriate steps to bolster their personal security.
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