Delhi HC blast: Investigators still grappling for clues

8 Sep, 2011, 06.23PM IST, IANS
NEW DELHI: Investigators probing the Delhi High Court bombing were on Thursday grappling for clues to identify the perpetrators, a day after a powerful explosion outside the complex killed 12 people.

"Investigation teams of the NIA ( National Investigation Agency) are vigorously pursuing various leads with the cooperation of Delhi Police," U.K. Bansal, secretary (internal security) in the home ministry, told reporters.
He said forensic experts summoned from Gujarat and Hyderabad to assist in the investigation again scanned the scene of the crime Thursday.
"They have found some more material which may have relevance to the investigation," Bansal said, indicating that there was no concrete evidence related to the explosives used in the bomb.
He, however, said traces of a mixture of nitrate and PETN, (pentaerythritol trinitrate), have been found but that was not conlcusive.
"We will let you know about the forenic report when it comes," he said.

The NIA has also detained some suspects related to the bombing, including three in Jammu and Kashmir.
Those detained include two owners of a cyber cafe in Kishtwar district of the state who were questioned about the person who had sent an email claiming responsibility for the blast.
The email, attributed to the Harkat-ul Jehadi Islami, was found to have been been sent from Global Internet Cafe at Malik Market in Kishtwar, once a militancy hub in Jammu region.
On questioning the owners of the cafe, investigators garnered some information about how the sender of the email looked.
"We have got some details about the physical features of the person. Police parties have been deputed to trace him," a senior police officer working on the investigations told IANS.
Bansal also said that "some information pointing to a Kashmir connection with the email received" was being pursued with the help of the Kashmir police.
The email theory got a new twist on the day after the blast as another email attributed to the 'Indian Muzahiddin' claimed responsibility for the bombing.
Written in Hindi, it said the outfit had timed the blast on the day when the crowd outside the court was huge.
"We have done it," it said and threatened to carry out another blast at a shopping mall in Delhi next Tuesday.
The email remains unverified, even as Bansal said it was being studied by the intelligence agencies.
Meanwhile, teams of anti-terrorism squads from the neighbouring states have also reached Delhi "for discussions and consultations with NIA and Delhi Police in connection with the investigation", said Bansal.
Struggling for any concrete clue, the NIA also announced a reward of Rs.500,000 for anyone providing clues about the suspects.
"The NIA has announced a reward of Rs.5 lakh for anyone giving any information to follow up the case. As far as investigation is concerned, it is going on. Delhi Police and NIA are coordinating," Home Secretary R.K. Singh told reporters.
Police also junked the theory that a missing car may hold a clue to solving the blast puzzle after the vehicle was found in Faridabad, on the outskirts of the capital.
The car -- a silver Santro with registration number DL9CA 6034) -- was seen by eyewitnesses near the blast site just before the explosion.
The car, owned by National Insurance Company employee Inshu Minocha, was stolen in 2009.
"The car has nothing to do with the bomb blast," said a police officer.
The NIA also detained a suspect from Uttar Pradesh. He was identified with his first name Shehzad only. Source said he resembled with the sketch of the suspects prepared by police.
The agency also ruled out the possibility that the attackers may have been among the 12 people who died in the blast, after all the victims were identified.
It has also carried out background checks on the over 91 injured and confirmed that none were suspects.
Delhi HC blast: Investigators still grappling for clues

Rally behind Anna Hazare to transform India

Anna Hazare a Patriot

His tryst with the army came when many Indian soldiers became martyrs in the Indo-China War of 1962 and the Government of India had appealed to young Indians to join the Indian army. Being passionate about patriotism, he promptly responded to the appeal and joined the Indian Army in 1963. During his 15-year tenure as a soldier, he was posted to several states like Sikkim, Bhutan, J&K, Assam, Mizoram, Leh and Ladakh and braved challenging environments.
In the 1965 Indo-Pak war, Hazare was posted at the Khemkaran border. On Nov 12, 1965, Pakistan launched air attacks on Indian positions and all of Hazare’s comrades became martyrs, It was a close shave for Hazare as one bullet had passed by his head. Hazare believes this was the turning point of his life as it meant he had a purpose to life. Anna was greatly influenced by Swami Vivekananda’s teachings. It was at that particular moment that Hazare took an oath to dedicate his life in the service of humanity, at the age of 26. That’s the reason why he pledged to be a bachelor.
By then he had completed only three years in the army and so would not be eligible for the pension scheme. In order to be self-sufficient, he continued to be in the army for 12 more years. After that, he opted for voluntary retirement and returned to his native place in Ralegan Siddhi, in the Parner tehsil of Ahmednagar district.
Here's a video of how he has transformed his village from a barren almost lifeless wilderness into a lush green township with abundant water, and bio gas. The village's biggest accomplishment is in non-conventional energy. For example, all the village streets are lit by solar lights. Each light has a separate solar panel.
Here's a must-see video on how he did it. Now don't you wish our 'worthy' politicians had even 1% of the dedication shown by Anna? If they had, rural India would have been completely transformed. We could then have confidently said, India IS shining!
There's hope yet! We will overcome!
Cheers!
Brig (Dr) C P Joshi

SHOCKING REVELATIONS ABOUT CHIDAMBARAM AND PRANAB

As received.
Regards...............K K Punchhi
HOW MUCH CREDIBILITY DOES ALL THIS HAVE?
These are very serious charges to make, have been in the public domain for a while and have not been rebutted/ challenged! Makes you wonder, doesn't it ? Listen to the explosive statement by Vishwabandhu Gupta, erstwhile income tax commissioner.

China wooing Dictators and Islamic Fundamentalists

Why China is wooing the jihadis, and what India should do
BHARAT VERMA
The spread of two authoritarian streams, Chinese communism and Islamic fundamentalism, in combination or otherwise, threaten the survival of democracies in Asia.

First, Beijing deftly sucked in most of the democracies in its economic orbit by making China a very cheap manufacturing destination of the world. This simultaneously created gigantic hard currency reserves and vast political influence.

Second, from the inflow of foreign direct investments, a modern lethal military machine was forged.

Third, Beijing skillfully invested in dictatorial or Islamic fundamentalist regimes in Asia like North Korea, Pakistan, and Myanmar.

On one hand, this boosts Pakistan and North Korea's capability to tie down democracies like India, South Korea and Japan without the necessity of China being involved overtly. On the other, by transferring sensitive technologies to these countries, China deflects the attention of major powers from itself and conveniently shifts the debate to the rogue nations clandestinely supported by it.
Click here to read the full analysis

Poor Indian families have to bribe officials for access to basic public services.

30% Indians totally corrupt, 50% borderline: Outgoing CVC chief
Agence France-Presse, Updated: September 08, 2010 17:23 IST
New Delhi: Almost one-third of Indians are "utterly corrupt" and half are "borderline", the outgoing head of the country's corruption watchdog has said, blaming increased wealth for much of the problem.

Pratyush Sinha, who retired as India's Central Vigilance Commissioner this week, said the worst part of his "thankless job" was observing how corruption had increased as people became more materialistic.

"When we were growing up I remember if somebody was corrupt, they were generally looked down upon," he said. "There was at least some social stigma attached to it. That is gone. So there is greater social acceptance."

Transparency International, the global anti-graft body, puts India 84th on its corruption perception index with a 3.4-point rating, out of a best possible score of 10.

New Zealand ranks first with 9.4 points and Somalia last on 1.1 points.

The campaign group has said that each year millions of poor Indian families have to bribe officials for access to basic public services.

Sinha told a Delhi-based newspaper in an interview published on Tuesday that 20 percent of Indians were "honest, regardless of the temptations, because this is how they are. They have a conscience. "There would be around 30 percent who would be utterly corrupt. But the rest are the people who are on the borderline," he said, adding that corruption was "palpable".

Sinha said that in modern India "if somebody has a lot of money, he is respectable. Nobody questions by what means he has got the money."

Recent corruption scandals in India have focused on construction projects for the Commonwealth Games that open in New Delhi next month, and alleged tax evasion in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament.

India is also regarded as a hotbed of illegal betting syndicates, with gamblers and bookmakers involved in "spot-fixing" - the gambling that has engulfed the current Pakistani cricket tour of England.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has often spoken out against the damaging effect that bribes, extortion and fraud have on all levels of life, and warned that the problem threatens India's future economic prospects.
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India's Maoist rebel attack sparks anger

By Anuj Chopra, Correspondent / April 7, 2010
Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram warned against kneejerk reactions as details emerged about how India’s Maoist rebels killed 76 policemen without taking a single casualty.

Chhattisgarh state Chief Minister Raman Singh, right in white, waits to place a wreath before the bodies of victims killed in Tuesday's Maoist attack at a hospital in Dantewada, India, Wednesday. India will push ahead with an offensive against Maoist rebels despite the death of 76 government troops in an ambush by insurgents in the east, the country's top security official said Wednesday. AP

The Maoists, also called Naxalites, who claim to fight for India’s poor, have battled the government for four decades. They have been labeled one of the top security threats in India, with a presence in 22 of 28 states. Despite a massive offensive launched against them last year across seven states, called Operation Greenhunt, they recently rejected an offer of peace negotiations.

“Something has gone very wrong,” India’s home minister Palaniappan Chidambaram admitted, but he cautioned against any “knee jerk” reaction to the attack.

Ambush, booby traps
According to Indian and Western media reports, a convoy of the Alpha company of the elite Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which is involved in Operation Greenhunt in the state of Chhattisgarh, walked into a rebel trap while heading to a base. It is a rocky area enveloped by thick forest.

At dawn, more than 500 rebels, armed with a sophisticated inventory of weapons, besieged the convoy in their signature guerrilla style. They opened fire indiscriminately, threw grenades, and set off IEDs (improvised explosive devices). Fleeing soldiers fell over the mines and booby traps that the rebels had laid beforehand on the escape routes. Two sets of police reinforcements arrived on the scene, and also came under fire.

“Tuesday’s ambush was no low intensity affair,” said an editorial in The Indian Express, a national daily. “This is a large scale, if protracted war … Tuesday’s massacre is not to be construed as a warning or another small episode in a war of attrition.”

“Therefore, it is time to review Green Hunt: a tactical upgrade, even an overhaul,” it continued.

No reinforcements, for now
Mr. Chidambaram ruled out for now the possibility of bringing in the Army or Air Force to fight the Maoists, but pledged there would be no letup in the offensive.

“We think the state police assisted by Central paramilitary forces are sufficient to overcome the Naxalite threat. It is our present assessment of the threat,” he said. “But if necessary, we will have to revisit the mandate to make some changes.”
India's Maoist rebel attack sparks anger
Dantewada Massacre: Thorough military analysis needed- by Col Vijay Rajdhan dated 07 Apr 2010

The RMS Forum and Readers Salute the 76 CRPF brave hearts who laid down their lives fighting the terrorists. Our heartfelt condolences to all the family members.

National Security: Terror Outfits Target India

06/04/2010
India's political establishment on LeT's radar: Experts
Washington: Warning that India's transportation, economic infrastructure and political establishment are on the LeT's radar, a US Defence Department think tank has said the terror outfit still enjoys funding from ISI and is also assisted by the Karachi-based D-Company of Dawood Ibrahim.

The LeT, though having a close relationship with al-Qaeda, will continue to evolve into a distinctive, South Asia-centric terrorist actor in its own right while still receiving aid from fringe elements in Pakistan's security and intelligence apparatus and elsewhere, the Strategic Studies Institute of the US Army War College said.

This will not only allow LeT to continue to plan future Mumbai-style terrorist attacks in India from safe havens in Pakistan, but will also enable it to guide and assist the predominantly indigenous Indian Mujahideen (IM), it said.

Authored by Ryan Clarke, the 117-page report 'Lashkar-I-Taiba: The Fallacy of Subservient Proxies and the Future of Islamist Terrorism in India' gives the first-of-its kind detailed analysis of the outfit.

The report said the troubling fact is that the LeT has upgraded its activities and has begun to operate throughout India and will likely target transportation and economic infrastructure and the political establishment as opposed to Indian security forces exclusively.

"It has also adopted new methods of destabilisation such as recruiting from India's troubled northeast and smuggling militants into India by sea, a serious infringement on India's sovereignty," it said.

"Despite being a proscribed outfit, LeT still enjoys funding from ISI and through donations from a wide range of domestic and overseas sympathisers, including Indian Muslims.

Read the full article:
India's political establishment on LeT's radar: Experts
Related reading
Karachi-based D-Company aided 26/11 attackers
Deadliest Maoist Attack Highlights Mittal, NMDC India Challenge
Politicians make fool of the Citizens
One thinks these news are being spread purposely by the politicians so that they get more bodyguards and make the people fools. The Mumbai type attack has to be prevented at all costs. The terrorist funding by Hawala, Black Money, Money Laundering, Smuggling, Drug Peddling, Fake and Counterfeit Money, Real Estate Dealings, Illegal Mining, Swiss Money- mostly resorted to by Smugglers, Criminal Politicians and other Anti- Nationals need to arrested. Does the Nation have the Political Will to take on the Goons and dry up the Terror Funding?

Can India unearth Money Launderers who fuel World Terrorism?

India, Switzerland to renegotiate tax treaty
October 21, 2009 17:05 IST
The government on Tuesday said it would renegotiate the taxation treaty with Switzerland under the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Model Tax Convention.

"...There is a provision in OECD...The article 26," Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters when asked about the proposed talks with Swiss authorities later this year.

The negotiations are expected to take place in the wake of the issue of black money stashed away in Swiss banks that has created a political furore in the country, and India has sought details related to the same from Swiss authorities.

OECD sets the international tax standards. Article 26 of the OECD Model Convention on Income and Capital, covers "tax of every kind and description" and allows for exchange of tax-related information between two countries.

In August, Mukherjee had said that India and Switzerland would meet in December to negotiate amendments in the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. The Swiss banks in August had said that India could not come on a fishing expedition for secret bank account details.

Mukherjee had later made it clear that India was not interested in a "roving inquiry" over unaccounted money stashed away in Swiss banks.

The Swiss Ambassador to India had recently said that Switzerland was willing to open negotiations on disclosing data information about black money. "Switzerland will completely live up to the legitimate expectations out of the treaty... For release of data in the future. The (amended) treaty would be possibly adapted, revived and then we will live up to the new obligations...," he had told a private news channel.

According to him, most probably Indians would ask for the inclusion of tax evasion in the set of provisions of the treaty, which would mean that the release of data would be possible.
India, Switzerland to renegotiate tax treaty: October 21, 2009 17:05 IST

Can India match US- IRS in unearthing money launderers?

Swiss Banking Terror is more dangerous than Pakistan- Taliban Terror
Swiss banking giant UBS will give the IRS the details of more than the client accounts under a deal to end a contentious international lawsuit. Keystone/Walter Bieri/AP/File
IRS cracks open 4,450 Swiss bank accounts
Deal with Swiss banking giant UBS gives access to 4,450 secret accounts of Americans evading tax authorities.

Terrorism is prime source of concern: Antony

Monday, October 19, 2009 13:59 IST
The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony has said that terrorism continues to be a prime source of concern, not just for India, but the entire world. Addressing the 60th Anniversary Parade of the Territorial Army, here today, Shri Antony said as the country assumes an increased role in defining international policies and initiatives, the need of the hour is to secure the environment, both external and internal. “Given the security concerns of the times we live in, our Armed Forces have a particularly crucial role to play in securing our country from external and internal threats,” he said.

Commending the Territorial Army for setting the benchmark of professionalism since its inception, the Defence Minister said the Citizens’ Army has a great responsibility in augmenting the regular Army, be it during war, national emergencies for peace. He lauded the Territorial Army’s role, especially the Infantry and Home & Hearth Infantry Battalions, Departmental units from the railways, oil sector and the general hospital. Shri Antony said the Ecological (TA) Battalions are unique the world over. “The untiring efforts of the ‘Green Warriors’ in afforestation, environment development and preservation of the fragile ecology in various parts of the country is praiseworthy,” he added.

Shri Antony called upon the youth to enrol themselves for the part time and voluntary uniformed force. Since the country cannot afford to maintain an unduly standing Army, “there is need for more passionate young men from all walks of life to join the Territorial Army and experience the pride of serving and defending the nation, while continuing with their respective professions,” he said. Raised by C. Rajagopalachari, the first Governor General of free India, on October 09, 1949, the Territorial Army is celebrating its diamond jubilee year. Having won five Vir Chakras and three Shaurya Chakras, the TA has seen many eminent personalities including renowned cricketer Kapil Dev (Honorary Lt. Col.), Malayalam film actor Mohan Lal (Honorary Lt. Col.), former ONGC CMD Shri Subir Raha (Major-Retired), Shri Doshehe Y Sema (Major), a member of the Nagaland state assembly and several others, donning uniform.
HH/PK/RAJ
Terrorism is prime source of concern: Antony

New Delhi, Oct 9 (IANS) The Territorial Army, a reserve force of trained civilians to aid the Indian Army, completed 60 years of existence Friday and aims to woo more youngsters and working professionals to join its ranks.
“On the 60th anniversary, we are working towards tapping young talent from the corporate, engineering, IT and other fields,” said a senior officer of the Territorial Army.

Read more: Territorial Army, 60, to woo youngsters

Pakistan's Counterfeit Jihad- non explosive and crippling

Home ministry plans new measures to counter fake notes
Headlines Today New Delhi, August 3, 2009

The Home Ministry on Monday decided to adopt new measures to counter the growing inflow of fake currency in the country.

The decision was taken during a meeting in Delhi. To make production of fake notes difficult, talks would be initiated with the Swiss company that supplies ink for printing notes. The ministry has also decided to increase surveillance to stop the entry of fake notes.

In addition to the measures taken by the ministry, the Reserve Bank of India will provide additional security features in notes.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram fears that the counterfeit notes seized recently could be just the tip of the iceberg.

Fake notes seized
Even as the ministry met to consider ways to tackle the menace, fake notes worth Rs 5.65 lakh were seized in Punjab's Nawashahar district. Three persons were arrested.

Another seizure of fake notes was made on Sunday in Chandigarh. Two persons were arrested with currency worth Rs 4 lakh.

Suspects Yudhveer Singh and Savinder Kaur are said to be residents of Amritsar. Two hundred notes of 1000 rupee denomination and 400 notes of 500 rupee denomination were found with them.

“We suspect that Savinder Kaur smuggled the counterfeits from Pakistan. She also possesses a Pakistan visa,” said J.S. Khera, DSP, Chandigarh Police.

According to the police, Savinder Kaur could be an ISI agent. She has been to Pakistan at least five times on the pretext of pilgrimage.
Home ministry plans new measures to counter fake notes

World Terrorism
Resources for fuelling world terrorism is sucked up from the Indian Nation's wealth by drug peddlers, smugglers, money launderers, hawala operators, black money generators, prostitution, benami operators and human trafficking.

Taliban will weaken Pakistan- More Mumbai like terror threat

The Taliban are in an emboldened state today, despite the recent successes claimed by the Pakistani military. The Taliban have unfortunately been allowed to become too strong. Across the entire swathe of tribal areas along the Afghanistan border, the Taliban are rapidly consolidating power by activating their cells, regrouping and are challenging the army.

The Pakistan Army may well be treating the current anti-Taliban operations as a temporary phase, to please the United States and obtain much needed funds. However, if they are not serious in pursuing the Taliban menace and the riposte weakens, the very viability of Pakistan would be at risk .

Any deterioration of the situation in Pakistan can have grave repercussions for India. Our overall policy for meeting security related threats needs to be revamped. We need to strengthen our intelligence set up and hasten up our decision–making processes. The need of the hour is to prepare a series of contingency plans, to meet the situations that are likely to crop up.
Read full article:
PAKISTAN’S OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE TALIBAN- An Analysis from India’s Viewpoint By Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi
The writer is a former Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) and a former Founder Director of the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS).